Geraldton gold digger gets exploration closure plan approval

Premier Gold Mines reports a “milestone” achievement at its Hardrock deposit in northwestern Ontario.

The Ministry of Northern Development and Mines has approved the company's advanced exploration closure plan for the gold deposit near Geraldton.

The Thunder Bay-based junior miner cannot begin dewatering and underground ramp excavation until the Ministry of Environment grants a permit to take water and issues an Industrial Sewage Certificate. But the company can begin preparations in certain areas of the site.

Premier expects to have those permits by the end of the second quarter.

Hardrock is the company's flagship deposit within its larger Trans-Canada Project, which is host to several former mines which collectively produced more than four million ounces of gold between 1938 and 1968.

In an April 9 release, company president Ewan Downie said Premier is focusing on moving its gold projects in Nevada towards development and hopes to do the same at Trans-Canada. “The closure plan is the first step in realizing this goal.”

The company has a stable of gold projects in Geraldton, Red Lake, Musselwhite and on the Carlin Trend in Nevada.

Since starting exploration at Geraldton, Downie said Premier has been successful in finding new gold zones from surface drilling. “In order to fully understand the deposits, we must delineate and pursue these zones from underground, and we are very eager to begin the dewatering and ramp activities in order to launch the next phase of exploration.”