Montreal-based Osisko Metals reports successful results for pre-concentrating test work using material sorters. Two technologies were tested – x-ray transmission sorting and dense media separation.

Representative samples were prepared of material from Osisko’s Pine Point zinc-lead project 65 km east of Hay River. Pre-concentration of the ore can significantly reduce the cost of haulage and milling.

The x-ray transmission (XRT) sorting returned these results:

• Zinc recoveries ranged from 76.5% to 98.0% (average of 92.6%);
• Lead recoveries ranged from 94.9% to 99.7% (average of 97.8%);
• Mass pull ranged from 34.4% to 73.5% (average of 49.1%); and
• Average grade of rejected material is 75% zinc and 0.047% lead.

Dense media separation (DMS) provided these results:

• Zinc recoveries ranged from 76.7% to 96.2% (average of 92.4%);
• Lead recoveries ranged from 87.4% to 98.7% (average of 95.3%);
• Mass pull ranged from 12.8% to 61.5% (average of 30.4%); and
• Average grade of rejected material is 75% zinc and 0.08% lead.

Osisko said that the results were similar, but it will probably near-pit use XRT methods. XRT works with dry samples that are easy to handle when the weather gets cold. The XRT equipment is also more mobile than DMS equipment. That would be a major benefit as mining could move from one deposit to another on the property.

Pine Point was last mined by Cominco from 1975 to 1988. The weighted average zinc recovery of 91.91% for a head grade of 6.54% zinc, producing a concentrate grade of 58% zinc. The lead recovery averaged 88.69% for a head grade of 2.56% lead, producing a concentrate grading 75.68% lead. Osisko expects that its flotation tests of pre-concentrated ore to the historic records will at least match the historic results.

The Pine Point project currently has an inferred mineral resource of 39.4 million tonnes grading 4.58% zinc (containing 3.9 billion lb. of zinc) and 1.85% lead (containing 1.6 billion lb. of lead).

(This article first appeared in the Canadian Mining Journal)

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Montreal-based Osisko Metals has received assay results from 127 drill holes in the M-40 area within the East Mill zone at the Pine Point mining camp 65 km east of Hay River. The results are promising and they will help convert near surface, historical drill results into an upgraded 43-101 resource estimate.

All intersections were within a flat lying, tabular deposit and none were deeper than 60 metres below surface. Here are some highlights:

• Hole M40-18-PP-072: 12.17 metres at 8.16% zinc and 1.24% lead;
• Hole M40-18-PP-128: 6.0 metres at 6.12% zinc and 4.31% lead;
• Hole M40-18-PP-138: 3.83 metres at 10.84% zinc and 6.91% lead;
• Hole M40-18-PP-140: 5.37 metres at 10.60% zinc and 1.84% lead; and
• Hole L37-17-PP-001: 3.15 metres at 5.87% zinc and 2.73% lead.

Osisko says the M40 area contains six modeled pits within the current mineral resource and stretches over a strike length of 1,070 metres.

(This article first appeared in the Canadian Mining Journal)

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Additional results from 34 holes drilled at Osisko Metal’s (TSXV: OM) Pine Point camp on the south shore of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories intersected near surface, high-grade zinc and lead values.

The holes were drilled in the project’s East Mill Zone with highlights from EM-18-PP-226, which intersected 6.30% zinc and 6.64% lead over 8.80 metres for a lead-zinc equivalent grade of 12.94%, from 29.70 metres downhole. Drill hole EM-18-PP-221 returned 7.37% zinc and 4.56% lead over 6 metres for a lead-zinc equivalent grade of 11.93%.

All of the intersections in the latest batch of results from the East Mill Zone were above a vertical depth of 45 metres and are within flat-lying, tabular-style deposits, the company reports. The East Mill zone currently contains 5.5 million tonnes of 3.76% zinc and 1.30% lead.

Currently Pine Point has an inferred resource of 38.4 million tonnes grading 4.58% zinc and 1.85% lead for a zinc-equivalent grade of 6.58%.

The company intends to update a portion of its inferred resource to the indicated category before the end of the year.

Osisko Metals acquired the project in February 2018 but the area was first discovered by prospectors heading to the Klondike gold rush in 1898.

Cominco stepped in and put a mine into production in 1964 based on 21.5 million tonnes grading 7.2% zinc and 4% lead.

The mine was made up of 50 separate pits and two underground deposits lying along a 60-km trend, and was eventually closed in 1987 after producing around 64 million tonnes grading 7% zinc and 3.1% lead.

Much of the work Osisko Metals plans to do this year will be concentrated on reducing the drill spacing within the reported inferred resource to about 30 metres from the current drill-hole spacing of between 40 and 60 metres.

In addition, the company plans to explore for new mineralization below and along strike of the known mineralized horizons.

The project is accessible year-round by an all-weather road from Hay River.

(This article first appeared in The Northern Miner)

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