This technical report for the Musselwhite Mine, Ontario, Canada, provides mineral processing and metallurgical information as of November 18, 2024.
Report context
This technical report for the Musselwhite Mine, located in Ontario, Canada, was prepared for Orla Mining Ltd. The effective date of the report is November 18, 2024. The report was qualified persons from DRA Americas Inc., SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd., and WSP Canada Inc. This article summarizes the mineral processing and metallurgical testing content from Section 13 and the recovery methods described in Section 17.
Processing route
Mineral processing and metallurgical testing
Section 13 of the technical report covers mineral processing and metallurgical testing. The report includes a metallurgical test work program described in Section 13.2. The test work was used to develop a gold recovery model, which is presented in Section 13.3. The report notes that the metallurgical test work was conducted to support the process design and recovery estimates for the operation.
Recovery methods
Section 17 of the technical report provides a detailed description of the recovery methods employed at the Musselwhite Mine. The section includes a process flow diagram (Section 17.2) and a major equipment list (Section 17.3). The process description is provided in Section 17.4. Reagents and consumables used in the process are detailed in Section 17.5. Utilities and services are described in Section 17.6.
Section 17.7 covers plant capacity, historical performance, and the life-of-mine production plan. This section provides historical operating data for the processing plant. The report does not provide specific design details for any proposed modifications to the processing circuit; rather, it describes the existing recovery methods based on the plant configuration at the time of the report.
The process flow diagram illustrates the existing flowsheet, which includes crushing, grinding, gravity concentration, cyanidation, carbon-in-pulp, and gold recovery circuits. The major equipment list includes mills, crushers, screens, thickeners, and carbon-in-pulp tanks.
Key reported parameters
| Parameter | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Plant capacity | Historical throughput data provided | Historical operating data |
| Gold recovery | Gold recovery model developed | Metallurgical test work (Section 13.3) |
| Reagents and consumables | Listed in Section 17.5 | Design/operating data |
| Major equipment | Listed in Section 17.3 | Design/operating data |
| Life-of-mine production plan | Described in Section 17.7 | Proposed design / planning basis |
Project website: https://www.mining.com/agnico-sells-out-of-orla-for-405m/
Technical qualifications
The technical report includes forward-looking information and acknowledges that actual results may differ materially from projections. The report states that it is based on information available to Orla Mining Ltd. and the qualified persons as of the effective date of November 18, 2024. The report does not provide specific performance guarantees or economic analyses for the processing plant beyond the information contained in the referenced sections. The report notes that the metallurgical test work results are based on specific samples and conditions, and actual plant performance may vary.
Source: Technical Report, Musselwhite Mine, Ontario, Canada, November 18, 2024, Sections 13 and 17.
