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The O'Brien mine was discovered in 1924 during the first
period of active exploration in the region. The No. 1 vein was
discovered during that time. A shaft was sunk into the vein in
1925 and an extensive period of exploration began.
In 1933, the O'Brien mine entered into production, which
continued until 1956. The mine produced 600,000 ounces of gold
at an average grade of 16.0 g/mt, making it the highest gold
grade producer in the province of Quebec. The mine was serviced
by two shafts and a winze, and the lowest developed level is at
1,052 metres of depth. The mine was closed in 1956 due to rising
costs, lower grades, and the $35.00 fixed price of gold.
In the early 1970’s, the property was acquired by A.N. Ferris
and Associates. Darius Gold Mines Ltd. was created to hold this
and other properties, and it, in turn, dealt with Consolidated
Goldfields, which formed Darius Gold Mines Inc.
The upper levels of the O'Brien mine were rehabilitated and a
new mill capable of treating 180 metric tonnes per day was
constructed. A total of approximately 176, 000 metric tons of
ore material coming from upper levels with a grade of 4,1 g/mt
of gold have been processed with an average recovery of 70 %.
The mine has been shut down in 1982 and later on the underground
workings flooded.
From 1978 to 1980, drilling programs tested previously
unexplored areas, resulting in a modest addition to existing
mineral inventories. Twenty-four surface diamond drill holes
(3,980 m) were drilled in 1979, and a further 37 holes (4,992 m)
were completed in 1981. Sulpetro Minerals purchased the property
in 1981, primarily to treat ore from its adjoining Kewagama mine
property.
In 1985, a successor company, Novamin Resources Ltd.,
completed the magnetometer, VLF and IP surveys, and completed 16
D.D.H. (4,212 m) during 1986 and 1987. This drilling led to the
discovery of a series of en-echelon gold-bearing quartz veins
known as the 36 East Zone. This significant new prospect is
interpreted to represent a satellite vein complex of en-echelon
gold mineralized veins similar in nature and character as
exploited at the O'Brien mine 600 meters to the west. Further
drilling in this area in 1988 and early 1989 totaling 40 holes
(12,216 metres) outlined a mineral inventory of about 250,000
metric tonnes grading at 8.2 g/mt of gold using a cut value of
34.3 g/mt Au and a 1.22 m minimum width. No further exploration
has been done since then by Breakwater Resources Ltd.
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