The LaRonde complex near Cadillac in northwestern Quebec combines the underground LaRonde mine, the underground LaRonde Zone 5 (LZ5) mine and the LaRonde mineral processing facility. The plant recovers gold and silver doré and produces copper and zinc concentrates carrying precious-metal credits. It also treats concentrate pulp trucked from the nearby Goldex mill.
| Operator | Agnico Eagle Mines Limited |
|---|---|
| Location | Cadillac, northwestern Quebec, Canada |
| Mine type | Underground: LaRonde and LZ5 |
| Principal metals | Gold; by-product silver, zinc and copper |
| 2025 gold production | 344,555 ounces |
| 2026 production guidance midpoint | 340,000 ounces of gold |
| Q1 2026 ore milled | 776,000 tonnes, averaging 8,622 tonnes per day |
| Profile reviewed | September 12, 2026 |
How the LaRonde and LZ5 circuits fit together
LaRonde and LZ5 are components of one operating complex, not separate directory mines. The 2023 NI 43-101 recovery-methods summary describes a 7,200 t/d LaRonde circuit and a 2,000 t/d LZ5 circuit. These are design descriptions from that report period; they should not be added to or substituted for Agnico Eagle’s subsequently reported actual mill throughput.
LaRonde processing route
The LaRonde route combines crushing and grinding with sequential base-metal flotation and precious-metal recovery. Copper and zinc sulphides are recovered as concentrates, while gold and silver are recovered through cyanidation and carbon-in-pulp treatment. Loaded carbon proceeds through stripping and electrowinning to doré production. The plant also handles Goldex concentrate pulp.
LZ5 processing route
The LZ5 route treats gold ore using crushing and grinding, gravity recovery and carbon-in-leach treatment. Both mine areas use backfill, while the integrated complex shares downstream operating and maintenance context.
Tailings and operating changes
The 2023 report history records the replacement of Merrill–Crowe with carbon-in-pulp at LaRonde in 2013, grinding and flotation expert systems added in 2016, and commissioning of residue filtration for dry-stack tailings in 2022. Agnico Eagle’s first-quarter 2026 update confirms that the operating plant still includes a SAG mill, flotation circuit and dry-stack filtration plant.
Current operating context
Agnico Eagle reported 344,555 ounces of gold production from LaRonde in 2025. In the first quarter of 2026, the operation milled 776,000 tonnes at an average of 8,622 t/d and produced 81,596 ounces of gold. The company’s 2026 guidance midpoint is 340,000 ounces. Second-quarter reporting said production remained in line with plan and that underground performance provided additional ore for planned maintenance shutdowns.
Technical reports and primary sources
- Agnico Eagle: LaRonde Complex operation profile
- Agnico Eagle: 2023 LaRonde NI 43-101 filing notice
- Agnico Eagle: first-quarter 2026 results
- Agnico Eagle: second-quarter 2026 results
Archived 2023 report summary
The former standalone report page is retained below for source traceability. The dated design figures should be read in the current operating context above.
NI 43-101 Technical Report — LaRonde Complex (2023 summary)
NI 43-101 Technical Report — LaRonde Complex
| Company | LaRonde Complex |
| Date | 2023 |
Executive Summary
This NI 43-101 Technical Report details the recovery methods and metallurgical processes for the LaRonde Complex, which comprises two distinct mills: the LaRonde mill and the LZ5 mill. The LaRonde mill has a capacity of 7,200 tpd and processes ore containing precious metals (gold and silver) recovered by a carbon in pulp (CIP) process, as well as base metals (copper, zinc, and lead sulphides) recovered by a flotation process. The LZ5 mill has a capacity of 2,000 tpd and processes gold ore using gravity and carbon in leach (CIL) processes.
Significant operational modifications have been implemented over the last decade, including the replacement of the Merrill-Crowe process with CIP in 2013 to improve gold recoverability as ore grades increased. Expert systems were added in 2016 to optimize grinding and flotation circuits, and a collaborative control room was established in 2017. In 2022, a residue filtration plant for dry stack tailings was commissioned at the LaRonde mill, enhancing tailings management capabilities.
The complex operates as an underground mine with a focus on gold, silver, copper, zinc, and lead. The LaRonde mill primarily handles sulphide ore with a transition to higher gold grades at depth, while the LZ5 mill processes refractory gold ore. Both mills utilize paste fill for underground backfill and employ cyanide destruction processes for waste management. The report provides comprehensive performance data from 2010 to 2022, highlighting steady improvements in gold recovery rates and production volumes.
Website: https://www.agnicoeagle.com/English/operations-and-projects/global-operations-and-development-projects/laronde-complex/default.aspx
Report Date: 2023
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