Viceroy pours gold at Brewery Creek

Brewery Creek, the largest lode gold mine ever built in the Yukon, has poured its first dore bar.

Owner Viceroy Resource reports that the pour consisted of 1,320 oz. of 80% gold.

Situated 58 km east of Dawson City, the open-pit, heap-leach operation is forecast to produce 85,000 oz. per year for a least eight years. The mine was completed five weeks behind schedule and 4% over budget, within seven operating months of receiving permits in August 1995.

Some 2 million tonnes of ore containing about 85,000 oz. were placed on the pad from August to mid-October, and more than 600,000 tonnes will be placed this winter.

To ensure year-round gold recovery in a region known for its harsh winters, process solutions will be heated by diesel-powered generators during cold weather. Solutions will be heated to 12C before being pumped to the pad at a rate of 1,650 gallons per minute. The return solution averages 8C, despite outdoor temperatures as low as minus 40.

The company expects production in the winter to range between 10,000 and 15,000 oz. Production next year is projected to exceed 100,000 oz., from 2.3 million tonnes of ore.

Viceroy, as it now exists, was formed by a 3-way merger involving Viceroy, Baja Gold and Loki Gold. The company, which has reserves of 2 million oz.

gold, owns 75% of the Castle Mountain mine in California and 40% of the Paredones Amarillos project near La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico. MK Gold (MKAU-Q) owns the remaining interest in Castle Mountain, whereas Echo Bay Mines (ECO-T) owns the remaining 60% of Paredones Amarillos.