Artemis Gold’s Blackwater mine at final commissioning stage
Artemis now expects to feed first ore to the ball mill in the next few weeks and continues to target first gold pour before year end.
Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. announced on Tuesday that the Gahcho Kué Environmental Impact Review Panelhas informed the Gahcho Kué project operator, De Beers Canada Inc., that the Gahcho Kué Environmental Impact Statement conforms to the terms of reference set by the Panel, which clears the way for the Environmental Impact Review to commence.
Commenting, Mountain Province Diamonds President and CEO, Patrick Evans, said: “The Panel’s ruling represents a major milestone for our joint venture with De Beers. The EIS is a massive body of very detailed scientific work exceeding 11,000 pages. We now look forward to the commencement of the environmental review which will clear the way for the permitting of what we expect will be Canada’s next great diamond mine.”
The Gahcho Kué EIR was ordered by the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, which in turn has appointed the Panel to conduct the Review for an open-pit diamond mine at Kennady Lake in Canada’s Northwest Territories. The Review is divided into start-up, analytical, hearing and decision phases. The Review is currently in the analytical phase. Based on a work plan provided by the Panel, the Review is expected to take approximately two years.
The Gahcho Kué diamond project at Kennady Lake will be the fourth diamond mine developed in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Kennady Lake is situated approximately 90 kilometres south-east of De Beers’ Snap Lake diamond mine. De Beers also operates the Victor diamond mine in northern Ontario.
About Mountain Province Diamonds
Mountain Province is a 49% participant with De Beers Canada in the Gahcho Kué JV located at Kennedy Lake in Canada’s Northwest Territories. The Gahcho Kué Project consists of a cluster of four diamondiferous kimberlites, three of which have a probable mineral reserve of 31.3 million tonnes grading 1.57 carats per tonne for total diamond content of 49 million carats.
Gahcho Kué is the world’s largest and highest grade diamond development project. A December 1, 2010 feasibility study filed by Mountain Province (available on SEDAR) indicates that the Gahcho Kué project has an IRR of 33.9%.
Mountain Province also controls 100% of the Kennady North Diamond Project adjacent to the De Beers JV property. Kennady North hosts three known diamondiferous kimberlites and, together with the De Beers JV project, will be the subject of a geophysical survey commencing this month.
