NA Palladium posts record output at Lac des les

The Lac des les mine, near Thunder Bay, Ont., produced 20,000 oz. more palladium in 2004 than in 2003.

North American Palladium (PDL-T) reports production of 308,931 oz. palladium from 5.3 million tonnes of ore grading 2.41 grams palladium per tonne. As byproducts, Lac des les also produced 25,128 oz. platinum, 25,679 oz. gold, 4.3 million lbs. nickel, and 7.8 million lbs. copper.

Over the past year, the mill averaged 14,477 tonnes per day. Throughput was reduced to 13,075 tonnes in the fourth quarter, owing to downtime caused by maintenance work and the addition of a secondary crusher.

About 62,500 oz. palladium are expected to be produced in each of the next three quarters, during which time the ore grade will be low (just under 2 grams palladium per tonnne) while throughput will be higher. The concentrator is designed to handle 15,000 tonnes of ore per day.

At the beginning of 2004, open-pit proven and probable reserves totalled 36.2 million tonnes grading 1.84 grams palladium, 0.2 gram platinum and 0.15 gram gold per tonne, plus 0.08% nickel and 0.06% copper.

The company began building the underground mine in May 2004; a ramp is being developed to provide access to reserves. Initial production is scheduled for the third quarter of 2005; full production, for 2006.

At the end of 2003, proven underground reserves totalled 3.5 million tonnes grading 6.62 grams palladium per tonne, 0.4 gram platinum, 0.34 gram gold per tonne, 0.08% nickel and 0.07% copper.

The underground reserve is defined over a 350-metre strike-length. The Main High Grade zone averages 12 metres in width; it is nearly vertical, truncated, and offset by a fault at a depth of 675 metres.

Mineralization is in mafic and ultramafic intrusions, which belong to the Lac des les intrusive complex. Ore is typically brecciated and contains from trace to 5% pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, pentlandite and pyrite.

A 2,000-metre hole is being drilled to test below the Offset High Grade zone (below and west of the underground reserve). The zone has been traced over a 300-metre strike length and to a depth of just over 900 metres.

A 5% “net cash proceeds” royalty is payable on production from the Lac des les property to The Sheridan Group.

North American Palladium recently completed 3,000 metres of drilling at its Shebandowan Lake project, 70 km west of Thunder Bay, where a nickel/copper/platinum-group-element target exists along strike of the past-producing Shebandowan mine.