Pretium Resources Inc. June 20 announced the first gold at its Brucejack Mine in northwestern British Columbia.

The Valley of the Kings deposit at Brucejack hosts 15.6 million metric tons of proven and probable reserves grading 16.1 grams per metric ton (8.1 million ounces) gold. This includes 3.3 million metric tons of proven reserves averaging 14.5 g/t (1.6 million oz) gold, enough ore for the first three years of production.

Pretium has steadily reached construction milestones over the past several months, including the energization of the commercial powerline to the operation in March.

The installation of the SAG and ball mills was finished in April, and the mills, flotation and gravity circuits are now fully operational.

In addition to the pouring of the first doré at Brucejack, gold-silver concentrate from the floatation circuit is being produced and readied for shipment.

Construction crews are being phased out as construction winds down and the operations team ramps up toward commercial production.

Upon reaching commercial production, the high-grade underground mine at Brucejack is expected to produce 7.27 million ounces of gold over an 18-year mine life, or roughly 404,000 oz of the precious metal annually, according to a feasibility study completed in 2014.

-SHANE LASLEY