Osisko - Hammond Reef
Goldex
The Goldex mine is part of the chain of operations and properties that Agnico Eagle owns in the Abitibi region of northwestern Quebec. Underground mining from the M and E satellite zones and processing in the mill started in September 2013. Commercial production was achieved in October 2013. The Deep 1 project was declared to be in commercial production in July 2017.
Key Facts
Mine Type - Underground
2019 production - 140,884 oz gold
2019 production costs - $586/oz gold
2019 total cash costs - $584/oz gold
Gold reserves - 1,088,000 oz
2020 production guidance - oz gold, $--/oz gold
2020 total cash costs guidance - $--/oz gold, $--/oz gold
Mine life - 7 years
Goldex, located 60 km east of the Company's LaRonde mine, has proven and probable mineral reserves of 1.1 million ounces of gold (21.0 million tonnes grading 1.61 grams/tonne gold) as of December 31, 2019. The mine currently exploits the M and E Zones as well as the Dx and Deep 1 zones. The South Zone is under development, and the Deep 2 Zone is being explored from an underground ramp. Internal studies are ongoing to evaluate the potential to increase throughput from the Deep 1 and South Zones and the potential to accelerate mining activities on a portion of the Deep 2 Zone (which starts below the Deep 1 Zone at 1,200 m below surface), all of which could enhance production levels or extend the current mine life at Goldex and reduce operating costs.
Geology
The Goldex property is located in the Dubuisson Township of Quebec and forms part of the southern Abitibi Greenstone Belt. The sequence of intermediate to mafic and ultramafic volcanic rocks that underlie the property dips steeply to the northeast. They are intruded by a large table-shaped quartz-diorite body – known as the Goldex Granodiorite – that also dips steeply to the northeast.
Mineralization
Goldex is a large, relatively low-grade ore body defined by the intensity of stockwork veins and gold grades rather than by individual veins. Most of the gold occurs as microscopic particles associated with pyrite, while the rest occurs as coarse native gold grains. There are several zones of gold mineralization with isolated ore-grade intercepts over mineable widths on the property, and all of them except the South Zone are hosted by the Goldex Granodiorite. The M and E Zones and the Deep 1 Zone contain gold-bearing quartz-tourmaline-pyrite veins and veinlets. The South Zone consists of quartz veins that have higher grades than those in the primary mineralized zones at Goldex.
The mineralization zone on the Akasaba West property consists of a low-grade mineralized envelope characterized by the widespread presence of finely disseminated chalcopyrite; the mineralization is primarily contained within the quartz diorite unit.
Mining
Commercial production of the Goldex M and E zones was achieved in October 2013. The M and E zones are mined using long-hole stoping in primary and secondary stopes with paste backfill to ensure long-term stability.
The mining method in the Deep 1 Zone is long-hole stoping with cemented paste backfill, the same method used in the M and E zones. The mining rate for Deep 1 is expected to be approximately 6,000 tonnes/day. An automated conveyor system ("Rail-Veyor") installed on Level 120 is used for ore handling between the lowermost level of Deep 1 (Level 120) and the current ore handling facilities (Level 76). As stope development in the higher grade Deep 1 Zone continues to mature, utilization of the Rail-Veyor system is expected to continue to increase and lead to a reduction in unit costs.
The South Zone is accessible from the Deep 1 Zone infrastructure.
Processing
The processing plant treats ore from the M and E zones and more recently the Deep 1 Zone. Ore is treated using a two-stage crushing process, followed by a two-stage grinding circuit that consists of a semi-autogenous grinding mill and a ball mill. Most of the ground ore is fed to a gravity circuit that recovers about two-thirds of the gold, which is then smelted on site to form doré bars. Flotation recovers the rest of the gold, producing a gold-bearing pyrite concentrate.
Based on a 2006 agreement with the Quebec government, the tailings from the Goldex mill (which are not acid-generating and have good neutralization potential) are disposed of at the Manitou site 24 km away, a tailing site formerly used by an unrelated third party and abandoned to the Quebec government. The covering of the Manitou site by Goldex tailings is helping to rehabilitate the Manitou site, which has had past issues relating to acid drainage. At the same time, land use has been optimized, by avoiding the creation of a new tailings storage site for Goldex.
The thickened concentrate from the Goldex processing plant is trucked to the LaRonde Complex, where it is fed to a cyanide leach circuit. Gold-bearing leachate is fed directly into the carbon-in-pulp circuit to recover precious metals, which are smelted into doré bars.
Exploration
The main target of exploration at Goldex continues to be the Deep 2 Zone, which is estimated to have probable mineral reserves of 179,000 ounces of gold (3.4 million tonnes grading 1.63 g/t gold), indicated mineral resources of 177,000 ounces of gold (4.4 million tonnes grading 1.25 g/t gold) and inferred mineral resources of 381,000 ounces of gold (10.1 million tonnes grading 1.17 g/t gold) as of December 31, 2019; these mineral reserves and mineral resources are included in the Goldex mine estimate.
The second largest target of exploration at Goldex is the South Zone, which is located in the volcanic rocks south of the Goldex main deposit. The South Zone gold mineralization is hosted in multiple quartz-biotite-sulphide veins that have higher grades than those in the primary mineralized zones at Goldex. Locally, there are wider mineralized areas. The South Zone is now estimated to have proven mineral reserves of 4,000 ounces of gold (31,700 tonnes grading 3.82 g/t gold), probable mineral reserves of 103,000 ounces of gold (1.01 million tonnes grading 3.19 g/t gold), indicated mineral resources of 43,000 ounces of gold (618,000 tonnes grading 2.14 g/t gold) and inferred mineral resources of 228,000 ounces of gold (2.0 million tonnes grading 3.47 g/t gold) as of December 31, 2019; these mineral reserves and mineral resources are included in the Goldex mine estimate.
In addition, Akasaba West currently hosts probable gold reserves of approximately 147,000 ounces and approximately 26,000 tonnes of copper (5.4 million tonnes grading 0.84 g/t gold and 0.48% copper) and an indicated gold resource of approximately 46,000 ounces and 9,000 tonnes of copper (2.1 million tonnes grading 0.67 g/t gold and 0.40% copper) as of December 31, 2019.
In 2020 at Goldex, exploration drilling will focus on the MMx, Deep 2 and South zones and conversion drilling will focus on the Deep 1, Deep 2 and South zones.
Development Project
Akasaba West
Agnico Eagle acquired the Akasaba West gold-copper deposit in 2014. Located less than 30 km from Goldex, the deposit has the potential to create flexibility and synergies for the Company's operations in the Abitibi region by using extra milling capacity at both Goldex and LaRonde, while reducing overall unit costs. Akasaba West currently hosts probable gold reserves of approximately 147,000 ounces and approximately 26,000 tonnes of copper (5.4 million tonnes grading 0.84 g/t gold and 0.48% copper) and an indicated gold resource of approximately 46,000 ounces and 9,000 tonnes of copper (2.1 million tonnes grading 0.67 g/t gold and 0.40% copper) as of December 31, 2019.
The public hearing process was completed on Akasaba West in 2017 and the project was deemed to be acceptable under certain conditions. The Akasaba West project requires both provincial and federal permitting; the permitting process is ongoing.
Development of Akasaba West has not been approved by the Company. Over a five-year mine life, Akasaba West has the potential to produce approximately 115,000 ounces of gold and 21,000 tonnes of copper.
Source: https://www.agnicoeagle.com/English/operations/operations/goldex/default.aspx
Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic
Reporting to the Maintenance Supervisor, the Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic will perform his/her duties as a member of the Maintenance Department and collaborate with other departments of the division.
General Trainer
Reporting to the Training Coordinator, the General Trainer will perform his/her duties as a member of the Training Department and collaborate with other departments of the mine.
Organizational Development Coordinator
Reporting to the Manager of People, the Organizational Development Coordinator is responsible for developing training programs.
Underground Engineering Coordinator
Reporting to the Engineering Superintendent, the Underground Engineering Coordinator will perform his/her duties as a member of the Engineering Department and collaborate with other departments of the division.
Open Pit Production Geology Technician
Reporting to the Open Pit Geology Coordinator, the Open Pit Production Geology Technician is part of the Geology Department and collaborates with other departments of the mine.
Energy Maintenance Supervisor
Reporting to the Energy and Infrastructure General Supervisor, the Energy Maintenance Supervisor is part of the Energy & Infrastructure Department and collaborates with other departments of the mine.
Fixed Equipment Operator
Reporting to the Maintenance Supervisor, the Fixed Equipment Operator will perform his/her duties as a member of the site services departments and collaborate with other departments of the division.
Human Resources Coordinator
Under the supervision of the Human Resources Superintendent, the Human Resources Coordinator will structure, maintain and enhance the organization's Human Resources to support the Meliadine Mine.