Minera Alamos on track to complete Santana gold mine construction; strengthens board with experienced mining engineer

Minera Alamos Inc (CVE:MAI) (OTCMKTS:MAIFF) remains on track to complete construction of its Santana gold mine in Mexico around the end of this year, it told investors Wednesday as it updated on progress and announced a new director appointment. The group noted that work was allowed to restart at the beginning of June this year and the heap leach pad area has been cleared and is undergoing contouring ahead of clay placement and the installation of the liner. READ: Minera Alamos reveals plans for Phase 3 drilling at Santana gold project as it continues to expand mineralization The explosive storage and detonator bunkers are awaiting final inspection from the Mexican authorities ahead of the issue of a permit and bypass road construction at either end of the pad area is underway, Minera Alamos added. "Minera has now placed most long lead time orders for the next phase of construction activities. The project site is quickly taking shape and we remain on track for construction to conclude around the end of the year," Darren Koningen, the group's CEO said in Wednesday's statement. Santana is a 100% owned permitted, open-pit, heap-leach project in Sonora state, which is expected to see first gold production in early 2021. Koningen also revealed that the firm has appointed experienced engineer Kevin Small as a director, expanding the group's board to three independent directors and further strengthening "the technical and operational experience of the Minera team". Small is currently the president and CEO of Jerritt Canyon Gold, which is 100% owned by Sprott Mining Inc, where he is responsible for the day to day operations of a 4,000 tonne per day (tpd) Roaster and CIL plant producing between 120,000 and 160,000 ounces of gold annually. Elsewhere, at Jerritt Canyon he is responsible for the day to day operation of two underground mines and advanced exploration both from surface and underground. Throughout his 30-year career, Small has brought his innovative and strategic-thinking as an operations leader to numerous mine operations and start-up projects, the firm added. Recently his work has included being director of mine operations at the Beta Hunt mine in Western Australia owned by Karora Resources Inc, formerly RNC Minerals. Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com