The Troilus Gold-Copper Project is a conventional open-pit gold-copper mine owned by Troilus Gold. It is located in northcentral Quebec, Canada.
The Troilus Gold Property consists of two projects: the Troilus Gold-Copper Project and the Troilus Frotêt Project.
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The Troilus Gold-Copper Project covers the historic Troilus Mine which produced 2 million ounces of gold and almost 70,000 tonnes of copper between 1996 and 2010.
The Troilus Mine was sold and in late 2010, the main camp facilities were dismantled. Some infrastructure including the power facilities is still in its place.
As per the Feasibility Study completed in May 2024, the project has a mine life of 22 years and supports production of 50,000 tonnes per day (tpd) of operation.
Troilus is currently focused on completing and submitting the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) by the end of 2024, obtaining the final permits and detailed engineering for construction, and exploring the project.
Troilus Gold-Copper Project Location
The Troilus Gold-Copper Project is located approximately 170km north of Chibougamau in northcentral Quebec within the eastern segment of the Frotêt-Evans Greenstone Belt (FEGB), Opatica.
The project comprises a single mining lease and 293 mineral claims covering 16,185.09 hectares (ha).
The Troilus Gold Property covers approximately 44,124.88ha of which 7,242ha is owned by Troilus (50%) and Argonaut Gold (50%) via a joint venture agreement. The remaining mineral rights are held by Troilus Gold (100%).
The project is accessible via a road from Chibougamau, Highway 167, and Route du Nord Road. Mistissini is the nearest town to the project site.
Troilus Gold-Copper Project Ownership History
In 1985, Kerr Addison staked over 1,500 claims in the Troilus property and discovered copper and gold by 1987.
Minnova became the operator of the Troilus Mine in 1988 by optioning 50% interest in the mine from Kerr Addison.
In 1993, Metall Mining acquired 100% interest in the mine from Minnova and Kerr and completed a positive Feasibility Study based on a 10 kiloton per day (kpd) open-pit operation (Kilborn).
Metall began construction of the mine in 1994. Metall changed its name to Inmet Mining in 1995.
The construction of the mine was completed in 1996 followed by the commencement of production. The mine’s mill achieved 10,000tpd of production in 1997.
From 1998 to 2005, two mill expansions were completed by Inmet and the mill’s throughput increased to 20,000tpd by 2005.
In May 2008, mining at J4 pit was completed followed by mining at Z87 and truck load in April 2009.
The mill stopped operation in June 2010 and was sold in September 2010. The mine’s camp was sold in November 2010 and then dismantled.
First Quantum Minerals took over Inmet and acquired the project in March 2013.
In May 2016, First Quantum signed a two-year option agreement with 2507868 Ontario (Sulliden Sub), a wholly owned subsidiary of Sulliden Mining Capital.
Sulliden acquired 100% interest in the project and First Quantum retained a net smelter royalty.
In October 2017, Sulliden Sub, Pitchblack Resources, and 2513924 Ontario signed an amalgamation agreement.
The agreement closed in December 2017 and Pitchblack became Troilus acquiring the project in April 2018.
Troilus also acquired the Troilus North Project from Emgold in December 2018.
Geology and Mineralisation
The Troilus Gold-Copper Project is dominated by tholeiitic and magnesian basalts with felsic and calc-alkaline pyroclastic rocks, ultramafic layers, and lava flows.
The FEGB is hosted with syn-to post-deformational gabbroic to monzogranitic plutonic rocks.
The mineralised zones on the property are around the edges of the Troilus Diorite comprising the Z87, J, X22, and SW zones.
The project is hosted with gold and copper as major deposits with minor amounts of silver, zinc, and lead. The project also has traces of bismuth, molybdenum, and tellurium.
The gold mineralisation is correlated with sulphides. The main host rocks for the mineralised intervals are diorite breccia, diorite, and felsic dykes.
Troilus Project Mineral Reserves Estimate
The total (proven + probable) mineral reserves of the project are 380 million tonnes (Mt) containing 6.02Moz of gold at a grading of 0.058g/t, 484Mlb of copper at a grading of 1%, 12.15Moz of silver at a grading of 0.59g/t, 7.26Moz of gold equivalent (AgEq) at a grading of 0.49g/t, and 3.25Blbs of copper equivalent (CuEq).
Mining and Processing
The Feasibility Study mentions the conventional open-pit mining method for the Troilus Gold-Copper Project.
The mining will be done by a 100% owner-operated equipment fleet peaking at 41-227 tonne trucks, electric hydraulic trucks, wheel loaders, and drills.
The processing of ores will be conducted in a processing plant with a 50,000tpd processing capacity.
The processing plant will consist of primary and secondary crushing circuits, High-Pressure Grinding Rolls (HPGR) and ball milling circuits, gold/copper flotation and regrinding circuits, a filtration circuit, and a tailing thickening and disposal facility.
After going through the above circuits, the resulting gold/copper concentrate will be transferred to a smelter for refining. The total recoveries are estimated to be 92.7% gold, 91.8% silver, and 91.9% copper.
Troilus Project Infrastructure
The Troilus Gold-Copper Project consists of existing and upgraded infrastructure which includes over 40,000m (40km) access roads with a 130t bridge, a tailing facility, a water treatment plant, and camp facilities.
The infrastructure also includes a power line, a substation, a water supply system, and a septic system.
A tailing dyke is proposed to be developed from the existing tailing facility. The dyke can accommodate the first 10.5-year life of mine production.
As per the Feasibility Study, from 11-22 years, the dyke will be disposed into the SW, J, and 87 pits.
Troilus Project Contractors
Auramet International was selected as the financial advisor to finance the Troilus Gold-Copper Project in May 2024.
The October 2023 technical report of the mine was prepared by AGP Mining Consultants. AGP also prepared a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) of the mine in October 2020.
Troilus selected Tugliq Energy in February 2022 to conduct an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions of the project and provide solution for a carbon neutral mining operation.
Roscoe Postle Associates prepared two technical reports of the project in October 2019 and November 2018 respectively.
The 2016 technical report of the mine was prepared by Sulliden Mining Capital.
Met-Chem Canada conducted a Feasibility Study of the Troilus Mine in April 1998.
