Atlantic Mining Nova Scotia secured industrial approval today to process about three million tons of unprocessed gold ore remaining at the Touquoy mine site in Moose River, Halifax County.
Provincial officials granted the April 10 approval for processing operations that will handle ore stockpiled when mining ceased in 2023. The company will not conduct new mining or extraction activities, with all work confined to the current disturbed footprint.
The processing operation will run for 10 to 14 months and create an estimated 197 jobs while contributing $151 million to Nova Scotia's gross domestic product. Workers will place all processed waste into the existing open pit.
Site reclamation began in 2024 and will continue in most areas, though officials will temporarily pause cleanup work in the mill area during ore processing. The province holds a $79.9-million bond from Atlantic Mining to ensure complete site reclamation under Environment Act requirements.
The approval comes as Nova Scotia's mining industry supports at least 2,500 jobs paying an average of $100,000 annually in wages and benefits. The Department of Environment and Climate Change's large industrial file team monitors company compliance with approval terms and conditions designed to protect environmental and human health.
Nova Scotia launched its critical minerals strategy in 2024 and updated it in 2025, identifying 20 critical minerals and four strategic minerals, including gold, as priorities for the province's resource development.
Industrial approvals regulate daily operations at projects and facilities, establishing mandatory terms and conditions that companies must follow to safeguard environmental and human health standards.
April 15, 2026
April 15, 2026
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