SASKATOON, SK, Dec. 22, 2021 /CNW/ - Omineca Mining and Metals
Ltd.'s (TSXV: OMM) ("Omineca" or the "Company") announces that the
Company's joint venture partner and mining contractor, Lightning
Creek Mining ("LCM") has begun it's hydraulic grouting operations
for Omineca's Wingdam underground Paleoplacer project located in
the Cariboo Mining District, British
Columbia. Grout holes above the crosscut working space are
currently being drilled to be followed by a grout curtain
hydraulically pumped into place, a setting up period and testing
after which the first mining operations will begin. Updates
will be provided as the inaugural grout crosscut program
progresses.
Ken Hamilton, President of LCM
comments, "Work, setup and preparation has gone extremely well, and
the BC government has been very cooperative and expeditious in
assessing our plans, tests, and data especially as it pertains to
safety, water management and environmental stewardship. Their
support is also evidenced with the recent grant of a 2-year
extension to Omineca's existing permit. We look forward to getting
mining operations for this unique project underway".
Further to the August update, to date LCM has:
- Lab tested in situ materials (water pressures, bedrock,
paleochannel material)
- Dewatered decline and mine workings, depressurized the
paleochannel and associated catchment areas
- Installed, inspected, and reported a grout plug to permanently
disconnect the extensive underground workings of the Sanderson Mine
from the Wingdam underground operations.
- Completed, submitted design specifications, and plans for
hydraulic grout mining operations.
- Completed, submitted the ground water management plan.
- Completed underground electrical system installation
- Completed vent raise enhancement, including new ventilation
system, secondary egress, and water discharge system
- Installed water management systems including
-
- drain holes below the workings complete with valves and pump
hookup
- water monitoring holes drilled above, below and at mine
face
- pumps, valves, and meters installed
- Procured all equipment required for installation of grout
curtain
- Procured all project specific equipment required for mechanical
mining underground including an Antraquip 50 roadheader
- Drilled pilot and grout holes (ongoing)
- Prepared for drifting: surveying, pilot hole drilling and
cutter/roadheader preparation
- Designed and commissioned gravity separation facility (trommel
and wash plant)
Placer Gold Extraction
The mining method will involve a series of crosscuts and drifts
running the length of the underground paleochannel starting
downstream from the first crosscut bulk sample completed in 2012.
Stage 1 will take the series of crosscuts and drifts downstream for
the first 300 meters. The Company has mapped through sampling,
historic drilling, and 3D seismic, 2.4 kilometers of potentially
placer gold bearing paleochannel both upstream and downstream of
the successful 2012 crosscut. Omineca has an additional 14
kilometers of claims along the Lightning Creek valley which will be
explored for the potential continuation of the gold-bearing
paleochannel through drilling and 3D seismic programs. The
2012 bulk sample was extracted from a 2.4m x 2.4m x
23m crosscut and yielded 173.4 troy
ounces (5.4 kilograms) of placer gold using freeze mining
technology to stabilize the ground.
In the same way as the operations from 2012, the placer gold
will be recovered by gravity separation methods. The material
excavated from the bedrock sill of the paleochannel (gravel, sand,
and silt) will be processed using water with a trommel and wash
plant located underground.
Qualified Person
All scientific and technical information in this news release has
been prepared by, or approved by Stephen
Kocsis, P.Geo Lead Geologist. Mr. Kocsis is a qualified
person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards
of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
About Omineca Mining and Metals Ltd.
Omineca Mining and Metals Ltd.'s flagship Wingdam gold exploration
and placer recovery project is located along the Barkerville
Highway 45 km east of the town of Quesnel. The Wingdam Property includes mineral
tenures totaling over 50,000 hectares (500 square kms) and in
excess of 15 linear kilometers of placer claims, both encompassing
the Lightning Creek valley where topographic conditions created
thick layers of overburden, which preserved a large portion of a
buried paleochannel containing placer gold-bearing gravels. Omineca
also has a diamond drill program currently underway exploring for
the potential multiple hard rock sources of the placer gold at
Wingdam.
Forward Looking Statements
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding
Omineca and its business. Such statements are based on the current
expectations and views of future events of Omineca's management. In
some cases, the forward-looking statements can be identified by
words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "plan",
"anticipate", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "believe" or the
negative of these terms, or other similar expressions intended to
identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking events and
circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and could
differ materially as a result of the failure to consummate the
project financing, the economic feasibility of the Wingdam Project,
known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting Omineca,
including risks regarding the resource industry, economic factors
and the equity markets generally and many other factors beyond the
control of Omineca. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed.
Forward-looking statements and information by their nature are
based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results,
performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or
information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance
on any forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and
Omineca undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable
securities laws.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
SOURCE Omineca Mining and Metals Ltd