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Quebec Mining

RNC to double nickel output at WA mine, resumes talks for Quebec project – by Mariaan Webb (MiningWeekly.com – November 28, 2017)

http://www.miningweekly.com/

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – TSX-listed RNC Minerals has said it plans to double nickel production from its Beta Hunt mine, with production of four-million pounds of contained nickel forecast for 2018.

RNC Minerals is ramping up gold production at the Beta Hunt mine in Western Australia’s Kambalda mining district, with gold production expected to reach an annualised rate of 70 000 oz/y by the end of 2017.

President and CEO Mark Selby said on Monday that the mine provided good optionality from both gold and nickel production. “With the much larger scale in gold production, versus a standalone nickel mine, nickel production can be added at much lower cost compared to many other nickel producers in Western Australia,” he said.

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Wallbridge pushing for early production at Fenelon: Quebec property showing good results, say executives – by Karen McKinley (Northern Ontario Business – November 24, 2017)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

A Sudbury-based junior mining company says it is feeling so confident over a Quebec gold property, a production decision could be made by late 2018. Wallbridge Mining presented their latest findings and core samples from their Fenelon property at a special presentation of the Sudbury Prospectors and Developers Association, Nov. 21.

The talk by senior geologist Attila Pentek and exploration vice-president Joshua Bailey was a comprehensive history of the property, the geology of the deposits, initial test drills and preliminary assay results of core samples, and timelines on production plans.

Fenelon is located 150 kilometres north of Val d’Or, an area Bailey described as being largely overlooked by prospectors. Exploring the property was part of a valuation strategy by the company, which met the investment criteria for a number of reasons.

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Opinion: Ensuring remote First Nations are fully ready for mining jobs – by Daniel Bland (Montreal Gazette – November 21, 2017)

http://montrealgazette.com/

Daniel Bland works with Cree Human Resources Development on the design and delivery of workforce development training programs. He is based in Mistissini.

Resource extraction companies across Canada continue to ride out a worldwide slump in commodity prices that market analysts suggest may continue into 2018 before showing signs of any extended recovery.

While that is certainly bad news for mining companies, it could be a blessing in disguise for many remote First Nations hoping to benefit from their proximity to potential mining operations.

In recent years, Canadian policy institutes and think tanks have paid considerable attention to determining the labour market demands of major mining projects, many of them planned on or near aboriginal land.

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Bloom Lake mine, dumped by Cliffs, to reopen by March – by John Myers (Duluth News Tribune – November 18, 2017)

https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/

The Bloom Lake iron ore mine in northern Quebec, shut down and abandoned by Cleveland-Cliffs in 2014, will be back up and running by March, the mine’s new owner says.

Quebec Iron Ore Inc., a subsidiary of Champion Iron Ltd., said Wednesday that it already has 250 employees on site and will have 450 workers by Christmas at the facility near Fermont, Quebec, near the border with Labrador.

The new company raised $350 million in financing, including about $51 million from the Quebec government, a $100 million loan from a government pension fund and another $80 million loan from a private lender.

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COLUMN-Zinc market focus turns to new supply, but don’t forget Quebec – by Andy Home (Reuters U.K. – November 15, 2017)

https://uk.reuters.com/

LONDON, Nov 15 (Reuters) – The Dugald River zinc mine in the Australian state of Queensland made its maiden shipment of concentrates earlier this month. Once ramped up to full speed, the mine will produce around 170,000 tonnes per year of contained metal.

It is the most tangible sign yet of the coming wave of new zinc supply, timed to capitalise on decade-high prices and a structural shortfall of raw materials. All over the world, it seems, geologists are revisiting old mine plans in a collective new zinc rush.

They’re even looking to revive the giant Century mine in Australia. Once operated by Dugald River’s owner MMG, Century’s closure in 2015 was a symbolic milestone on the road to global market deficit.

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As its diamonds break apart in production, Stornoway shares take a hit – by Nicolas VAn Praet (Globe and Mail – October 25, 2017)

https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/

Quebec’s first diamond mine has a grating problem: Its gemstones are breaking more than anyone anticipated. And that’s hitting the shares of its owner, Stornoway Diamond Corp.

The emerging diamond producer built the Renard mine in the Otish Mountains, a range of hills north of Lac Mistassini in north-central Quebec, in the summer of 2016 with a $946-million financing package. The project came in under budget and five months ahead of schedule, igniting hopes that it will lead to other resource development in the province’s vast northern territory.

But Stornoway has hit a snag. The Renard diamonds are breaking in processing to a higher degree than the company expected, hurting both the price they’re fetching at auction as well as Stornoway stock. In the diamond industry, bigger is better. And too many big Renard diamonds are getting smashed in its crushers. The quality profile of the diamonds has suffered as well.

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The top business risks for Quebec mining companies – by Zahid Fazal (Canadian Mining Journal – October 1, 2017)

http://www.canadianminingjournal.com/

A rebound in commodity prices and a lower Canadian dollar have injected fresh momentum into the mining industry in Quebec.

In some ways, this is a continuation of the strengthening we’ve seen across the industry since the financial crisis. Things have improved significantly since 2008, with producers across the province shoring up their balance sheets and holding much healthier cash balances. And on the cost side, miners are continuing to drive down expenses through a focus on productivity and the subsequent automation and digitization of their operations.

Even with these positive indicators, insufficient financing and volatility in the mining industry continue to persist, and a number of other significant business risks pose challenges for Quebec producers. Based on EY’s 2017 ranking of the business risks facing mining and metals, the following three risks stand out as particularly relevant for producers and explorers based in the province.

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Quebec Snapshot: Nine juniors with active exploration and development projects – by John Cumming (Northern Miner – September 27, 2017)

http://www.northernminer.com/

Quebec has proven to be a hotbed for junior mining company activity and perennially one of the industry’s favourite jurisdictions in which to operate. Gold remains the target of interest, but the province’s rich mineral endowment means juniors are also on the hunt for silver, platinum group metals, copper, lead-zinc, nickel, iron ore, rare earth elements, graphite and lithium.

ALEXANDRIA MINERALS

Toronto-based, Eric Owens-led junior Alexandria Minerals (TSXV: AZX) is in the midst of a 30,000-metre, mid-year drill campaign at its Orenada gold property, situated on the Cadillac Break geological structure, immediately southeast of the city of Val-d’Or, Quebec.

Alexandria’s near-term goal is to expand the deposit to the east and west — especially the deposit’s Zone 1 — with an eye to completing a resource estimate before year-end. As of 2009, Orenada had a near-surface resource of 4.3 million measured tonnes grading 1.36 grams gold per tonne (189,000 contained oz. gold), 6 million indicated tonnes of 1.01 grams gold and 4.7 million inferred tonnes.

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[Northwestern Quebec] The Birth of Rouyn and Noranda: A Mining Story (Website Historical Resource)

1932 Group Photo of Noranda Executives – James Murdoch and Noah Timmins in front row centre wearing fur coats

For an excellent website historical resource on Rouyn and Noranda: http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/community-stories_histoires-de-chez-nous/rouyn-noranda-une-histoire-de-mines_a-mining-story/

In the mid-1920s, discovery of copper and gold deposits in Northwestern Quebec resulted in an epic mining rush. Prospectors, followed by thousands of men and women, gathered there to work and live. Two neighbouring mushroom towns with many fundamental differences, Rouyn and Noranda, quickly came to life in the boreal forest, becoming populous and organized communities.

Unlike the farming parishes established earlier on in Abitibi and Témiscamingue, Rouyn and Noranda were built as a result of mining developments. In but a few short years, the landscape changed drastically: In the 1910s, only Aboriginal peoples and prospectors looking for precious metals were seen around Osisko Lake, but in 1925, a large influx of newcomers settled in the area.

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Sudbury gold explorer ready to take a chunk out of Quebec: Wallbridge Mining chases permit for bulk sample at high-grade gold project – by Staff (Northern Ontario Business – August 17, 2017)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

A Sudbury junior miner is making preparations to extract a large bulk sample at an advanced gold project in northwestern Quebec. Wallbridge Mining announced that it has received a Certificate of Non-Liability from the Government of Quebec for the dewatering of the pit and ramp at its Fenelon Gold Project, and to take a 35,000-tonne bulk sample at the property, located 75 kilometres north of Mattagami.

The company said this allows them to proceed with an application for a certificate of authorization from the regional authority responsible for issuing permits. This review process is underway and typically takes 60 to 75 days.

After acquiring the old mine property last October, Wallbridge announced a positive prefeasibility study at Fenelon last February. Located in the gold-rich Abitibi region, it’s roughly on the same latitude – and just over the Quebec border – from the Detour Lake open-pit mine in northeastern Ontario.

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[Northern Superior Resources] Sudbury junior miner breathes life into Far North, Quebec projects – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – August 15, 2017)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Measuring 20 kilometres by 30 kilometres, Morris believes TPK has district-scale
mining possibilities, comparable to the Hollinger Mine complex in Timmins or
the Red Lake district. “I’ve been in this business for 35 years. I’ve never
seen anything like this.”

Tom Morris is excited to be finally returning to his roots. The president-CEO of Northern Superior Resources has two projects on the go this summer as his Sudbury exploration outfit advances a promising Quebec gold project while simultaneously blowing the dust off a mothballed gold and base metals property in Ontario’s Far North.

“When it comes to doing what we’re supposed to be doing, which is exploration, we’ve been pretty dormant,” Morris admits. During the downturn, it was all about survivability for many junior miners who tightened their belts as exploration dollars dried up.

After weathering that period in reasonably good shape, and with market interest in commodities looking favourable, it’s now time to get back to work with exploration dollars in hand and new company leadership in place. “Timing was everything,” said Morris. “I kept the company going for this opportunity that we knew was coming at some point.”

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The fixer: Names to Know 2017: Duncan Middlemiss, CEO of Wesdome Gold Mines – by Joel Barde (CIM Magazine – July 05, 2017)

http://magazine.cim.org/en/

Nine years ago Duncan Middlemiss joined St. Andrew Goldfields as vice-president of operations. He ascended to the role of CEO in 2013, and by the time the company was sold to Kirkland Lake Gold in 2016, it was profitable and producing 140,000 ounces of gold annually.

It was a dramatic turnaround that helped cement Middlemiss’s reputation as a “fixer.” Working closely with his team, he dramatically increased production, helped raise money and developed an overarching plan for the company.

His latest challenge began last August when he was named CEO of Wesdome Gold Mines. The Canadian-focused company has three major assets in northern Ontario and Quebec, one of which – the Eagle River Complex – is currently operational.

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Couillard wants Quebec and Newfoundland to cooperate on mining, roads – by Presse Canadienne (Montreal Gazette – July 19, 2017)

http://montrealgazette.com/

EDMONTON — The premiers of Quebec and Newfoundland say their governments will work to increase mining in the Labrador trough and expand Route 138 in the Côte-Nord region.

Discussions between both governments began Wednesday in Edmonton during a meeting of Canada’s premiers and could end in a formal agreement by year’s end, according to Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard.

The two provinces share a border, near Blanc Sablon, and their relationship hasn’t always been an easy one. For years the Newfoundland government has contested the Churchill Falls agreement, which largely benefits Hydro-Québec.

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Bloom Lake Mine gets US$180M loan – by Andrew Topf (Mining.com – July 15, 2017)

http://www.mining.com/

Sprott and big Quebec pension fund step in to restart iron ore mine closed in 2014

The cash keeps pouring in to Champion Iron (TSX:CIA) and its subsidiary, Quebec Iron Ore (QIO), which is planning on restarting the idled Bloom Lake Mine in the Canadian province of Quebec.

Earlier this month Montreal-based Champion announced that Sprott Resource Lending and la Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec- a large pension fund – will provide debt financing for the project totalling USD$180 million.

The large loan follows the granting of a $40 million bridge financing back in May plus offtake agreement. The combination of $26 million in debt and $14 million in equity is being put towards upgrades at the mine and processing facilities.

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Kirkland Lake and the Amazing World-Class Abitibi Gold Mining Belt – Orefinders CEO Stephen Stewart Interviews RepublicOfMining.com’s Stan Sudol (July 10, 2017)


The Abitibi is the largest Archean greenstone belt in the world. It’s roughly 150 km wide and starts just west of Timmins in Ontario – some say it starts in the Wawa camp – stretches for about 650 kms. in an east/west direction to Chibougamau, Quebec.

Since the first gold discovery in Timmins in 1909, the Abitibi has been the source of about 200 million ounces of gold and at least 35 billion pounds of zinc and 15 billion pounds of copper.

Both Ontario and Quebec have a number of significant mining camps.

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