IAMGOLD has received approval from the federal government to move forward with its Côté Gold mine near Gogama.
In a news release, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency said the project is “not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects and the project may proceed.”
IAMGOLD can now move on to the approvals and permitting stage. Agencies that need to be consulted include Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Transport Canada and Natural Resources Canada.
The proposed Côté Gold Mine would include an open-pit gold mine, an on-site metal mill, and four structures for diverting water. It’s located 20 kilometres southwest of the community of Gogama and 130 kilometres southwest of Timmins.
IAMGOLD acquired Trelawney Mining and Exploration Inc. in 2012. Trelawney had carried out exploration activities at the project site since 2009.
Exploration activities have been ongoing in the area since the early 1900s by various companies and government agencies. More concentrated mineral exploration efforts were conducted in the early 1940s and from the early 1970s to about 1990.
Since its discovery in 2010, extensive diamond drilling activities have been undertaken to delineate the Côté Gold deposit.
IAMGOLD also owns operating gold mines in Suriname, Burkina Faso, Québec, and Mali. It additionally has exploration projects underway in Senegal and Brazil, along with joint venture projects in Québec, Nicaragua, and Mali.
