A former underground mine in the La Ronge Gold Belt is finding new life as an open pit operation.
Golden Band Resources says work has begun at the Komis site, about 15 km northwest of Brabant Lake.
Vice-president of operations, Matt Conklin, says blasting started on the weekend and the first ore was taken to the Jolu Mill yesterday.
Conklin says the life of the mine is expected to be around 18 months:
“We have not drilled out the full potential of Komis — so we’re planning a drilling and exploration campaign to find out the full length and width of the ore deposit. We should have that done by mid-winter. It could add six to eight months — a little more than half a year, I’m guessing.”
Conklin says goal is to produce a combined 700 oz. of gold per week from the Komis and Roy Lloyd mines.
At its peak, he estimates the Komis mine will employ over 60 workers.