Ongoing exploration by Agnico-Eagle Mines (TSE) is enhancing the resource potential of its La Ronde mine property near Cadillac, Que.
La Ronde, which started up in 1988, is Agnico-Eagle’s main operating unit. Production last year totalled 145,000 oz., and the current exploration program is aimed at increasing reserves, as well as gold production. To date, the company has established eight mineralized zones, which are expected to provide tonnage over and beyond the 1 million oz. of proven and probable gold reserves already identified.
Preliminary mineral inventories have been calculated for five of the eight zones (6-at-depth, 7, 19, 20 North and 20 South), which result in an overall potential resource of 18 million tons grading 0.176 oz. gold and 2.49 oz. silver per ton, plus 0.28% copper and 4.53% zinc. The new zones are the focus of an aggressive exploration and development program aimed at gathering enough data to establish the economics of each zone.
Agnico-Eagle plans to spend $2.1 million on underground exploration at La Ronde this year. The work will consist of 2,100 ft. of level development and more than 63,000 ft. of drilling.
Underground development work is under way from shaft No. 2., in order to prepare zone 6 for production in the second half of 1995. Probable reserves on this zone were recently revised upward to 815,000 tons grading 0.3 oz. gold and 1.07 oz. silver, plus 1.14% copper and 2.44% zinc.
To gain access to the various zones at La Ronde, Agnico is deepening the main production shaft to 4,300 ft., which should be accomplished by November. An exploration drive from this shaft, on the 27th level, is scheduled to begin a year from now; it will provide more information about zones 7, 19, 20 North and South, as well as open up unexplored areas at depth, below the producing Main zone.
The other underground access will be provided by shaft No. 3., the sinking of which is expected to begin this summer to a planned depth of 5,700 ft. Once this shaft is complete, an exploration drive on the 33rd level (5,400 ft. below surface) will be extended into zones 20 North and South, providing more information on the continuity and characteristics of mineralization.
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