The results of a deep exploration program at the Williams gold mine at Hemlo, Ont., will be released sometime in February, says Mike Lepkewich, vice-president of mining for Teck (TSE). Equal partners Corona (TSE) and Teck (mine operator) spent most of last year testing western and depth extensions of the mine’s main zone from a drift at the 9175 level (3,822 ft. below surface), and are currently compiling results.
To date, there has been scant information on the potential for ore extensions of Canada’s largest gold producer, but at the 1989 Goldman Sachs mining seminar, Corona Chairman Ned Goodman told his audience that deep exploration could double reserves at Williams.
“We believe there is a depth extension to the orebody which could match what is above,” he said.
On Jan 1, 1990, proven and probable reserves stood at 32.6 million tons grading 0.18 oz. per ton in the main zone and 3.1 million tons grading 0.09 oz. in the C zone.
Exploration on the C zone, scheduled to begin in 1990, has been postponed. “It’s a matter of priorities,” said Lepkewich. “We will be drifting out to the C zone (from the 9975 level) this year.”
Currently, open pit mining on the C zone provides backfill material and low-grade ore mill feed. Lying to the west and south of the main orebody, the C zone has never been explored at depth.
The Williams mine produced 674,300 oz. of gold in the first nine months of 1990 at a direct operating cost of US$170 per oz.
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