Golden revival: EarthLabs documents restart of Madsen mine as it makes first pour

[Ben Graham]

EarthLabs (TSXV: SPOT, OTCQX: SPOFF) has released a new episode of its flagship series EarthLabs Expeditions, offering an up-close look at West Red Lake Gold Mines (TSXV: WRLG, OTCQB: WRLGF) at a pivotal moment in the company’s growth.

Titled “Pouring Gold at Record Prices”, the episode marks a return to Red Lake, Ontario, where EarthLabs host Jonathan Brazeau reconnects with CEO Shane Williams and the team to witness the culmination of their bulk sample program—and the first gold pour from the revitalized Madsen mine.

With gold having surged to $3,500 an ounce for the first time in history, the moment is more than symbolic—it’s a powerful signal of where the company is heading and the broader market tailwinds at its back.

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Over the past six months, West Red Lake Gold has made dramatic progress: completing the critical underground connection drift, finishing upgrades to the primary crusher and mill, and achieving an impressive 95% recovery rate during bulk sample processing. The new camp infrastructure and expanded workforce reflect the company’s aggressive ramp-up toward full-scale production in the second half of 2025.

The episode also features exclusive underground footage, showcasing modern mining operations and remote-controlled ore extraction from freshly blasted stopes. Viewers are taken deep inside the mine’s workings, through the connection drift linking the east and west portals—an infrastructure project CEO Shane Williams says could pay for itself in just three months.

In one standout sequence, Brazeau joins mine operations supervisor JP Tetreault on a guided underground tour, observing how teams drill, blast, and muck out ore with precision. Remote-control loaders, strategic stope planning, and safety-first protocols reveal how the mine is leveraging modern technology to reduce risk while boosting efficiency.

The crew also heads to the assay lab to track how ore is sampled and tested in real time. From core logging to recovery metrics, the process underscores how data is driving smarter decisions at every level—from geology to processing to the final pour. These behind-the-scenes moments offer a rare, unfiltered glimpse into what it takes to bring a historic asset back to life in one of Canada’s richest gold districts.

With full production on the horizon and gold prices sitting at historic highs, EarthLabs Expeditions captures a turning point for West Red Lake Gold and the broader Red Lake district, where legacy assets are being brought back to life with modern technology and strategic vision.

Watch the full episode here.