December 19, 2024
September and October 2024 saw significant operational improvements at Côté, as the projects ramps up to the goal of having the plant operating at 90% capacity exiting the year. This goal is still well within our sights and was made possible by the 8-day plant shutdown performed in September.
Following the restart, the performance and availability of the crushing circuit improved significantly, which allowed for improved plant performance. Over the month of October, plant throughput averaged approximately 27,600 tpd, or 77% of nameplate, during which time a record daily throughput of 42,096 tpd was achieved on October 15.
The march to achieving sustained operating levels at 90% capacity continues, and we are excited for next year when we expect to see Cote reach full production – for years to come!
Exploration progressed well through the fall, with four diamond drill rigs active and geological mapping underway on other priority targets in the Côté claims. The drilling program has been successful in outlining extensions of the Gosselin Zone outside of the December 31, 2023 resource pit shell. Combined with the adjacent Côté deposit, the gold mineralization now spans an impressive 3.2 km in strike length and remains open in all directions. The Exploration team also continued important work to support the potential inclusion of the Gosselin deposit into a future Côté Gold LOM plan.
With the help of a Mattagami First Nation Elder and under the direction of a licensed archaeologist, IAMGOLD conducted some exciting archaeological work at two different locations this summer and fall.
The work included a Stage 4 Excavation north of the tailings management facility and tree-clearing monitoring at an archaeological site next to Middle Three Duck Lake.
Tree clearing, which kicked off in early fall, was completed as part of the fish habitat construction at a former aggregate pit west of Middle Three Duck Lake.
IAMGOLD also continued its efforts to revegetate the overburdened stockpile. This included hydroseeding and hosting a ‘Sustainability Day,’ during which volunteers from various departments helped with live staking alder, willow, and aspen cuttings.
