Name of the Project
Grassy Mountain gold project.

Location
Near the western edge of the Snake River Plain, in eastern Oregon, in the US.

Project Owner/s
US-based precious metals exploration and development company Paramount Gold Nevada.

Project Description
The Grassy Mountain project is an underground gold and silver mining operation. The mine will use a mechanised cut-and-fill mining method, accessed through a decline and a system of internal ramps, with cemented rock fill used for backfill.

Production is estimated at 1 300 t/d to 1 400 t/d of material to feed a 750 t/d processing plant. Over the estimated 7.8-year life-of-mine, the project is anticipated to recover about 361 800 oz of gold and 424 800 oz of silver.

The processing method involves conventional unit operations. Gold and silver will be recovered through a carbon-in-leach recovery circuit, followed by elution in a pressurised Zadra-style circuit and electrowinning in the gold room to produce doré bars. 

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has a pretax net present value, at a 5% discount rate, of $134.9-million and an internal rate of return of 24.22.

Capital Expenditure
Initial capital costs are estimated at $136.2-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
Paramount Gold Nevada has received federal approval after the signing of the record of decision (RoD) for the development.

The RoD marks the completion of the federal environmental review process under the National Environmental Policy Act, following the release of the final environmental-impact statement (EIS).

The project has benefited from a streamlined review process after being included on the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council’s FAST-41 transparency projects permitting dashboard in May last year.

Paramount has noted that the final EIS incorporates feedback received during the public consultation period and reflects the Bureau of Land Management’s environmental, socioeconomic and alternative analyses.

“With this approval, Grassy Mountain becomes a shovel-ready project that will contribute to the reinvigorated US mining industry, stimulating the local economy in Malheur county, Oregon, with high-quality jobs," Paramount CEO Rachel Goldman has said.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Ausenco Engineering Canada (feasibility study – processing and infrastructure design, as well as overseeing the metallurgical testing); Mine Development Associates (feasibility study – mineral resource estimate, mine planning and reserves estimation); Golder Associates (tailings storage facility); and EM Strategies (overseeing all environmental aspects of feasibility study).

Contact Details for Project Information
Paramount Gold, tel +1866481 2233 or email info@paramountnevada.com.