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Welcome back to your weekly mining news recap, where we catch you up on some of the news you may have missed. This week’s headlines include McEwen Mining updating the feasibility study for its Gold Bar mine, SK Godelius establishing an office in Northern Ontario and Vital Metals signing a partnership with a Northwest Territories First Nation for rare earths mining.

Anaconda Mining announced a substantial boost to its mineral resource estimates at its Goldboro project in Nova Scotia. The updated estimate recorded a measured and indicated resource of 1.95 million ounces of gold from 16.04 million tonnes of ore graded at 3.78 grams per tonne, which is a 179 per cent increase from the company’s 2019 mineral resource statement. The inferred resource estimate also rose by 16 per cent, adding 798,100 ounces of gold from 5.3 million tonnes graded at 4.68 grams per tonne.

The Mining Association of Canada released its annual facts & figures report, which found that despite the sector contributing five per cent to the country’s GDP in 2019, it was losing ground in terms of global competitiveness. The report found that, based on 2019 data, Canada is falling behind in non-ferrous exploration spending as compared to Australia. In addition, the country’s share of the global production of critical minerals and metals is shrinking and that trend will likely continue over the next decade.

Alberta is establishing an office to promote environmental, social and governance measures initiative in the province’s energy sector, as reported by The Globe and Mail. The initiative was introduced to combat potential divestment from the oil patch after the province announced an expected $18.2 billion deficit in 2021. The Alberta premier Jason Kenney has not taken climate concerns by investors seriously in the past, but now the executive council will run the $1-million ESG initiative and use carbon tax revenue to fund it.

McEwen Mining updated a feasibility study which reported a drop in net present value and a 16 per cent net reduction in estimated gold reserves at its Gold Bar mine in Nevada. The mine now has a probable resource estimate of 302,000 ounces of gold from 17.2 million tonnes of ore at a grade of 0.84 grams per tonne. In 2018, the resource estimate recorded was 430,000 recoverable gold ounces from 18.1 million tonnes grading at 0.82 grams per tonne. The company cites changes to the geological model and metallurgical recovery of the mine as reasons for the difference.

Drone usage is becoming a more popular tool for exploration. Geophysicists are turning toward drones, citing the fact that they can repeat tasks, stay on track and can go places their human counterparts can not. Currently, drones are common tools for magnetic surveys, but in the future could be used to carry seismic monitoring equipment to take gravimetric readings.

Mountain Province Diamonds is restarting operations at its Gahcho Kué mine in Northwest Territories. Several COVID-19 cases resulted in the temporary suspension of the mine on Feb. 6. Two industrial hygienists, along with an essential-services team were brought in on Feb. 23 to review and supervise work protocols and deep cleaning at the site. Production at the site is expected to resume this weekend. 

The Fraser Institute has released its annual survey of mining and exploration companies based on investment attractiveness and policy perception indexes. Saskatchewan jumped up eight spots from 11^th in 2019 to third this year in investment attractiveness, while Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador sit at sixth and eighth place, respectively. Nevada rated as the most attractive destination for investment. In policy perception, Newfoundland and Labrador remain in eighth place and Saskatchewan is ranked ninth, with Idaho in the top spot.

SK Godelius is setting up shop at the NORCAT Underground Centre in Sudbury, Ontario, as reported by The Sudbury Star. The underground facility serves as an innovation and training centre for companies in the mining sector to develop and test emerging technologies. The Chilean company specializes in providing remote and automated mining technology to run machines, vehicles, robots and industrial processes.

The mining industry in British Columbia and First Nation groups are hopeful for the nation-wide passing of Bill C-15 by the federal government. If passed, the legislation will ensure that the laws of Canada accord with the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and will bring more certainty around resources development and create better dialogue and collaboration between people from the mining sector and Indigenous communities.

Vital Metals is partnering with Det’on Cho Nahanni Construction to start mining at its Nechalacho rare earth and critical minerals project in Northwest Territories, as reported by North of 60 Mining News. Det’on Cho Nahanni Construction is majority-owned by the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and will start mineral extraction at the North T open pit in late March.

Another round of fourth-quarter results from 2020 was released this week: Taseko Mines, Lundin Gold, Osisko Gold Royalties, Pretium, Kirkland Lake Gold, Torex Gold, Argonaut Gold, Eldorado Gold.

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