During the period when Parti Québécois controlled Québec, the province's
attractiveness as a mining jurisdiction fell from #1 to #21 in the Frasier
Institute's Annual Survey of Mining Companies. But when Philippe Couillard's
Liberal government won a majority in December 2013, the market got the
message. A month later, Goldcorp launched a takeover bid for Osisko Mining,
only to see rivals Agnico Eagle Mines and Yamana Gold team up to win the
prize. Eric Lemieux, consulting technical adviser to Toronto-based Peartree
Securities, says that bidding war showed that companies were willing to pay a
premium for Québec-based assets. Since then other takeovers have happened. In
this interview with The
Gold Report, Lemieux discusses some promising projects in Québec and
other stable jurisdictions.
The Gold Report: The Canadian Mining Association reports
that mineral exploration and deposit appraisal spending in Québec dropped
from about $621 million ($621M) in 2012 to about $328M in 2013. That number
is expected to rise again once the 2014 numbers are added up. What are some
other signs that mining equity investors are regaining confidence in Québec?
Eric Lemieux: The political climate for mineral exploration and
mining is somewhat more friendly under the Philippe Couillard Liberal
government. If you recall, Martine Ouellet of the previous Parti Québécois
government made headlines by ostracizing the Québec mining industry. The
higher royalties and aggressive amendments to the Mining Act that she helped
impose put a lot of pressure on the Québec mineral exploration industry.
Québec was one of the first jurisdictions to passer sous le tordeur—gone
through the wringer, as we say in French. Now things look more favorable. For
example, in the Frasier Institute's Annual Survey of Mining Companies, Québec
went from #21 on the Investment Attractiveness Index in 2013 to #6 in 2014.
That's a positive sign.
TGR: How are Québec-based companies handling the downturn?
EL: The tough times have forced a lot of the Québec mineral
exploration companies to focus on quality projects and be thrifty and nimble
with their spending. But sometimes when you're obligated to spend wisely,
that's when the greatest discoveries are made. For example, Voisey's Bay was
discovered during a downturn in the late 1990s, as well as the Éléonore
deposit by Virginia Gold Mines Inc. in 2004.
TGR: Québec would seem to fit comfortably into the thesis that the
broad market is rewarding companies operating in safe jurisdictions. How is
that playing out?
EL: Québec is once again considered a safe jurisdiction under the
new Liberal government. Goldcorp Inc. (G:TSX; GG:NYSE) signaled that in early
2014 when it attempted to acquire Osisko Mining Corp. and the Canadian
Malartic gold mine in the Abitibi. The ensuing takeover fight between
Goldcorp and Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. (AEM:TSX; AEM:NYSE)/Yamana Gold Inc.
(YRI:TSX; AUY:NYSE; YAU:LSE) showed that companies were willing to pay a
premium for Québec-based assets.
TGR: The biggest story in Québec this year is Osisko Gold
Royalties Ltd. (OR:TSX), the company that was spun out of the
Agnico/Yamana takeover of Osisko, taking over Virginia Mines. What are some
takeaways from that deal?
EL: The transaction puts two Québec powerhouses together and it
makes for a stronger company. Virginia was certainly a success story when you
consider the wealth that André Gaumond and his team were able to create—he
essentially sold the company twice for a combined CA$1 billion. Osisko 3.0,
my nickname for the company, will be based in Montreal and will have an
exploration office in Québec City. The company has two world-class royalties:
a 5% net smelter royalty (NSR) on Canadian Malartic and a 2.2–3.5% sliding
scale NSR on Goldcorp's Éléonore mine in the James Bay region of northwestern
Québec. Osisko has the capacity to advance and develop more gold projects and
other opportunities. I see this as a win/win situation.
TGR: Gaumond and Sean Roosen, Osisko's chairman and CEO, are big
names in Québec mining and big personalities. Can those two successfully
coexist at Osisko?
EL: These are two dynamic visionaries and, yes, stubborn people,
but I think they can work together. There are lots of growth opportunities
and both can contribute. They both have the capacity to surround themselves
with good people, they have and they will.
TGR: In the middle of this deal Goldcorp published a revised
resource estimate for its Éléonore mine. What do you value Osisko's Éléonore
royalty at now?
EL: Éléonore is in preproduction and should reach commercial
production in Q2/15. The total reserves and resources increased about 9% to
8.83 million ounces (8.83 Moz) from 8.13 Moz. The mineral reserves increased
by about 23% to 4.97 Moz from 4.03 Moz. But Goldcorp is just scratching the
surface. The current resource goes down to about 1,200 meters but the deposit
is wide open at depth and there are some lateral openings. It's an
underground vertical gold mine. I feel comfortable with what I previously
modeled, which is a 15.1 Moz gold deposit. The Éléonore royalty will
ultimately perhaps be worth the price that Goldcorp initially paid for it
back in 2005–2006, about CA$500M. But with further exploration and
development it could be worth even more.
TGR: And the Canadian Malartic royalty is 5%. Most NSR royalties
are in the 2–3% range.
EL: It is a sexy royalty. I see it as a cash cow and a great plus
for the Osisko 3.0 story. The Éléonore royalty will take time to ramp up.
Goldcorp is forecasting between 290,000 and 330,000 oz gold in 2015, which is
subject to a 2.2% NSR initially, ramping up to a maximum of 3.5% by 2028.
TGR: Osisko is going to be generating a lot of cash flow. How do
Roosen and Gaumond grow the business?
EL: I expect more acquisitions and Osisko will have the war chest
to do that. The company will probably focus on North America and Mexico.
After that, it will explore aggressively and possibly develop some
discoveries.
TGR: Do you see further Québec-focused mergers and acquisitions?
EL: We could see some but there hasn't been a flurry of recent
important new mineral discoveries. There have been some small discoveries,
but no home runs. There is some quality food on the table, per se, but it's
not a huge banquet. That could change but there are lingering effects from
the Parti Québécois regime.
TGR: What acquisitions have there been?
EL: Alexandria
Minerals Corp. (AZX:TSX.V) recently acquired Murgor Resources Inc.
through bankruptcy courts. That was relatively surprising. It amounts to
about $4/oz gold equivalent for the Murgor assets, which are relatively small
polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits in Manitoba. Murgor
didn't have the capacity to move them forward in this tough market. It's a
transaction that shows that some strategic little acquisitions can be made
inexpensively. Alexandria took advantage of an opportunity and now a new
management and technical team can look at these polymetallic deposits perhaps
a little differently and with an updating of the price deck.
Conversely, Integra Gold Corp.'s (ICG:TSX.V; ICGQF:OTCQX) acquisition
last fall of the Sigma-Lamaque milling facility and mine assets adjacent to
Integra's Lamaque South project from Samson Bélair/Deloitte & Touche
Inc., the court-appointed receiver of the assets of Century Mining Corp., is
testament to an astute acquisition.
TGR: Plan Nord was once the infrastructure project that several
mining projects needed in order to receive a development decision, but it
stalled. Now it's back. Please give us an update on Plan Nord and the
equities likely to see the biggest impact as a result of the renewed plan.
EL: Plan Nord 2 is back on track as much as it can be in light of
the austerity program going on in Québec as part of the government's plan to
put its finances in order. Plan Nord extended Route 167, a 240-kilometer
all-season extension that benefits north-central Québec. One positive impact
of Plan Nord has been the go ahead for Stornoway
Diamond Corp.'s (SWY:TSX) Renard diamond mine that is under construction;
meanwhile, Eastmain
Resources Inc.'s (ER:TSX) Eastmain Mine-Ruby Hill project was once only
accessible by winter road but is now accessible year round. And within the
last six months a little staking rush has been going on along Route 167. A
small company called Visible Gold Mines Inc. (VGD:TSX.V) out of Rouyn-Noranda
found some gold-bearing boulders along the road. It's an area that hasn't
been well explored. This is a direct impact of the new access.
TGR: Stornoway plans to enter production at its flagship Renard
diamond mine in late 2017. What is the plan?
EL: My understanding is that construction is going smoothly.
Stornoway is building a mine complex that will house about 350 workers. I
estimate that commercial production will start in 2018, which is coming
quickly. This project also has the stamp of approval from the Cree Nation of
Mistissini. I think it will be a success. The beauty of these types of
deposits is that while there is an existing mineral resource and reserve, the
upside potential at depth could turn this into a 30–40 year mining operation.
TGR: Eastmain continues to drill the Clovis Lake property as part
of an effort to build resources at its 100%-owned Eau Claire deposit in
northwestern Québec. What has happened so far at Clovis Lake and is it enough
to bring investors back to that name?
EL: Clovis Lake looks to be Eau Claire No. 2. It seems to have the
same quartz porphyry geology and similar geometry. Hopefully, Eastmain will
be able to deliver in 2015 a much needed updated mineral resource estimate.
If Clovis Lake can materialize and add ounces, that would only benefit a mine
plan and show that Eau Claire could become a relatively high-grade standalone
gold producer. Eastmain has committed to a preliminary economic assessment
for 2015. That should give us some insight in how to go about mining this
deposit economically.
TGR: What do you think is the hottest region in Québec for mining
exploration and development?
EL: One of the emerging hot spots is Québec's Detour Trend. It's
located in the northwestern end of the prolific Abitibi Greenstone Belt. On
the other side of the border in Ontario is Detour Gold
Corp.'s (DGC:TSX) flagship operation, the Detour mine. It is still in the
ramp-up phase, but it is an open pit with a 15-Moz reserve.
On the Québec side, others players have garnered attention. Balmoral Resources
Ltd. (BAR:TSX; BAMLF:OTCQX) received the 2014 Association de
l'Exploration Minière du Québec (AEMQ) Prospector of the Year Award for its
Grasset nickel-PGE discovery. In 2013, Balmoral received the same AEMQ award
for the Martiniere gold zone. Maybe the company will win the award again in
2015 because it remains very active in the area. Balmoral has three drill
rigs working, one on the Martiniere extension and two on Grasset. The company
could deliver the first mineral resource estimate for the Grasset
nickel-copper-PGE project by the end of 2015, which is tremendous.
TGR: Would you be willing to say that Grasset is now its top asset?
EL: I discussed that with Balmoral CEO Darin Wagner. What is
attracting the market right now? In early 2014 it was gold but then gold
dipped and now the market seems more excited by a nickel discovery, so he's
put the emphasis on that. Right now the momentum is with Grasset, but
Balmoral has the financial strength to work on Grasset and Martiniere.
That's a testament to good management and a strong exploration team.
TGR: Do you think that Grasset will get spun out?
EL: Good question. If I'm using André Gaumond's playbook, he'd sell
the Grasset project to a major for a sizeable price but retain an NSR. Mr.
Wagner is an astute manager so he'll negotiate, if need be, something
positive for shareholders.
TGR: What other companies are exploring in the Québec Detour Trend?
EL: Midland
Exploration Inc. (MD:TSX.V) has several properties in that region with
partners like SOQUEM Inc., a Québec government-owned mining company, and a
small company called Sphinx Resources Ltd. (SFX:TSX.V). Midland and Sphinx
have started a 2,000-meter (2,000m) drill program on their Samson property,
which is just south of Balmoral's Grasset discovery. Midland also has three
drills turning on Casault and Jouvex with SOQUEM and one on Patris with Teck Resources
Ltd. (TCK:TSX; TCK:NYSE) along a splay of the Destor-Porcupine fault
zone. Teck was an iconic gold producer in Québec back in the late 1960s and
then left. Midland attracted Teck back to Québec in 2013. This winter this
Detour Trend area might see about 18,000m of drilling, mostly by Balmoral
(over 8,000m), but also Midland with its partners (6,000m) and Adventure Gold
Inc. (AGE:TSX.V) (1,500m). And recently I noticed that Xmet Inc.
(XME:TSX.V), a little junior, has a property at the eastern end of
Grasset and is drilling a 2,200m program. The area seems to be a polymetallic
hot spot.
TGR: Midland has a 10,000m drill program planned for 2015, which is
a lot for a company that size. Where should investors focus?
EL: Midland generates projects that attract partners and those
partners earn an interest by funding exploration work. When you have four or
five partners, each committing exploration dollars on a property, it doesn't
take long to reach 10,000m. What I appreciate about Midland is that it is
diversified. Any one of its projects could be a home run. We might see some
new players come into the Detour Camp because of the attraction.
Midland is also exploring in the Labrador Trough with its Pallas and
Willbob projects. The trough is generally associated with iron ore, but there
are platinum group metals and gold prospects there, too. Before the takeover,
Virginia was working with Altius Minerals Corp. (ALS:TSX.V) in that general area. Northern Shield
Resources Inc. (NRN:TSX.V) is there, too with its Idefix property. This
could become another hot spot on the Québec side.
TGR: Adventure Gold continues to explore the Abitibi Greenstone
Belt. Which property stands out?
EL: Adventure Gold is more in the southern part of the Detour
Trend, but Detour Gold has hit some high-grade intersections to the southeast
of the Detour mine within the Lower Detour Deformation Zone. That's an area
that has garnered renewed exploration interest. Adventure Gold has a huge
land package all along that Lower Detour Deformation Zone. It also has some
properties along the Casa Berardi-Cameron gold break, which is the southern
part of another important fault system in the Abitibi. That is where
Adventure Gold has a sizeable land package and has partnered with a small
junior, GFK Resources Inc. (GFK:TSX.V). Its most advanced project is
Pascalis, about 20 kilometers east of Val-d'Or and Adventure has a 0.77 Moz
Inferred gold resource on the property.
TGR: Are there any other stories you're following?
EL: Closer to home in the Val d'Or Camp, two names come to mind.
One is Falco
Resources Ltd. (FPC:TSX.V). Sean Roosen recently became chairman and he
replaced the CEO with a former Osisko gentleman named Luc Lessard, a mining
engineer. This project sits below Xstrata's Horne base metals smelter, but
the Horne No. 5 deposit may have been overlooked for gold. I see some
similarities between this story and Osisko's Canadian Malartic. Roosen and
his team have the capacity to do something with that asset.
Cartier
Resources Inc. (ECR:TSX.V) is another name in the Val-d'Or Camp. For
about CA$15,000, Cartier acquired the old Chimo mine that was mined by
Cambior in the 1990s. At the time, companies were moving to South America.
That is when the likes of Lac Minerals, Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX:TSX;
ABX;NYSE), Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM:NYSE) and others generated these big
projects in Chile and Peru. Cambior followed suit and left behind some of its
thrifty gold operations in the Val-d'Or area, and some of these
past-producers still have some juice. Only time will tell but these little
overlooked projects might attract attention.
TGR: Perhaps one more?
EL: Ontario is also a very good mining jurisdiction. I've been
following Premier
Gold Mines Ltd. (PG:TSX) for a long time and in early February it signed
a $300M agreement with Centerra Gold Inc. (CG:TSX; CADGF:OTCPK) to develop
the 7.8 Moz Hardrock gold project in northern Ontario. A feasibility study is
going to come out in 2015 that may really open up some eyes. Premier is
conducting an engineering study now. Recently Premier did a deal with
Goldcorp where they swapped properties. Premier now owns a 100% interest on
the Hasaga gold property in Red Lake, Ontario. The company has a good
exploration and development team that will advance this asset. It also has
the Cove-McCoy project in Nevada.
TGR: Is Premier going to become a miner at Hardrock?
EL: It has built a development team that should have the capacity
to be a miner if it so chooses. President and CEO Ewan Downie will certainly
play his cards well. He will always give himself options.
TGR: Which commodity in Québec are you most bullish on in 2015 and
why?
EL: I am mildly bullish on gold. On the production side, it has
become increasingly challenging to mine gold. When we take into account
social responsibility, environmental considerations, permitting obligations,
mining royalty regimes, declining grades and the remoteness of projects, the
supply is tightening. The low-lying fruit has been found. I think gold will
be the commodity in 2015 as I see, currently, more upside than downside.
TGR: Thank you for your insights into the Quebec mining scene,
Eric.