Underground program proceeds at Beaver Brook — Exploration aims to expand reserves

With mill construction now complete, Roycefield Resources (RYC-T) expects to begin processing antimony ore next month at its Beaver Brook project in central Newfoundland.

The company spent $4.6 million to build the 400-Tonne-per-day concentrator, as well as $2.1 million on a surface and underground exploration program, which is still in progress.

Past work on the property outlined reserves of 1.3 million tonnes averaging 4.5% antimony. The deposit remains open in all directions. In an attempt to increase reserves, Roycefield is carrying out a 5,500-Metre drill program in portions of the East zone, below the 100-Metre horizon.

The company will advance the ramp to 465 from 365 metres at a cost of about $1.8 million. The mine has been dewatered, and crosscutting will be carried out. Also, a powerline to the site has been completed and mining is expected to begin this month.

Roycefield plans to produce both concentrates and value-added antimony trioxides for European and North American suppliers of flame-retardants.

Discussions are under way to sell antimony concentrates to large processors.

Hydrometallurgical tests to convert antimony concentrate to antimony trioxide have been successful. A demonstration plant, to be built this summer, is expected to aid in the design and construction of the commercial plant.