LaFleur Minerals (CSE:LFLR) has launched a twinned-hole drilling program at the Swanson gold deposit, ahead of completing a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the purpose of restarting production at the Beacon Gold Mill in Canada.
The program, consisting of 10 holes, will aim to collect data for validating historical drilling completed at Swanson to augment confidence in the geological model and increase confidence in the mineral resource categories.
Data will also be collected for validating continuity and scale of the mineralised system, collecting drill core material for ongoing ore sorting and metallurgical testwork.
CEO Paul Teniere says advancing the Beacon Gold Mill to restart production with gold prices at recovery levels offers economic potential.
“We are well underway to completing a comprehensive PEA for the restart of the Beacon Gold Mill and at the suggestion of ERM, we are nearing completion of twinning historical holes that form the basis of the mineral resource at our Swanson gold deposit,” Teniere says.
The Beacon Gold Mill has recently been modernised and upgraded to a 750 tonne-per-day facility equipped with crushing, grinding, flotation, regrind, leaching, and Merrill-Crowe circuits. The mill has been in care and maintenance since March 2023.
Recommissioning activities will focus on upgrades and repairs to the filter presses, tailings pump box, leach tanks, pumps, motors, air systems, monitoring instruments, along with the installation of a gravity concentrator circuit.
LaFleur has estimated between 10,000 and 20,000 tonnes of mineralised stockpiles remaining on site, however, the exact number will be confirmed as the mill restart program advances.
LaFleur Minerals is a near-term gold producer focused on entering into production in 2026.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: LaFleur Minerals
