Wesdome Gold Mine's operations near Wawa are expanding.
The Toronto miner announced July 12 it is commencing year-round operations at its Mishi Pit project near its Eagle River mill in northeastern Ontario.
The mine is being developed for an initial five-year run to supplement gold production at the company's nearby Eagle River mine. The pit is only two kilometres from the mill and is pegged to produce an average of 1,000 ounces per month. In that five-year span, 710,000 tonnes of ore will be processed.
The Mishi deposit had been mined seasonally and had produced more than 15,000 ounces of gold.
After a closure plan amendment was filed with the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry on July 11, the company began dewatering the pit, clearing brush and started waste pad construction activities.
The company said there is good potential to increase the mine life and drilling is underway to extend the deposit.
Wesdome CEO Donovan Pollitt is excited to proceed with the Mishi Pit on a year-round basis.
“We believe the economics of this project are compelling at current gold prices and could grow our production profile as soon as the fourth quarter of 2011.”
Wesdome's Eagle River mine is 50 kilometres west of Wawa.
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