Name of the Mine
Kiena Mine Complex.

Location  
North-western Quebec, in Canada, straddling the southern part of the Abitibi greenstone belt and the northern part of the Pontiac subprovince.

Mine Owner/s  
Wesdome.

Brief Description  
The Kiena mine is situated on the prospective AGB. The property consists of one mining concession and a group of 183 contiguous electronic-map-designated mining claims, of which 169 claims are registered to Wesdome.

Brief History  
After successful completion of a prefeasibility study, a restart of operations was announced on May 26, 2021.

Commercial production was declared in December 2022.

Primary Metals/Minerals  
Gold.

Secondary Metals/Minerals  
None stated.

Geology/Mineralisation  
Gold mineralisation in the property occurs in all rock types except the Proterozoic dykes, but is more common in intrusive bodies and basalt, as these acted as competent rock units that promoted fracturing during deformation.

At least 63 mineralised zones have been observed on the property. In general, mineralised zones on the property occur near a large-scale fault. They are often associated with a subsidiary shear zone that may be proximal, adjacent or host to the mineralisation. Alteration minerals are dominantly albite, carbonates and pyrite with lesser chlorite and silica.

The Kiena Deep A Zone was first intersected in December 2007. It is localised within the Marbenite Fault deformation corridor and is divided into three main lenses: ZA, ZA1 and ZA2. A fourth, smaller lens (H1ZA) is located in the hanging wall of the ZA at the contact between the basalt and the flow breccia units.

The Footwall Zone is defined by many new intersections of gold mineralisation, located within a 50-m-wide corridor adjacent to the footwall of A2 Zone. Gold mineralisation is associated with quartz ± visible gold veins that are spatially associated with amphibolite-altered komatiite and basaltic komatiite units. In some areas, gold mineralisation is also observed in deformed basalt and/or flow breccias present within ultramafic units. Similar to the Kiena Deep A Zone, gold mineralisation is deformed by subsequent folding, shearing and faulting.

Reserves  
Total proven and probable reserves as at December 31, 2022, were estimated at 1.66-million tonnes grading 11.4 g/t gold.

Resources  
Total measured and indicated resources as at December 31, 2022, were estimated at 971 000 t grading at 5.3 g/t. Inferred resources were estimated at 3.5-million tonnes grading 5.9 g/t.

Type of Mine
The Kiena Mine Complex is an underground operation.

Mining Method  
Historical longhole mining methods are used, and development will be performed using standard development methods. When mining under previously mined areas, underhand  longhole mining will be used.

Major Infrastructure/Equipment  
The Kiena Mine Complex was designed with a plant throughput of 1 250 t/d; however, crushing capacity has since been added.

The process plant comprises a jaw crusher at the mine, ore-handling equipment and storage, a secondary crusher with a 1 800 t silo, a 1 000 hp semiautogenous grinding mill followed by a 900 hp ball mill operating in closed circuit, and two stages of cyclones for classification.

All existing infrastructure is considered operational and fit for use.  

Prospects  
A new tailings storage facility is expected to be commissioned in 2024.

Contact Details
Wesdome
Tel +1 416 360 3743

Sources
Wesdome. Website: https://www.wesdome.com/
Wesdome. Wesdome announces annual mineral resource and reserve updates for Eagle River and Kiena mine complexes (March 13, 2023).