Eastmaque begins tailings operation

The first tailings have been pumped by Eastmaque Gold Mines to the mill at Kirkland Lake, Ont., the company reports. Although ice cover over Kirkland Lake was having a detrimental affect on dredging operations, the company says these have been solved by moving the dredge to an area where the tailings lie exposed above the waterline. Under such conditions, the dredge is pumping at a rate of 2,250 tons per day. At such a rate, the project is expecting to produce approximately 20,000 oz gold per year. Tailings, which are being pumped on a 24-hour basis, go directly to a flotation circuit. Initial gold recoveries are 63%, slightly less than the projected recovery of 67%. Eastmaque, which is storing concentrates in the thickener and stock tank, hopes to make its first shipment of concentrate to Noranda’s Horne smelter in Quebec, before year-end. Tailings reserves total 7.7 million tons grading 0.038 oz gold per ton.