KTR article https://plus.lapresse.ca/screens/f5965bf8-731b-4457-b1af-afca15821c8f__7C___0.html
Translation to English:
KINTAVAR EXPLORATION
START OF DRILLING FOR THE WABASH PROJECT IN MAURECIA
There have been no copper mines in operation in Quebec in recent decades, but the situation could change. This is at least Kintavar Exploration's ambition. The company has just begun drilling for its Wabash project, near the village of Parent, merged with La Tuque, Mauricie, to assess its content.
"We found surface mineralisation, up to 6% copper per tonne of ore, but normally, we are more around 1% in this project, so we now have to drill to assess the average copper content," says Kiril Mugerman, President and CEO of Kintavar Exploration.
He specifies that the average grade of copper mines in the world is currently 0.6%.
Kintavar Exploration also drilled at the Mitchi site, 65 km away, where the grade is 0.5%. If Wabash is interesting in terms of content, this entire sector could be exploited.
Global demand for copper is very strong at the moment, since it is used in the manufacture of electrical circuits. "We are also expected to have a great lack of copper worldwide, in particular because of the needs created by transport electrification efforts," explains Mr. Mugerman.
In addition to copper, silver was found on the surface at Wabash, in a grade of 30 to 60 g per tonne of ore.
"There is also the presence of gold, zinc, lead: it is really a polymetallic project. At the moment, we are focussing on copper and silver, but further studies will be needed to see if it would be interesting to extract other metals. ”
CLOSE TO THE SERVICES
Generally, in Quebec, mining projects are carried out in areas far from all services. This is not the case with this site, which would reduce operating costs.
"There is a railway and Hydro-Qubec's line stops 12 km from the project, so it is certain that if a large international company wants to come and operate the site, it would build a power line to reach Hydro-Qubec's network rather than supply the mine with diesel. It would therefore be a greener project. ”
SOCIAL ACCEPTABILITY
Since the creation of Kintavar Exploration in 2017, working with local people has been a priority. "The company was also launched in partnership with the owners of a company in the Mont-Laurier sector," said Mr. Mugerman. It is not a region that is known for mining development, but for the forest industry. For us, it was therefore very important, since our arrival in the sector, to work with locals. ”
Kintavar Exploration has also acquired the Fer cheval outfitter, north of Mont-Laurier. "It drives 12 months out of 12 and we hire local people," says Mr. Mugerman. We also use this space as an operations centre for exploration, keep equipment and house Hydro-Qubec workers. ”
"For us, it is a way to introduce the mining industry into the sector by working with communities, especially Aboriginal ones. ”
This attention to social acceptability is likely to help convince a large company to come and exploit this sector. "This is something important for large companies now," says Mr. Mugerman. It's no longer like 20 or 30 years ago, when the miners arrived and tore everything away. ”
The results of the Wabash drilling are expected in early 2022.
— Kiril Mugerman, CEO of Kintavar Exploration