VANCOUVER (miningweekly.com) – TSX-listed project developer Aquila Resources has picked up two further final permits for its flagship Back Forty gold/zinc project, in Michigan, the company announced Thursday.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has issued the final ‘nonferrous metallic mineral mining’ permit and ‘Michigan air use permit to install’ following a public comment period that ended November 3.
"This milestone is a fitting end to a year where we made considerable progress at Back Forty that included the discovery of a new mineral zone, improvements in our metal recoveries and the strengthening of our local team," said CEO Barry Hildred.
Aquila noted the mine permit application (MPA) included Aquila's plan for mining, tailings and waste rock management, reclamation, monitoring, contingency plan and plan for financial assurance. The MPA also contained a detailed ‘environmental impact assessment’ supported by more than two years of baseline studies on environmental and cultural resources.
Aquila advised that two further permits reain under consideration – the ‘national pollution elimination system’ permit and a permit for wetland impacts.
In 2017, Aquila plans to focus on completing its feasibility study, finalising the two outstanding permits, expanding its owner's team and closing on financing that will fund the project through to commercial production. Aquila also has plans to do more exploration, targeting a new mineralised zone, while also better defining the underground resource.
Back Forty is a volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit located along the mineral-rich Penokean Volcanic Belt, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It currently has a compliant measured and indicated resource of 15.1-milion tonnes, containing close to one-million ounces of gold and one-billion pounds of zinc.