Home > Junior Companies > Osisko - Hammond Reef > About Hammond Reef
Osisko - Hammond Reef

About Hammond Reef




The Hammond Reef gold project was designed based on the discovery of a large low-grade mineral deposit on a peninsula extending into the Marmion Reservoir. Agnico Eagle’s 50% portion of the resources consists of measured and indicated resources of 180 million tonnes grading 0.65 g/t gold (containing 3.7 million ounces of gold), and inferred resources of 93 million tonnes grading 0.52 g/t gold (containing 1.6 million ounces of gold), using a cut-off gold grade of 0.3 g/t*. The 31,695-hectare property is located in the Thunder Bay Mining District, approximately 170 km west of Thunder Bay, Ontario, and roughly 23 km northeast of the Town of Atikokan, Ontario. The property is located within Treaty 3 lands, the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe people. It is also located within an area recognized by the Métis Nation of Ontario as Region 1 traditional harvesting territory. The property can be accessed by both water and gravel road; a power line is located about 10 km to the west of the property.
 
The area has a modest history of gold mining activities, including two small-scale operating gold mines. Gold was initially discovered in the area in 1895. The Sawbill/Upper Seine mine located on the property operated for a total of six years, from 1897-1898 and from 1938-1941. The Hammond Reef mine operated between 1898 and 1900. The area was flooded in 1943, creating the present Marmion Lake Reservoir.
 
Falconbridge Gold explored the property in the late 1980s and Pentland Firth in the mid-1990s. Brett Resources produced the first NI-43-101-compliant resource at Hammond Reef in 2008, followed by a preliminary economic assessment study in November 2009. Osisko Mining Corporation acquired Brett Resources in 2010, and conducted extensive drilling from 2010 through 2012 resulting in a new estimate of resources, in which most of the inferred resources were upgraded to measured and indicated resources*. In June 2014, Osisko was acquired by a partnership of Agnico Eagle (50%) and Yamana Gold (50%); this partnership now holds 100% interest in the Hammond Reef property, subject to royalty agreements.
 
Permitting at Hammond Reef is subject to approvals from both Federal (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency) and Provincial (Ministry of the Environment, Environmental Approvals Branch) authorities. The Ontario Minister of Environment approved the terms of reference for the Environmental Assessment (EA) in July 2012, while the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency finalized the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) guidelines in October 2011. One (single) final EA/EIS report was prepared to meet both Federal and Provincial requirements and was distributed for public comment on January 17, 2014.
 
Key aspects of the project that were considered in the EA include a tailings management facility, a mine with two open pits, an ore processing facility which includes a processing plant, a waste rock management facility, linear infrastructure including an access road and a transmission line, a water management system and supporting infrastructure that includes an accommodation camp for workers. The project would also require the draining of Mitta Lake, a small lake located directly on top of the orebody.
 
*Source: Hammond Reef April 30, 2012 Resources

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.