Lapa is Agnico-Eagle’s highest grade mine, with gold grades more than twice as rich as the company’s average. Lapa has 501,000 ounces of gold in reserves* (2.4 million tonnes at 6.54 g/t).
The mine is located in the Abitibi region of northwest Quebec, just 11 kilometres east of the company’s LaRonde mine, and 60 kilometres west of the Goldex mine.
Gold was first poured at Lapa on May 7, 2009. Lapa is expected to pour 100,000 ounces of gold in 2012 and average 102,000 ounces of gold production annually, from 2013 through 2014, with a mine life lasting through 2015.
* Source
Lapa December 31, 2011 Reserves and Resources
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In 2012, the Company is investing $0.8 million to continue excavating an exploration tracked drift toward the east, and $1.7 in drilling close to infrastructure as well as from the exploration drift. The goal is to extend the mine’s life beyond 2015.
1933 – Gold mineralization is reported from the first exploration drill holes to test the property, and a shaft is sunk in the central portion.
1937 to 1943 – Lapa Cadillac Mines extracts almost 50,000 ounces of gold. The mine is later closed due to wartime labour shortages and gold recovery problems.
1981 to 1988 – Breakwater Resources conducts an exploration program that culminates in an exploration ramp to test the Highway (or A) Zone underground.
1999 – A wildcat exploration program deep along the A-zone structure intersects values of up to 9.9 grams of gold per tonne along a new mineralized horizon called the “Contact Zone.”
2002 – After optioning the property from Breakwater Resources, Agnico-Eagle initiates a diamond-drilling exploration program and metallurgical testwork, which involves sinking a new mine shaft.
2003 – Agnico-Eagle acquires 100% ownership of Lapa. An exploration shaft is sunk.
2006 – Favourable exploration results lead to a positive feasibility study, and a mine go-ahead decision.
2007 – The Lapa shaft is deepened to 1,370 metres and becomes the production shaft.
2008 – Production mining begins.
2009 – The Lapa processing plant starts up in April. The first gold is poured from Lapa ore on May 7. The mine has its opening ceremony in August.
2010 - Two exploration drifts started at about 1 kilometre depth from the shaft towards the east of the property.
2011 - Exploration drifts continue. Exploration success extends mine life six months to 2015.