Published: October 14, 2022 |

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Marathon Gold Corporation has commenced early works site activities at the Valentine Gold Project in central Newfoundland.

The project was released from its provincial environmental assessment (EA) and approved for development by the Cabinet of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) in March of this year, and released from its federal EA by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada in August. On September 1, 2022 Marathon’s board of directors approved the project to proceed with construction. Following the satisfaction of pre-construction EA release conditions, Marathon has mobilized an early works program to the site in support of a development schedule that sees full mobilization commencing early in the first quarter of 2023, first ore to the mill at the end of 2024, and a production ramp-up during the first quarter of 2025.

“We have now mobilized our early works program to the Valentine site, based on the receipt of all appropriate permits to allow work to proceed. This program involves the installation of a temporary camp, clearing, grubbing, and pad construction for the permanent camp, road and bridge upgrades on our access road from the community of Millertown, and pond dewatering ahead of pre-stripping at the Leprechaun Deposit. Currently, approximately 100 persons are employed at project site with Marathon or its contractors. Work has also commenced on the project’s powerline from the nearby Star Lake generating station, under the auspices of NL Hydro,” said Matt Manson, president and CEO.

“Separately, we continue to advance our updated feasibility study for the project. This new work will update our April 2021 feasibility study with refreshed cost and scheduling data, and will consider for the first time the addition of the new Berry Deposit to the mine plan, offering an extension to the project’s mine life and an improved gold production profile. The early works program is proceeding well, and the updated feasibility study is on schedule for completion during this quarter,” added Manson.

HEALTH, SAFETY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Since September 1, 2022, 23,328 work hours have been recorded at the Valentine Project site on exploration and initial site mobilization activities, with zero lost time incidents and zero episodes of environmental infraction against regulatory permits. Marathon’s health, safety, and environment team is fully staffed, with on-site paramedic and emergency response personnel in place. A patient transport vehicle and a fire-response tender have been purchased and delivered. In addition to common standard occupational procedures for on-site health and safety, Marathon is operating under an emergency response plan and an environmental management plan. Fire Marshall inspections have taken place, and the company has received its Certificate of Recognition from the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Safety Association.

SITE EARLY WORKS

The project’s principal civils contractor, JCL Inc. of Corner Brook, NL and the principal logging contractor, Major’s Logging Ltd. of Deer Lake, NL, have now both mobilized to site and commenced work. Total capacity within the existing exploration camp has been increased to 120 beds, which will serve as a temporary construction camp for the early works program. Clearing and grubbing is underway at the site of the project’s permanent accommodation camp and borrow-materials are being developed for the construction of the camp’s pad. The project’s permanent accommodation camp was previously purchased and is currently located in a staging area in Badger, NL.

On-site laydown yards have been established along with a temporary fuel station. An off-site laydown yard in the community of Millertown was developed during 2021 as a municipal development project. Marathon leases this facility and uses it to receive deliveries of major equipment and construction materials, prior to onwards-transport to site on the project’s gravel access road. The Millertown laydown yard is also used for employee vehicle parking and pickup.

Site roads are being improved and mining equipment has been delivered to support pre-stripping activities at the Leprechaun Deposit, which will be used as a source of construction materials for pads, haul roads, and the project’s tailings management facility. Preparations are being made for the dewatering of the Leprechaun Pond, which partially covers the area of the proposed Leprechaun open pit, and the first pre-strip blast of 15,000 tonnes was conducted safely on October 11, 2022. 

Replacement of the Victoria River Bridge has commenced with JCL Inc. This will close the project’s access road on the southern shore of Beothuk Lake (formerly Red Indian Lake) for a period of 5-6 weeks. Vehicle access during this time for project-related traffic and local stakeholders and cabin owners will be by way of the north shore of Boethuk Lake via the community of Buchans and the Burgeo Highway. Access road upgrades, principally between the Victoria River Bridge and the project site, will commence later in October, and will include culvert replacement, ditch maintenance, and re-surfacing.

Grubbing and tree removal has also commenced for the project’s 40 kilometer long 66 kV powerline between the Star Lake generating station and the project site. This work is being conducted under the auspices of NL Hydro pursuant to a powerline implementation agreement with Marathon.

EQUIPMENT DELIVERIES

Major equipment deliveries already on-site include Caterpillar mobile mining equipment purchased by Marathon from Toromont Industries Ltd. under its master lease agreement with CAT Finance. This initial equipment fleet will support site civil works and the Leprechaun pre-strip. Items already on site include two 777 100t haul trucks, two 745 45t articulated trucks, a 6020 shovel, a 349 excavator, a 374 excavator, a 966 front end loader, a D9 and D10 dozer, an M16 grader, a water truck, and a fuel services truck. Marathon has also purchased an assortment of light vehicles, as well as a D65 SmartRoc blasthole drill rig under a leasing agreement with Epiroc. Certain equipment items are undergoing on-site fabrication at a dedicated Toromont laydown yard.

PERMITTING

With the completion of the provincial and federal EAs, Marathon has been able to acquire permits for site activities relating to the jurisdiction of each regulator. This process is well advanced. Each EA process also contained certain conditions to be met prior to the commencement of construction. The pre-construction conditions of release of the federal EA prescribed in the August 23, 2022 decision statement of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada have been successfully completed. Marathon has also been informed by the NL Minister of Environment of Climate Change that it has successfully met all pre-construction conditions of the March 17, 2022 release from the provincial EA.

Major permits or authorizations now in hand include:
• Mining lease (NL Department of Industry, Energy and Technology)
• Surface lease (NL Department of Industry, Energy and Technology)
• Approval of the early works development and rehabilitation & closure plan (NL Department of Industry, Energy
  and Technology)
• Approval of the construction environmental protection plan (NL Department of Environment and Climate
  Change)
• Early works certificate and approval for construction (NL Department of Environment and Climate Change)
• Letter of advice for repairs, upgrades, and placement of culverts and bridges along access and haul roads
  (Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

An initial $12.75 million bond in support of the project’s future closure and reclamation obligations has been filed with the Mines Branch of the NL Department of Industry, Energy and Technology. In addition, numerous individual permits for specific site activities such as tree cutting and road/culvert rehabilitation have been applied for and received. The permitting process for the Valentine Gold Project, and the implementation of Marathon’s associated social and environmental management plans, will proceed in conjunction with the project’s site development activities and through the operational life of the project.

HUMAN RESOURCES

Currently, the 74 people are employed by Marathon at the project site or within its Grand-Falls Windsor office. Of these, 99 percent are residents of Newfoundland and Labrador and 46 percent are residents of the six Central Newfoundland communities closest to the project which are Millertown, Buchans Junction, Buchans, Badger, Bishop’s Falls, and Grand Falls Windsor. In total, 103 people are located at the project site, including Marathon staff and contractors. Bussing services to site are being provided by DRL Coach Lines Ltd of Triton, NL, from a pickup location at the Millertown off-site yard.

About Marathon Gold
Marathon Gold Corporation engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral resource projects in Canada. The company explores for gold, and precious and base metal deposits. Its flagship property is the Valentine Lake gold property with four mineralized deposits located in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The company was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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