Whitehorse Daily Star

Activities heat up at Brewery Creek minesite

Golden Predator Mining has announced that it’s ramping up its Brewery Creek operation in preparation to recommence production.

By Chuck Tobin on August 13, 2019

Golden Predator Mining has announced that it’s ramping up its Brewery Creek operation in preparation to recommence production.

The company has received confirmation from the Yukon government that it can proceed under the terms of its existing water licence and Quartz Mining Licence.

The Brewery Creek gold mine was in production from 1996 to 2002 when the falling price of gold forced the former owner, Viceroy Minerals Corp., to suspend operations.

Golden Predator purchased the open pit mine in 2009 and has conducted additional exploration drilling.

But there was some question over the years about whether the company could move forward with its plans and recommence the operation under the existing licences.

“Site development work is underway following the receipt of formal notification from the Yukon Government confirming the validity of the current Quartz Mining License and Water License which permits the immediate start of work to reactivate the Brewery Creek Mine,” says a company press release issued last Tuesday.

The release outlines several steps Golden Predator needs to undertake to get the mine site ready to recommence production. It also needs to update the feasibility study.

If that study proves positive, the company will proceed to production, says the release.

It notes there is one exploration drill on site and another two will be added later this month.

“In addition, the Company is mobilizing heavy equipment to commence pre-construction work in preparation for mine reconstruction which is expected to begin in earnest in 2020.”

Golden Predator CEO Janet Lee-Sheriff emphasized in the release the mine shut down because of gold prices, not the lack of gold resources nor any technical issues with the operation.

“With the recent resurgence of the gold price and the lack of licensed projects in North America, we believe we can create significant new value by adding resources and working towards a near-term start-up of a relatively high grade heap leach project that has extensive economic and environmental information to support a viable operation,” Lee-Sheriff said.

Comments (8)

Up 4 Down 0

Jc on Aug 19, 2019 at 7:19 am

Sober thought - I did not write that there are not legitimate concerns with other abandoned mines here and else where, I’m simply pointing out that Brewery Creek was never abandoned. It was successfully reclaimed and will be again as the methods to do so at that particularly site are proven. I am simply pointing out we can’t automatically condemn a company and a mining project because others may have failed. That would be narrow minded of us and I would not want to be judged that way.

Up 4 Down 1

2nd voice of sober thought on Aug 17, 2019 at 9:18 pm

@jc - People have legitimate concerns because of abandonment's like Wolverine mine. If you don't think so check out these ecological disasters that were using heap leech Summitville Colorado, Rum Jungle mine Northern Terr.,Australia, Ranger Uranium mine Australia, Fort Belknap Montana.
In fairness the Wikipedia write-up said that heap leech may be safer than other methods such as flotation and a couple more. These messes are there and there is no real excuse for any of them except negligence.

Up 5 Down 1

jc on Aug 17, 2019 at 8:21 am

The Brewery Creek Mine was successfully reclaimed and put into temporary closure. OYA- this is an example of how it should and can be done-it is not a BYG-not even close-I think we need to start celebrating the successes in the mining industry, like Brewery Creek, and yes...there is a liner...I really hope people start getting facts and not just uninformed opinion ...but I think some people just like to complain and spew negativity..it is a common thread in most news stories and comments...

Up 1 Down 7

Politico on Aug 16, 2019 at 11:42 pm

But Oya, those monetary requirements put such a burden on our poor miners they are barely able to make a profit. Besides, Sampson says these are all good guys who would never shirk their environmental requirements. Sampson wouldn't lie would he?

Up 10 Down 2

Mining manager on Aug 15, 2019 at 7:31 am

@geoff of course the heapleap will have a liner to protect the ground from cyanide from seeping into the ground, what condition it is in - who knows.

Up 13 Down 8

JC on Aug 15, 2019 at 7:03 am

The heap is lined, and has been since it was originally designed and built in 90's. Golden Predator is a very community and environmentally conscious company.

Up 13 Down 6

Oya on Aug 14, 2019 at 5:18 pm

It doesn't matter who the players are: Get a healthy deposit or we'll have YET another BYG, Anvil Range, etc.
So sick of having to clean up after rogue mining companies.
So sick of YG getting sucked into the couple of not-permanent jobs that come at the HUGE cost to our environment, yet they can't throw money at these mines fast enough. Mines should be required to pay ALL remediation costs before putting a single shovel into the ground!

Up 13 Down 17

Geoff on Aug 13, 2019 at 6:36 pm

Has that heap leech got a membrane under it or straight into the ground? Get a good security deposit as some of the people here may be sketchy.

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