& North Mining Exploration
60
of
Review
2021
Pandemic impacts NWT mining sector in 2020 ATAC continues to deliver new discoveries at the Rackla Gold Property
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Alianza Minerals continues active 2020 with late-season Yukon Drill Program
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THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED BY ABACUS DATA AND COMMISSIONED BY THE NWT AND NUNAVUT CHAMBER OF MINES AND THE MINING ASSOCIATION OF CANADA.
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in this issue 8 Message from the editor, Shayna Wiwierski 10 Pandemic impacts NWT mining sector in 2020 14 Yukon exploration, development, and mining 2020 18 Nighthawk’s Indin Lake Gold Project 20 Alexco restarts Keno Hill, Canada’s only primary silver mine 22 ATAC continues to deliver new discoveries at the Rackla Gold Property 26 Fury Gold Mines begins drilling at its Eau Claire project in Quebec 28 Alianza Minerals continues active 2020 with late-season Yukon Drill Program 32 Back to basics: Restarting a high-grade gold producer in Yellowknife 34 Investment in infrastructure key to paving the way for Canada’s mining success in the North 37 Diamonds found with gold in Canada’s far north offer clues to Earth’s early history 40 New Rare Earth Processing Facility in Saskatchewan to secure North American supply chain 42 The essential role of Indigenous collaboration in mining 44 “Fill the Mill”: How effective analytics will drive productivity and reduce costs 46 TCWR - Ice road to diamonds and opportunity 48 Meeting the training needs of the mining industry now and into the future – Aurora College 50 UNDRIP in a northern context 54 Bringing industry 4.0 to mining operations 56 Seeing is believing: Provix Wisdom Cap Lamps
North
60
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is published by DEL Communications Inc. www.delcommunications.com President & CEO David Langstaff
Managing Editor Shayna Wiwierski shayna@delcommunications.com Advertising Manager Dayna Oulion dayna@delcommunications.com Advertising Account Executives Brent astrope | Brian gerow ross james | Dan Roberts Gary Seamans Production services provided by: S.G. Bennett Marketing Services www.sgbennett.com Creative Director / Layout & Design Kathleen Cable Contributing Writers jeff armstrong | adam chamberlain jeff dEnigris | rebecca gotto brendan marshall Cover Photo Courtesy of the de beers group © Copyright 2021, DEL Communications Inc. All rights reserved.The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written consent of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in and the reliability of the source, the publisherin no way guarantees nor warrants the information and is not responsible for errors, omissions or statements made by advertisers. Opinions and recommendations made by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher, its directors, officers or employees. Publications mail agreement #40934510 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3L 0G5 Email: david@delcommunications.com
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MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR I think we can all agree that 2020 was a year no one will ever forget. With the COVID-19 pandemic throwing a wrench into every industry’s plans starting in March 2020, exploration and mining activity in the north slowed down but did continue on a number of northern projects. In the Northwest Territories, there were 99 mineral claims staked in 2020 and exploration drilling on gold and base metal projects continued to yield positive results. In the Yukon, there were 95 active hard rock exploration projects in 2020, with 23 of those projected to have expenditures of $1 million Canadian dollars or more. As for Nunavut, as per a recently released economic analysis by the Conference Board of Canada titled “The Impact of COVID-19 on Canada’s Territorial Economies”, since Nunavut was able to still pursue mining in the midst of the pandemic, this industry will account for over one-third of the territory’s economy in 2020, a share that is higher than any other province or territory in the country. Since mining was deemed an essential service early on in the crisis, activity went on as (somewhat) usual. In this issue of North of 60 magazine we take a look at a few different exploration companies and the activity they have been up to over the last year, as well as what the future holds. We also explore a few other interesting features, such as how University of Alberta researchers found diamonds with gold in Canada’s northern territories which offer clues to Earth’s early history. Lastly, we also have all those supplier features you know and love, as well as industry editorials from agencies dealing with mining in our great nation. I hope you enjoy this 2021 issue of North of 60 magazine and if you have any story ideas, comments or just want to say hi, I encourage you to get in touch with us through our website, miningnorthof60.com, where you can also find more Northern Canada mining news throughout the year. Enjoy, and as always, strike gold! Shayna Wiwierski shayna@delcommunications.com
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Mining North of 60 | 2021
NAVIGATING NORTH WIT H RES PECT AN D EXP E RT I S E
Pandemic impacts NWT mining sector in 2020
E
xploration and mining activities in the Northwest Territories (NWT) over the past year slowed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but progress continued on a number of promising projects. Two-out-of-three diamond mines continue to operate, with a third anticipated to resume production shortly. There were 99 mineral claims staked in 2020. Exploration drilling on gold and base metal projects continue to yield positive results, and several advanced projects have moved toward production. Diamond sales were initially curtailed due to COVID-19 restrictions, but have since resumed.
Diavik Diamond Mine Despite the pandemic, operations continue at the Diavik Diamond Mine. In the first three quarters of 2020, Diavik processed 1,876,000 tonnes of ore, recovered 4,701,000 carats, and carried out a mine-lease exploration program.
Ekati Diamond Mine Ekati Diamond Mine (Dominion Diamond Mines of the Washington Companies) suspended operation in March to safeguard employees and communities. Ekati, in care and maintenance since, recalled 60 employees in mid-November in anticipation of a December restart. Due to pandemic lockdown measures, Dominion was unable to move $180 million worth of diamonds to market and it sought creditor protection in April. In September, Dominion announced a $166 million bid from a potential buyer, not including Dominion’s 40 per cent stake in Diavik. The sale fell through in October, when Dominion and prospective purchasers were unable to agree on reclamation securities with associated insurance companies.
Gahcho Kué Mine The winter drilling program at De Beers’ Gah Cho Kue mine were significantly scaled back due to the pandemic. Photo courtesy of De Beers Group.
10 Mining North of 60 | 2021
Gahcho Kué Mine remains operational. In June, the results of exploration work carried out on the ground held
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2021 | Mining North of 60
11
Rover Metals conducted an 1,110-metre exploration drilling program on its Cabin Lake gold project in the NWT over the past year. Inset: Exploration drilling on gold and base metal projects continue to yield positive results, and several advanced projects have moved toward production. Seen here is the Cabin Lake gold project. Photos courtesy of Rover Metals.
by the Gahcho Kué Joint Venture were announced. The winter drilling program was significantly scaled back due to the pandemic.
investigated priority magnetic and topographic targets located in the north Loki target area.
Diamond exploration
It also conducted a ground geophysical survey on its Lac de Gras Joint Venture with Dominion.
Kennady North Project
Seahorse Project
Kennady North Project (Mountain Province Diamonds) contains five known kimberlites. Due to reduced exploration, only one of four geotechnical holes has been drilled. Bathymetry data was collected for several lakes and a 43 line-kilometre OhmMapper survey was carried out over a kimberlite target located 1.5 kilometres up ice from Faraday 2. Forty-one claims were staked to the east of the existing tenure block.
During 2019, Olivut Resources Ltd. and Talmora Diamond Inc. drilled six holes at its Seahorse project, which showed elevated levels of rare earth elements generally higher than, or consistent with, levels found in clays over kimberlites elsewhere in the world.
Loki Project and Lac de Gras Joint Venture North Arrow Minerals Inc. completed a ground gravity survey on its Loki Diamond Project. The program
12 Mining North of 60 | 2021
Gold exploration Indin Lake Gold Property In July, Nighthawk Gold Corp. released an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) on the Indin Lake Gold Property based on a gold price of US$1,425. This incorporated 924 drill holes totalling 177,598 metres,
defining open pit and underground resources, and outlining 25.89 million tonnes at an average grade of 2.01 grams per tonne gold (gpt Au) for 1.67 million ounces of Indicated resources and 5.71 million tonnes at an average grade of 2.03 gpt Au for 0.37 million ounces of Inferred resources.
Yellowknife City Gold Project Gold Terra Resource Corp. (formerly TerraX) expanded its Yellowknife City Gold project by adding two claims from the decommissioned Ptarmigan and Tom mines. Gold Terra also entered an exploration agreement with Newmont on a series of leases and claims adjacent to the decommissioned Con Mine.
Cabin Gold Project Rover Metals conducted an 1,110-metre exploration drilling program on its Cabin Lake gold project. The nine-hole program included 22.01 metres averaging 7.94
gpt Au from hole CL-20-01 and 14.75 metres averaging 6.45 gpt Au from hole CL-20-03.
Other metals exploration Pine Point Project Osisko Metals Incorporated filed an NI 43-101 compliant technical report in July for its wholly-owned Pine Point Project, detailing an after-tax net present value of $500M (eight per cent discount rate), an after-tax internal rate of return of 29.6 per cent, and an after-tax payback period of 2.9 years with a mine life of 10 years. The company restarted drilling activities in August and initial results include 17.50 metres grading 11.53 per cent zinc (Zn) and 2.52 per cent lead (Pb) in drill hole O53-20-PP-001 and 28.80 metres grading 23.90 per cent Zn and 6.24 per cent Pb in drill hole O53-20-PP-012.
Prairie Creek Mine NorZinc Ltd. now has final mine and all-season road permits for its Prairie Creek zinc-lead-silver mine. In October, NorZinc announced a surface drill program focused on potential reserve expansion immediately to the north of the current reserve envelope.
NICO Project In a May update on its NICO project, Fortune Minerals Limited reported completion of an Updated Mineral Resource block model. The company is developing a new mine plan and schedule based on the new model, open-pit optimization and preliminary underground stope designs, and began an exploration program in September.
Operations at De Beers’ Gah Cho Kue mine continued throughout the pandemic. Photo courtesy of the De Beers Group.
which contains a high-grade light rare earth element mineral resource. Following a review of the geological interpretation, Vital Metals completed the work needed for a re-estimate and update of the Upper Zone resource on the Nechalacho deposit in accordance with Joint Ore Reserves Committee Code (JORC) 2012. In April, the company announced a significant increase in resource size and grade for the North T Zone,
with a JORC 2012 Mineral Resource estimate of 105,000 tonnes at 8.9 per cent Light Rare Earth Oxides using a cut-off grade of 0.3 per cent Nd2O3. Vital received land use permit and water licence amendments for development and operation of a mining and concentration operation at Nechalacho’s North T Zone. These amendments allow Vital to develop the first commercial rare earth project in Canada. 8
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Nechalacho Project Vital Metals acquired Cheetah Resources Pty. Ltd., which controls 100 per cent of the Nechalacho project above the 150-metre elevation level,
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13
Yukon exploration, development and mining 2020
Figure 1: The Minto mine site.
This article was written by the Yukon Geological Survey, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Government of Yukon.
M
ineral explorers were faced with uncertain conditions in the spring of 2020 as COVID-19 restrictions were put in place. Yukon’s chief medical officer of health declared a public health emergency in March 2020, which precipitated the closing of many public facilities. Days later, the Government of Yukon declared mining (including exploration) an essential service. The exploration season started slowly, but gained momentum by midsummer as metal prices increased. The revised spending intentions reported by NRCan in September were $76.9M in exploration and deposit appraisal (compared to $166.2M in 2019). Mine complex development expenditures – including capital expenditures and
14 Mining North of 60 | 2021
repair & maintenance – were reported at $58.8M (https://sead.nrcanrncan.gc.ca/expl-expl/ExploTable. aspx?FileT=342019&Lang=en), down from $231.8M in 2019. Development work in 2020 occurred at the Eagle mine, Bellekeno, Bermingham, Coffee Project, Selwyn Project, and Kudz Ze Kayah.
these had projected expenditures of CAN$1 million or more. Almost 90 per cent of small projects (<$100,000 in expenditures) received Yukon Mineral Exploration Program grant funding. Gold was the main commodity of interest (58 per cent by spending), followed by copper, silver, zinc-lead, and others.
A temporary increase in the funding for the Yukon Mineral Exploration Program (YMEP) grant, from CAN$1.46 million to CAN$2.5 million, injected some much-needed financing. In total, funding for 41 placer and 62 hard rock projects were leveraged into CAN$8.8 million in exploration expenditures.
Mining and development
There were 95 active hard rock exploration projects in 2020; 23 of
Minto Exploration Ltd. has been ramping up production at the highgrade Minto copper-gold-silver mine (Figure 1). The company is working two deposits underground: Minto East, which is almost mined-out, and Copper Keel, which is being prepared for mining. The company completed 11,000 metres of surface and
underground diamond drilling with a view to defining further resources. The company is in the process of getting approval for Phase 7 development of Minto North II and Minto East II underground. Victoria Gold Corp. achieved commercial production in July 2020 at its intrusion-related Eagle Gold Mine. The Q3 2020 gold production was more than 35,000 ounces. Mine design is for yearly production of 210,000 ounces of gold from the open pit/heap leach operation. The company also conducted a drill program 11 kilometres northeast of Eagle at its Raven and Lynx targets: 35 diamond drillholes (8,040 metres), trenching and soil sampling. Stepout drillhole NG20-33C returned 2.77 g/t Au over 65.7 metres. Alexco Resource Corp. restarted production at its Keno Hill silver deposits in late 2020, starting with mill-feed from Bellekeno. From there, mining will move to the Flame & Moth and then to the Bermingham deposit. Total reserves for these projects is 1.2 million tonnes at 805 g/t Ag for an eight-year mine life. The company is projected to produce four-million ounces of silver annually once in full production. The company also undertook an 8,000-metre diamond drilling program at Bermingham to test deep mineralization. Results from this work are pending. BMC Minerals (No. 1) Ltd., a private company, received a screening report and recommendation from the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) in October 2020 for its volcanogenic massive sulphide Kudz Ze Kayah project to proceed with mitigative measures. The positive recommendation lists 30 mitigation measures for the operation. BMC also released an updated positive feasibility study. Western Copper and Gold Corp. continues to advance its Casino porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum
project in western Yukon. A drill program of 12,031 metres in 49 holes was carried out. The company released an updated NI 43-101 resource estimate in 2020. The measured, Indicated and Inferred (M,I & I) mill resource is 3.6 billion tonnes containing 10.7 billion lbs. copper and 19.1 million oz. gold. The Heap Leach Resource (M, I & I) is 249 tonnes containing 2.0 million oz. gold. Golden Predator Mining Corp. released
a new NI 43-101 resource in 2020 for its Brewery Creek gold property. The new oxide estimate comes in at 22.2 million tonnes at 1.11 g/t Au (Indicated) and 16.8 million tonnes at 0.92 g/t Au (Inferred).The sulphide (Inferred) estimate is 30.6 million tonnes at 0.84 g/t Au. The company also completed 3,000 metres of infill drilling at the Classic and Lonestar zones. Results from this drilling are pending.
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15
Figure 2: Diamond drilling at the Klaza property.
Significant exploration projects – Precious metals Newmont Corporation continued exploring its Coffee Gold Project in western Yukon, which is in the “Developing the Draft Screening Report”stage of YESAB. The 2020 program included drilling on untested anomalies outside of the deposit area. In 2020, the company announced an updated NI 43-101 resource for the project of 58.1 million tonnes at 1.43 g/t Au (M, I & I). Advancement of ATAC Resources Ltd.’s Tiger Gold Deposit triggered land use planning for the Beaver River watershed within which a proposed all-season access road would be constructed; the planning is ongoing. A preliminary economic assessment with a new NI 43-101 resource estimate was released in 2020: M, I & I (sulphide and oxide) resource of 4.7 Mt at 3.15 g/t Au for a total of 0.48 million oz. gold. In 2020, the company trenched and drilled the Airstrip Anomaly (1,565 metres; 25 holes). A highlight was drillhole ASR-20-018, which intersected 0.51 g/t Au over 36.58 metres. This zone is being recognized as an orogenictarget, distinct from the carbonate replacement Tiger deposit. Rockhaven Resources Ltd. released a preliminary economic assessment on its Klaza epithermal gold-silver property in 2020 (Figure 2). The
16 Mining North of 60 | 2021
assessment envisioned a 12-year mine life producing 750,000 oz. gold and 13.8 million oz. silver for the project. Exploration continues at the project. In 2020, 6,042 metres (22 holes) of diamond drilling on “out-board”targets was completed. Results from this work are pending. White Gold Corp. worked its Golden Saddle and Arc deposits with 3,000 metres of diamond drilling and 20 RAB holes (results pending). Its JP Ross property underwent trenching at the Stage Fright (e.g., 8.88 g/t Au over 2.5 metres), Notorious, and Sabotage targets. The Ryan’s Surprise project also saw attention with six diamond drillholes (1632.5 metres), e.g., WHTRS20D018 – 8.69 g/t Au over 12.30 metres. Klondike Gold Corp. explored its Klondike Gold property south of Dawson City with 13 drillholes at Lone Star and nine holes at the Stander target. Broad widths of gold mineralization were intersected, e.g., 61.10 metres of 1.07 g/t Au in DDH LS20-337. In 2020, Triumph Gold Corp. focused its efforts outside of defined deposits at its Freegold Mountain property. Diamond drilling tested new copper-gold porphyry targets generated by a 3D magnetic inversion model. Other drill targets included the Goldstar Vein and the Irene-Goldstar Epithermal Corridor
where mineralization was intersected, but drilling results have not yet been reported. Banyan Gold Corp. announced a maiden NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate in 2020 on its AurMac gold vein project near the Eagle Gold Mine. The inferred resource (Airstrip and Powerline) is 52.578 million tonnes at 0.535 g/t Au, for a total resource of 903,945 ounces gold. The 2020 exploration program included 6,811 metres of diamond drilling in 36 holes. Highlights include DDH MC-20-67 at the Airstrip Zone, which intersected 1.02 g/t Au over 47.7 metres. Stratabound Minerals Corp. sampled, mapped, and completed a ground geophysical survey on its Golden Culvert gold vein project in southeastern Yukon before beginning a late-season drill program. Results are not yet available. In the Mayo/Keno Hill area, Alianza Minerals explored its Mt. Haldane silver property with 10 diamond drill holes (2,500 metres). Strategic Metals Ltd. explored its Mount Hinton goldsilver vein property with 6,978 metres of diamond drilling (32 holes) where visible native gold was observed in quartz veins. Metallic Minerals Corp. had two drills turning at its Keno Silver Project. Mayo Lake Minerals Inc. carried out a late-season drill program at its Carlin-Roop gold project north
of Mayo Lake (six holes, 900 metres). Results for all these projects are pending.
Figure 3: Geologists at the MacMillan Pass property.
Sitka Gold Corp. worked its earlystage RC gold property near Mayo with a diamond drill program of 1,500 metres (six holes). Early results include 139.1 metres of 0.61 g/t Au in DDRCCC20-004. Flow Metals Corp. explored its the Sixty Mile gold project near Dawson City in 2020 with RAB drilling (835 metres), trenching, ground geophysics, and re-sampling of historic drill core. Multiple zones with arsenic and gold were identified. The Charlotte property of Taurus Gold Corp. saw renewed activity. This epithermal gold vein target was explored with 2,347 metres of diamond drilling in 11 drillholes. Results are pending. Makara Mining Corp. announced a 2,000-metre reverse circulation drilling program at its Rude Creek gold property east of the Casino deposit. The drill program was designed to target a gold-in-soil anomaly. Drill results are pending. Whitehorse Gold Corp., a spin-off company from New Pacific Metals Corp., revisited the Skukum Creek gold project in the Wheaton Valley outside of Whitehorse. The exploration program included a plan for 2,000 metres of drilling. Results are pending.
Significant exploration projects – Base metals Fireweed Zinc Ltd. continued to advance its MacMillan Pass sedimenthosted lead-zinc project at MacPass (Figure 3). Eight diamond drillholes (2,316 metres) at the Boundary Zone predominantly targeted gravity high anomalies. Reverse circulation (RC) infill holes (nine holes, 507 metres) were drilled at the Tom and Jason deposits. All assays are pending. A late-season airborne VTEM-magnetic geophysics survey was also carried out over the western part of the claim block. Cantex Mine Development Corp. worked its lead-zinc-silver North Rackla property, completing mapping, trenching, and diamond drilling. Drilling at the Main Zone intersected visible mineralization to 680-metre
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vertical depth. Released drill results include DDH YKDD20-159 with 14.90 metres of 66.70 g/t Ag, 25.55 per cent lead+zinc, and multiple shorter significant intersections. Nickel Creek Platinum Corp. performed a large loop transient EM survey and 1,200 metres of drilling at its Nickel Shaw ultramafic hosted nickel-copper-cobalt property. Results are pending. Go Cobalt explored its Monster iron oxide copper gold property with a late-season drill program (630 metres of RC drilling in five holes). Results are pending. The exploration season started slowly but gathered speed as the summer progressed. Late season programs overwhelmed the assay labs, and results continue to trickle in. The successes of the 2020 season will continue to reveal themselves in the coming months. 8
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2021 | Mining North of 60
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Nighthawk’s Indin Lake Gold Project
A unique opportunity to develop Canada’s next gold camp in the Northwest Territories, Canada Nighthawk consolidated its land position between 2008 and 2012, which culminated with the acquisition of the Colomac Gold Project, now considered an advanced-stage exploration asset.
W
hen you hear of prolific gold camps in Canada, you think of Timmins, Red Lake, and Kirkland Lake, to name a few. These camps have seen over 100 years of intensive and systematic exploration, and these days it would take quite a large chequebook to garner any prospective ground in these parts. How excited would you be to learn that there is another fertile, gold rich, and extremely underexplored Archean gold camp in Canada; all under one ownership structure, 95 per cent royalty free, and that already has a multi-million ounce deposit at its centre? Nighthawk Gold Corp. is advancing its district-scale land position in the Northwest Territories to illustrate that the Indin Lake Gold Property has a robust asset base for a discovery-challenged industry. Nighthawk consolidated its land
18 Mining North of 60 | 2021
position between 2008 and 2012, which culminated with the acquisition of the Colomac Gold Project, now considered an advanced-stage exploration asset. This past-producing asset, once considered a cast-off, has blossomed into an intriguing story with a lot to offer. Nighthawk has outlined 1.7 million ounces of Indicated resources, plus an additional 0.4 million ounces of Inferred resources, with an opportunity to add upwards of 1.5 million ounces in the near-term by conducting between 50,000 to 75,000 metres of drilling. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg as there remains significant upside potential, especially in light of the discovery that the mineralized portion of the host sill expands from 30 to 50 metre true widths in the near surface environment, up to 155-metre true widths at depths of approximately 650 metres vertical over a 3.5 kilometre
section of this seven-kilometre-long intrusive body. What makes this story unique, however, is that there are numerous gold deposits and showings, hosted within a variety of deposit settings, with significant grades and widths, where few have been drilled deeper than 100 metres from surface, all within trucking distance to Colomac. The Indin Lake Gold Property is pregnant with gold, and with Nighthawk planning to embark upon an expanded exploration program next year, a few of these regional targets will have an opportunity to illustrate their true potential. Two of the high-priority regional targets, the Leta Arm Gold Project and the Treasure Island Gold Project, sit within large, mineralized deformation zones that have the capacity to host large deposits. Drilling has been sporadic on these projects over the years, but with
Nighthawk Gold Corp. is advancing its district-scale land position in the Northwest Territories to illustrate that the Indin Lake Gold Property has a robust asset base for a discovery-challenged industry.
a plan to expand drilling next year with five drills, Nighthawk can now focus significant metres to continue to advance these high-grade targets in tandem with Colomac. Backed by a seasoned and accomplished exploration team, an experienced board of directors,
Recently released assay result from Colomac Hole C20-06.
supportive shareholder base and strategic partnerships, Nighthawk wants to remind investors and shareholders that this opportunity is not one that should be overlooked. With road infrastructure being built and a 20-year plan that includes power expansion initiatives, the NWT is fostering resource development
The Colomac Gold Project site.
in the territory. Couple that with an entrepreneurial and supportive First Nations government, the NWT is the perfect location for this fertile gold camp. The company truly believes in the camp-like nature of its land position, and through the drill-bit, will highlight the unique opportunity to develop Canada’s next gold camp. 8
2021 | Mining North of 60
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Alexco restarts Keno Hill, Canada’s only primary silver mine Alexco Resource Corp. built and operated Keno Hill’s Bellekeno mine from 2011 to 2013, when low silver prices forced it into care and maintenance.
I
n November 2020, Alexco Resource Corp. recommissioned its Keno Hill Silver District mill, located 350 kilometres north of Whitehorse, within the traditional territory of the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun, Yukon. This marks the revival of a historic mining district dating back to the early 1900s. Alexco knows this project well; management built and operated Keno Hill’s Bellekeno mine from 2011 to 2013, when low silver prices forced it into care and maintenance. Since then, Alexco systematically
Keno Hill is one of the purest primary silver mines in the world and one of only a handful of operations of this kind.
undertook successful exploration programs that led to the discovery of the Bermingham and Flame & Moth deposits, which are the backbone of today’s Keno Hill mine plan. The 400-tonne-per-day conventional flotation mill is being commissioned with ore from Bellekeno, where mining operations are underway, and will end in the first quarter of 2021. Underground development at Bermingham and Flame & Moth is advancing as planned and ore production will start in Q1 2021. The Lucky Queen deposit is expected to come on stream towards the end of the mine plan. The current plan spans eight years and includes approximately 1.2 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 805 grams of silver per tonne. This makes Keno Hill one of the purest The current plan spans eight years and includes approximately 1.2 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 805 grams of silver per tonne.
20 Mining North of 60 | 2021
primary silver mines in the world and one of only a handful of operations of this kind. The mine will produce four-million silver ounces annually contained in high-quality lead/silver and zinc concentrates. Alexco is also working to unlock Keno Hill’s significant upside. The mine’s pre-feasibility study was prepared when silver was around US$15 per ounce and based on a high cut-off grade to design a mine capable of operating through the precious metals’ cycles. Approximately 1.2 million tonnes of ore were not included in the mine plan, and with silver trading above US$20 per ounce, management is working to maximize the project’s long-term value. In addition, Alexco continues to explore the district with emphasis on areas around known resources, such as the Bermingham “deep” target, where 2019 surface drilling returned exceptional results. The 2020 program drilled 7,653 metres with 11 holes completing to the target area. Results are expected
in December 2020 or January 2021, depending on receipt of assay results. Assuming encouragement from 2020 exploration, management will deploy a larger program at Bermingham and other targets in the district in 2021. In November 2020, during the Yukon Geoscience Forum, Alexco, in conjunction with the Yukon Geological Survey, published an updated geological map of the Keno Hill Silver District, which builds on previous publications and incorporates historical mining records, and historical exploration work, including
historical drill program results. By publishing this work, put together by Alexco’s VP of exploration, Al McOnie, and his team, Alexco expects to contribute to a better understanding of the district’s potential and to benefit Yukon’s exploration and mining community. Clynt Nauman, Alexco’s chairman and CEO commented,“Keno Hill formed a mainstay of the Yukon economy and the territory’s culture for a long period of time and is now re-entering an exciting, renewed era of highgrade silver production. In order to be
successful into the future, it is critical we have a proper understanding of the district’s bedrock geology and deposits, and this updated map will help to inform our exploration programs moving forward.” Reopening Keno Hill took determination and hard work, and thanks to Clynt Nauman and his team’s vision, the Yukon now has three operating mines and Canada has a primary silver mine again. As precious metals regain their status as store of value in times of uncertainty, it is time for Keno Hill and Alexco to shine. 8
2021 | Mining North of 60
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ATAC continues to deliver new discoveries at the Rackla Gold Property
Site visit with orogenic gold consultant, Dr. Jim Mortensen, and the ATAC team.
A
TAC Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ATC; US-OTC: ATADF) has made yet another grassroots discovery at its district-scale Rackla Gold Property, 55 kilometres northeast of Keno City, Yukon. In September 2020, the company announced that it had identified a new orogenic gold system at its Airstrip target – a style of mineralization previously unidentified in this part of the Yukon. “The identification of an orogenic gold system at the Airstrip target is very exciting,” said Graham Downs, CEO and president.“These types of systems have the potential to host significant bulk-tonnage gold deposits, and this is the first identification of this style of mineralization in the area.”
Mineralized quartz vein with arsenopyrite.
22 Mining North of 60 | 2021
The newly discovered mineralization at the Airstrip target joins a host of other discoveries across ATAC’s 1,700-square-kilometre Rackla Gold Property, which is comprised of three projects. The Rau Project – on the western end of the property, near Keno City – hosts the Airstrip target,
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as well as the Tiger Deposit and numerous early-stage gold and base metal targets. The Orion and Osiris projects lie further to the east, and are geologically renowned for hosting the only Carlin-type gold deposits in Canada. “This new discovery demonstrates how much exploration potential remains at Rau and throughout the whole Rackla Gold Property. We have been exploring this area since 2008 and continue to find new exciting targets, with many more early-stage geochemical targets yet to be fully evaluated,” continued Downs.“We are excited by both the broad zones of mineralization and higher-grade intersects identified in rotary air blast drilling to date. Orogenic systems can be very large in size, with highgrade zones concentrated around key structures.” Widely spaced rotary air blast drilling results released by the company
on the Airstrip target include 22.86 metres of 0.66 g/t gold in hole ASR16-004, and 36.58 metres of 0.51 g/t gold in hole ASR-20-018. Higher grades have also been encountered, including 1.52 metres of 6.00 g/t gold in hole ASR-16-006. ATAC completed the first-ever diamond drill holes at the Airstrip target in fall 2020 and results are pending. “The gold-in-soil anomaly at Airstrip extends over six kilometres in length – it’s the biggest soil anomaly on the entire 185-kilometre-long Rackla Gold Property, and we have just begun to scratch the surface of it. We are eagerly awaiting results from our first diamond drill holes at this target,” commented Downs.“Airstrip’s proximity to Tiger is particularly compelling, with the potential for shared infrastructure in any future development scenario.” In February 2020, ATAC released results of an updated Preliminary
Economic Assessment for the Tiger Deposit, located just five kilometres northwest of the Airstrip target. This study demonstrated robust economics, with a pre-tax net present value (at a five per cent discount rate) of C$118.2 million at a US$1,400/oz. gold price. Further east, at its Osiris Project, the company has defined over 1.6 million ounces of gold (12.4 million tonnes at 4.23 g/t gold) in the maiden resource estimate for its Carlin-style gold discoveries. ATAC expects to end 2020 with roughly C$6 million in treasury, and a host of compelling exploration targets across the Rackla Gold Property. In addition to its Yukon projects, the company is conducting work on its East Goldfields property in Nevada, USA, to balance out the seasonality of northern exploration. With gold prices near all-time highs, ATAC is poised to aggressively advance its known targets while continuing to make new grassroots discoveries. 8
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ᓄᓇᕗᒥ ᑭᒃᑯᓕᒫᓄᑦ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᒧᑦ ᐱᖁᔭᖅ ᓴᐳᒻᒥᑦᑎᕗᖅ ᐱᔪᓐᓇᐅᑎᒋᔭᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓱᕐᓗᑕ ᐃᓅᓇᓱᐊᓂᕐᒧᑦ ᐊᔾᔨᒌᓐᖏᑎᑕᐅᖏᓪᓗᑕ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓚᐃᓐᓈᕐᓂᖅ ᑐᓐᖓᓂᖃᕐᑐᖅ ᐃᒻᒥᒧᑦ ᖃᓄᐃᑦᑑᓂᕆᔭᖏᓐᓄᑦ ᓲᕐᓗ ᐃᓅᑉ ᓇᑭᓐᖔᕐᓯᒪᓂᖓ, ᑕᖅᓴᖓ, ᓯᕗᓕᖏᓐᓄᑦ, ᐃᓕᖅᑯᓯᖏᓐᓂᓐᖔᕐᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑎᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᓇᑭᓐᖔᕐᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᐅᒃᐱᕆᔭᖓᓄᑦ, ᐅᒃᐱᕐᓂᕆᔭᖓᓄᑦ, ᐊᕐᕌᒍᖓᓄᑦ, ᑎᒥᒃᑯᑦ ᐱᒐᒍᑎᖃᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᐊᕐᓇᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ/ ᐊᖑᑕᐅᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᓄᓕᐊᖅᐸᖕᓂᕆᔭᖓᓄᑦ, ᑲᑎᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᓇᔾᔨᓂᖓᓄᑦ, ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓴᕐᓂᕆᔭᖓᓄᑦ, ᐱᕋᔭᒃᓯᒪᓂᖓ ᐊᑐᕈᓐᓃᕐᑎᑕᐅᓯᒪᓂᖓᓄᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐱᖁᔭᑎᒍᑦ ᑮᓇᐅᔾᔭᒃᓴᕐᓂᖓᒍᑦ.
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Tapkuat Nunavunmi Inungnut Pitqutigiyauyunut Ihuaqhaiyiit Piquyat haputihimayai piyungnautivut inuuniqmik ihuinaqtauttailiniqmun aalagiyauniqmutlu piplugit inmigut qanugittunivut tahapkuatut humingaqnivut, taqhavut, hivuligaluavut, nunaligiyavut, huminganiviniqut, maligavut, ukpiqnivut, ukiuquqtunivut, pimmalutivut, aqnaunivut angutaunivut, aqnaqniaqnivut angutihiuqnivut, aipaqaqnivut qanugitni, hingainivut, maniktaqnivut, hugiyauhuiqni ihuinaqnivut maligaqniklu pihimanivut manikhauhiqnut. La Loi sur les droits de la personne du Nunavut protège notre droit de vivre sans faire l’objet de discrimation et de préjugés fondés sur des caractéristiques personnelles telles que la race, la couleur, l’origine ancestrale, l’origine ethnique, la citoyenneté, les croyances, la religion, l’âge, l’invalidité, le sexe, l’orientation sexuelle, la situation de famille, la grossesse, le revenu, l’état de personne réhabilitée et la source de revenus légitime.
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2021 | Mining North of 60
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Fury Gold Mines Canada’s newest exploration and development company begins drilling at its Eau Claire Project in Quebec Clockwise from top: Homestake Ridge gold project in British Columbia’s Golden Triangle; Hayes Camp at the Committee Bay gold project in Nunavut; and first drill commencing the 2020 exploration program at the Eau Claire gold project in the James Bay region of Quebec.
F
ury Gold Mines has initiated an ambitious 80,000 metres of drilling over the next 18 months across its 3.5-million-ounce portfolio. The first 50,000 metres of this campaign is underway at the company’s lead asset, the Eau Claire project in the Central James Bay region of Quebec. Fury is a Toronto-based exploration and development company focused on advancing its portfolio of high-grade gold assets in Canada. The company was recently formed in October, following the reorganization of Auryn Resources and subsequent acquisition of Eastmain Resources, which owned the Eau Claire project. Eau Claire drilling is expected to demonstrate the growth potential of the existing deposit, as well as new opportunities along a seven-kilometre deposit trend. Aggressive step-out drilling will test a one-kilometredown plunge extension of the deposit with the goal of completely rescaling the project. New targets identified along the seven-kilometre deposit
26 Mining North of 60 | 2021
trend will also be drill tested to assess their potential inclusion into the Eau Claire production scenario. Approximately half of the program will be focused on infill drilling, which has been designed to both upgrade the resource category from inferred to indicated at the deepest southeastern margin of the Eau Claire deposit and potentially add ounces by drilling between defined resource blocks.
10,000 metres of drilling planned, respectively. At Homestake, the theme is ‘a return to exploration’ to increase the ounce profile of the project and scale of the potential mining scenario.
“This is a very exciting time for Fury,” commented Mike Timmins, president and chief executive officer of Fury. “The commencement of drilling at Eau Claire is a massive milestone for us and presents many opportunities at both the deposit and mine trend scales to increase extractable ounces. I am confident in our plan and that we have the right people to execute.”
Fury’s Committee Bay project is comprised of a 300-kilometre greenstone belt in Nunavut and is anchored by the Three Bluffs deposit of 524,000 ounces at 7.85 grams per tonne (g/t) gold indicated and 720,000 ounces at 7.64 g/t gold inferred. Next year’s drilling, which will potentially be the most impactful at the project to-date, will test several new goldbearing target areas based on updated structural work and geophysical signatures to both expand existing resources, and to explore for a major high-grade gold discovery.
In addition to the planned exploration at Eau Claire, the company has drill programs outlined for both Homestake Ridge in British Columbia and Committee Bay in Nunavut in 2021, with 20,000 metres and
With the people, the projects, and the playbook in place, Fury and its investors are well-positioned to benefit from the growth potential of its high-quality, low-risk assets ahead of the next gold bull market. 8
AGGRESSIVELY GROWING
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Alianza Minerals continues active 2020 with late-season Yukon Drill Program
V
ancouver-based Alianza Minerals is extending a busy 2020 field season late into the year with a diamond drilling program at its wholly-owned Haldane Project in the historic Keno Hill Silver District. The program commenced in late October largely as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, namely the shortage of people, drills, and equipment for more traditional summer programs. Fortunately, Haldane, like much of the Keno District, benefits from excellent road access to allow for late-season drilling.
The view of Mt. Haldane looking north across the Silver Trail.
The long history of the Keno District is evident at Mt. Haldane, with the original discoveries made over 100 years ago, at about the same time as those at Keno itself. Mt. Haldane, which marks the western end of the Keno District, is a prominent feature visible from the Elsa to the east and Mayo to the south. The earliest records of work at Haldane date back to the early 1900s with the discovery of the Middlecoff and Johnson veins, both located in the Bighorn Gulch on the mountain’s west side. Underground development started in 1918 and by 1928, it was reported the 25.7 tons of silver-bearing vein
material averaging 3,102 g/t silver and 59 per cent lead was hand-cobbed from the Middlecoff vein. Across the valley at the Johnson vein, 2.7 tons of material averaging 4,602 g/t silver and 58 per cent lead was reported to have been processed. Likely due to the fact that the veins at Haldane were located some 40 kilometres by road from the processing facilities at Elsa, and shipping ore from site would have been challenging, the Haldane was largely abandoned by the late 1920s in favour of the deposits surrounding Elsa and Keno. The next exploration push came in the 1960s when well-known Yukon geologist, Dr. Aaro Aho conducted an extensive program consisting of excavator trenching of the east slope of Bighorn Gulch, an expansion of the underground workings at both Johnson and Middlecoff, underground drilling and a small amount of overburden drilling. Four levels of workings investigated Middlecoff vein mineralization, and underground drilling helped define at least 235 metres of mineralized strike length.
Drill rig setup at the West Fault target – 2020 program.
28 Mining North of 60 | 2021
Alianza is conducting a two-phase
Drill rig at the Middlecoff Zone 2019.
program to build on Dr. Aho’s work at Middlecoff, as well as to expand upon recent discoveries at the West Fault target (one kilometre north of Middlecoff) and the Bighorn Zone, a series of parallel veins three kilometres west of Middlecoff and Johnson. Phase 1, to be completed in 2020, will target the extensions at West Fault and Middlecoff, with further work at both of these targets, as well as at the Bighorn Zone in a spring 2021 Phase 2.
Collapsed entrance to the Middlecoff workings (middle adit).
The Bighorn Zone discovery was made with a single drillhole in 2019, targeting lead-silver anomalous soil geochemistry identified in Alianza’s 2018 reconnaissance of the Haldane Property. The Bighorn discovery hole intersected four silver-bearing vein faults, with a highlight result of 125.7 g/t silver and 4.4 per cent lead over 2.35 metres. Drilling at Middlecoff will follow up on a 2019 intersection of 455 g/t silver over one metre, testing the extension
of mineralization downdip. Drilling will also test the downdip continuity of a 1960s vintage underground drillhole, which intersected 2,791 g/t silver over 1.2 metres, 140 metres south of the 2019 Middlecoff intersections. With numerous targets for drilling though the first half of 2021, Alianza continues to build on the work of its predecessors, defining new silver-bearing vein deposits at Mt. Haldane. 8
2021 | Mining North of 60
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Summit Air Cargo is pleased to announce increased frequencies into the McKenzie Valley and the addition of Colville Lake to our network. Effective March, 2021 Summit Air Cargo will provide a minimum of three flights per week between our head office in Yellowknife and the McKenzie Valley communities of Norman Wells, Fort Good Hope, Deline, Tulita and Colville Lake. Recent investment in fleet, infrastructure and personnel have led to the evolution of Summit Air Cargo as your one stop shop for cargo shipping north of Yellowknife. Our fleet of ATR72 freighters feature both standard sized doors for the acceptance of palletized loads and a large cargo door that can accept larger pieces. The ATR72’s industry leading fuel economics and performance help to deliver unparalleled value on a $/lb. basis.
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2021 | Mining North of 60
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Back to basics: Restarting a high-grade gold producer in Yellowknife Brian Malahoff, the director of Sixty North Gold Mines Ltd., on a tour of the Mon Property in August 2017.
D
uring the initial staking rush in Yellowknife in the 1930s, a high-grade quartz vein was discovered outcropping along the side of a hill 45-kilometres north of Yellowknife, NWT. Subsequent exploration attempted to trace a planar vein model dipping to the west with limited success. In 1988, the property was optioned from Cominco and the folded nature of the vein was first defined. Drilling to intersect the eastdipping east limb to the south of the surface showing and mining in 1989 extracted 2,300 tonnes grading 18.3 gpt gold (diluted) from 15 metres of elevation in the east stope. In 1991, the central adit was excavated, and the well-exposed western limb was undercut. Over the next six years, 12,500 tonnes grading >27 gpt gold was mined, also from 15 metres of elevation and milled on site. In 2012, a three-dimensional model was constructed and the multi-ounce
32 Mining North of 60 | 2021
grades at the fold nose were shown to be consistent over the mined length of 75 metres, open to south, with lower grade gold values being found as one moves away from the hinge zone. Sixty North Gold Mining is earning a 100 per cent interest in the property from New Discovery Mines Ltd. by making $6 million in expenditures developing the property. The overall size, grade and form of the mineralization, as well as its host rock assemblage is similar to the Discovery Mine (located 50 kilometres to the north) where onemillion tons of ore were mined and onemillion ounces of gold were recovered between 1949 and 1969. The project is permitted to operate at 100 tpd similar to what the Discovery Mine and Con Mine started at. At surface, Sixty North has sampled the crown pillar of the hinge zone over 45 metres with results shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Trench Intersection Au Grade (metres) (gpt) 17-1 0.28 20.3 0.50 3.4 17-2 0.50 688.8 0.80 273.1 0.50 2.6 17-3 0.40 5.6 0.60 15.9 17-4 0.40 1.8 17-5 0.50 8.4 17-6 0.50 4.9 0.50 390.0 0.60 3.0 17-7 0.50 16.3 0.90 1.2 17-8 0.90 143.9 17-9 0.50 65.0 0.50 311.6 0.70 198.8 17-10 1.00 60.2 0.90 27.7
New Discovery Mines Ltd., currently holds renewable permits to mine, process, and dispose of tailings for the Mon Property.
Dave Webb and Peter VanAdrichem examining the crown pillar of the East Stope (filled raise) of the A-Zone, Mon Property. Ladder is at the hinge zone of the folded quartz vein which is marked with red paint. Photo taken in summer 2012.
It is planned to acquire additional equipment and supplies, and to construct a winter road to site in early 2021 to mobilize a camp and equipment to site. The north portal will be re-opened and extension of the main ramp will be driven 200-metres down to the south to allow for cross-cuts to be driven into the A-Zone vein 20-metres below the historic stopes that had produced at around one ounce per tonne. Several thousand tonnes of vein material are planned to be collected during this phase for sampling, testing, and ultimately processing in early 2022. A total of eight personnel would be on the property in 2021 until milling starts in 2022 when an additional four personnel would be needed with a similar number off property on rotation. Exploration on the property has traced the A-Zone to the south for an additional 1.5 kilometres to the south, and additional zones have been identified, including shear zone hosted gold mineralization that has returned up to 7.22 gpt gold over a true width of 6.0 metres. No shear zone targets have been drilled on the property. In 2019, a precious metals-rich volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit was discovered, grading 203 gpt silver, 1.0 gpt gold, 0.6 per cent lead and 1.0 per cent zinc over 0.45 metres. Geophysics has traced this zone to where larger and stronger anomalies lay under cover of overburden and lakes. Drilling is planned in the future. 8
Yellowknife employee uses a percussion hammer to collect material for metallurgical testing from the crown pillar of the A-Zone, Mon Property in spring 2018.
Google Earth image of the western Slave Province showing the location of some current gold projects.
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Investments in infrastructure key to paving the way for Canada’s mining success in the North By Brendan Marshall
T
he old expression,“If it isn’t grown, it’s mined”, is taking on new meaning as the supply of minerals and metals critical to 21st century products takes on geopolitical importance. As demand for mined materials continues to grow, there is increasing focus on what are referred to as “critical minerals” – vital in aerospace, defence, telecommunications, computing, and an array of clean and medical technologies such as solar panels, electric car batteries, ventilators, and rapid testing kits. Canada can play a larger role in this market, particularly given our leadership in sustainable mining practices and
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34 Mining North of 60 | 2021
high environmental standards, and this opportunity is particularly relevant to mining in the North. While the mining industry is truly pan-Canadian, with operations from coast-to-coast-to-coast, it is especially significant to northern Canada. Mining is the largest private sector driver in Canada’s Arctic, employing approximately 8,500 people, accounting for roughly one in every six jobs. These numbers expand when the northern regions of Manitoba, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador are incorporated. Direct GDP contributions in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut are 27 per cent and 28 per cent, respectively, as of 2019, and six per cent in the Yukon as of 2018. Research indicates that mining companies have invested, or have committed to invest, more than $9 billion in recent years. While these contributions are substantial, the potential is even greater. Proportionally, mining is the largest private sector employer of Indigenous peoples in Canada and the territories host the highest per-capita demographic of Indigenous peoples in the country. Mining is also the largest private sector business partner of Indigenous-owned enterprises in the North, supporting the greater autonomy and agency that Indigenous peoples are seeking over their own destiny. We know that the future of Canada’s mining industry lies increasingly in remote and northern regions, but the infrastructure deficit challenges project economics in this part of the country. The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) and mineral industry partners undertook extensive research on how remote and northern mining costs compare to those in the south. Our research indicates it costs two- to two-and-a-half times more to build the same precious or base metal mine in the North (off-grid) than in a centrally located region and, most importantly, that 70 per cent of this cost differential derives from the infrastructure deficit. The report also found that Arctic mining operational
Operations in the area have closed or reduced production and have had the longest standing disruption anywhere in the country. Recognizing this, additional supports and the government’s “Build Back Better” focus will be critical to the region’s economic vitality. expenditures are up to 60 per cent higher than their southern counterparts, largely due to the extensive supply chains essential to input critical supplies to the mine site and then bring product to markets. The infrastructure deficit is the largest barrier to creating new economic and social development opportunities and the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) is particularly well situated to partner in addressing it through meaningful consideration of power, telecommunications, and transportation infrastructure projects that are in the national interest. The CIB has a significant role to play in transforming remote and northern Canada — regions that are critically important to, and reliant on, Canada’s mining sector. Support for Canada’s mining sector in the North has never been more important given how hard the industry has been hit by COVID-19. Operations in the area have closed or reduced production and have had the longest
standing disruption anywhere in the country. Recognizing this, additional supports and the government’s “Build Back Better” focus will be critical to the region’s economic vitality. Announcements made by the federal government have demonstrated a continued commitment to Canada’s Arctic. In addition to the CIB and COVID-19 economic recovery programming, the renewal of the northern allocation under the Trade and Transportation Corridor Initiative, investments in electrification of mine vehicles, and the commitment to bring high-speed Internet to Arctic communities and businesses have been welcome. These measures, the promise of the Arctic Policy Framework, enhanced investment in critical minerals and the Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan, can be platforms for transformative change. The stage is set. The potential is there. The time is now. Brendan Marshall is the vice-president for Economic and Northern Affairs for the Mining Association of Canada. 8
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Diamonds found with gold in Canada's far north offer clues to Earth's early history Discovery of diamonds in small rock sample hints at possibility of new deposits in area similar to world's richest gold mine in South Africa
T
he presence of diamonds in an outcrop atop an unrealized gold deposit in Canada's far north mirrors the association found above the world's richest gold mine, according to University of Alberta (U of A) research that fills in blanks about the thermal conditions of Earth's crust three billion years ago. "The diamonds we have found so far
are small and not economic, but they occur in ancient sediments that are an exact analog of the world's biggest gold deposit – the Witwatersrand Goldfields of South Africa, which has produced more than 40 per cent of the gold ever mined on Earth," said Graham Pearson, researcher in the Faculty of Science and Canada Excellence Research Chair Laureate in Arctic Resources. "Diamonds and gold are very strange bedfellows. They hardly ever appear in the same rock, so this new find may help to sweeten the attractiveness of the original gold discovery if we can find more diamonds." Pearson explained that ex-NWT Geological Survey scientist Val Jackson alerted his group to an unusual outcropping on the Arctic coast that has close similarities to the Witwatersrand gold deposits.
Finding new diamond deposits in Canada's North is critical in Canada continuing to host a $2.5-billion-per-year diamond mining industry. Photo courtesy of the University of Alberta.
Pearson said this outcrop of rocks, known as conglomerates, are basically the erosion product of old mountain chains that get deposited in braided river channels. "They're high-energy deposits that are good at carrying gold, and they're good at carrying diamonds," he said. "Our feeling was if the analogies are that close, then maybe there are diamonds in the Nunavut conglomerate also."
The outcrop of rocks, known as conglomerates, found in Nunavut were found to be about three billion years ago. Photo courtesy of the University of Alberta.
36 Mining North of 60 | 2021
Pearson said finding new diamond deposits in Canada's North is critical in Canada continuing to host a $2.5-billion-per-year diamond mining industry.
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Diamond cutting in Arctic resources lab.
Photo courtesy of the University of Alberta.
quite small – less than a millimetre in diameter – he said the geologic implications are immense. First, Pearson said there must have been kimberlite or rock like kimberlite present to carry diamonds to the Earth's surface in the ancient Earth – a notion many people have doubted. Kimberlite pipes are the passageways So, on a hunch, Pearson used the last
whose CEO Mike Power is also a U
that allow magma to erupt diamonds
of his Canada Excellence Research
of A alumnus – bashed off a modest
and other rocks and minerals from
Chair funding that brought him
15 kilograms of the conglomerate and
the mantle through the crust and
to the U of A, along with funding
dated these rocks using the state-of-
onto the Earth's surface.
from the Metal Earth Project and
the-art mass spectrometry equipment
the National Science Foundation,
at the U of A, which established their
and – accompanied by post-doctoral
deposition to be about three billion
It also helps us understand under what conditions these peculiar
diamond researcher Adrien Vizinet
years ago.
kimberlite rocks can form.
and former U of A grad student
The group promptly delivered
Pearson said an Italian collaborator,
Jesse Reimink, now a professor at
their samples to the Saskatchewan
Penn State University – travelled to
Research Council, the world leader in
Nunavut.
quantifying how many diamonds are
Once at the site, the group – with the assistance of Silver Range Resources,
Heli-portable excavator
Pearson remembers the precise
researcher in the Canadian Centre for
moment about a year later, when
Isotopic Microanalysis and a Banting
the council's Cristiana Mircea, who
Postdoctoral Fellowship recipient,
visits Edmonton to teach Diamond
began building a theory that the
Exploration Research Training School
diamonds had to be derived from
(DERTS) students about diamond
a small, deep but cool lithospheric
indicator mineral identification,
root, which is the thickest part of the
matter-of-factly told him the sample
continental plate.
From that, Suzette Timmerman, a
"This is something completely
"My jaw hit the floor," said Pearson.
unexpected from what we think
"Normally people would take
conditions were like three billion
hundreds of kilograms, if not tons of
years ago on Earth," said Pearson.
samples, to try and find that many diamonds in 15 kilos of rock that we sampled with a sledgehammer on a surface outcrop."
38 Mining North of 60 | 2021
inclusion – a non-diamond mineral – in one of the diamond samples.
diamonds. We managed to find
www.candig.com
of Padua, managed to find an
in a rock.
produced three diamonds.
Digs 10 feet on steep slopes
Fabrizio Nestola from the University
Though the diamonds found are
He explained that stable diamonds exist only in cool parts of the mantle, so it suggests there must have been very deep, perhaps 200-kilometrethick cold roots beneath parts of the continent very early in Earth's history.
Pearson said despite the U of A's expertise in dating diamonds around the world, there's always an argument about the relationship between the inclusion and the diamond deposit.
"Alberta has several potential diamond deposits and areas ripe for further exploration," he said. "I believe the University of Alberta can play a key role in helping to find and establish diamond and other mineral mines in Alberta."
"Here, there's no argument because we know when those rocks were eroded onto the Earth's surface," he said.
Pearson said more research is continuing on similar nearby outcrops being developed by Silver
Range Resources in collaboration with the Metal Earth Project, the Nunavut government and Penn State University, to establish the extent of the diamonds and gold in these rocks, and the possible primary sources of these minerals. Republished with permission from the University of Alberta. 8
"It tells us there's an older source, a primary source of diamonds that must have been eroded to form this diamond-plus-gold deposit," he said. This also means mining diamonds in the area would not necessarily require very deep mines, if more economic outcrops of these rocks can be found. "We went up there on a float plane, bashed a piece of rock off with a sledgehammer and found three diamonds," he said. "That's actually one of the most astounding parts of this discovery." He added that the provincial government, through Alberta Innovates, clearly realized universities can help a lot in expanding and diversifying Alberta's economy into the mining sector. "The government's investment enables us to chase hunches that might otherwise be difficult for industry to go and look at." Pearson pointed to the Collaborative Research and Training Experience grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, which almost instantly turned the U of A into the world's leading diamond research institution
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39
New Rare Earth Processing Facility in Saskatchewan to secure North American supply chain By Rebecca Gotto, SRC Communications
A key element of the facility is a commercial processing plant, which will include concentration and separation stages and treat monazite sands at approximately 60 per cent concentration.
for the permanent magnets used in clean technologies. SRC will work with the mining industry to secure this feed stock from across Saskatchewan, Canada, and internationally. SRC’s Rare Earth Processing Facility will follow the most stringent operating standards.
I
n the coming decade, the need for rare earth elements (REEs) will increase many-fold due to their importance in high-growth technology areas such as wind turbines and electric cars. Canadian rock formations hold 12 per cent of the world’s rare earth elements measured resources, but currently, no REEs are being processed in Canada due to both a Chinese monopoly as supplier and end user, as well as the lack of a fully developed supply chain in North America. The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) is looking to change that by securing an early and important piece of the supply chain for industry – a Rare Earth Processing Facility. The $35 million facility was announced in the summer of 2020 by the Government of Saskatchewan. The facility will be located in Saskatoon, Sask. and completion is slated for the fall of 2022. A key element of the facility is a commercial processing plant, which will include concentration and separation stages and treat monazite sands at approximately 60 per cent concentration. Monazite is a source of mainly socalled“light”REEs (especially cerium, lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium) which are some of the critical elements
40 Mining North of 60 | 2021
An intermediate concentrate of mixed rare earth carbonates will be produced from the concentration plant and further processed in a separation plant to produce separated rare earth oxides, as the market requires. These will be sold by SRC and further refined and processed to provide the inputs that original equipment manufacturers require. The treatment capacity of the plant will be 3,000 tonnes per year, producing an initial product: mixed rare earth carbonate. Part of the mixed rare earth carbonate will be fed to the separation plant to produce approximately 500 tonnes of separated, individual rare earth oxides, excluding cerium. SRC’s Rare Earth Processing Facility will follow the most stringent operating standards. To minimize the risk for the environment, the plant will be designed to have zero liquid discharge, which means that there will be no solution waste streams that are released into the environment. All solid waste will be handled and disposed of properly following regulations and procedures, as SRC and mining companies in Saskatchewan currently do.
development and commercialization • Uranium tailings processing and treatment; recovery of thorium and uranium • Validation and demonstration of rare earth processing technologies in bench, pilot, and semi-commercial scale • Rare earth production from bastnaesite, apatite, and uranium processing waste Once the facility is operational, SRC will be able to offer a number of other services to industry including potential toll separation of individual rare earth elements and potential toll processing of monazite. Looking ahead, SRC plans to use this facility as a starting point for the creation of an REE technology hub, which will likely include developing downstream and upstream aspects of the REE supply chain. Future development also includes new applications for lanthanum and cerium. In order to do this, SRC is currently developing capabilities for downstream rare earth product development and the production of magnets and alloys.
The future certainly looks bright for the rare earth elements industry in North America and this facility and the proposed REE technology hub will play SRC currently offers a large variety of REE a key part in securing a supply chain services through existing service lines and right within Canada. facilities. These include: For more information, visit • Rare earth processing technology
www.src.sk.ca/ree. 8
World-class services for every stage of your mining operation • Geochemical assays: lithium metaborate fusion or hydrofluoric acid total digestion with an ICP-OES or ICP-MS finish • Mineralogical analysis QEMSCAN(R) and XRD • Third-party analytical standard and data verification • Development of analytical procedures • Baseline environmental monitoring
• Closure plan evaluation and design • Remediation activities and risk management • Community engagement
• Process design optimization and troubleshooting of REE hydrometallurgical and separation plants • Plant performance diagnostics and optimization • Digital mining (instrumentation and automation) and prototype development • Reliability engineering (wear and fatigue) • Integrated Database Management Service • Tailings and clay management optimization and troubleshooting
• Mineral deportment and beneficiation analysis • Minerals processing testwork and piloting • Slurry transport modelling, design and testing • Energy assessments, including renewables • Technology and process testing (primary and secondary resources): bench, pilot, field; sorter characterization • Technoeconomic evaluation of REE technologies: mineralogy, process, equipment • Product manufacture and tolling services to produce either marketing samples or production
Contact Us Lucinda Wood and Bernard Gartner SRC Mining and Energy mining@src.sk.ca | 306-933-5400 For more information, please visit www.src.sk.ca/mining
The essential role of Indigenous collaboration in mining Submitted by the Mining Association of Canada
Agnico Eagle Mines – Meliadine mine by Mathieu Depuis.
M
ore than any other sector, the mining industry has prioritized building and maintaining respectful, strong, trusting partnerships with Indigenous communities – First Nation, Inuit and Métis – impacted by, or with an interest in, mineral exploration and mining activities. From exploration to mine closure, the mining sector engages with communities impacted by their projects in order to share information, collaborate on issues related to environmental effects, monitoring, and cultural protection. The industry also focuses on developing mutually beneficial partnerships and initiatives that generate economic opportunities and wealth for surrounding communities. The sector further supports Indigenous participation through training, business development, employment, social investments, and procurement. For example, in 2019 Suncor spent $836 million with Indigenous businesses and suppliers and Teck Resources’ operations spent approximately $225 million with suppliers who self-identified as Indigenous. As a result of its efforts, the mining industry has become the largest private-sector industrial employer, on a proportional basis, of Indigenous peoples in Canada and a trusted partner of Indigenous businesses. Since 2000, over 490 agreements
42 Mining North of 60 | 2021
have been signed between mining and exploration companies and Indigenous communities or governments and our industry is a leader in advancing economic reconciliation.
Towards sustainable mining Mining Association of Canada (MAC) member commitments to ongoing engagement and respectful relationships with Indigenous peoples are further demonstrated through participation in Towards Sustainable Mining® (TSM). TSM is a globally recognized program that supports mining companies in managing key environmental and social risks and was the first mining sustainability standard in the world to require site-level assessments. TSM is mandatory for all MAC members’ Canadian operations and includes facilitylevel performance in the area of Indigenous and community relationships. Transparency is essential to the credibility of the TSM program, and to that end the initiative is overseen by a Community of Interest advisory panel, which consists of individuals from Indigenous organizations and governments, environmental organizations, labour representatives,
individuals involved in finance, local mining communities, social and faith-based organizations, academics, and those involved in international development. MAC members have been reporting on their facility-level community engagement performance since 2004, when TSM was first introduced. In 2019, this component of TSM was significantly enhanced when MAC adopted the TSM Indigenous and Community Relationships Protocol, the first known concrete effort on the part of a Canadian industrial sector to address the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Call to Action directed at corporate Canada, developed with the guidance of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration). It truly raises the bar for the Canadian mining industry’s collaboration and engagement with Indigenous communities. The new protocol demonstrates that the principles of the UN Declaration are core to strong facility-community relationships and sets a bar for good practice that includes striving to achieve free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) for new projects or expansions for impacts on rights of directly affected Indigenous peoples before proceeding with development. Commitments to collaborate with communities, including in the management of miningrelated impacts and benefits and co-developed engagement processes, have been strengthened in the protocol. Additionally, the protocol addresses the TRC’s Call to Action 92 iii, which calls for the corporate sector to provide education and skills-based training for managers and staff in areas such as Indigenous history and intercultural competency. While public reporting against the updated protocol is not scheduled to begin until next year, many MAC members have taken proactive steps to implement this new aspect of the protocol. For example, approximately 1,150 people at Teck Resources’ sites attended cultural awareness training in 2019. Suncor offers its online Indigenous awareness training, focused on raising awareness about the history, experiences and cultures of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and changing perceptions, to the public, free of charge.
Programming designed to encourage Indigenous peoples in mining According to the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR), Indigenous people represented more than seven per cent of the mining workforce in Canada in 2016, up from roughly five per cent in 2011. Indigenous peoples are better represented in the mining industry (7.4 per cent) than in all other industries (3.9 per cent) and the share of the mining workforce that is Métis nearly doubles the share found in all industries.
A critical challenge is to ensure that Indigenous peoples have the opportunity to participate meaningfully in the Canadian workforce and are provided with training and educational opportunities to advance and thrive. Fortunately, the mining industry has proven an effective vehicle not just for Indigenous employment, but also for skills training and upward mobility. For example, Indigenous people in the mining workforce are increasingly pursuing formal education credentials. According to 2019 MiHR research, in 2006, 30 per cent had no certificate, diploma or degree; by 2016, that rate fell to 22 per cent. From 2006 to 2016, the share of Indigenous people in the mining workforce with a college, CEGEP, or other non-university certificate or diploma rose by three percentage points, as did the rate for those with a university certificate, diploma, or degree at bachelor level or above. Programming designed to encourage greater participation of Indigenous peoples in the mining sector also plays an important role, and to that end MiHR offers a preemployment training program, Mining Essentials, for Indigenous peoples who are interested in a career in mining. This program teaches both the essential skills and work readiness skills necessary to gain employment in the Canadian mining industry and was created to help companies and communities meet joint hiring and employment targets. Mining Essentials allows companies to benefit from a local, skilled, and safety-conscious workforce that also fosters economic development, resulting in healthier communities. Potential for increased Indigenous employment remains strong. Some 180 producing mines and more than 2,500 exploration properties are located within 200 kilometres of Indigenous communities. Also, many mines and projects are located on traditional lands. Indigenous peoples across the country are, therefore, ideally situated to access employment opportunities (and other benefits) in the mining industry. Over 16,500 Indigenous peoples are employed by Canada’s mining sector, representing 12 per cent of the industry’s labour force – three times the average industry rate.
Resources dedicated to the inclusion of Indigenous peoples in the mining sector Several organizations in Canada, including the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, the Waubetek Business Development Corporation and the recently established Centre of Excellence for Indigenous Minerals Development, focus on business development and supporting initiatives that promote professional opportunities in the mining sector. These initiatives, and others like them at the company level, are dedicated to furthering the relationship between industry and Canada’s Indigenous communities. 8 2021 | Mining North of 60
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“Fill the Mill” How effective analytics will drive productivity and reduce costs By Jeff Armstrong, Director of Strategic Industries, Jump Analytics
I
n an industry that is demanding, competitive, and always evolving, mining companies need to maximize their production efficiency. To meet this objective, mine operators need to rely on the unbiased truths of accurate data to support and drive their decision making. The advanced applications of technology are allowing the industry to look at ways to drive automation and efficient processes when it comes to data collection, data streaming, and data analytics. However, many mining companies face challenges in pulling together data from the various systems used to run their mine sites. They often spend too much time performing manual data pulls and manual data reconciliations, leading to untimely and inaccurate reporting. This, in turn can lead to inefficiencies and worse, safety issues.
In order to optimize productivity and mitigate risks, companies must be able to access clean, accurate data from each area of their operations, consolidate and align views of that data, and present those views in timely, automated, and accurate reports. This adjustment allows companies to be proactive with their data rather than reactive. Let’s look at just one scenario faced by mining companies.
Putting analytics to work In the world of mining, safety is priority number one. Period. Next on the scale of importance, hitting your operational targets is what drives the business forward. Setting your targets, yes that’s the easy part, but knowing with certainty what affects your chances of hitting or exceeding your target can be
challenging, given the unlimited variables interrelated to the target at hand.“Fill the mill” they say! Okay, let’s go! Let us assume the scenario of material movement. You added 10 per cent more capacity to the fleet, and they have been 100 per cent available for the past two weeks, but there’s barely been an increase in material moved. Okay, looking at the data for these haul trucks, it seems to show that the effective use of the fleet has gone down. Having this data readily available will allow you to adjust, make the changes necessary, course correct, and reach the overall objective of filling the mill. Simply adding to the fleet wasn’t the answer. Improving effective use? Bingo! A data analytics solution like the Jump Mine Analytics Framework will help bring this information to the forefront. But wait, further upstream, the “fill the mill” initiative has stalled. Stockpiles are empty, and the equipment effectiveness is even worse than yours was. Had their initiative been shared, had their historical numbers been known and used in combination with material movement data, an action plan could have been developed with historical data from the two links in the chain. Used for analysis, fill the mill would be a success with less chance of unforeseen bottlenecks.
44 Mining North of 60 | 2021
What every organization needs is a tool that brings this and other data out of their respective hiding places and relates them in a governed, master data environment, where all can be used and understood at all levels. Jump Mine Analytics Framework provides this level of support. Eliminate the “telephone game” lost-in-translation numbers that change when passed from one hand to another.
The Jump solution offers a design and process to consolidate data from key mine systems into one place, allowing for final month-end adjustments to be melded with daily actuals, and for financial forecasts to be used with physicals to finetune the economical feasibility in the weekly mine plans. Cumbersome spreadsheets and notepads, which have always been a single point of failure, riddled with user error, are replaced with
data entry systems that integrate seamlessly with the framework, removing the risk that roaming spreadsheets pose. Jump Mine Analytics Framework is the launching pad to the advanced analytics and the predictive analytics that make hitting your targets with accuracy the thing of consistency. Let us do the data mining so you can focus on the mining that matters to you. 8
Visit https://jumpanalytics.com/jump-mine-analytics-framework/ to learn how Jump Analytics can help drive your organization’s productivity.
2021 | Mining North of 60
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TCWR – Ice road to diamonds and opportunity All that glitters...
“We at CasCom pay tribute to the companies and contractors who, working together, tenacious and dedicated, make this happen. We are proud to be part of this amazing success story.”
T
he ice road northeast of Yellowknife, known as TCWR, is the Tibbitt to Contoywto Winter Road. It reappears each winter, but no magic is involved, just bloody hard work. The rebuild effort starts in mid-December and the road opening is typically at the end of January. Then the trucks roll, nonstop. During its short eight or nine week life, the road is the lifeline of resupply for the massive diamond mines in Canada’s Central Arctic. What goes into making it is truly amazing. Notable about this incredible undertaking are the contractors and crews that build and maintain the over 400-kilometre-long temporary road (with a 200-kilometre extension, if needed), working in the harshest of winter conditions the Canadian tundra has to offer. Temperatures often dip below -40C and the winds blow uninterrupted across the barren lands. Snow removal is a never-ending task. Workers and equipment alike bear the brunt of nature’s harshest cold-weather challenges. Time is of the essence. The re-supply effort has to be completed during the small window before the spring thaw in late March or early April. Hauling in everything the mines will need is a complex planning and expediting feat. The trucks that resupply the mines includes fuel oil tankers, food delivery, work trailers, flatbeds that carry heavy equipment and replacement wheels for the massive mining trucks, replacement grader blades, and a host more. There is also public use of the roads – to get materials to cabins for hunting, ice fishing, etc. NWT Government patrols monitor the industrial and hunting activity. There are also Trucks waiting in camp, ready to head out early and hit the road. Photo credit: TCWR Joint Venture/James Mackie
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The Lockhart maintenance camp (kilometre 200), deep in winter. Note all the communications dishes and towers covered in snow and ice.
Tankers stopped on the ice road, conferencing with a support crew. Photo credit: TCWR Joint Venture.
Photo credit: CasCom.
many seasonal exploration camps that use the TCWR as a jumping-off point, building“spur roads”that access exploration sites with infrastructure and gear for their summer work on the land.
own local communication setups
Everyone who travels the road has to be managed. Big trucks travel in groups of four. The road crosses many lakes and rivers, and the ice has to be thick enough to support the heavy loads. A constant speed limit of 25 km/h is critical so they don’t create waves under the ice that can wash to the shores and destroy the shoreline margins of the road, or cause a“blowout”mid-lake. The camps that support the non-stop traffic operate 24/7 with workers on 12-hour shifts. The larger full-service camps support as many as 50 workers with cafeterias, fueling stations, mechanic shops and other facilities, but some camps are as small as oneor two-person monitoring stations. Camps are sprinkled along the length of the road and off on the spur roads. All that in one of the most remote areas on the planet.
length of the road and ensuring that
Safety considerations are paramount. If there is a mechanical issue or accident, or if a big truck gets stuck, a solution has to be available quickly. There is constant overwatch with security units patrolling day and night. Communication is critical. Most of that is carried out via satellite using CasCom’s PTT satellite mobile phones, connecting users no matter where they are. All vehicles also use standard two-way radios for shortdistance communication, supported by CasCom’s sister company, Northern Communication. Each camp has their
deployed by CasCom, including highspeed Internet with distributed WiFi, telephone, and television services. Their technicians are on the ground with the rest of the workers, traveling the the vital lines of communication are reliable. The company provides Internet and voice communication solutions utilizing fixed and mobile platforms for the various work groups – critical connections that coordinate traffic on the road and enable the work that goes into it.
The TCWR ice road has operated for almost 40 years now since its inception in 1982, a testimony to the ingenuity of Northern Canadians. Indeed, workers come from all over Canada to contribute expertise to the project. The schedule is intense; it has to be to get things done in such a short time-frame. The TCWR effort is vital to the NWT, driving the northern and national economy, creating jobs and new opportunities. It is an important building block in Canada’s future and by delivering critical communications solutions, CasCom is proud to be a part of its ongoing success. 8
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2021 | Mining North of 60
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Meeting the training needs of the mining industry now and into the future – Aurora College
Polytechnic universities across Canada – many of which have had their roots as community colleges – are all about providing training and research to meet the needs of industry and stakeholder groups.
A
fter an extensive review to determine how to best position Aurora College for the rapidly evolving landscape of adult and post-secondary education and training, the decision was made to transform into a modern polytechnic university that is responsive to the changes in local, regional, and national labour market demands. In October 2020, the four main areas of specialization and teaching for the new polytechnic university were announced, and included Earth Resources and Environmental Management. Much of the training and research in this area of specialization will focus on the needs of the mining and resourcebased industries, and will continue to prepare graduates for all phases of the mining life cycle: from exploration through development and production to reclamation.
48 Mining North of 60 | 2021
Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) programs train students on various pieces of heavy equipment pertinent to mining and other industries.
Polytechnic universities across Canada – many of which have had their roots as community colleges – are all about providing training and research to meet the needs of industry and stakeholder groups. Programs will be largely driven by the needs of the NWT labour market. Mining continues to be an important segment of the NWT’s economy; Aurora College will continue to engage with industry to ensure that their needs are met in training qualified and prepared employees and to determine where, if, and how the new polytechnic university can meet their needs. Mining programs at other Canadian institutions, such as drilling, blasting, mine development, and reclamation may be adopted or adapted. Currently, the college’s Centre for Mine and Industry Training (CMIT) in Fort Smith offers a variety of programs, including: GeoScience Field Assistant (five weeks), Introduction
to the Mining Industry (four weeks), Surface Miner, Underground Miner and Mineral Processing Operator training (12 weeks). Through partnerships with NWT’s diamond mines and the Mine Training Society, paid work experience components are part of full mine training programs. Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) programs train students on various pieces of heavy equipment pertinent to mining and other industries. Aurora College also delivers the Northern Leadership Development Program in partnership with the mining industry and other NWT employers. During the current pandemic, Aurora College has adapted the majority of its programs to comply with public health and safety regulations while students continue to receive high-quality training. The polytechnic university will also afford industry the opportunity to
The most significant benefit of a polytechnic university to the mining industry will be the provision of highly-qualified individuals for a variety of roles.
engage in applied research. This applied research – in partnership with a program at the polytechnic university – would be undertaken to address an identified need the mining industry currently faces, either with respect to production, innovation, and/or efficiencies. Research partnerships allow a mining company (or industry organization) the opportunity to apply for federal grants. The new polytechnic university will facilitate industry-driven research innovation and excellence. The most significant benefit of a polytechnic university to the mining industry will be the provision of highly-qualified individuals for a variety of roles. Graduates in areas of leadership and innovation, business administration, accounting, office administration, human resources, environmental/natural resources monitoring and management, skilled trades and apprenticeships, and technology programs related to the mining industry are just some of the employment-ready individuals Aurora College and the new polytechnic university will continue to produce. 8
Aurora College programming prepares graduates for all phases of the mining life cycle including exploration, development, production, and mine reclamation
For more information on our programs or to apply online: www.auroracollege.nt.ca Email: info@auroracollege.nt.ca Follow us on Social media
2021 | Mining North of 60
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UNDRIP in a northern context
Hiking a mountain on the south shore of Frobisher Bay – not far from Iqaluit.
By Adam Chamberlain
A
fter promising to make it happen for some time, in December 2020 the Government of Canada introduced legislation (referred to as Bill C-15) intended to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada (UNDRIP). The government has stated that this is a key step in renewing Canada’s relationship with Indigenous peoples. The stated purpose of the bill is to affirm UNDRIP as a universal, international, human rights instrument with application to Canadian law. The proposed bill provides a framework for the government’s implementation of UNDRIP. Bill C-15 requires the minister (in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous peoples and with other
50 Mining North of 60 | 2021
All photos courtesy of Adam Chamberlain.
Hunting near Cambridge Bay.
While it is not known what the action plan will eventually contain, the bill requires that it: address injustices, combat prejudice and eliminate all forms of violence and discrimination, including systemic discrimination, against Indigenous peoples and Indigenous elders, youth, children, women, men, persons with disabilities, and gender-diverse persons and two-spirit persons.
An old snow machine.
or remedy or other accountability measures with respect to the implementation of the Declaration; and to describe measures related to monitoring the implementation of the plan and reviewing and amending the plan. Bill C-15 is “enabling legislation” in that it required things to be done but does not contain the details of what those things will say or require. As such, it is hard to know what the action plan will look like and how effective it will be in advancing Indigenous interests.
federal ministers) to prepare and implement an action plan to achieve the objectives of UNDRIP. This action plan is required to be prepared within three years of the Act coming into force.
including systemic discrimination, against Indigenous peoples and Indigenous elders, youth, children, women, men, persons with disabilities, and gender-diverse persons and twospirit persons.
While it is not known what the action plan will eventually contain, the bill requires that it: address injustices, combat prejudice and eliminate all forms of violence and discrimination,
The plan is also to: promote mutual respect and understanding, as well as good relations, including through human rights education; address monitoring, oversight, recourse
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The introduction of Bill C-15 follows the 2016 endorsement of UNDRIP by the Canadian Government and calls to implement UNDRIP by both the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Few would argue with the intentions of those advocating for UNDRIP’s acceptance, however, it is not clear whether the implementation of UNDRIP in the Canadian context will have a significant impact on the lives of Indigenous Canadians. This is particular given the protection already afforded to Aboriginal and Treaty Rights by the Constitution and by Canadian courts. Whether the
Fishing in Nain Nunatsiavut (Labrador).
addition of UNDRIP to the Canadian legal environment will improve matters remains an open question.
the poster children of Indigenous participation in resource-related regulatory decision making in Canada.
While Bill C-15’s eventual effects across Canada are unknown, the impact on the regulatory regime in Canada’s north will be subject to a different set of circumstances that may be more complex than those in southern Canada.
It is in the context of northern comanagement that the proposed implementation of UNDRIP will be undertaken and eventually be assessed. As is the case with the action plan, the implications of the implementation are as yet unknown. Indeed, while positive impacts of the implementation of UNDRIP are commonly assumed, it has yet to be determined whether and how the implementation of UNDRIP will actually increase the benefits to Indigenous interests in either the north or the south.
The co-management regimes in each of the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut govern the development of natural resources. To varying degrees, these co-management regimes already require significant Indigenous involvement in decision making, the regulatory assessment of potential project impacts, and the imposition of terms and conditions on project proponents. Indeed, some have referred to the northern co-management regimes as being
Also notable, UNDRIP contains a requirement that Free, Prior and Informed Consent (known commonly as “FPIC”) be obtained from Indigenous peoples before
resource exploitation occurs. The use of the term “consent” within FPIC has created questions and concerns regarding whether or not this constitutes a “veto”. Many suggest that it does not, while others view the term itself as unhelpful. This observation is often noted as others with decision making roles (municipalities and other governments for example) are not described as having a “veto”. Finally, adding a fundamental uncertainty to those described above is the fact that C-15 has been introduced into a minority parliament. As such, whether or not it will eventually be passed into law remains to be seen. Adam Chamberlain is a partner with the law firm Gowling WLG. He is an active member of the firm’s Canada North Practice Group and is called to the bar in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon, and Ontario. 8 2021 | Mining North of 60
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Bringing industry 4.0 to mining operations By Jeff DeNigris, Process Automation Solutions Division of Malvern Panalytical
M
ining operations, as with many industries, are benefiting from online analytics and automation solutions that tie scientific technologies proven in the lab (such as laser diffraction) with production processes (such as milling/grinding and classifying) to enable greater understanding of the variables that affect the final product. These mined materials often change over time in their quality, composition and grindability, impacting particle size as a result. Gaining insight into these variables in real-time is needed to optimize the performance of the process. Vertical Roller Mills (VRM) are common in mining operations for size reduction. They are expensive to install and operate, and are capable of producing hundreds of tons per hour of ground product. Yet VRMs provide no data on how well it is performing in terms of the material produced. As a result, VRMs use advanced controls to help maintain process performance levels and product output specifications while adapting to raw material changes. Soft sensors are used with multi-variate control schemes to predict what a direct sensor may report based on estimates from the offline laboratory analysis data. Characteristics such as mineralogy, morphology, particle size distribution (PSD), and colour can all be factors to consider when evaluating a mill circuit’s performance and enabling time-relevant monitoring of each has been proven valuable. As reported in an article with the company Vulcan Materials1, the process improvement
Figure 1: VRM performance data from Vulcan Materials.
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capability of moving from a soft sensor to an online particle size analyzer was dramatic. Yield, energy consumption, and standard deviations all improved significantly (Figure 1). In mining, there are three main categories of processing that may need online analytics to ensure optimization is possible: dry milling, wet (slurry) milling, and separation/filtration processes. Each of these steps involves size reduction, and techniques like laser diffraction can be implemented in-line to gain time-relevant data for better control and prediction modeling. Whether wet or dry, the technique is the same: determine sampling solution, prepare the sample for measurement, measure, and export the data in real-time as actionable intelligence. Then implement a feedback loop to maintain or optimize. (Figure 2). In-process imaging can also be used in mining with monitoring of crushed ore (Figure 3) or in-situ from hydrocyclones/hydrosizers to see the separation process results. Identifying various components within the slurry such as crystals, amorphous particles, spherical solids, droplets, and/ or bubbles are all possible (Figure 4). An in-process imaging system, such as a SOPAT Probe, uses advanced neural network algorithms to resolve these images into valuable data such as: volume and number-based particle size distributions, circularity, aspect ratio, and concentration. Multiple particle types can be analyzed from the same image and highly concentrated slurries can be monitored directly without dilution or sampling. These characteristics can provide great insight into the process in near real-time and give operators the ability to drive process optimization techniques, avoiding costly downtime, recycle/rework/reprocessing, and improve yield with quantitative data. In summary, today’s drive towards true industry 4.0 requires data and lots of it. With the advancement of faster, more reliable and security-rich communications, process control enablement will be starving for data. Scientific analyzers, advanced computing power, and high-speed communications now make real-time systems reliable. This paradigm clearly needs to expand the use of online analyzers to ensure that actionable intelligence is available and robust, enabling greater performance efficiencies to strengthen manufacturing expertise and deliver not only best-in-class, but world-class operations.
Figure 2 - Particle Sizing Feedback Loop.
Figure 3 - SOPAT imaging of mining ore.
Figure 4 - SOPAT Imaging of Hydrocyclone Flow.
References 1. DeNigris,J. Murphy,J. Levonian,D., et. al., (2009 July) Reducing Costs, WorldCement https://www.worldcement.com/magazine/world-cement/july-2009/ 8
Accelerate data-driven decision making to secure the most valuable ore grades in the mine and add efficiency to your beneficiation processes.
• • • •
Online elemental analysis Mineralogical analysis Particle size and shape Automated laboratories
www.malvernpanalytical.com/smart-mining
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Seeing is believing Provix Wisdom Cap Lamps that have made the cordless cap lamp possible. The 3A model cap lamp is the most popular in hard rock mining for many reasons. A two-year warranty is standard on all of the Wisdom Cap Lamps from Provix, as is the unequalled waterproof rating of being able to be submerged to a depth of 20 metres and still operate.
Wisdom Cap Lamps are designed for mining applications, with both conventional and MSHA explosionproof models available.
P
rovix is the Canadian distributor of Wisdom Cap Lamps. Wisdom Cap Lamps are designed for mining applications, with both conventional and MSHA explosionproof models available. Because these innovative cap lamps work so well underground, they
are being used in any industrial application where additional personal head/helmet/hardhat lighting is required. No discussion about Wisdom Cap Lamps from Provix is complete without talking about the enhancements in battery technology
The li-ion battery fits into the cap lamp case on the cordless Models 3 and 4. There is no cord and there is no battery pack on the miner’s belt. The lamp lasts 13 hours in the regular setting which is extremely bright. Feedback from existing users indicates that there is very little reason to turn on the higher-power setting as ample light is available in the regular setting. The cap lamp is on a rotatable hard-hat/helmet clip which is very effective for illuminating a work surface without any need for head tilting. With a total weight of 169g or significantly less than half a pound, the Wisdom Cap Lamp offers an ergonomically designed cap lamp that offers excellent performance and brilliant illumination at an affordable price point. The Wisdom Cap Lamps from Provix are in use in mines and industrial sites across Canada. With CSA-
There are four models of corded cap lamps with belt-mounted battery packs. These are very good lamps that outshine the competition.
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Wisdom has a global presence and Provix is the Canadian distributor of the Wisdom Cap Lamps.
Wisdom Cordless Cap Lamps.
The cap lamp is on a rotatable hard-hat/ helmet clip which is very effective for illuminating a work surface without any need for head tilting.
approved lockable charging racks that can accommodate up to 204 lamps, lamp security and charging are a simple process. Additionally, the cordless models of the cap lamps can be charged with a USB cord, just like your cellphone. Of course, charging racks are available in multiple configurations: 12, 24, 36, 60, 120, and 204 lamp charging spaces. Model 4A can charge other devices through its USB port also. The cordless Wiselite Model is MSHA [19-A160002-0] and PA approved for use in coal mines and other areas that require intrinsically safe devices. With a 16-hour run time on high power and a whopping 60-hour run time on low power, this lamp will outlast just about any other on the market. Many mining contractors in Canada have implemented the Wisdom Cap Lamps from Provix due to their convenience and performance. Redpath, Dumas, and Cementation are all using the cap lamps at various sites.
Provix also offers Wisdom Corded Cap Lamps that offer increased run times and even brighter illumination. The KL12M has a run time of 13 hours with 28000 lux, a blinding 512-lumen lamp which is more light than is normally required. There are four models of corded cap lamps with belt-mounted battery packs. These are very good lamps that outshine the competition. Also available in an MSHA-certified version, the KL5M lamp offers 8700 lux with a 16-hour run time. Provix supports the Wisdom Cap Lamp by always maintaining stock of both chargers and lamps, as well as handling warranty service for Canada. With next-day shipping available, your miners will not find themselves with inoperable cap lamps. Wisdom builds the world's best cap lamps. Provix’s motto is "Now I can see" and it is very fitting when it applies to the Wisdom Cap Lamp. 8
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Index to Advertisers Alexco Resources...........................................................................21
KBL Environmental.......................................................................35
Alianza Minerals............................................................................29
LJL Mecanique...............................................................................24
Apex Diamond Drilling Ltd..........................................................17
Lynden Incorporated.......................................................................7
Aurora College...............................................................................49
Malvern Panalytical.......................................................................55
Aurora Manufacturing............................................................... IFC
Major Reclaim Corp.......................................................................11
Auryn Resources............................................................................27 Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd....................................39 CanDig Mini Excavators................................................................38 Capital Helicopters........................................................................11 Cascom.....................................................................................37, 47 DesGagnes Transarctik Inc..............................................................3 Discovery International Geophysics..............................................5 Fednav..............................................................................................9
Napeg...........................................................................................13 Northern Food Services................................................................15 Northern Safety Network Yukon..................................................11 Northwest Territories Power Corporation...................................37 Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal.................................................25 Poison Graphics.............................................................................37 Provix..............................................................................................23
Fireweed Helicopters.....................................................................19
Redpath Canada Limited........................................................... IBC
Foundex Explorations Ltd.............................................................34
Ron's Equipment Rental & Indust...............................................25
Government of the Northwest Territories.....................................4
Saskatchewan Research Council..................................................41
Gowling WLG LLP.......................................................................51
Summit Air Cargo................................................................ 30 & 31
Judy L. Corley Consulting.............................................................24
Yukon Workers Compensation Health & Safety Board......... OBC
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Our safety officers share your commitment to health and safety at work. Make sure all your workers come home in the same condition they went to work.
