The original story credited Cementation with the creation of a six-metre patent-pending turntable to drive two raises at the same time using minimal excavation. It was Dumas who developed and installed that technology, with Cementation involved in raise boring a new production shaft as well as the construction and design of the headframe, hoisting plant and material handling systems. We apologize for this error.

On July 8, Alamos Gold announced it had completed the lower mine expansion at its Young-Davidson mine complex in northeastern Ontario. The company successfully commissioned the Northgate shaft at the complex, as well as the underground crusher and conveyor system.

The purpose of the expansion was to increase the current production rate of 6,700 tonnes per day to 8,000 tonnes per day, as well as to increase the complex’s average annual output to over 200,000 ounces of gold.

“This marks a significant milestone for Young-Davidson and a turning point for Alamos as we transition from a reinvestment phase to a period of strong free cash flow growth,” said John A. McCluskey, president and CEO of Alamos Gold. “With a 13-year mineral reserve life, large resource base and significant exploration potential, Young-Davidson is well positioned to deliver solid free cash flow over the long term.”

The Young-Davidson complex first produced gold from the mid-1930s to the mid-1950s, after which it remained closed for more than 50 years. Northgate Minerals acquired the mine in 2005, and began open-pit production in 2011, the same year it was acquired by AuRico Gold, with underground production starting in 2013. Alamos Gold acquired the mine complex in July 2015 as a result of its merger with AuRico Gold.

Related: Raise boring allowed Alamos Gold to sink a large-diameter production shaft at its Young-Davidson mine quicker, safer and cheaper than by conventional means

The company began the expansion project in order to access deeper ore that was not accessed in previous operations in order to increase the mine life by 14 years.

The overall construction project at the site was multi-faceted and involved a number of partners. In the lower portion of the mine, Dumas Contracting designed and built a six-metre patent-pending turntable to drive two Alimak raises from a single location. Cementation oversaw the engineering and the raiseboring of the mine’s Northgate shaft – a rope guided production shaft extending to 1,500 metres below the surface, as well as the construction and design of a concrete headframe, hoisting plant and underground material handling systems.

According to the company, mining rates are expected to reach 7,500 tonnes per day by the end of 2020.