Eldorado Gold has secured operating authorisation for the Ormaque deposit at the Lamaque Complex in Val-d’Or, Quebec, Canada, from the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks.
This authorisation enables Eldorado to commence mining high-grade underground ore from Ormaque and transport it to the Sigma Mill, utilising the development capital previously invested in the Lamaque Complex.
The Lamaque Complex comprises various deposits including Triangle, Parallel and Ormaque, all of which supply ore to the Sigma mill.
The Ormaque deposit takes advantage of existing infrastructure including underground access via the Triangle–Sigma decline.
Its proximity to the Sigma Mill enhances production flexibility by providing an additional high-grade ore source that can be blended with material from the Triangle deposit.
The Ormaque SE Zone consists of a system of flat-lying, high-grade gold veins located between 400 and 900m below the surface.
Westward extensions of Ormaque veins show similar characteristics and remain open for further exploration.
The Garnet Zone features unique mineralogy and alteration traits within a steeply inclined shear zone.
Due to their closeness to the Lamaque processing facilities, these areas could potentially supply future mill feed and contribute to extending the mine life.
Eldorado plans to continue drilling at Ormaque in 2026 to explore lateral and depth extensions as part of a broader programme across the Lamaque and Bourlamaque properties.
Concurrently, continuous exploration and resource conversion at the Triangle deposit are intended to unlock additional growth potential and prolong the mine's lifespan.
Eldorado’s strategy integrates existing infrastructure with geological exploration to enhance operational flexibility and add long-term value.
In addition to exploration ventures, Eldorado is conducting studies concerning the Sigma Mill’s expansion.
These studies aim to increase throughput capacity from approximately 2,500 tonnes per day (tpd) towards a permitted capacity of 5,000tpd by optimising existing infrastructure and identifying opportunities for process improvements.
Eldorado Gold CEO George Burns said: "The Ormaque operating authorisation demonstrates our ability to advance a discovery, reported in January 2020, efficiently through to operating approval in Québec, supported by highly prospective geology across a strong land position.
"Ormaque provides an additional source of high-grade ore to support the Sigma Mill, enhances our production flexibility and builds on the investment our operating team has made in underground development. With ongoing drilling aimed at expanding the deposit, Ormaque further reinforces the Lamaque Complex as a cornerstone asset within Eldorado’s portfolio."
Last month, Eldorado Gold announced its intention to acquire Foran Mining through a merger agreement valued at approximately C$3.8bn ($2.78bn), forming a gold-copper mining company.
