TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – TSX- and Aim-listed Kirkland Lake Gold has encountered an unexpected obstruction blocking the pastefill borehole above level 34 of its Ontario gold mine, and expects that output could be affected until as late as September.

Efforts to clear the obstruction have so far been unsuccessful, the firm said on Tuesday.

As efforts to clear the blockage continue, the company has accelerated the drilling of the back-up pastefill boreholes planned for later this year.

However, until the blockage is cleared, or until another hole can be brought on line, certain mining areas requiring pastefill will be idled.

“This impacted on production for one week of June and will continue in July and possibly August and September,” Kirkland Lake said.

The mining crews affected have already been reassigned to exploration, capital, or stope development activities.

“The reassignment of stoping crews to expedite development projects is critical to expanding our medium- and long-term exploration and production efforts," said chairperson Harry Dobson.

The company “is comfortable with its cash position and financial outlook", he added.

An update on the obstruction will be provided when the firm reports annual results, on June 20.

Kirkland Lake bought the Macassa mine, a 1 500-t/d mill, along with four former producing gold properties, in December 2001, from Kinross Gold.

The firm said previously that it expected to produce 100 000 oz of gold in its 2010 financial year, which started on May 1.

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