Finland Times

 

File picture of the riverside of the planned gold mine project of Dragon Mining in Kuusamo. Photo Lehtikuva.

The gold mine project, undertaken by Dragon Mining at Kuusamo in the northern parts of the country, has failed to properly address the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), according to the local administration.

 

The Kuusamo municipality council on Monday observed that the assessment of the environmental impact of the project was not viable and the company had to overcome shortcomings before going into operation.

 

Dragon Mining has planned to establish the gold production centre near Ruka Ski Resort.

 

The municipality council also expressed concerns that the impact of uranium has not been sufficiently assessed, while the project could also damage the image of the town as a tourist destination. 

 

The EIA must be submitted to Northern Ostrobothnia Ely Centre, the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment by March 10.

 

Afterwards, the centre will provide its assessment of the project.

 

According to the company, the Kuusamo Gold Project in northern Finland, 700 kilometres northeast of Helsinki, covers a portion of the highly prospective Palaeoproterozoic Kuusamo Schist Belt, a metamorphosed volcanic and sedimentary sequence that is well endowed with gold and cobalt mineralisation.

 

The project is an integral part of Dragon Mining’s plan to increase production, with the company seeking to capitalise on the project’s potential. 

 

The project comprises five known gold deposits, with a combined indicated and inferred mineral resource of 460,700 ounces grading 4.2 g/t gold.

 

The company has consolidated its holding at Kuusamo, increasing the area secured by claims and mining licences to 11,715 hectares.

 

The near contiguous holding encompasses 25 kilometres strike of the highly prospective Käylä-Konttiaho anticline, which hosts the known gold deposits in the region.