VANCOUVER (miningweekly.com) – Project developer Pure Gold continues to make progress towards reopening the Madsen gold mine, in Ontario’s Red Lake district.
The Vancouver-based company said on Friday that both the portal and ramp have been opened once more, and work is proceeding on a preliminary economic assessment due by the end of September.
To date, critical surface and underground infrastructure, such as water and air lines, underground electrical lines, mine air heater and ventilation, as well as power lines connecting grid power to the portal, have been made operational again. The ramp is being reconditioned and underground drilling has started.
The underground drill programme started in July and will confirm the grade and continuity in the McVeigh, South Austin, Austin and A3 deposits. Exploration drilling will also be undertaken to focus on resource growth.
The company advised that the Madsen B zone remains open for expansion.
An early August resource estimate outlined an indicated resource of 253 000 oz of gold, held in 379 000 t grading 20.8 g/t gold and a further 74 000 oz of gold in the inferred category, held in 142 000 t grading 16.2 g/t gold.