Osisko Metals has resumed drilling activities at its Pine Point zinc and lead mining project in Canada’s Northwest Territories.
After receiving approvals from the NT health and social services board in July, the development company has continued its mining camp activities to provide devised permitting and environmental plans and is adding drilling to its range of activity at present, Osisko said in a news release on Thursday.
The Pine Point site has strong prospects for the development of mineral resources and the company’s overall approach is for the process plant to reach the average output rate of 11,250mt for daily zinc and lead extracted over the life of the mine, which is projected at 10 years.
Jeff Hussey, president and chief operations officer of Osisko said the company has one drill currently operating at Pine Point but with several goals set for the property, the plan is to increase its drill count by Fall 2020.
The goal set for the first stage of drilling is to expand deposits as shown in the company’s prior estimates, released in June 2020, that resulted in the effective tonnage increasing in its East Mill Zone. Comparable goals were then set forth at Pine Point, Hussey said.
Osisko’s preliminary exploration activities found 11 open deposits within the East Mill, Central and North Zones with unconfined and high-grade drill intercepts that also indicate resources may extend outside of the deposit area.