Test mining a success for Fairfield Minerals

Underground test mining is returning both revenue and positive results from the company’s Siwash North gold deposit in southern British Columbia.

Owner Fairfield Minerals (TSE) recently sold more than 8,000 oz. to Asarco, bringing total sales from the deposit, since 1992, to more than 23,500 oz. Work is focused on a high-grade vein system where gold ore has been extracted using both open-pit and underground methods. The vein has been drill-tested to 1,000 ft. and remains open at depth.

The initial underground test mining showed that the high-grade ore was successfully mined at an average thickness of 1.8 ft. Since late 1993, 1,600 tons averaging 2.25 oz. per ton have yielded 3,600 oz. gold from drifts, raises and a stope situated below the pit. Production costs were about US$220 per oz., including mining, shipping and smelter processing.

To date, Fairfield has drilled 83 holes totaling 7,900 ft. from underground stations to intersect the vein on a 33×33-ft. spacing. This work is reported to have expanded and defined ore shoots with grades exceeding 2 oz. per ton. Three of the holes had quartz-vein intersections of more than 7 ft. true thickness, with one of these returning 3.42 oz. over 8.1 ft. Underground work will resume later this year, once open-pit operations are completed. Fairfield expects to extract ore containing 25,000 oz. gold from the pit by October.

The company holds 230 sq. miles near Siwash North and is exploring several other gold targets on this land package. The region is accessible by road.