Timmins mine developer finetuning its processing plans

Gowest Gold reports that it has successfully completed processing of its first development ore from its Bradshaw gold deposit, north of Timmins.

The Toronto-based mine builder sent 23,000 tonnes of gold-bearing material from a bulk sample and trucked it to Northern Sun's Redstone Mill during December and January. More than 1,000 tonnes of concentrate went to the Humon Smelter in China.

The company said gold recovery from the mill showed steady improvement as the processed advanced. This testing program remains ongoing.

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The processing provides "valuable evidence" of how the material responds to ore-sorting, grinding, flotation, dewatering and concentrate smelting. The trial also demonstrates that the mill site water quality and tailings impoundment are in regulatory compliance in protecting the surrounding environment

“We are very pleased with the positive results we’ve received from these detailed technical trials at the mill, and look forward to receiving final results after the concentrate has been processed at Shandong Humon Smelting Co.," said company president Greg Romain in a Feb. 23 statement.

"Thus far, the results have demonstrated the viability of our processing plans, and confirmed that we are keeping our promise to operate safely and protect the environment. This is another major step towards advancing the Bradshaw gold deposit as the newest gold mine in the Timmins camp.”

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Romain said discussions continue on the financing front to complete a higher-grade processing trial in order to bring Bradshaw into commercial production.

The Bradshaw deposit is part of the company’s North Timmins Gold Project, 32 kilometres northeast of the city.

The deposit contains an indicated resource estimated at 2.1 million tonnes, grading 6.19 grams per tonne gold containing 422,000 ounces, and an inferred resource of 3.6 million tonnes grading 6.47 grams per tonne containing 755,000 ounces.