LaFleur Minerals Advances Beacon Gold Mill Restart with High-Grade Swanson Deposit Results

LaFleur Minerals Inc. has provided significant updates on its ramp-up activities at the Beacon Gold Mill and Swanson Gold Deposit in Québec's Abitibi Gold Belt. The company is currently completing mill maintenance, planning drilling near the historic Beacon Mine, and preparing logistics to restart production using mineralized material from the Swanson Deposit. An independent evaluation has confirmed the mill's restart readiness within a $5 million budget, while highlighting that replacement costs would exceed C$71.5 million, underscoring the strategic value of the existing infrastructure.

The Swanson Gold Project has yielded promising results from recent drilling activities, with 24 drill holes totaling 5,283 metres completed. Initial assays from six holes have returned high-grade, near-surface intercepts and step-out extensions that reinforce the deposit's scale, continuity, and open-pit potential. These results are particularly significant as they demonstrate the quality of the resource that will feed the Beacon Gold Mill once operations resume. The company is also finalizing a comprehensive preliminary economic assessment due by October 2025, which will provide further clarity on the project's economic viability.

The Beacon Gold Mill's strategic importance extends beyond LaFleur's immediate operations, as the fully-permitted facility is capable of processing over 750 tonnes per day and is being considered for custom milling operations for other nearby gold projects. This positions LaFleur as a potential regional processing hub, creating additional revenue streams while supporting the broader mining ecosystem in the Abitibi region. The mill's accessibility by road and proximity to multiple gold deposits enhances its development potential and operational efficiency.

For investors and industry observers, these developments signal important progress in Québec's mining sector. The successful restart of the Beacon Gold Mill could demonstrate the viability of revitalizing existing mining infrastructure rather than building new facilities, potentially setting a precedent for similar projects across Canada. The high-grade results from Swanson, combined with the mill's advanced restart preparations, suggest that LaFleur Minerals may be positioned for near-term production, which could have positive implications for regional employment and economic development in the Val-d'Or area.

The company's comprehensive approach, detailed in their recent announcement available at https://ibn.fm/NtLIe, represents a significant step forward in developing district-scale gold projects in one of Canada's most prolific mining regions. As gold prices remain strong and demand for critical minerals increases, LaFleur's progress could attract additional investment to the Abitibi Gold Belt, reinforcing Québec's position as a global mining jurisdiction. The convergence of established infrastructure, promising resource results, and strategic planning positions this project as one to watch in the coming months as the company moves toward production decisions.