Magino Mine Construction QA/QC Program Wins ACEC-Ontario Award
Magino Mine Construction QA/QC Program Wins ACEC-Ontario Award
By TULLOCH | Published September 14, 2026
TULLOCH’s Magino Gold Mine Construction QA/QC Program received a 2025 ACEC-Ontario Award of Distinction, recognizing the surveying, engineering, testing and construction oversight behind a major Northern Ontario mining development.
The assignment began with site surveying in 2020 and expanded as construction advanced. Surveyors, engineers, technicians, inspectors and GIS specialists worked together to provide the information and verification needed across an active mine site.
Today, TULLOCH continues its involvement across the Island Gold District, which brings together the Magino open-pit and neighbouring Island Gold underground operations.
From Initial Surveys to Construction Quality Assurance
TULLOCH was initially retained to complete topographic surveys and establish a site-wide survey control network at Magino, near Dubreuilville, Ontario. This provided a common spatial reference for the owner, designers, contractors and field teams as development progressed.
The scope subsequently expanded to include geotechnical investigations, civil and structural design, and construction quality assurance. TULLOCH was also selected to provide quality assurance for construction of the tailings management facility, bringing together survey verification, quantity reconciliation, materials testing, inspection and documentation.
Maintaining continuity between these assignments allowed the team to carry site knowledge forward as new work areas opened and construction priorities changed.
Verifying Work in the Field
Construction quality assurance depended on timely information about the work being completed. TULLOCH’s field teams inspected and verified earthworks, trenches, utilities, foundations and other mine infrastructure, documenting conditions and comparing completed work with project requirements.
Construction surveying established alignments and elevations, tracked material quantities, and recorded buried services and installed infrastructure. These records helped project teams assess progress and maintain an accurate account of construction.
A CCIL-certified mobile laboratory provided materials testing for soils, aggregates, concrete and asphalt. On-site testing gave the project team timely results to assess compliance with specifications and determine where further review was needed.
Geotechnical engineers also responded as subsurface conditions were exposed. Investigation data, field observations and laboratory results informed recommendations for foundations, earthworks, retaining systems and backfill.
Connecting Survey Data and Project Records
As construction changed the site, recurring UAV surveys captured progress and supported earthworks quantity assessments. LiDAR and photogrammetry documented terrain and infrastructure, creating records that could be compared over time.
TULLOCH also developed a GIS web map to bring survey records, imagery and infrastructure information into one visual platform. Project teams could review current and historical information together, improving access to records that would otherwise be distributed across separate files and systems.
These tools complemented conventional field surveys and inspections. Each contributed a different view of the site, from individual construction measurements to broader changes across the development.
Sustaining Delivery in Northern Ontario
Severe winter weather, limited connectivity, changing schedules and remote-site logistics influenced how the assignment was delivered. Maintaining field coverage required flexible staffing, suitable equipment, mobile testing resources and reliable communication between the site and supporting offices.
More than 100 TULLOCH employees contributed to the assignment. Their involvement allowed the team to respond to changing demands while maintaining technical oversight and continuity through multiple construction phases.
Alongside field delivery, TULLOCH provided Owner’s Representative services, including technical coordination, reporting and quality oversight across contractors and project activities.
Continuing Across the Island Gold District
Magino achieved its first gold pour in 2023 and became part of Alamos Gold following its acquisition of Argonaut Gold in 2024. The operation now forms part of the Island Gold District, where TULLOCH remains involved in ongoing construction and development.
The award recognizes the QA/QC program delivered during a defining stage of Magino’s construction. The continuing assignment reflects the trust developed through that work and the value of retaining a team familiar with the site, its records and its evolving requirements.
Explore the Island Gold District project for more about TULLOCH’s involvement, or learn how our teams contribute to mining projects across exploration, development, construction and operations.
