LAURION Mineral Exploration Inc. (TSX-V: LME | OTC: LMEFF | FSE: 5YD) has provided an update on the environmental, technical, and regulatory work supporting the advancement of its 100%-owned Ishkōday Gold and Polymetallic Project in the Onaman-Tashota, Beardmore-Geraldton Greenstone Belt of Northwestern Ontario. The company is advancing two complementary initiatives associated with the historical Sturgeon River Mine: the recovery and remediation of the historical surface waste rock stockpile and a proposed Advanced Exploration Project focused on dewatering, rehabilitating, and evaluating the historical Sturgeon River Mine shaft and underground workings.
Over the past five years, LAURION has undertaken a comprehensive program of environmental baseline studies, technical investigations, and Indigenous and regulatory consultation to characterize existing site conditions and support project planning and applicable regulatory approvals. The company has submitted an application for a Recovery of Minerals Permit to the Ministry of Energy and Mines, including a Recovery and Remediation Plan, under section 152.1 of Ontario’s Mining Act and Ontario Regulation 463/24. The Sturgeon River Mine surface waste rock stockpile is a legacy of historic mining operations and, based on historic and current technical information, contains mineralized material that LAURION seeks authorization to recover. The proposed work would involve removal and off-site processing of the material, followed by remediation of the stockpile area in accordance with applicable provincial standards.
Separately, LAURION is advancing plans to rehabilitate the historical Sturgeon River Mine shaft to facilitate further evaluation and exploration of the historical in-situ resource potential. The historical mine workings include a vertical shaft extending approximately 642 metres below surface and 15 historical underground levels. The mine has remained flooded since operations ceased, with approximately 114,000 cubic metres of static water estimated within the underground workings. The proposed Advanced Exploration Project would involve removal of the existing shaft cap, rehabilitation of the shaft collar, and installation of a temporary exploration headframe and hoisting plant to allow for safe access, controlled dewatering, and progressive rehabilitation of the shaft and existing underground levels. Once safe underground access is established, LAURION intends to undertake underground exploration drilling and sampling. No commercial mineral production or ore processing is currently proposed.
To facilitate dewatering, LAURION is preparing a Permit to Take Water application for submission to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, with a target of Q4 2026. A detailed hydrogeological impact assessment will be completed. In parallel, the company is advancing other regulatory requirements, including an Advanced Exploration Closure Plan in accordance with Ontario’s Mining Act, with submissions targeted for early 2027.
Over the past five years, LAURION has commissioned independent environmental baseline studies, including terrestrial ecology, species at risk and bat studies; aquatic and benthic studies; groundwater and surface water studies; shaft water and hydrogeological studies; and a Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment. These studies provide a foundation for ongoing regulatory review and permitting activities.
LAURION has continued to engage with applicable Indigenous communities, including Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek First Nation, Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation, and Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek First Nation. As part of the Closure Plan process, public notice and public meetings will be held.
“Five years of rigorous, independent environmental baseline work is not a small undertaking, and I am proud of the diligence our team and consultants have brought to this work,” said Cynthia Le Sueur-Aquin, President and CEO of LAURION. “This stockpile represents decades-old mining waste sitting on surface today. Recovering potentially economic residual mineralization within the stockpile, and doing so responsibly, is exactly the kind of value-additive, environmentally sound project our shareholders should expect from LAURION.”
“Beyond the surface stockpile project, the proposed dewatering and rehabilitation of the historical Sturgeon River shaft is an equally important initiative for LAURION,” added Ms. Le Sueur-Aquin. “Historical records indicate the presence of gold-bearing structures on multiple underground levels that were not fully explored prior to the cessation of mining activities in 1942. Subject to regulatory approvals, the proposed dewatering program is expected to provide safe underground access for geological mapping, sampling and evaluation.”
Linda Byron, Director at Blue Heron Environmental, commented, “Blue Heron has been pleased to support LAURION with the environmental baseline studies and permitting work required to advance the Ishkōday Project. We appreciate the hard work and commitment demonstrated by the LAURION team throughout this process and are excited to see the Company take this important next step in moving the project forward.”
The technical contents of the press release have been reviewed and approved by Dr. Trevor Boyd, Ph.D., P.Geo., a consultant to LAURION and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. LAURION is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (LME), OTCQB (LMEFF), and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (5YD). For more information, visit http://www.LAURION.ca.
