HD Mine Site Prepared for StrippingThis was done in 2022-23.
The optimized pit site is now cleared of all debris, brush , boulders etc and ready for the next stage which will be stripping off the overburden of rocks etc, so that mining benches can be constructed.
You can see a picture of the cleared site at this link..
https://www.mining-technology.com/projects/hammerdown-gold-project-newfoundland-and-labrador-canada/
Note on the right of the picture you can see the starter mining bench which Richmont used to produce about 9000 ounces before going underground and hard rock mining .
The suggestion has been made by Maritine that are looking at the best early mining opportunities which could produce cash flows to reduce the amount of capital required to fully develop the optimized pit .
The site preparation exposed two high grade veins on the site but pushbacks of the walls of that first mining bench also looks promising to me especially as Richmont ....with a 8.5 grams per ton cutoff grade..generated average grades near 16 grams per ton .
AIMHO..