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NICKEL: Vale’s Coleman mine remains closed till mid-February
ONTARIO – The Coleman nickel-copper mine near Sudbury, owned by Vale Canada, will remain closed until the middle of next month. The owner suspended operations on Nov. 13, 2017, due to safety concerns. Originally, the work was to be…
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GOLD: Klondex cuts operations at True North mine
MANITOBA – Vancouver-based Klondex Mines is reducing its underground mining operation and workforce at the True North gold mine near Bissett. The reason given is that the mine did not achieve planned operating and cash flow targets in 2017. Klondex…
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INDUSTRIAL MINERALS: Unimin to modernize its nepheline operation
ONTARIO – Unimin Canada, with offices in Havelock, Ont., has announced a major modernization for its nepheline operations at Blue Mountain in the Kawartha Lakes. The company is planning to reduce the site’s environmental impact and footprint as well as…
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NICKEL: Vale suspends Coleman mine over safety concerns
ONTARIO – Vale Canada announced late last week that it is suspending operations at its Coleman nickel mine in Levack due to concerns about safety. The move will allow the company to expedite repairs to the shaft ventilation system at…
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DIAMONDS: De Beers to finish Victor mining in Q1 2019
ONTARIO – The De Beers Group announced on Nov. 1 that the Victor mine in Northern Ontario will be closed in the first quarter of 2019. Reserves will be exhausted at that time in line with the original feasibility study…
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NICKEL: First Quantum to put Ravensthorpe on care and maintenance
AUSTRALIA – Toronto-based First Quantum Minerals has decided to puts its Ravensthorpe nickel mine in Western Australia on care and maintenance at the end of this month. Low nickel prices are to blame. The company expects to spend US$10 million…
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NICKEL: Vale to close Birchtree mine
MANITOBA – Vale Canada, the Toronto-based arm of mining behemoth Vale SA, has announced the closure of its small Birchtree nickel mine at Thompson. The move is necessary because of weak nickel prices and declining ore grades. The suspension will…
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POTASH: PotashCorp suspends Picadilly mining
NEW BRUNSWICK – Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan has suspended mining indefinitely at the Picadilly potash mine near Sussex. The company said the cost of care-and-maintenance will be $20 million this year and $15 million in 2017 and in subsequent years.…
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GOLD: Goldcorp’s El Sauzal mine is first to be decommissioned under Cyanide Code
MEXICO – The El Sauzal mine belonging to Goldcorp of Vancouver is the first gold mine to be decommissioned under terms of the International Cyanide Management Code. The mine, located in Chihuahua State, Mexico, was nearing the end of its…
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DIAMONDS: De Beers mothballs Snap Lake
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES – De Beers Canada put its Snap Lake diamond mine on care and maintenance late last week. Maintenance work and that required to keep various permits in force will continue. The Snap Lake mine 220 km northeast of…
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GOLD: Rubicon suspends underground activity at Phoenix mine
ONTARIO – Toronto-based Rubicon Minerals Corp. said on Nov. 3 that is suspending underground activity at its Phoenix gold mine in the Red Lake camp. The mine poured its first gold in June 2015, but had yet to be declared…
