- LaFleur Minerals plans to restart its fully-permitted and recently refurbished Beacon Gold Mill in Val-d’Or, Quebec, by early 2026, offering many surrounding gold projects a much-needed nearby milling option.
- In addition, a minimum 5,000-metre diamond drilling program is launching at the company’s wholly-owned 166 km² Swanson Gold Project this month, and a Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) is underway to evaluate open-pit mining and milling scenarios at current gold prices, as they rise above $3,300/oz, expected to hit $4,000/oz by the second quarter of 2026, JP Morgan analysts say.
- In support of the company’s Swanson Project plans for a 100,000-tonne bulk sample to be processed at the Beacon Mill, LaFleur expects a conservative restart cost of C$5-6 million, which includes further upgrades, benefitting from no outstanding royalties or encumbrances, providing investors both near-term production potential and exposure to the upside of surging gold, with a site visit planned for July 2025 for prospective investors and analysts.
LaFleur Minerals (CSE: LFLR) (OTCQB: LFLRF), a Canadian near-term gold producer, is making steady progress toward restarting its 100%-owned Beacon Gold Mill in Val-d’Or, Quebec, and launching a large-scale bulk sampling program at its Swanson Gold Project (https://ibn.fm/ywO6A). The company aims to reinitiate gold production by early 2026, situated in Canada’s most prolific gold-producing region, aligning with record-high gold prices now exceeding US$3,300 per ounce.
LaFleur acquired the Beacon Gold Mill, strategically located in Quebec’s Abitibi Gold Belt, in late 2024. The facility had already been given over C$20 million in repairs and upgrades under its previous owner, Monarch Mining, before being acquired under opportunistic terms by what is now known as LaFleur. Fully permitted, the mill represents a rare opportunity to accelerate gold production timelines, and offers a nearby milling option for surrounding gold projects, of which the region is well-endowed, with more than 100 historical and operating mines ideal as potential sources of ore.
The mill is permitted to process 750 tonnes per day and benefits from access to road, power, and a skilled local workforce. With additional upgrades, the mill will be ready to also handle bulk samples from LaFleur’s own Swanson Gold Project. A detailed mill restart plan has been developed, outlining C$3.8 million in equipment upgrades and C$1.8 million in tailings facility repairs needed. Notably, the mill is free of royalties or financial encumbrances, following the elimination of prior claims during Monarch’s restructuring, and new, prospective investors have already expressed interest.
CEO Paul Ténière said in a statement that LaFleur is executing a “methodical” restart strategy. “We are grateful to have acquired the fully permitted and refurbished Beacon Gold Mill, which received over C$20 million in upgrades by its previous operator and is located in the midst of numerous gold deposits in the historic Val-d’Or and Rouyn-Noranda mining districts, including our own Swanson Gold Deposit,” he said. “Based on our recent detailed assessments, the Beacon Gold Mill requires minimal repairs and improvements, and we are methodically executing a strategy to eventually restart production at the mill.”
According to LaFleur, the mill restart will be closely tied to material sourced from the nearby Swanson Gold Project, which spans 166 km² and contains four key targets: Swanson, Bartec, Marimac, and Jolin. The company is currently preparing to extract a 100,000-tonne bulk sample from the Swanson site for metallurgical testing at the Beacon Mill. A bulk sample and environmental remediation plan is under review by Quebec regulators. These well-positioned assets held by LaFleur form part of the company’s vertically-integrated gold producing model, reducing operational risks while enhancing the overall potential economics and value proposition of both properties.
The Swanson deposit currently hosts an Indicated resource of 123,400 ounces of gold at an average grade of 1.8 g/t and an Inferred resource of 64,500 ounces at 2.3 g/t, based on the most recent NI 43-101 report filed in September 2024. A Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) is underway to evaluate the economic potential of an open-pit mining operation combined with milling at Beacon.
“We are also excited to commence planning for a large bulk sample at Swanson and a PEA to evaluate a mining and processing scenario at current record gold prices,” Ténière added. “With gold prices at record highs this is a pivotal year for LaFleur Minerals as we focus on restarting gold production at the Beacon Gold Mill and diamond drilling at the Swanson Gold Project to increase mineral resources.”
The company is also beginning a 5,000-metre diamond drilling campaign this month, targeting new and historical gold occurrences across its land package. Over 50 drill targets have been identified, and previous sampling at the Jolin prospect returned values as high as 11.7 g/t gold.
A site visit to both the Beacon Mill and Swanson project is planned for July 2025. LaFleur invites investors, analysts, and prospective partners to attend and assess the facilities firsthand. The company is also in discussions with multiple parties to fund the restart phase.
For more information, visit the company’s website at LaFleurMinerals.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to LFLRF are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/LFLRF
