Monarch Gold Corporation has announced that it has filed a project notice with Quebec’s Ministry of the Environment and the Fight Against Climate Change (MELCC) for its wholly-owned Wasamac gold project, located 15 km west of Rouyn-Noranda in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of Quebec. The project notice is the first step in the mining permit application process, which generally takes 18 to 24 months.

“Today marks a significant milestone in Monarch’s history with the launch of the permitting process for production at the Wasamac property,” said Jean-Marc Lacoste, President and Chief Executive Officer of Monarch. “Several factors led us to this decision, including the positive feasibility study conducted in December 2018, the strong gold market and the favourable financing and partnership climate for this type of project. In addition, Wasamac is expected to create more than 400 jobs during the construction stage and some 300 jobs once the mine goes into production.

Monarch also intends to make Wasamac a Mining 4.0 project, combining new technologies and respect for the environment. The proposed project will feature new production technologies such as the Rail-Veyor® electrically powered, remote-controlled underground haulage system and will include an almost entirely electric fleet of production and development equipment. Our projections indicate that the use of electricity and automation will allow us to produce at a lower cost and minimise our environmental footprint.”

A tele-operated electric 7 t LHD has been selected as the primary mover and a stationary automated reclaim feeder has been selected as the secondary mover. The LHD BEV will move the material from the headings/stopes to another area where the secondary mover is located and the secondary mover will feed the Rail-Veyor® continuously. The Rail-Veyor® then hauls the material from the levels of each zone to the closest ramp and all the way to the portal dump on the surface. The application of electrical driven and automation gives the project a great advantage in terms of having a low mine operating cost.

Monarch prepared the project notice to present the preliminary background and important descriptive information for the Wasamac gold project. Broadly speaking, the Wasamac project consists of:

• Operation of an underground mine producing 6,000 t per day on average, with an expected mine life of 11 years;
• Construction of underground ore haulage infrastructure;
• Construction of a mineral processing plant;
• Preparation of waste rock, tailings and overburden storage areas; and
• Establishment of related infrastructure (power supply, telecommunications, heating, ventilation, water treatment, etc)

The December 2018 feasibility study by BBA indicates that the Wasamac deposit hosts a measured and indicated mineral resource of 29.86 Mt at an average grade of 2.70 g/t Au, for a total of 2.6 million ounces of gold, and proven and probable mineral reserves of 21.46 Mt at an average grade of 2.56 g/t Au, for a total of 1.8 Moz of gold, with the deposit remaining open along strike and at depth.

A Quebec-based company with a seasoned management team and a board of directors experienced in the development of large-scale mining projects such as Wasamac, Monarch is proactive when it comes to relations with host communities. “We listen to their requests and concerns and act accordingly,” said Lacoste. “The transparency of the process is a priority for us.”

Early in the EIAR process, prior to the filing of the project notice, the Corporation initiated consultations with certain stakeholders, including local residents living near the Wasamac project. These preliminary meetings allowed the main concerns associated with the project to be identified. The stakeholders targeted are listed in the project notice, and other stakeholders will be invited to similar information meetings and consultations as the process unfolds.

“In short, we are very proud to be launching this process to bring a major new Quebec gold mine into production,” added Lacoste. “We are convinced that Wasamac could generate positive benefits for the various groups, communities and stakeholders that will be involved in this promising project managed here, by local people, for local people.”