Omineca Mining and Metals Ltd. (TSXV: OMM) (OTCQB: OMMSF) announced that its mining partner, PSI Group, has submitted the application for initial dewatering at the Fraser Canyon underground paleoplacer gold recovery project, located 12 kilometers northwest of Quesnel, BC. PSI is also preparing a Notice of Work submission that includes a long-term mine plan and engineered ground support management program. The project is slated to reinitiate underground paleoplacer gold recovery later this year, with PSI planning to immediately begin mining unrecovered placer gold bearing material once all preparation and permitting are in place.
PSI and Omineca have secured full support from the Lhtako and Nazko First Nations, as well as the City of Quesnel, following joint consultations and site visits. The First Nations have addressed letters of full support to the province of British Columbia, and the City of Quesnel has also voiced its backing. The companies are committed to responsible development that creates ongoing benefits for these communities and the province.
PSI has begun preparatory work including mine engineering, planning, and equipment procurement. The project will leverage modern mining methods such as multiple self-propelled roadheaders for continuous excavation and loading, and an underground pre-sorting and gold recovery operation to enable year-round processing. PSI has completed a mechanistic structural design and 3-D stress-strain model of the underground workings to enhance safety and efficiency. Advanced ground support material systems, developed with HMI Company, will allow 100% extraction and real-time backfilling using mine tailings, reducing surface impact and carbon footprint. An archaeological assessment has been completed with Tracker GPS Survey & Mapping Ltd., and the protocol has been well received by First Nations.
The Fraser Canyon Property claims extend 11 kilometers along the Fraser River, encompassing a buried paleochannel. Historically, up to 1986, the Canyon and Tertiary Mines produced 1,482 oz of raw placer gold. In 1986, a 772-foot main drift and 13 crosscuts were developed using drill-and-blast methods, producing 10,804 loose cubic yards of pay gravel over 100 days, with a surface washplant recovering 421.634 troy ounces of refined gold and 40.342 troy ounces of silver from 9,932 loose cubic yards. PSI will fully fund all costs of exploration, development, and operations in return for a 75% share of recovered metals, with Omineca retaining a 25% carried interest.
The project's significance lies in its potential to revitalize placer gold production in the Cariboo Mining District using advanced mining techniques that promise higher output, improved safety, and reduced environmental impact. The strong community and First Nations support underscores the project's social license, which is critical for permitting and long-term operations. For the industry, this represents a model for modernizing historic underground placer operations and integrating Indigenous consultation. The use of roadheaders and underground pre-sorting could set a precedent for efficient, low-impact mining in similar paleochannel deposits.
