The crushed ore storage dome at Greenstone
After a meticulous two-and-a-half-year construction phase, the Greenstone gold mine in Ontario is primed to initiate gold production next month.
Equinox Gold, a Toronto-listed mining company, said on Tuesday that ore had been introduced into the grinding circuit on April 6, signalling the final stages of preparation before the inaugural gold pour.
With more than 1.5-million tonnes of ore already stockpiled and 70 000 t of low-grade ore precrushed for early commissioning feed, Greenstone is well-positioned to start operations.
The mine aims to achieve a planned throughput rate of 27 000 t/y, with commercial production slated for the third quarter.
Once operating at full capacity, Greenstone will be Equinox’s largest and lowest-cost mine.
“We look forward to first gold in May and continuing to advance the project to commercial production,” said Equinox CEO Greg Smith.
Greenstone, developed as a 60:40 partnership between Equinox and Orion Mine Finance Group, will be one of the premier gold mine in Canada, producing about 400 000 oz/y of gold for the first five years and more than five-million ounces of gold over its initial 14-year mine life
Greenstone has worked 6.4-million hours on the project to date with one lost-time injury.