Oct 28 2020
Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. has announced current pre-development activities taking place at the Goose Property on its wholly-owned Back River Gold Project situated in Nunavut, Canada.
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Operating under a COVID-19 Operational Framework which makes use of a decreased workforce, pre-deployment monitoring, and testing, and several onsite protective measures, the Project Development group moved to a site in the first week of July 2020.
Operations on essential initiatives started to advance infrastructure and to get ready for the construction of an exploration ramp to access the high-grade underground corridor at the Umwelt deposit.
Work on expanding the present all-weather airstrip from 3,000 to 4,500 feet started, the purpose of which is to streamline the use of huge capacity cargo and transport aircraft to assist growth and future operations.
The use of huge aircraft allows the bulk fuel delivery at a savings of $2.00 per liter, in addition to the timely delivery of underground equipment to develop the exploration decline and other infrastructure.
Until now, 53 ATR flights and the first Hercules aircraft of a scheduled 12-flight delivery program have been received successfully and the expansion of the airstrip has been finished safely and on time.
Significant equipment and services for the underground exploration decline and portal workshop structure have been acquired at a commitment of around C$8m. Most of this equipment has already been set up in Yellowknife and is currently in the process of being transferred to the site as part of the Hercules delivery program.
Furthermore, in preparation for the building of the exploration ramp, blasting and quarrying were finished to build network roads linking the main areas inside the Project footprint.
Such roads link the quarry and present exploration camp with the forthcoming underground mechanical shop as well as the laydown area for the ramp portal. The portal box cut has been progressing fast and anticipated to be done prior to winter break demobilization in December. Preliminary works are ongoing for the roads to the settling pond, which will be built in 2021.
Comprehensive engineering for all elements of the workshop, ventilation, ramp dewatering, and utility needs has been done and the group is all set to obtain the bulk material needed for beginning ramp development in the Winter of 2021.
We have made considerable advances in our work at the Goose Property this year. Despite COVID-19 restrictions we have accomplished what we set out to do this year, while maintaining the safety and well-being of our employees and contractors at camp. The extension of the airstrip at Goose is particularly important as it enables us to transport bulk fuel and equipment more cost efficiently and with more flexibility.
Bruce McLeod, President and CEO, Sabina Gold & Silver Corp.
McLeod added, “All this work is in preparation for construction of our exploration ramp at Umwelt underground, which will enable us access for continued exploration drilling of the high-grade corridor. Based on the exploration success to-date on this high-grade zone, we believe that further exploration could demonstrate significant positive impact on project economics and production profile if it were to be mined first.”