Name: Rainy River mine.

Location: The project is located 65 km north-west of Fort Frances, in Ontario, Canada.

Mine Owner/s: New Gold.

Brief Description: The Rainy River mine is an openpit mine that will transition into an openpit/underground mine from 2022.

Brief History: The Rainy River mine started processing ore on September 14, 2017, and completed its first gold pour on October 5, 2017. Commercial production followed on October 19, 2017. Development of the underground mine began in the second half of 2018.

Primary Metals/Minerals: Gold.

Secondary Metals/Minerals: Silver.

Geology/Mineralisation: The Rainy River district comprises multiple volcanogenic-style gold deposits situated within the Late Archean Wabigoon subprovince of Ontario. Local stratigraphy comprises a series of tholeiitic mafic volcanic rocks structurally overlain by calc-alkalic dacitic metavolcanic rocks that host the bulk of gold mineralisation in the district.

Reserves: Total proven and probably reserves as at December 31, 2019, were estimated at 77.57-million tonnes grading 1.06 g/t gold and 2.5 g/t silver.

Resources: Total measured and indicated resources as at December 31, 2019, were estimated at 23.13-million tonnes grading 2.57 g/t gold and 6.9 g/t silver. Inferred mineral resources were estimated at 3.48-million tonnes grading 1.77 g/t gold and 2.4 g/t silver.

Mining Method: Openpit and underground.

Mining at Rainy River is currently conducted using conventional openpit mining methods and will transition into a combined openpit and underground operation over the next two years, with underground production starting in 2022.

Openpit mine has been designed as a conventional truck-and-shovel operation.

The underground mine has been designed as a mechanised ramp access mine that will use longitudinal longhole open stoping techniques to exploit the underground mineral reserves.

Major Infrastructure and Equipment:

• the mine comprises primary access and mine haul roads.
• a 27 000 t/d carbon-in-pulp gold process plant, with electrowinning and refining capability.
• mine maintenance facilities, including truck shops, a truck wash and a fuel bay.
• warehousing facilities, including a general warehouse and separate lubricant and hydrocarbon storage buildings.
• an explosive magazine and emulsion plant provided and operated by a specialised contractor.
• a 5 m x 5 m decline developed fora distance of 166 m towards the Intrepid Zone.
• a 230 kV power line connected to the Hydro One power grid, feeding two main 230 kV to 13.8 kV, 42/56/70 MVA transformers for a combined power of 100 MVA.
• an integrated water treatment train.
• a camp facility capable of providing concurrent accommodation for 376 personnel.
• security, administration, and general offices and buildings located throughout the property.

Prospects: The focus of the mine is shifting from stabilising operations to optimising operational and cost performance.

Contact Details:
New Gold
Tel 416 324-6000
Email info@newgold.com
Website https://www.newgold.com