LaFleur Minerals Inc. is advancing plans to restart its Beacon Gold Mill in Val-d'Or, Quebec by early 2026 while simultaneously launching a minimum 5,000-metre diamond drilling program at its Swanson Gold Project. This strategic initiative comes as gold prices have surged above $3,300 per ounce, with JP Morgan analysts projecting prices could reach $4,000 by the second quarter of 2026. The company's comprehensive approach includes conducting a Preliminary Economic Assessment to evaluate open-pit mining and milling scenarios at current gold price levels.
The Beacon Gold Mill restart represents a significant opportunity for LaFleur Minerals, with conservative restart costs estimated between C$5-6 million. The mill's strategic location within Quebec's prolific Abitibi Gold Belt, combined with recent refurbishments, positions the company to efficiently process a 100,000-tonne bulk sample from the Swanson Project. This development is particularly important given the current favorable market conditions and growing investor interest in gold mining operations.
The company's dual-pronged strategy of mill reactivation and expanded exploration demonstrates a methodical approach to capitalizing on the strengthening gold market. The minimum 5,000-metre diamond drilling program at the Swanson Gold Project will provide critical data for resource estimation and mine planning. Investors and analysts have been invited to a site visit scheduled for July 2025 to observe progress firsthand and assess the project's advancement toward production readiness.
LaFleur Minerals' initiatives offer both near-term production potential and exposure to the upside of escalating gold prices, making this development particularly significant for the mining sector. The company's focus on the Beacon Gold Mill restart and Swanson Project development comes at an opportune time when gold market fundamentals remain strong and investor confidence in precious metals continues to grow. These projects represent strategic moves to leverage existing infrastructure while expanding resource potential through systematic exploration.
