NORTHERN GOLD MINING INC. ("Northern Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines ("MNDM") has accepted the filing of a trial production Closure Plan for its wholly owned Garrcon Deposit, located on the Garrison Property of the Golden Bear Project.
As announced on May 7, 2014 the Company submitted the Closure Plan to the MNDM to remove up to a 150,000 tonne bulk sample from the Garrcon Deposit; the 45-day review period has now passed and the Closure Plan has now been accepted and filed by the MNDM. Mining activities may commence within the constraints stipulated in the Closure Plan.
During the 45 day review period the Company has made several alterations to the Closure Plan to satisfy comments received from the various ministries involved. The most notable alteration was moving the project into trial production versus the previously announced advanced exploration designation. Trial production will allow the Company to pursue the tonnage necessary to effectively study the deposit's character. Most other aspects of the Closure Plan remain unchanged.
The Company believes that successful bulk sample testwork will be capable of demonstrating the economic potential of the Garrcon open pit deposit. The test mining to be conducted over the summer of 2014 will allow for better definition of project data inputs to be used in a future feasibility study. The Company will focus on collecting data related to bulk metallurgical characteristics, geotechnical parameters, block model reconciliation, blasting techniques, grade controls. costs and recoveries.
In early June of 2014 the Company mobilized a blast hole percussion drill onto the Garrison property to complete a 2500 meter "definition drill program" on the Garrcon bulk sample pit area. Definition drilling sample assays will assist in grade control for the bulk sample and the holes will be used for blasting. This program is now 50% complete with assay results to date largely within expectations.
Following the filing of the Closure Plan the Company immediately commenced mining operations and conducted its first blast on July 10, 2014. The planned development will continue to stockpile bulk sample materials until such time as the off-site toll mill is able to process the material.
Eric Moeller, President and CEO of Northern Gold, commented: "The Northern Gold team, along with our consulting partners (Blue Herron Environmental and Golder Associates) are to be commended for their efforts in working with MNDM and the surrounding communities to achieve the filing of the trial production Closure Plan. The Company expects to move aggressively on the bulk sample program as a part of its long term goal to define, de-risk, and develop its gold properties."
The technical aspects of this press release have been reviewed and approved by Michael Gross, M.Sc., P.Geo. the "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for the Golden Bear Project.
About Northern Gold
Northern Gold is a TSXV-listed gold company based in Toronto, Ontario. The Company's main focus is the exploration and development of its prospective mineral properties at the Golden Bear Project in the Larder Lake Mining Division, northeastern Ontario. Northern Gold has a portfolio of advanced exploration projects, including the Jonpol and Garrcon Deposits and the Buffonta Property. Recent transactions, including the amalgamation with Victory Gold Mines Inc. and acquisition of the Lac Minerals Property add to the Company's regional consolidation strategy along the Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone.
Source: http://www.northerngold.ca/