Development plans are in the works for the Lamefoot gold deposit now that Echo Bay Mines (TSE) has received approval from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to expand its Kettle River operations in Washington state.
Last fall, the BLM had required Echo Bay to conduct additional studies on the potential impacts of mining at depth. The company says those studies confirm that the mine will have a low impact on the environment, as was predicted by the 1994 environmental impact statement.
Echo Bay can expand mining below the 2,750-ft. level to the base of the Lamefoot deposit. It has 60 days to submit a revised plan of operations spelling out how it will develop the second phase of the mine.
Echo Bay has operated Kettle River since 1988, mining four deposits to date; Lamefoot is the latest deposit to become part of the ongoing operation. A sixth is in the advanced stage of exploration.
At the end of 1994, Lamefoot reserves were reported as being 1.65 million tons grading 0.222 oz. gold per ton, or 365,000 contained ounces.
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