Number crunching

Almaden Minerals’ Elk gold project near Merritt will be able to pay for itself in under two years, according to a recently completed preliminary economic assessment (PEA). The report analyzed a few different scenarios, using figures based on the anticipated price of gold per ounce and the expected amount of gold produced per year. The Elk property was known formerly as Siwash and has been prospected since the 1900s, but focused exploration work began in the 1960s.