Owner: North American Palladium

 

Sleeping Giant is an underground gold mine and mill located in the Abitibi region of northeastern Quebec, near the town of Amos. The mine was discovered in 1976 and mining began in 1988. It was shut down in 1991 and reopened in 1993.  The Mine is a typical "narrow vein" gold mine as it commonly found in the region.

 

On May 26, 2009, North American Palladium completed a merger with Cadiscor Resrouces Inc and retains 100% ownership of the property. The poperty covers an area of 3141 hectares comprising 69 claims and 4 mining leases.

 

The mine has a workforce of 200. The company is currently deepening the sleeping Giant mine shaft by 200 meters to gain access to three new higher grade mining levels, the underutilized mill has the potential to serve NAP's nearby projects in the Abiti region.

 

 

Mining & Operation

 

The Sleeping Giant mine was in production from 1988 to 1991 and 1993 to September 2008, when it was placed on care and maintenance by Iamgold, its previous owner. At the end of 2008, cumulative production was approximately 960,000 ounces of gold at an average grade of about 11.44 g/t Au.

 

North American Palladium poured its first gold bars at the Sleeping Giant mine on October 6, 2009 and declared commercial production on January 1, 2010.

 

The mine is accessed by a four-compartment production shaft with a total depth of 1,053 metres. Levels are spaced at 45 metres from surface to a depth of 235 metres, and from there to a depth of 975 metres are spaced at 60 metres. The exploration shaft and various raises allow all portions of the mine to be ventilated with fresh air. An ore pass and a waste pass allow material to be handled and raised to the surface. The deepest working level of the mine is presently 975 metres but North American Palladium began to deepen the shaft with a view to extending it by up to another 180 metres in 2009. The mine uses 3 and 5 tonne electric locomotives and rail cars.

 

Three mining methods have been used to extract ore, with the method being determined according to the dip of a particular zone. For dips over 65 degrees, long-hole and shrinkage stope extraction is used. For slopes between 65 and 45 degrees, the method employed is generally shrinkage stope mining (with some stopes mined by long-hole methods). For slopes below 45 degrees, the room and pillar extraction method is used.

 

Mine facilities include a three compartment shaft to 490 m and a 160 tonne/hour hoist accessing 7 levels, a 900 tonne/day mill, and tailings disposal.

 

Km 118, Route 109 Nord

Amos, PQ

CAN J9P 3A3

Phone:+1 (819) 732-8268

Fax:+1 (819) 732-5019