By Kelsey James

Alamos Gold Inc.’s 2023 Feasibility Study for the Lynn Lake Gold Project in northern Manitoba has outlined a larger, longer life and lower cost operation with continued exploration potential.

The study, released at the beginning of August, incorporates a 44 per cent larger mineral reserve and 14 per cent increase in milling rates to 8,000 tonnes per day. It replaces Alamos Gold’s 2017 Feasibility Study and has been updated to reflect the larger Mineral Reserve base, the current costing environment, as well as a significant amount of additional engineering, on-site geotechnical investigation work, and requirements outlined during the Environmental Impact Statement review process.

“The average gold production over the first five years is over 200,000 ounces and 176,000 ounces over the first 10 years, which is a significant increase from 2017,” says Alamos Gold vice-president of exploration Scott Parsons. “Projects with low-cost profiles are rare, and we wanted to demonstrate that this project – even with updated capital costs for 2023 – is an attractive project with a larger reserve and low operating costs.”

Another significant aspect of Alamos’s recently released Feasibility Study is the new 17-year mine life for the project. The operation is now backed by a life of mine production of 2.2 million ounces, a 46 per cent increase from the 1.5 million ounces reported in 2017.

“Our exploration team has been successful in expanding the reserve and resource base, and as a result, we have a different but more robust project now compared to 2017,” Parsons says. “One exciting opportunity at the Lynn Lake Gold Project is the district scale exploration potential across the greenstone belt.”

“We have a pipeline of prospective targets across the Lynn Lake Greenstone belt from earlier stage targets that would typically involve prospecting and mapping through to drill-ready targets,” he adds. “We’ve had great results from the Maynard drilling target, so that’s a target that we intend on continuing to advance.”

The updated Feasibility Study is not the only success Alamos Gold has had this year.

In March, the company completed its Environmental Impact Statement for the Lynn Lake Gold Project and received a positive Decision Statement by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada. As well, in accordance with the Environment Act, the Province of Manitoba issued Environment Act Licenses for the MacLellan and Gordon sites.

Alamos Gold also recently signed an Impact Benefit Agreement with Marcel Colomb First Nation, with the official signing ceremony being hosted on June 13.

The company began working with the local First Nation as soon as it acquired the Lynn Lake Gold Project in 2016, notes Rebecca Thompson Alamos Gold Vice-president of Public Affairs.

“The agreement is a collaborative approach between the First Nation and the company,” Thompson says. “It’s a holistic approach toward ensuring we can develop the project in an environmentally responsible manner while providing significant socio-economic benefits including maximizing employment from the local community once we get going.”

The Environmental Impact Statement and updated Feasibility Study form the foundation of what will lead to a decision point on whether to move forward with construction and operation of the project. In the meantime, Alamos Gold will continue to explore and advance engineering of the Lynn Lake Gold Project.

“The Lynn Lake Gold Project is one that will provide economic development in northern Manitoba, create jobs, and support the local economy, so this project is part of the benefits to Northern Manitoba’s prosperity,” Thompson says.

In 2024, the company will also focus on the Burnt Timber and Linkwood deposits, which were not included in the study. Alamos Gold will be advancing the deposits, doing infill drilling, and expanding on them to increase the number of ounces from both deposits.

For more information about Alamos Gold and the Lynn Lake Gold Project, visit www.alamosgold.com.