Kinross has made excellent progress at the Great Bear project since it was acquired in February 2022. In February 2023, Kinross announced its initial mineral resource estimate for the project – read the announcement here.
The world-class project is a centerpiece of the Company’s development portfolio and has excellent potential to become a top-tier deposit that could support a large, long-life mine complex and bolster Kinross’ long-term production outlook.
In 2022, Kinross drilled over 250 kilometres, including 225 kilometres of diamond exploration drilling. Combined with the drilling completed by Great Bear since 2018, a total of over 550 kilometres of drilling has now been completed on the property. The results continue to support Kinross’ view that the LP Fault zone is expected to host a long-life, high-grade, open-pit and underground mine.
The Great Bear project is located on the traditional territories of the Wabauskang and Lac Seul First Nations and Kinross aims to make positive and lasting impact to benefit partners and all local communities through job creation, local investment and strong environmental stewardship. Kinross is focused on working with its First Nations partners in a number of areas, including comprehensive baseline studies, site planning and future procurement, training and other opportunities.
Kinross’ drilling and exploration focus for 2023 is to continue to add inferred resource ounces, define deep mineralization, continue exploration along strike, and identify new targets around the property.
The Company is also progressing studies and permitting for an advanced exploration program that would establish an underground decline to obtain a bulk sample and allow for more efficient exploration of deeper areas of the LP Fault, along with the nearby Hinge and Limb gold zones. Kinross is targeting a potential start of the advanced program as early as 2024.