Errington-Vermilion Project June 2013
Deposit Location and Property
Errington-Vermilion: A rich history •
•
•
was shipped to Kidd Creek for processing in 1992.
Errington: Circa 1928
Original Shafts are still in good shape
Operations and Exploration in Canada
A strong record of corporate responsibility
The uses of metals
Errington-Vermilion Resources: Fact Sheet Errington
Vermilion
Size of orebody
5.8MT
2.5MT
Zinc
4.16%
4.7%
Copper
1.23%
1.46%
Lead
1.06%
1.46%
Silver
50.53g/t
53.77g/t
Gold
0.73
0.89g/t
Mining Rate
2900 tonnes/day
Employment
200-250 direct jobs (both mining and milling)
Yearly concentrate production
Zinc: 74,800 DMT, Copper: 44,500DMT, Lead: 12,150 DMT
Life of Mine
7-10 years
Total estimated capital cost
$350Million CDN
Errington-Vermilion: Location in Sudbury Basin
Sudbury Deposit Types
Errington Deposit – Oblique View Looking North-West
Ore Lenses Historical Development, circa 1930 Oblique section looking NE
Vermilion Deposit – Oblique Section looking North-West
Ore Lenses cut by diabase dyke. Historical Development, circa 1956 Oblique section looking NW
Errington-Vermilion Deposits Ore Types
Errington-Vermilion: Location in Sudbury Basin
Concentrator Process flow
A number of Baseline studies have been conducted at site including:
• • • • • • •
Hydrology Surface water Hydrogeology Fisheries Hydro geochemical Geochemical Species at risk assessment • Archeological, • Benthos, • Sediment
Surface Water Quality Overview of the Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program (2011 to 2013): • Surface Water Quality Data Collection (Fall 2011 to Spring 2013) • Whitson River, Vermilion River, Unnamed Pond at Vermilion Site • Samples collected seasonally (spring, summer, fall and winter) • 20 stations, 2 of which were added in 2012 (SW20 and SW21) • Reference, near field and far field samples • Samples collected using standard sampling protocols and sent to a CALA accredited Lab for analysis.
Hydrological Investigations Hydrological Investigations (2012 to 2013): • Program initiated March 2012, ongoing. • 2 sites o Whitson River o Vermilion River • Utilizing existing WSC data (Onaping River, Vermilion at Val Caron, and Whitson at Chelmsford.
Hydrogeological Investigations Overview of the Hydrogeological Characterization Program (2012 ongoing): • Objectives: o Determine groundwater flow patterns o Define phreatic surface (natural fluctuations) o Quantity • Packer Testing, response testing, water level measurements • Installation of vibrating wire piezometers (hydrostatic conditions)
Groundwater Data Collection Groundwater Quality Monitoring Program (2012 to 2013): • Objectives: o Determine baseline groundwater quality o Define Local groundwater/surface water interactions • 16 active wells, 12 new wells installed in spring 2012, 4 existing wells o Shallow (overburden and weathered bedrock) o Deep (competent bedrock)
Geochemical Characterization ARD/ML Predictions (2012): • Previous investigations were carried out in the early 2000’s • Results obtained agree with original predictions – majority of rock is acid generating and potentially Metal Leaching • ARD/ML material handling plan o Waste rock will be stored on lined facility and eventually utilized as cemented rock fill o Run-off coming into contact with the waste rock pile will be collected and treated o No waste rock will remain on surface at closure • There will be no crushing or processing at site, all ore will be trucked off site to the Strathcona Complex • As such, there will be no ARD/ML materials left on surface at closure
• Underground workings will be allowed to flood at closure, enhancing the geochemical stability of the cemented rock fill
Aquatics Assessment
Aquatics Field Program (Fall 2012): • Designed following the EEM protocols • Objectives: o Characterize local sediment quality o Characterize the benthic macroinvertabrate community o Define local fish community • Samples obtained using EEM protocols
Species at Risk Blanding’s Turtle and Whip-poor-will Surveys (2012): • Desktop studies and consultation with MNR • Studies were designed using MNR sampling protocols • No SAR detected at site.
Archaeological Assessments Stage 1 and 2 Assessments (2012): • Completed by Horizon Archaeology Inc. • Reports have been submitted to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport • Currently in review and awaiting reply from the Ministry • No archaeological remains were identified during the Stage 2 Assessment
Glencore Potable water / sanitary
Water Management: Three Key Elements Acid Mine Drainage Control: • The waste pad, ore pad and ditches will be lined with an impervious liner • All water (precipitation) falling on defined area of the site (that could come into contact with acid generating material) as well water pumped from the mine will be collected in lined water treatment pond Effluent treatment Plant: • Water from the water treatment pond will be treated in the effluent treatment plant and recycled to the process, any surplus not needed for the mining process will be discharged to the Vermilion River Sewage Treatment Plant: • Waste water from washroom facilities on site will be treated in a separate waste water/sewage treatment plant and discharged into the environment
Vermilion River: Water Use and Discharge Water Volumes: • Average flow in Vermilion River is 180,000 L/min • Fresh water for potable use and make up water for the process is pumped from the Vermillion River at an average rate of 150 L/min or 0.08% of flow • Excess water from effluent treatment plant discharged to Vermilion River 1,000 L/min Our discharge is roughly 0.56% of average flow of the Vermilion River. Water Quality: • End of pipe effluent quality must meet all Federal and Provincial Regulations (Municipal Industrial Strategy for Abatement and Metal Mining Effluent Regulations) • Must also meet Provincial Water Quality Objectives in Vermilion River • A monitoring program will be designed conforming to Environment Canada Aquatic Effects monitoring (in stream water quality, benthos, sediment and fish population) • The result of this monitoring will be publicly available.
Design for End of Pipe Water Quality to Meet PWQO
• A mass balance approach is taken to determine the maximum allowable effluent concentration for each wastewater constituent, by the equation: CE = QR/ QE * (CPWQO - CR) + CPWQO • The maximum allowable effluent quality (CE) that is acceptable for discharge is determined based on the following parameters: • Receiving water body (Vermilion River) and its expected flow rate (QR). • The effluent discharge flow rate (QE). • The concentrations that must be achieved in the receiving body after discharge (PWQO). • The background concentration of the receiving water body (CR). • Background Water Quality data taken from Knight Piésold Consulting Memorandum 2012 Fall Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program.
Potable Water System
Process Water
Sewage Treatment Plant
Closure Planning
• All waste rock will be used as back fill under ground • Ore and waste pads will be removed and placed under ground • All buildings will be removed from site • Water treatment plant and pond removed from site • Portal and raises capped • Site re-graded and vegetated
Required Permits Permit
For What purpose
Issued by Whom
Lakes & Rivers Improvement Act Approval
Construction of settling pond
Ministry of Natural Resources
Work Permit
Construction of outlet/inlet on Vermilion River
Ministry of Natural Resources
Environmental Compliance Approval
Release of noise, dust, treated water to the environment
Ministry of Environment
Permit to Take Water
Taking more than 50,000L/day
Ministry of Environment
Certificate of Approval Amendment
Changes to Onaping Complex Tailings Area
Ministry of Environment
Conservation Authorities Act Permit
Development of intake/outlet & other structures on Vermilion River shoreline
Nickel District Conservation Authority
Clean Water Act
Compliance with Source Water Protection Plan
Nickel District Conservation Authority
Mining Effluent Regulatory Compliance
Discharge of > 50m3/day of effluent to the environment
Environment Canada
Letter of Advice
Development of outlet/inlet on Vermilion River
Department of Fisheries & Oceans Canada
Navigable Waters Act Review/Approval
Development of outlet/inlet on Vermilion River
Transport Canada
Required Permits
Major project timelines
2012
2013
2012
•
• •
Exploration & Definition drilling for both deposits Started prefeasibility for both deposits Community & stakeholder Consultation
2014
2013
•
• •
•
•
Additional Exploration & Definition drilling for both deposits Completion of feasibility for both deposits Ongoing community & stakeholder consultation First Nation & Metis Consultation Permitting for Errington
2015
2014
•
Beginning of Construction on Errington and Strathcona
2016 2016
2015
•
Construction
•
Beginning of operations