Shaft nearly complete on D’Or Val’s Beacon property

The exploration shaft on D’Or Val Mines’ Beacon gold property, just east of Val d’Or, Que., has been sunk below the 1,350-ft level with stations cut for future drives at depths of 770-ft, 950-ft and 1,150 ft, D’Or Val says. The shaft was to have been completed to 1,600 ft, including loading pockets, by the end of September.

On the upper three levels exploration work has been concentrated on four orebodies: the Discovery, Arrow, Eureka and LeRoy. Lateral exploration on these upper levels has located six potential ore structures where increases in both ore reserves and optimum mining rate, after any production decision, are expected. Diamond drilling and exploratory work, including drives, is continuing on these structures.

After the shaft’s completion, scheduled for sometime in October, a dual exploration program is to begin. It will include:

* diamond drilling from the stations on the new 951-, 350- and 1,345-ft levels; and

* an exploration drive on the Discovery Vein from the 771-ft level to permit sampling of a 525-ft length where three diamond drill holes gave: 0.54 oz gold per ton over 6 1/2 ft, 0.49 oz over 9.8 ft and 0.53 oz over 9.8 ft.

Ore is being stockpiled on the surface in the event that an early production decision can be made, D’Or Val says. The company has spent nearly six years performing surface and underground exploration on the property.

Should the company go ahead with production, it would probably start around 450 tons per day (N.M., Aug 25/86). The company says ore would be processed in the nearby 700-900-ton facility which is being constructed for custom milling purposes. At presstime the mill was about 90% complete and it should soon be able to receive test shipments from at least three other projects of the Hughes-Lang group of companies.

Reserves on the property have been reported as only 159,693 tons in the proven category with another 152,731 tons in the probable classification. The average is 0.225 oz gold per ton, with high assays cut to 1.5 oz.