| Company | Discovery Silver |
| Date | January 2025 |
| Region | Timmins, Ontario, Canada |
| Commodities | Gold |
| Mine Type | Mixed (Open Pit & Underground) |
| Throughput | 12,000 t/d (PEA) |
| Mine Life | TSF Capacity to 2038 |
| Annual Production | 3.9 Mt/a (Current Blend) |
| Status | Operating |
Executive Summary
The Porcupine Complex, located in Timmins, Ontario, Canada, is a multi-mine operation comprising the Dome, Borden, Hoyle Pond, and Pamour sites. Currently operated by Newmont, the project is the subject of a 2024 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) by Discovery Silver, who are in the process of acquiring the assets. The complex has a long operating history dating back to 1910 at the Dome site, with significant infrastructure already in place including processing plants, tailings storage facilities, and power distribution networks.
The core processing facility is the Dome mill, which utilizes a three-stage crushing circuit followed by parallel rod mill and ball mill grinding lines. The plant employs a Carbon-in-Pulp (CIP) circuit for gold recovery, supplemented by gravity concentration using Knelson concentrators. The plant has a permitted capacity of 15,000 t/d, with the 2024 PEA assuming a throughput of 12,000 t/d. Recovery rates are approximately 92% of the gold in the combined mill feed.
Infrastructure support includes power from Hydro One, water reclamation from the tailings impoundment, and a single active tailings storage facility (No. 6 Tailings Area) with capacity to 2038. Environmental compliance is managed through active monitoring, closure plans filed with the Ministry of Mines, and adherence to standards such as GISTM. The project faces some legacy environmental obligations and ongoing social considerations regarding Indigenous consultation.
Processing Profile
- Crushing: Gyratory, Cone, HP700
- Milling: Rod Mill, Ball Mill
- Flotation: N/A
- Leaching: Carbon-in-Pulp (CIP)
- Gravity: Knelson Concentrators
Reports
- entities/Porcupine_Complex
Website: https://discoverysilver.com/projects/porcupine/porcupine-operations/
Report Date: January 2025
Region: Timmins, Ontario, Canada
Project Status: Operating
Commodity: Gold
Throughput: 12,000 t/d (PEA)
Mine Life: TSF Capacity to 2038
Mine Type: Mixed (Open Pit & Underground)
Ore type: Gold-bearing
