O3 Mining has released the results of a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) on its wholly owned Marban project in Quebec, which suggests potential for this asset to “become a highly profitable gold mine in one of the most prolific producing regions in Canada,” according to Jose Vizquerra, the company’s president and CEO.

The early-stage study defined a 15-year, 11,000 t/d open pit operation, mining the Marban, Norlartic, Kierens, North-North and Gold Hawk deposits. Mining would take place over 13 years, with an additional two years of low-grade stockpile processing at the mill. The process plant design is based on standard carbon-in-leach (CIL) technology with gravity concentration.