Queenston Mining is pressing ahead with a gold mine development near Kirkland Lake.

The Toronto-based gold miner's closure plan for its Upper Beaver property was approved by the Ministryof Northern Development and Mines.

Company president Charles Page said the closure plan “paves the way” for underground development of the gold-copper deposit.

The plan is a key to move the project toward sinking a shaft, beginning underground development and feasibility.

Construction has started on a road and power line corridor along with site preparation. The company expects to start the shaft collar later this year.

Page said detailed engineering is “well advanced” and two sinking hoists are expected to arrive in the third quarter of next year.

The Upper Beaver is a past producing deposit and contains a mineral resource of more than three million tonnes of gold, grading 7.0 grams per tonne.