ONTARIO - Drilling at the Timmins West project belonging to LAKE SHORE GOLD of Vancouver has allowed the company to compile reserve numbers and complete a pre-feasibility study. The deposit contains an estimated 3.39 million tonnes grading 7.59 g/t Au as probable reserves. There are also 3.27 million tonnes grading 8.62 g/t Au in the indicated resource category, and 968,000 tonnes grading 5.54 g/t Au in inferred resources.
The pre-feasibility study, prepared by SRK CONSULTING, anticipates underground mining methods will be trackless cut and fill and longhole stoping, utilizing ramp access from main levels. Dilution rates average 12% for cut and fill and 27% for longhole stoping, including fill and external dilution. The ore will be hauled by load-haul-dumpers or trucks, depending on haul distance, to an orepass leading to the crusher. Overall mining recovery is expected to be 96% for planned stopes and 75% for crown pillars.
Lake Shore plans to use the Bell Creek mill to process Timmins West ore. Bell Creek is a conventional mill using cyanidation with carbon-in-pulp processing for recovery of gold. Gravity and flotation circuits are in place, but the current flow sheet for Timmins West ore does not use either circuit. Prior to being placed on care and maintenance, the mill operated at a daily capacity of 1,500 tonnes of ore. However, due to the currently available information on the work index and leach times for Timmins West ore, the planned mill modifications have been designed at a nominal 1,000 tonnes per day to match the maximum tonnage determined in the preliminary mine plan.
Lake Shore is in the final stages of acquiring the Bell Creek mill from the Porcupine Joint Venture (GOLDCORP and KINROSS GOLD). A Lake Shore crew is on site doing preliminary work in preparation for final transfer of the plant to Lake Shore.
Technical information about the Timmins West project is posted at www.LSGold.com.
Comments