Queries Reopening of Eldrich mine depends on zone 5 drilling

This is a poignant request for some information on drilling results at the Flavrian property surrounding the Win-Eldrich and Sunburst mines at Hebecourt Twp., in the Rouyn- Noranda area of Quebec.

I wrote to Sunburst twice in the past two months but have received no information from them. Are they never going to publish those results? F. Seinger, Mississauga, Ont.

The Flavrian property contains both northern and southern extensions of the Eldrich deposit which produced 700,000 tons at a grade of 0.139 oz gold per ton between 1956 and 1962.

In July, 1984 a joint venture group led by Sullivan Mines Inc. (Sullivan 37.5%, Soquem 37.5% and Aiguebelle Resources 25%) began an underground development program aimed at bringing the mine into production by early 1986. At that time Flavrian reserves stood at 629,510 tonnes grade 0.17 oz.

As operator, Sullivan was given a $4.5 million grant from the Quebec government to finance the program. About $2 million of that was to be spent on a $10.6 million phase-one program to dewater the existing Eldrich underground workings, carry out underground development drilling and to install a headframe and hoist.

The balance of the grant (which was a key element in the decision to go ahead with phase 1) was to be spent on a $17 million 500-ton-per- day mill at the site.

However, after spending $9 million on the project in 1985, problems were encountered and work was slowed because the old underground workings were in worse shape than anticipated. Additional drilling was also needed to confirm ore grading.

The joint ventures partners planned to spend $2.5 million in 1986 to bring the property to the feasibility stage. In its 1986 annual report, Sullivan said “results are promising enough to contemplate mining.”

In 1986, exploration, centred on the new zone 5 outlined reserves estimated at 547,600 tonnes, grade 0.166 oz per tonne after 30% dilution.

During the year 60 m of drift were rehabilitated, 2,358 m of raise and drift were driven, 2,618 m of diamond drilling were completed, and 9,700 tonnes of ore from the upper zones were broken. Earlier this year, a 10,200 ton bulk sample grade 0.16 oz was treated at the Rouanda mill 45 miles north of Eldrich.

Plans for 1987 include deepening the shaft another 214 m, to reach 538 m depth. Drifts will be driven into the new zone 5, in order to be in a position to confirm its grade and tonnage.

The program will be financed through a flow through issue

“We need confirmation of reserves and grading in zone 5 before making any pre-production decisions,” said Sullivan’s vice-president of mining, Daniel Goffaux.