Doré Copper Mining Corp. (TSXV: DCMC) is investigating the opportunity to process ore from the Joe Mann gold mine in Québec after entering into an option agreement to acquire a 100% interest in the asset.
The mine is located approximately 50 km from the corporation’s Copper Rand mill, where mineralised material from Joe Mann was processed from 2004 until its closure in 2007, and is accessible by all season roads. Joe Mann has been privately held since 2008.
Doré Copper President and CEO, Ernest Mast, says the acquisition has upside potential for his company.
“Joe Mann was closed during a period of low gold prices. This is a rare opportunity to secure a significant high-grade gold underground asset that remains open at depth and along strike with numerous high priority exploration targets.
“An exploration programme at Joe Mann will focus on the significant potential to extend high-grade mineralization at depth as well as defining new zones of mineralization, all accessible from the 3,775-foot shaft.
“We believe Joe Mann may demonstrate similar potential to Wesdome’s Eagle River, Alamos’ Island Gold or Kirkland Lake’s Macassa mine where the high-grade gold deposits not only continue at depth but with improved grades while yielding new discoveries.
“Joe Mann fits into our exploration and development plans, adding another high-grade gold-copper project to our portfolio to leverage our strategically located mill.”
Joe Mann has produced 1.173 million ounces of gold at a grade of 8.26 g/t Au, 607,000 ounces of silver at 5 g/t Ag and 28.7 million pounds of copper at 0.25% Cu
Mr Mast says mineralisation remains strong and persistent at depth with drilling intersecting 26.66 g/t Au over 1.8 m and Hole EE-188 intersecting 30.3 g/t Au and 1.3% Cu over 3.02 m extending the Main Zone 170 meters down dip.
The more recently discovered West Zone, a potential structural off-set that allows much thicker, higher-grade veins to form, remains open and is a high priority exploration target with historic intercepts including 2.44 m @ 24.62 g/t Au, 3.93 m @ 31.54 g/t Au, 2.62 m @ 24.28 g/t Au and 3.2 m @ 16.1 g/t Au.
Joe Mann operated for 27 of the years between 1956 and 2007, with mineralised material processed at an onsite mill, the Principale mill, and Doré Copper’s Copper Rand mill.
Joe Mann consists of 55 mineral titles comprising 1,990.2 hectares of land. Doré Copper already owns 22 claims in the Joe Mann area via its 100% owned subsidiary CBAY Minerals Inc. Four of the 22 claims were recently acquired and are currently being transferred to CBAY Minerals Inc.
Substantial infrastructure remains at Joe Mann with the shaft down to the 3,775-foot level (1,145m).