Probable High Grade Start to HD mining The recent trenching program at Hammerdown exposed near-surface high-grade gold mineralization adjacent to the historic Richmont bulk sample area.
In 2000, prior to commencing underground mining operations at Hammerdown, Richmont Mines excavated an eight-bench open-pit bulk sample at Hammerdown that produced 19,300 tonnes grading 14.3 g/t Au for 8,874 contained ounces.
The recent high grade trenching results announced here, including 49 g/t Au with an average width of 0.4 m over a strike length of 45 m on the O-Vein immediately north of the Richmont bulk sample area, lie within the proposed first stage of open-pit mining and highlight the ease of accessibility, thin overburden cover and the consistent high-grade nature of the gold mineralization.
To the east, samples taken from the Rumbullion veins (R1, R2 and R2A) returned high grades, including 59.9 g/t Au, 112 g/t Au and 55.4 g/t Au, respectively, highlighting the near-surface potential in the eastern section of the proposed open pit.
These are exceptional grades which offer a quick production start to resuming
production at the HD mine
They are right at the surface as well, so mining that tonnage will be quick and cheap .
Planned mining tonnage per day in the 2022 FS was 1200 tons per day..