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The Patok Gold Operations was started in the early seventies where a 100 Tonner beneficiating mill plant was set-up to capitalize on the high grade gold vein deposit that was discovered during exploration and bank on the rising price of gold. But during the seventies, copper was the main attraction and was enjoying the limelight in metal production. This was an eventful period in Philippine history when it ranked fifth in World Copper Production. As a result, most of the company’s attention was being diverted to the Capcapo Copper-Gold Project, a massive porphyry-copper type deposit some five kilometers NNW of the Patok Claim. The property is situated in the Northeast foothills of the Central Cordillera some 39 kilometers by road from the central town of Bangued, capital of Abra.
The Patok mill operation was hastily set-up to beneficiate the stockpiled ore during the development of the mine. Initially, the concentrator was a gravity type to capitalize on the free gold that was hit at the early stages of the tunneling.
At the Latter part of the operation, AMIC conducted additional diamond drillings and tunneling and company data indicated a blocked/proven reserves of about 1,000,000 MT as an extensions of these four major discovery veins with an average value of 10.0 gm Au/MT, 31.0 gm Ag/MT and 0.40% Cu and an unblocked/probable ore reserves of about 1,500,000 MT of identical grades. This relatively very small parcel of less than 20-hectare area of concentration is dwarfed by the 297-hectare property claim area and Exploration Permit Applications (EXPA) at its adjacent areas running to about 35,000 hectares, with the same Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) Permits in the making.
In comparison, most big mining companies in the country were treating ore grades of about 2.5 to 3.5 gms-Au/MT and technical advances in Carbon-in-Pulp and Heap-Leaching Technology made marginal ore grades of about 2.0 grams economically viable. At the latter part of the operational years of the company, the mill plant was expanded to accommodate the flotation of the copper ore from the open pit ore body. Gold produced were sold locally and the copper concentrate shipped to Mitsui Mining in Hachinoe, Japan via Phillip Brothers as brokers.
In the mid-1980, this property has been the subject of further study by the China Metallurgical Construction Corporation and the Philippines’ Bureau of mines (now Mines & Geosciences Bureau). Studies show the Patok Property to be consistent with the deposits in the known Baguio Gold Mining District, i.e. only 130 kms SE of the property, where several big and medium mining companies were located. Their reports confirmed the company’s findings and with recommendations to expand the area of study to look for extensions of the deposit.
The very promising future of Gold after the 1997 Asian Crisis and the despicable terrorists’ attack on the World Trade Center last September 11, 2001 (9-11) has sent a wake-up call on the investment world of our dynamic global economies. World Currency jitters are likewise an added trepidation in doubtful financial systems. Historically, in times of great uncertainties Gold has been the safest investment haven and a hedge in times of crisis. For this reason, the company strongly believes in the commercial viability of reopening the Patok Gold Operations in that as gold price springs back to life once more, gold becomes a redeeming factor in unstable world economies.
The mining industry in the country has been dwindling since the early 1980’s and big mining companies have since ceased to operate because of low-grade ore deposits or due to the uncertain future of their critically low reserves. Abra Mining on the other hand, enjoys a huge advantage as its’ proven reserves are practically intact with plenty of room for further exploration.
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