Wesdome Gold Mines

Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. is a Canadian mining company focused primarily on the exploration, development and production of gold. Its corporate headquarters are in Toronto, Ontario, while its operating and exploration portfolio has historically been concentrated in two major regions: the Wawa area of northern Ontario and the Val-d'Or area of Quebec. The company is associated with underground and open-pit mining, mineral exploration, ore processing and the development of supporting mine infrastructure. The Wesdome name originated in 1976, when Western Quebec Mines Inc. and Dome Mines Limited formed a joint venture to explore and develop the Wesdome property in Quebec. The name combined elements of the two founding participants. In 1997, Western Quebec Mines acquired Dome Mines' interest, giving it control of the project. Wesdome Gold Mines became a publicly listed company in 1999 as it continued exploration and advanced development work on its Quebec land position. A major expansion of the company's asset base took place in December 2003, when Western Quebec Mines acquired the Kiena Complex and transferred the property into Wesdome Gold Mines. This consolidated a substantial land package around Lac De Montigny near Val-d'Or. The Quebec portfolio was described as including approximately 7,500 hectares across the Kiena, Wesdome, Shawkey and Siscoe properties, together with a 920-metre shaft, a 2,000-tonne-per-day carbon-in-pulp mill and associated surface and underground infrastructure. Wesdome's Ontario presence was strengthened through its combination with River Gold Mines Ltd. on February 1, 2006. River Gold had been established in 1994 to consolidate ownership of the Eagle River property, approximately 50 kilometres west of Wawa. During the low gold-price period from 1997 to 2002, River Gold acquired other known deposits and mining infrastructure in the Mishibishu greenstone belt. The transaction brought the Eagle River and Mishi properties into Wesdome's portfolio. The Wawa assets included more than 5,200 hectares of wholly owned land, a 580-metre shaft, a 1,000-tonne-per-day Merrill-Crowe processing facility and more than 75 kilometres of underground development. Eagle River operations became an important part of Wesdome's production and exploration profile. The company further simplified its corporate structure through its July 2007 merger with Western Quebec Mines. The transaction added approximately 1,000 contiguous hectares to the Val-d'Or land package and removed Western Quebec Mines as controlling shareholder. Wesdome subsequently emphasized expanding resources and extending mine life through exploration, particularly at Eagle River and Mishi. Exploration results reported in 2017 illustrated the company's approach. Underground drilling at Eagle River produced high-grade gold intercepts and supported a reported discovery, while follow-up work extended the 300W Zone and tested mineralization near the Mishi open pit. These activities reflected the company's dual role as a producer and an exploration-led resource-growth business. Wesdome's operations have also involved environmental permitting and regulatory scrutiny. In 2016, the company applied for authorization to use a water body adjacent to the Eagle River processing complex for tailings deposition related to the Mishi open pit and Eagle River processing activities. The company was also convicted in 2016 for failing to report tailings discharges into Mirion Creek between 2012 and 2013. The matter became part of the company's public environmental record and resulted in its placement on Ontario's Environmental Offenders Registry. Wesdome remains an active Canadian gold company whose identity is tied to mineral development and operations rather than consumer products. Its principal business activities are mine production, mineral exploration, project development, ore processing and the management of related infrastructure and environmental permitting.

Wesdome Gold Mines traces its origins to a 1976 joint venture between Western Quebec Mines Inc. and Dome Mines Limited. The venture was established to explore and develop the Wesdome property in Val-d'Or, Quebec, and the company's name reflected the combination of the two participating businesses. Western Quebec Mines bought out Dome Mines' interest in 1997, after which Wesdome continued as the vehicle for exploration and development of the Quebec property. The company became publicly listed in 1999. In December 2003, Western Quebec Mines acquired the Kiena Complex and placed it within Wesdome Gold Mines. The transaction consolidated Wesdome's holdings around Lac De Montigny and gave the company a larger Quebec operating and exploration platform. The Val-d'Or assets were described as covering roughly 7,500 hectares across the Kiena, Wesdome, Shawkey and Siscoe properties, supported by a deep shaft, a 2,000-tonne-per-day carbon-in-pulp mill and extensive mine infrastructure. The company expanded into Ontario through its February 1, 2006 merger with River Gold Mines Ltd. River Gold had been formed in 1994 to consolidate the Eagle River property west of Wawa. It had also acquired other deposits and infrastructure in the Mishibishu greenstone belt during the depressed gold-price period from 1997 to 2002. The combination brought the Eagle River and Mishi properties into Wesdome and added a substantial Ontario land position, a shaft, a Merrill-Crowe processing facility and extensive underground development. On July 10, 2007, Wesdome merged with Western Quebec Mines Inc. The transaction added approximately 1,000 contiguous hectares to the Val-d'Or land package, removed the controlling shareholder and simplified the corporate structure. Thereafter, exploration and mine development at Eagle River, Mishi and the Quebec properties remained central to the company's business model. Wesdome reported significant exploration activity at Eagle River in 2017. Underground drilling produced high-grade intercepts associated with a reported new discovery, and subsequent drilling extended the 300W Zone. At Mishi, surface drilling tested extensions of mineralization west of the existing open pit. These programs demonstrated the company's strategy of combining production with exploration intended to expand resources and support future mine life. Environmental compliance became a significant part of the company's public history. In 2016, Wesdome was convicted over tailings discharges into Mirion Creek that occurred between January 2012 and May 2013 and were not reported to Ontario environmental authorities. The company was subsequently placed on the Ontario Environmental Offenders Registry. During the same year, it applied for permission to use a water body near the Eagle River Milling Complex for tailings deposition connected with the Mishi and Eagle River operations. The available reference material presents Wesdome as an active Canadian gold-mining company with a portfolio spanning Ontario and Quebec. Its activities include gold production, exploration drilling, mine development, mineral processing and management of related infrastructure and environmental permitting.

• 2017

  Eagle River exploration advances

  [1]Wesdome Gold Minesen.wikipedia.org

  Wesdome reported a new Eagle River discovery and extensions to the 300W Zone through underground drilling.

• 2016

  Environmental conviction

  [1]Wesdome Gold Minesen.wikipedia.org

  The company was convicted over unreported tailings discharges into Mirion Creek and placed on Ontario's Environmental Offenders Registry.

• 2007

  Merger with Western Quebec Mines

  [1]Wesdome Gold Minesen.wikipedia.org

  Wesdome merged with Western Quebec Mines, adding land and simplifying its corporate structure.

• 2006

  Merger with River Gold Mines

  [1]Wesdome Gold Minesen.wikipedia.org

  The merger brought River Gold's Eagle River and Mishi assets in the Wawa area into Wesdome.

• 2003

  Kiena Complex acquired

  [1]Wesdome Gold Minesen.wikipedia.org

  Western Quebec Mines acquired the Kiena Complex and transferred it into Wesdome Gold Mines, consolidating the Val-d'Or land position.

• 1999

  Public listing

  [1]Wesdome Gold Minesen.wikipedia.org

  Wesdome Gold Mines became a publicly listed company.

• 1997

  Western Quebec Mines acquires Dome Mines' interest

  [1]Wesdome Gold Minesen.wikipedia.org

  Western Quebec Mines bought out Dome Mines' interest in the Wesdome venture.

• 1976

  Wesdome joint venture created

  [1]Wesdome Gold Minesen.wikipedia.org

  Western Quebec Mines Inc. and Dome Mines Limited formed a joint venture to explore and develop the Wesdome property in Quebec.

A Canadian, exploration-led gold producer and mine developer built around wholly owned assets in Ontario and Quebec, with an emphasis on underground mining, resource discovery and extending the life of its operating properties.

• Precious metals

  Gold

  Gold is Wesdome's principal mineral commodity. The company develops and operates gold properties, conducts exploration to identify additional mineralization and processes mined ore through associated milling facilities. Its business is centered on producing and replacing gold resources rather than selling a branded consumer product.

• Underground gold mine

  Eagle River Mine

  Eagle River is a gold property in the Mishibishu greenstone belt near Wawa, Ontario. The asset entered Wesdome's portfolio through the 2006 River Gold merger and includes underground mine infrastructure, a shaft, a Merrill-Crowe milling facility and extensive underground development. Exploration has targeted high-grade zones and extensions to known mineralization.

• Open-pit gold property

  Mishi property

  Mishi is part of Wesdome's Wawa-area portfolio in Ontario. The property has been associated with open-pit mining and exploration drilling, including work west of the existing pit to test extensions of gold mineralization. Ore from Mishi has also been discussed in connection with processing at the Eagle River Milling Complex.

• Gold mining complex · 2003

  Kiena Complex

  The Kiena Complex is a Quebec gold asset acquired in 2003 and incorporated into Wesdome's Val-d'Or land package. The broader Quebec holdings included substantial land, a deep shaft, a carbon-in-pulp mill and related surface and underground infrastructure.

• 2016

  Mirion Creek tailings discharge conviction

  Wesdome was convicted over tailings discharges into Mirion Creek that occurred from January 2012 through May 2013 and were not reported to Ontario environmental authorities. The matter followed a joint investigation and resulted in the company being placed on the Environmental Offenders Registry.

  Source

Read more

• 2016

  Application for tailings deposition areaStrategy

  Background

  Existing and planned mining activity at Mishi and processing at the Eagle River Milling Complex required a proposed approach for tailings disposal.

  Action taken

  Wesdome applied to Ontario environmental authorities to use a water body adjacent to the Eagle River Milling Complex for tailings deposition.

  Aftermath

  The application became part of the company's environmental and permitting record; the available material does not establish the final regulatory outcome.

  Source

• 2007

  Merge with Western Quebec MinesM&A

  Background

  The merger was intended to consolidate the Quebec land position and simplify Wesdome's corporate structure.

  Action taken

  Wesdome merged with Western Quebec Mines on July 10, 2007.

  Aftermath

  Wesdome added approximately 1,000 contiguous hectares and removed the controlling shareholder associated with Western Quebec Mines.

  Source

• 2006

  Merge with River Gold MinesM&A

  Background

  Wesdome sought to expand its Canadian gold asset base beyond Quebec and combine with River Gold's Eagle River and Mishi properties near Wawa, Ontario.

  Action taken

  Wesdome Gold Mines merged with River Gold Mines on February 1, 2006.

  Aftermath

  The transaction added Ontario land, mine infrastructure and processing capacity to Wesdome's portfolio.

  Source

1. 1Wesdome Gold Minesen.wikipedia.org