Rich Hemlo gold field still churning it out.

• Author: Bickford, Paul
• Position: Schreiber-Hemlo District gold mines, Ontario - Gold Mining Report

Rich Hemlo gold field still churning it out

There are just three gold-producing mines in the Schreiber-Hemlo District, but what is lacking in quantity is more than made up for in quality.

In 1989 1.2 million ounces of gold were produced by the David Bell, Golden Giant and Williams mines, all of the Hemlo Gold Camp.

The figure represents about half of Ontario's total gold output and about one-quarter of Canada's output.

"Basically, all mines continue to increase their production rates," said Mark Smyk, staff geologist with the Schreiber-Hemlo resident geologist's office of the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines.

The district includes the communities of Schreiber, Terrace Bay, Rossport, Marathon, Manitouwadge and Heron Bay.

Last year was the first time that the combined production of the three mines topped one million ounces, but this year it will likely be closer to 1.5 million ounces, Smyk predicted.

"There doesn't seem to be any end in sight," he said, adding that all the mines have a life expectancy of about 16 to 17 years.

The David Bell Mine is one of Canada's highest-grade producing mines.

Mine manager Ruston Ford said the grade is .762 ounces per metric ton of ore.

The underground operation is expected to produce more than 300,000 ounces of gold this year, matching last year's 312,190 ounces.

Ford noted that 1,300 metric tons of ore pass through the mill every day, 365 days a year.

The operation, which began in May of 1985, currently has 215 employees.

Ford said the mine has a life expectancy of more than 15 years with its current ore reserves.

"We're continually looking," he said. "Essentially, our reserves stand at greater than start-up."

The Williams Mine was Canada's top producer in 1989.

In the first three months of 1990 it produced more than 151,000 ounces of gold at an ore grade of about .25 ounces per ton.

Mine manager Peter Rowlandson said currently there are proven and probable reserves for between 15 and 20 years.

"But there's still exploration to be done," he said, adding that it is expected that reserves will increase.

Rowlandson expects a good year in 1990. "The operation has been running very smoothly."

The Williams Mine currently has a workforce of 600.

In August of 1989 the Supreme Court of Canada awarded the Williams Mine (formerly the Page-Williams Mine), which was developed by Lac Minerals Ltd., to Corona Corporation.

The decision ended an eight-year legal battle over ownership.

Under a prior agreement...