Overview

Agnico-Eagle's flagship LaRonde mine is located in the Abitibi Region of northwestern Quebec, approximately 650 km northwest of Montreal. Since 1988, the mine has produced more than 3 million ounces of gold. With proven and probable gold reserves of 5.0 million ounces; 34.9 million tonnes at 4.4 g/t,  LaRonde is the largest gold deposit in Canada. Even after 18 years of production, LaRonde reserves have been maintained or grown year after year.

In 2007, LaRonde produced 230,992 ounces of gold at a total cash cost of minus $365 per ounce. Byproduct production for the year totaled 4.9 million ounces of silver, 71,577 tonnes of zinc and 7,482 tonnes of copper. 

LaRonde's low-cost production is a result of the economies of scale afforded by its large single shaft mine, its byproduct revenue and its stable, highly skilled and motivated workforce dedicated to cost-efficient mining operations. The mine's strong earnings and cash flows provide a solid foundation for Agnico-Eagle's international expansion.

Operations

LaRonde includes underground mining operations, a mill complex, a treatment plant, a secondary crusher building and related facilities.

While production has come from three different mine shafts, the mine currently uses the 2,250 metre Penna Shaft. This is the deepest single-lift shaft in the Western Hemisphere. It is used to hoist LaRonde's ore production of approximately 7,300 tonnes per day.

The mining method is predominantly transverse longhole stoping with delayed cemented backfill. Saleable byproducts of the mining operation include silver, zinc and copper.

The mill complex includes copper and zinc flotation circuits as well as a precious metals recovery circuit and refinery. The mill produces three products - precious metals doré bars, zinc concentrate and copper concentrate. 

The new and expanded water treatment plant uses a biological process to reduce tailing effluent toxicity immediately prior to discharge. This high-tech facility represents the final stage in a series of various water treatments.

Employees

More than 600 experienced and highly skilled people work at the LaRonde operations. Many of our employees have been with the company since production began in 1988.