Hedge funds slash bullish wagers on gold over Trump election win
Hedge funds and other large speculators boosted net-long positions by 11% to 197,362 as of Nov. 12, the lowest in 14 weeks.
The ongoing drill program at the Windfall gold project is, in a word, “spectacular.” Osisko Mining (TSX: OSK) reported assays as high as 296 g/t gold over 2.0 metres from the Lynx deposit.
Other notable intersections included 177 g/t over 2.1 metres, 54.2 g/t over 4.5 metres, 63.7 g/t over 2.0 metres, and 48.2 g/t over 2.0 metres.
Osisko CEO John Burzynski said in a release, “We are encouraged by the expansion drilling in the Lynx and Triple Lynx areas. Today’s 37 expansion intercepts in these corridors are a good indication of the continuing potential in these zones.”
The Lynx deposit is part of the Windfall gold project located in the Abitibi greenstone belt, Eeyou Istchee James Bay, Que. The property lies between the towns of Val d’Or and Chibougamau.
Osisko released an updated Windfall resource estimate in February 2021. With a cut-off grade of 3.5 g/t gold, the measured and indicated resource is 6.0 million tonnes averaging 9.6 g/t gold and containing close to 1.9 million oz. The inferred resource is 16.4 million tonnes at 8.0 g/t gold, containing 4.2 million oz.
Since the estimate was filed, infill drilling continues to deliver extremely high grades pointing toward resource expansion. A feasibility study is due early in 2022, and mining might begin as early as 2025.
The updated preliminary economic assessment for Windfall, completed this month, outlines seven initial years of production averaging 300,000 oz. of gold annually from ore with a diluted grade of 8.1 g/t gold. Average after tax free cash flow is estimated to be C$253 million in each of the first seven years. The all-in sustaining cost of $610 per oz. gold produced. The capital cost of building the mine and mill will be C$544 million (including a power line and contingency).
(This article first appeared in the Canadian Mining Journal)
