Pan American Silver has given the green light to proceed with a $203-million (US$146-million) expansion at its Bell Creek gold mine outside Timmins.
A highly successful exploration program to outline new mineral resources at Bell Creek and at three outlying satellite gold deposits has spurred the decision.
The company posted the promising drill hit results in a June 1 news release.
The conceptual plan is to deepen the mine with a 625-metre shaft extension to access the Vogel deposit and cut a 1.3-kilometre exploration drift to reach the Samson deposit. Work on the drift began in April.
Activity on the Bell Creek Shaft Extension Project begins next month and will take three years to complete. Commissioning begins in the first half of 2029.
The shaft project will deepen it from 1,080 metres to 1,705 metres below surface. It will provide access to deeper gold zones identified through recent exploration drilling.
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