Marathon Gold Provides Progress Report on Major Earthworks at Valentine Gold Project - Seite 2

Construction of the TMF commenced with grubbing of the site during the fall-winter of 2022-2023. Temporary water management ditches and collection ponds were developed between May and June of this year, and a construction access road on the downstream side of the main dam was completed in August. Construction of the Phase 1 main dam commenced in July with preparation of the till and bedrock foundation, and subsequent placement of mine waste rock (“Zone 6” material with 600 mm minus sizing). Production and placement of the upstream filter layers which consists of two zones of crushed rock (“Zone 1” material at 25 mm minus, and “Zone 2” material at 75 mm minus) commenced in late August.

At September 3, 2023, TMF progress was as follows:

• Approximately 120,000 m², or 78%, of Phase 1 dam foundation preparation was completed with subgrade approval by the engineer of record;
• 130,000 m³ of topsoil and unsuitable overburden has been removed and 110,000 m³ of Zone 6 rockfill has been placed to date, consistent with design specifications; and
• More than 16,500 tonnes per day of construction waste rock mined from the Leprechaun and Marathon Pits in August in support of ongoing TMF construction.
  
  

Figure 2: “Zone 6” Rockfill placed on prepared and approved foundation for the TMF Phase 1 Dam, looking northwest. On the upstream side (top left of photograph) shows the prepared foundation without any fill material placement, August 29, 2023.

Construction of the Phase 1 and 2 dam foundation is expected to be completed by October 2023, whereupon construction of the Phase 1 and 2 embankment which consists of placement and compaction of Zone 6 rockfill is scheduled to commence immediately and continue through the winter months. Installation of the Phase 1 and 2 geomembrane liner is scheduled to commence in May 2024. Completion of the filter layers and upstream embankment slope (Zone 1 and Zone 2 materials) is scheduled for June to August 2024. Phase 1 of the TMF is on schedule for wet commissioning in the fourth quarter of 2024 in support of mill commissioning and first gold in the first quarter of 2025.

A video illustrating progress of the TMF construction can be accessed at https://vimeo.com/861776175?share=copy.

Figure 3: Progress of “Zone 6” rockfill placement on prepared and approved foundation for the TMF Main Dam. Top: progress of approved Zone 6 placement as of September 3, 2023. Bottom: TMF Configurations for Phase 1, 2025-2026 (Bottom Left) and Ultimate Design, after Phase 6, 2032-2034 (Bottom Right). Bottom images from NI 43-101 Technical Report “Valentine Gold Project, NI 43-101 Technical Report and Feasibility Study” effective November 30, 2022.