Pure Gold, which poured first gold at the Ontario mine in December 2020, said it anticipates declaring commercial production at the PureGold Mine in the second quarter this year.

The milling facility averaged approximately 600 t/d in February, with "multiple days exceeding 700 t/d in the latter part of the month", noted Pure Gold.

"Ramp-up activities are currently focused on optimization of the mill process systems with throughput and ore production trending steadily toward the design rate of 800 tonnes per day which is expected to be achieved in the coming weeks," wrote the statement.

Ore processing rates for the first few weeks in January were constrained by minor ramp-up issues related to pumps and water balance, which have now been largely resolved.

Gold recoveries have been tracking in line with expectations at approximately 95%, and the forecast grade of mine production for March is 7.0 g/t, added the company.

A second decline on the northeast end of the mine, the East Portal, was collared in 2020 and is currently advancing at a rate of over seven metres per day.