Whitehorse-based Victoria Gold said that it will spend C$18 million to install an intermediate scalping screen to direct fine ores directly to the heap leach pad.
The fine ores will no longer be put through the crushing circuit, Victoria Gold said. This change will allow the company to increase throughput of the crushing circuit by approximately 15%.
Victoria Gold is aiming to increase production at its Eagle gold mine to 250,000 ounces in 2023. Gold production in 2021 to be up to 10% lower than 180,000 ounces, on the lower end of its guidelines due to the delay in receiving driplines for heap leach pad irrigation.
The company will install the Mesto MF-4285-2 double deck multi-slope screen, which will be housed in a facility located north to the fine crushing plant.
The facility will also contain a 6,000 cubic feet per minute dust collector. Victoria Gold will collect the dust and put it in a mixer system which agglomerates the dust before discharging it to the fines transfer conveyor, and eventually to the leach pad.
Victoria Gold has also installed a 10/25 tonne overhead crane for screen maintenance.
Construction of the screening facility will begin in the March quarter of 2022, with completion expected by year-end, Victoria Gold said. The company is currently procuring necessary equipment to kick off construction.
Victoria Gold is also contemplating stacking the heap leach pad year-round, extending the heap leach stacking schedule from nine months to 11 months. This will allow Victoria Gold to undertake a four-week maintenance shutdown of the crushing circuit.
To extend the stacking period, Victoria Gold will need an additional two 785 haul trucks and a loader.
