First gold poured at Red Lake's PureGold Mine

RED LAKE, Ont. — The operator of Canada's newest gold mine has poured its first gold.

Vancouver-based Pure Gold Mining announced that the first pour at its Red Lake mine occurred on Dec. 29, 2020.

The company expects to begin commercial production by the end of the first quarter of this year.

“The PureGold Mine has come to life. With our first gold pour, we have transitioned to producer, and delivered on our promise to build Canada’s newest gold mine in the heart of Red Lake. Ontario, on budget and on schedule,” said Darin Labrenz, President and CEO.

In a statement, Labrenz added “To build a mine at any time requires a complete team effort comprised of dedicated, driven, and focused individuals.  To do so under the unique challenges of 2020 speaks to the quality and dedication of the entire team.  With this first gold bar, we are now focused on ramping up the operation to steady state production as we continue to build a long-life growth company in Red Lake.”

The underground mine has a projected life of about 12 years, and will employ an estimated 340 people at peak production.