Barkerville, B.C. – The  Bonanza Ledge open pit mine near Wells, has been given the green light.

Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd, which owns the property, has received the Mines Act Permit M-238 to move forward with the mine.

"Approval of the Bonanza Ledge Gold Mine is a major accomplishment for Barkerville Gold Mines in its close to twenty years of exploration in the region” says Barkerville Mines  President and CEO Frank Callaghan. “This will mean a lot to the residents of Wells, Quesnel and the Lhtako Dene Nation. It has been a joint effort to make this work with such a small environmental footprint, and the Company is excited to begin development of the mine."

The Bonanza Ledge Mine is expected to produce about 73 thousand tonnes of ore annually and the mine is expected to be active for four years.

The mine, set to begin construction as early as next year, will provide 30 direct jobs at Bonanza Ledge and a further 40 jobs at the QR Mine once it becomes fully operational.