First Mining Gold has started a metallurgical study at its Springpole Gold Project in northwestern Ontario.
The study will help the Vancouver junior miner better understand their processing options on its 32,000- hectare property, located 110 kilometres northeast of Red Lake.
M3 Engineering and Technology has been hired to do the study.
In a June 11 news release, the company said the purpose of this study is to determine the optimal flow sheet for Springpole.
M3 is supervising the test work program with the results to be folded into a pre-feasibility study (PFS) for Springpole due out sometime in 2019.
Last fall, a preliminary economic assessment released (PEA) estimated a 12-year mine life for an open-pit gold and silver mine.
“By determining the optimal flow sheet, we can move forward with a (prefeasibility study) for Springpole while we continue to advance the environmental assessment and permitting processes,” said First Mining president-CEO Jeff Swinoga in a statement.
“By potentially increasing the estimated gold recoveries, we may be able to significantly improve the already attractive economics of Springpole, which is considered one of the largest undeveloped gold projects in Canada.”
The federal and provincial environmental assessment processes for Springpole are fully underway.
The PEA for Springpole projected the average annual payable production of 296,500 ounces of gold and 1,632,000 ounces of silver for the life of the mine.
Vancouver’s First Gold has 25 properties across North America and Mexico, including four in northwestern Ontario.
