Mining News: Northern Neighbors: Red Mountain readies for permitting

IDM Mining Ltd. Feb. 16 said the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office has issued a section 11 order for the Red Mountain underground gold project that outlines the scope and requirement of the provincial environmental assessment, as well as the public and Aboriginal consultation procedures. A preliminary economic assessment outlines plans for a 1,000-metric-ton-per-day mill producing 55,000 ounces of gold and 171,000 oz. of silver per year over a five-year mine life. A two-year environmental baseline program in support of the environmental assessment process is expected to be completed in early summer, and the data will be incorporated into the provincial and federal environmental assessment applications. Project engineering studies, including tailings and water management design, are progressing in conjunction with the EA process, with an aim to publish a feasibility study by the end of 2016. Additionally, the company is updating the project’s resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment to include IDM’s 2014 drilling and historic drill results from the 141 Zone; this area of mineralization runs parallel to the current resource zones. The revised PEA is targeted for release in the second quarter of 2016, and also will include updated project design and site layout concepts, a new economic model, and a detailed development timeline. The Red Mountain property is located 18 kilometers (11 miles) northeast of Stewart in northwestern British Columbia.

- Shane Lasley