LAC, Rouyn hit good widths at Francoeur mine

Exceptional widths are being encountered at the Francoeur gold mine, owned equally by Rouyn Mining Resources (TSE) and LAC Minerals (TSE). Situated near Rouyn, Que., the Francoeur mine entered production in 1988. Rouyn is the operator.

Exploration and development work from a new 2,684-ft. shaft completed in June, 1989, is yielding excellent results from ground between the 11th and 12th mining levels. Three fences of drill holes spaced 100 ft. were completed. The first returned values of 0.2 oz. gold per ton across 52 ft., 0.12 oz. gold across 57.5 ft. and 0.13 oz. gold across 58.6 ft. in three holes.

A hundred feet away, two holes cut 48 ft. grading 0.17 oz. gold and 38 ft. assaying 0.178 oz. gold. A third fence, another 100 ft. from the first tier of holes, returned values of 0.2 oz. gold across 31.6 ft., 0.38 oz. gold across 39.1 ft. and 12 ft. assaying 0.195 oz. gold, Rouyn President Jean-Guy Rivard told The Northern Miner.

“The grades and widths are better than expected,” Rivard explained. “We’ve only had good news from the new shaft.”

The underground exploration is part of a $7.5-million development program designed to upgrade a minimum of 800,000 tons to one million tons into the proven-probable category.

If the reserve goal is met, Rouyn and LAC will consider the construction of a 1,000-ton-per-day mill. “We should be able to make a mill decision by the end of May,” Rivard said. Currently, milling of mined ore is taking place on a toll basis at LAC’s Est-Malartic mill.

For the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, the mine produced 20,735 oz. of gold. This year’s budget is for 27,500 oz. increasing to 33,500 oz. in 1991 and 61,400 oz. in 1992.

By Feb. 15, Rouyn expects to complete waste and ore passes at the Francoeur. Also, processing of about 70,000 tons of muck will begin at Est-Malartic in April. This will coincide with the start of commercial production at a rate of 1,000 tons per day from the new shaft. Production to date has been from the No. 6 shaft 2,500 ft. away.

“For us, it’s a new mine,” Rivard said. Rouyn is one of the few junior mining companies in Canada to successfully build an operating gold mine in recent years. LAC audits the operation regularly and has been pleased with the project’s performance. The Francoeur was formerly operated by Wright-Hargreaves Mines, a LAC predecessor company, and produced 150,000 oz. of gold before closing in 1971.