Abitibi Greenstone Belt – Page 8

Mining For Gold Song- by Cowboy Junkies

September 5, 2015

Have a great Labour Day weekend everyone! – Stan Sudol (RepublicOfMining.com)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

The band was formed by three siblings from the Timmins entertainment family.
Another sibling, Cali, rose to fame as an actress on Ryan’s Hope. The Timmins
siblings are descendants of Noah Timmins, a mining prospector who founded
the Ontario [gold mining] city of Timmins. (Wiki)

Cowboy Junkies are a Canadian alternative country/blues/folk rock band. The group was formed in Toronto in 1985 by Margo Timmins (vocalist), Michael Timmins (songwriter, guitarist), Peter Timmins (drummer) and Alan Anton (bassist).[1]

The Junkies first performed publicly at the Beverley Tavern and other clubs in Toronto’s Queen Street West, including The Rivoli. Their 1986 debut album, produced by Canadian producer Peter Moore, was the blues-inspired Whites Off Earth Now!!, recorded using an ambisonic microphone in the family garage.[1]

[Timmins gold mining] 56 laid off as Primero’s open pit mined out – by Len Gillis (Timmins Daily Press – August 28, 2015)

August 28, 2015

The Daily Press is the city of Timmins broadsheet newspaper.

BLACK RIVER-MATHESON – The gold mining industry in Northeastern Ontario took another hit this week.

Primero Mining Corporation announced Thursday that 56 workers have been laid off as a result of the closure of the open pit operation at the Black Fox mine, located about 10 kilometres east of Matheson. It was formerly the Brigus Gold property.

Primero’s Black Fox underground mine continues to operate, despite the layoffs in the pit, said mine general manager Dan Gagnon at a news conference in Timmins Thursday morning.

Gagnon, a veteran in mine management, was appointed as the new boss at Primero just three months ago. Gagnon made it clear the underground operation at Black Fox is continuing and provides jobs for roughly 310 employees.

It was this time last week that IAMGOLD revealed that 33 employees were to be laid off from the Côtė Lake gold project, located southwest of Gogama.

Lake Shore rocks the boat on Temex, Oban – by Kip Keen (Mineweb.com – July 17, 2015)

July 17, 2015

http://www.mineweb.com/

New offer upsets junior multi-merger.

It seems some Temex shareholders were near prescient in spurning Oban Mining. As noted in these pages, back in early June Oban Mining – a vehicle backed by some heavy hitters on the Canadian mining scene – made waves with a rather rare kind of offer: a merger with four other junior exploration companies with cash and/or exploration assets.

The deal involved arrangements with Eagle Hill Exploration, Temex Resources, Ryan Gold and Corona Gold. The former two have smallish, but high-grade gold resources, while the latter two mostly have cash.

In this, there was strong support in favour of the Oban proposition by Eagle Hill, Ryan Gold and Corona shareholders with lock-up share agreements covering 57%, 29% and 45% of their respective share counts.

But Temex was another case. As one analyst noted on a conference call around the time of the deal’s announcement last month, only 1% of Temex shareholders agreed to lockup in the Oban deal. Pitiful, really. Indeed, one disgruntled shareholder noted on that same call that the premium Temex would get in the deal (via shares in Oban) was less than the other juniors were getting.

BNN Reporter Andrew Bell Interviews Royal Nickel CEO Mark Selby About the Quebec Dumont Nickel Project (July 6, 2015)

July 6, 2015

http://www.bnn.ca/ Toronto-based Business News Network (BNN) is a Canadian cable television specialty channel. BNN airs business and financial programming and analysis. BNN reporter Andrew Bell hosts the Commodities program. From aluminum to zinc and everything in between, BNN highlights the hot world of commodities and the companies that produce them, including interviews with mineral and …

Iamgold’s troublesome mine – by Kip Keen (Mineweb.com – July 6, 2015)

July 6, 2015

http://www.mineweb.com/

The downward revision of production guidance at Westwood will dampen the share price.

Unstable ground conditions are proving to be a major hindrance for Iamgold at the Westwood gold mine, in the Doyon-Bousquet – LaRonde mining camp in Quebec.

Seismic issues – mostly mining-related – at underground mines in the region are nothing new and can require extensive monitoring and management.

But, after a couple sizeable rock bursts, Iamgold is now having to peddle back on projections and reconsider how much gold it can produce at the mine.

Back in January four Iamgold workers were stuck, briefly, underground after a rock fall blocked access. Then, in a similar incident in May, nine workers were again blocked by a rock fall.

Iamgold cuts gold production forecast after ‘seismic event’ at Quebec mine (CBC News Business – June 29, 2015)

June 30, 2015

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business

Rockfall in May that trapped 9 miners has company reassessing practices in area prone to tremors

Canadian miner Iamgold Corp. has cut its gold production forecast for the year, after a probe of what it calls a “localized seismic event” in a Quebec mine.

On May 26, the company halted production at its Westwood mine, one of its newest mines, after a rockfall that trapped nine miners for about 18 hours.

The Westwood mine, which is located near the Cadillac fault, experience two seismic events, with magnitudes of 1.2 and 1.7.

The Westwood event will “have a more significant impact on 2015 production than originally indicated,” Iamgold said a statement on Monday.

CEO Steve Letwin said mining companies working in the region ‘know that this district is prone to seismic activity and we are taking the necessary measures to keep our excellent safety record intact.”

Royal Nickel gets green light from Quebec for its Dumont mine (Canadian Press/CBC News Montreal – June 25, 2015)

June 26, 2015

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal

Mine in northwestern Quebec will initially produce 52,000 tonnes of ore per day

Royal Nickel is hoping to begin construction early next year on one of Canada’s largest base metal mines after receiving the green light Thursday from the Quebec government.

The Dumont project in Abitibi in northwestern Quebec is expected to cost an initial US$1.2 billion and produce 52,000 tonnes per day of ore that is a key ingredient of stainless steel.

The total project will cost US$3 billion over the mine’s 33-year life, including US$900 million that will double its output in five years and US$900 million in ongoing capital upgrades.

Chief executive Mark Selby said the mine will be one of the world’s largest nickel mines and will benefit the region’s economy. The concentrate will be exported primarily to Europe and Asia.

NEWS RELEASE: Royal Nickel Receives Main Environmental Permit for Dumont Project

June 25, 2015

http://www.royalnickel.com/

Commencement of Mine Construction Targeted for Early 2016

TORONTO, June 25, 2015 /CNW/ – Royal Nickel Corporation (“RNC”) (TSX: RNX) announced today that it has received the Certificate of Authorization for the Dumont Nickel Project from the Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change. This authorization is the most significant permit for mining projects in Quebec and positions Dumont to proceed to construction upon completion of financing.

Mark Selby, President and CEO, commented, “The Certificate of Authorization is the most important milestone achieved to date for the Dumont project. Following the appointment of Swedbank as advisors for our contemplated US$600 million senior bond financing, we expect to build on this positive momentum in the coming months. Our objective is to complete the capital raising phase of the project in a timely manner to allow us to begin construction activities by early 2016.”

Once constructed, Dumont will be one of Canada’s largest base metal mines and will make significant contributions to the Quebec economy as a long-term and low-cost producer of nickel concentrate. Dumont is expected to employ an average of over 500 people in the Abitibi region over a 33-year project life.

Junior mining firms turn to creativity in order to get ahead in sector – by Peter Koven (National Post – June 25, 2015)

June 25, 2015

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

A pair of junior mining firms are turning to innovation to try to thrive in a rough bear market. And everyone seems to think it’s about time.

“The mining industry is really prehistoric in the way we do business,” said George Salamis, chairman of Integra Gold Corp.

Indeed. As the junior resource market collapsed over the past several years, many companies have hoarded their cash and done almost nothing to create value for investors. Predictably, stock prices have languished.

But over the last few weeks, a couple of creative ideas have been put into action in this sector. If successful, they will likely inspire more.

Vancouver-based Integra announced a “crowd-sourcing gold rush challenge” this week to try to find gold on its Sigma-Lamaque project in northwest Quebec.

Integra’s management acquired the past-producing mine out of bankruptcy last year. When they went through the old mine office, they found hard drives holding an astounding six terabytes of mining records dating back to 1933. That included data from about 30,000 old drill holes on the property.

NEWS RELEASE: Integra Gold Corp. Launches $1,000,000 Crowd-Sourcing Gold Rush Challenge with the Objective of Finding Val-d’Or’s Next Big Gold Discovery (June 23, 2015)

June 24, 2015

Integra GOLD RUSH Challenge — crowdsourcing for the mining industry

Company hopes $1 million prize purse will attract “digital prospectors” to analyze unprecedented amount of data and direct it towards its next big gold find

VANCOUVER, BC: Integra Gold Corp. (TSX-V: ICG, OTCQX: ICGQF) (“Integra” or the “Company”) is giving the term “data mining” a whole new meaning with the launch of its Integra Gold Rush Challenge, a form of crowdsourcing it hopes will lead it to the next big gold discovery at its Sigma-Lamaque gold property in Val-d’Or, Québec.

The Data

In October 2014, Integra completed the acquisition of the Sigma/Lamaque Mine and Mill complex immediately adjacent to its Lamaque South project and in doing so became the owner of 6 terabytes of historical mining and exploration data in a digital format. The Company has spent the last 6 months compiling this information which, once completed, will be released to the public in one consolidated database. The data dates back to 1933 and includes over 30,000 historic drill holes, more than 50,000 gold assays, hundreds of kilometres of mined underground workings, other mining statistics and photos. Integra is in the process of verifying and digitizing additional information, which it expects to release to contestants in September via a special website.

Abitibi Royalties Inc gets creative to find mining investment opportunities – by Peter Koven (National Post – June 11, 2015)

June 11, 2015

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

Ian Ball is trying to do something that is almost unheard of in the mining industry: use the Internet in a creative way.

Ball, the president of Abitibi Royalties Inc., launched an online platform this week called the “Abitibi Royalties Search.” The website invites cash-poor junior mining companies to submit data on their projects. If Abitibi likes what it sees, it will cover the cost of the claim fees and taxes on the project, which may be unaffordable for the struggling miners. In return, Abitibi receives a permanent royalty.

“We could provide royalty financing for a portion of the market that’s never qualified before, which (is) the junior explorers,” Ball, 33, said in an interview.

Abitibi is a tiny player in the mining royalty space, which is dominated by Franco-Nevada Corp., Royal Gold Inc. and Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd. Those firms will always get first crack at the most promising royalties, and they have billions of dollars to spend on them. Abitibi only has about $35 million to play with, and needs to think creatively and target early-stage projects if it wants to find opportunities that the big players overlook.

BNN Reporter Andrew Bell Interviews Agnico Eagle CEO Sean Boyd (June 10, 2015)

June 10, 2015June 10, 2015

Five juniors, one deal, with Canadian heavy-hitters – by Kip Keen (Mineweb.com – June 10, 2015)

June 10, 2015June 10, 2015

http://www.mineweb.com/

Osisko and Dundee factor large in a deal that will see five Canadian juniors join forces.

In a one-stop-shop style merger comprising five Canadian juniors, a group of leading mine developers in Canada hope to replicate past successes in Central Canada.

Five juniors – two struggling to advance existing projects and three with significant cash piles but little by way of exploration assets – are to join forces combining a trio of mid-stage gold projects in Quebec and Ontario and some $50-odd million in cash.

The deal involves Oban Mining taking over four other juniors, Eagle Hill Exploration, Temex Resources, Ryan Gold and Corona Gold.

John Burzynski, who chairs Oban and who also heads up project development for Osisko Royalties, will become the President and CEO of the combined-company, which is tentatively to be called New Oban. Sean Roosen, who heads up Osisko Royalties (formerly Osisko Mining before it was sold to Agnico Eagle and Yamana) and Ned Goodman, behind Dundee, will co-chair New Oban.

The aim of New Oban is “nothing short of creating the next great Canadian mining house,” Burzynski said during a conference call, who evoked Osisko Mining as the future he saw for New Oban.

Oban Mining Corp brings consolidation to junior mining sector with five-way deal – by Peter Koven (National Post – June 9, 2015)

June 10, 2015June 9, 2015

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

The team behind Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd. is bringing some much-needed consolidation to Canada’s junior mining sector by arranging a complicated merger of five different companies.

The deal brings the five unloved miners together into one entity that is well financed with $65 million of cash, has a well-regarded management team, and has a host of interesting gold projects in Ontario and Quebec. It is exactly the sort of transaction that investors have been clamouring for, as juniors need more scale, capital and trading liquidity if they hope to get noticed and develop their projects in the current rough market conditions.

“People have been talking about (consolidation). We decided to do it,” Osisko chief executive Sean Roosen said in an interview.

The focal point of the transaction is a junior called Oban Mining Corp., which was founded by members of the Osisko team. Oban will make friendly, all-stock offers to four tiny companies: Temex Resources Corp., Ryan Gold Corp., Eagle Hill Exploration Corp., and Corona Gold Corp. Osisko will invest up to $20 million in the company, and provide some management services.