Canadian Regional Media and Web Publications – Page 124

Sudbury chamber cheers ‘Rings’ road decision – by Star Staff (Sudbury Star – August 23, 2017)

August 23, 2017

http://www.thesudburystar.com/

The Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce is applauding the announcement of an all-season road connecting provincial highways to the Ring of Fire mining development.

“The announcement is a significant step forward in the development of the Ring of Fire,” Michael Macnamara, chair of the Board, Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, said in a release. “The Ring of Fire has been a priority for the Greater Sudbury business community and the chamber for many years and we are pleased to see this progress.”

The road, announced Monday in Thunder Bay by Premier Kathleen Wynne, will connect the Nibinamik First Nation, Webequie, and the Ring of Fire to provincial roads at Pickle Lake.

“This is the day we were waiting for”: Ring of Fire road agreement jumpstarts Noront Resources’ development plans – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – August 22, 2017)

August 22, 2017

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

An agreement in principle to bring permanent access roads to three remote First Nation communities near the Ring of Fire was greeted with relief from the largest mine developer in the region. “This is the day we were waiting for,” said Noront president-CEO Alan Coutts.

He was in Thunder Bay to hear Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Aug. 21 announcement that agreements have been struck with Marten Falls, Nibinamik and Webequie First Nations to build two corridors to connect those communities to the provincial highway system.

One proposed east-west corridor will be shared with the mining industry to reach the rich mineral deposits in the James Bay lowlands. Wynne said the initial preparatory environmental assessment work starts immediately followed by feasibility planning.

Fedeli slams Wynne over Ring of Fire – by Jennifer Hamilton-McCharles (North Bay Nugget – August 22, 2017)

August 22, 2017

http://www.thesudburystar.com/

Premier Kathleen Wynne’s announcement that the province will move ahead with building roads into the Ring of Fire is earning jeers from Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli. Fedeli expressed frustration over the lack of concern for the North and empty promises over the last 10 years following Wynne’s announcement Monday.

“It’s simply election talk. She’s had 10 years to do something and now a few months before an election she’s making an announcement.” He said Wynne made a similar promise in 2014, but nothing was ever done.

“There’s actually been three funding announcements in support of the Ring of Fire and yet again, nothing has been done,” Fedeli said. “The latest was in the 2017 budget where there was no mention of the Ring of Fire, so where’s this funding coming from?”

‘Ring’ road deal could good for Sudbury – by Jim Moodie (Sudbury Star – August 22, 2017)

August 22, 2017

http://www.thesudburystar.com/

The Ring of Fire moved a rung closer to reality Monday, as the province announced plans to construct a year-round access road to the mineral-rich region. “It’s just what we were looking for,” said Alan Coutts, president and CEO of Noront Resources. “This is the catalyst that was needed, from our point of view.”

A Toronto-based company, Noront is the now chief player in the region, after acquiring the chromite assets from Cliffs Natural Resources a couple of years ago. It plans to develop its Eagle’s Nest deposit — consisting of nickel, copper, platinum and palladium — first, and then mine chromite deposits at several sites in the James Bay lowlands.

“These are bulk and base-metal deposits,” said Coutts. “They’re not gold and diamonds in small volumes; they’re big volumes and you have to move a lot. Without 24/7, 365, all-season infrastructure roads in place, those projects aren’t viable.” The province had been negotiating with nine First Nations in the region and hinting since spring that a deal on road construction was in the offing.

“Major step forward,” says Ring of Fire developer: Noront looks to use north-south for chromite shipments – Staff (Northern Ontario Business – August 21, 2017)

August 21, 2017August 21, 2017

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

The lead Ring of Fire mine developer is pleased with the Ontario government tabling a road plan to reach the deposits in the undeveloped James Bay mineral belt. “Today’s announcement by Premier Kathleen Wynne and the Chiefs of Webequie, Marten Falls and Nibinamik First Nations is a major step forward that will re-energize development of the Ring of Fire region,” said Noront Resources president-CEO Alan Coutts in an Aug. 21 news release.

“Construction of all-season industrial and community access roads is one of the key things we’ve been working toward with the government and our First Nation partners. I am very pleased to see it moving forward.”

Noront officials were in Thunder Bay to attend the announcement by Premier Kathleen Wynne and the Chiefs of Marten Falls, Webequie and Nibiminik First Nations, and the government’s commitment to providing funding for two industry and community road proposals to reach the Ring of Fire mineral belt.

Vale reviewing Voisey’s Bay – by Staff (Sudbury Star – August 21, 2017)

August 21, 2017

http://www.thesudburystar.com/

Another of Vale Canada’s nickel operations in Canada is under review. CBC News is reporting that Vale’s plans to extend the life of the Voisey’s Bay nickel mine in northern Labrador by moving operations underground are on hold.

Vale said a depressed market has led to a review of all projects, including Voisey’s Bay underground. “The nickel price has been depressed for some time now with no immediate or short-term relief in sight,” wrote Vale spokesperson Cory McPhee in an email to CBC News.

“During this period we are not approving any new project contracts.” Last month, Vale said it would seek out fresh copper mining options and stop expanding nickel production capacity after its second-quarter net income plunged on forex losses, rising costs and weaker iron ore prices.

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)

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.

No cause found between McIntyre Powder exposure and neurological disease in miners, says WSIB – by Staff (Northern Ontario Business – August 17, 2017)

August 17, 2017

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Organization promises further study to explore potential links in Northern miners

A WSIB-commissioned review of scientific research into the connection between aluminum powder exposure in the workplace and adverse health effects in humans has failed to find a link between exposure and illness.

On Aug. 17, the WSIB issued a release with the findings of the review — titled Systematic Review of Occupational Aluminum Exposure and Adverse Health Conditions — which Intrinsik Corp. launched earlier this year. “Overall, the systematic review and the statistical analysis conducted showed that the question of health risks from workplace aluminum exposure is complicated,” reads the study’s summary.

“The findings across the literature were inconsistent. Epidemiological studies have failed to establish consistent associations or clear exposure response relationships between workplace aluminum exposure and nervous system-related diseases, cognitive outcomes, lung function outcomes, and other negative outcomes.”

11 Opportunities in Gold, Uranium and Diamonds (Streetwise Reports – August 14, 2017)

August 16, 2017

https://www.streetwisereports.com/

Former journalist James Kwantes, editor of Resource Opportunities, provides a tour of promising junior mining opportunities, from the extremes of northern Canada to the tropics of French Guiana.

The Gold Report: The U.S. stock market has been in a bull run for a number of years. What are your thoughts on the market and what it means for precious metals?

James Kwantes: Since Donald Trump was elected president, but also for years before that, large-cap U.S. stocks have been a “can’t miss” for investors, who have been rewarded for chasing returns. It seems very toppy to me, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t go on for a while still. In 2000, in the big tech boom, the market caps of the two or three largest technology companies equaled the market cap of something like every mining company in the world.

We’re at that level again. We’re starting to see weakness in the U.S. dollar, and that’s positive for gold. These things are cyclical. Gold looks like it’s ready for the next longer-term breakout and we’re heading into a period of seasonal strength. We’re starting to see signs of strength in the junior market as well.

TGR: Would you talk about a couple of companies that you like in the precious metals area?

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

August 16, 2017August 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.”

[Sudbury Vale] Layoff talk premature, Bertrand says – by Jim Moodie (Sudbury Star – August 15, 2017)

August 15, 2017

http://www.thesudburystar.com/

Vale may have to make some hard decisions in coming months regarding its operations in Sudbury, but the head of a local union says it’s premature to talk about job losses.

“In this case right now, there’s no numbers,” said Local 6500 president Rick Bertrand. “We’ve asked them straight out, is there going to be any layoffs of any kind, because there’s so many people talking about different numbers. What we got from the company is that there is not a number, they don’t have a number.”

Bertrand also said there has been no membership meeting to discuss layoffs, as The Star earlier reported, citing a source. “That’s totally not true,” he said. Concerns grew among workers over the past week after they were shown a Vale video suggesting tough times lie ahead.

Timmins gold operations helping to sustain Tahoe – by Len Gillis (Timmins Daily Press – August 12, 2017)

August 14, 2017

http://www.timminspress.com/

TIMMINS – Despite the legal difficulties Tahoe Resources is having at its Escobal silver mine in Guatemala, the company reports strong financial results for the second quarter of 2017, thanks in part to the company’s gold operations. Earnings per share ($0.11) have doubled what they were for the same period last year ($0.05).

Tahoe president and CEO Ron Clayton told shareholders this week the gold side of the company is helping to sustain Tahoe, despite the fact the Escobal mine is shut down because of a dispute with some local residents.

The Escobal operation is the third-largest silver mine in the world. The gold side of Tahoe includes the Timmins West mining complex and the Bell Creek Mine. Tahoe also has gold properties in Peru – those being the Shahuindo Mine and La Arena Mine. Clayton said work at the Timmins operations was going well.

Vale looking at layoffs in Sudbury – by Staff (Sudbury Star – August 12, 2017)

August 14, 2017

http://www.thesudburystar.com/

Vale Ltd. employees in Sudbury are bracing for possible layoffs after viewing a company video in recent days they say warned that the Brazil-based mining giant could soon be making cuts. “It seemed like a threat,” said one source, who requested anonymity. “It’s coming right from Brazil.”

Another source, also a Vale employee, told The Star he had also seen a company video in recent days that warned of possible reductions. He said he came away with the impression there would be “significant” job losses.

The sources say they have been given no details of how many jobs will be cut or when, or if layoffs would be permanent or temporary, but that they could affect members of both Local 6500 and Local 2020 of the Steelworkers. Local 6500 represents production workers, while Local 2020 represents office, clerical and technical staff in Sudbury.

Sudbury Basin: Still a fascinating place – by Karen McKinley (Northern Ontario Business – August 10, 2017)

August 11, 2017

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Sudbury Basin and areas northeast still offer up mineral riches after a century of mining, says new Sudbury District Geologist

The Sudbury Basin, Sudbury Mining District and surrounding area still has a lot to offer for mining, according to the new district geologist. “The basin has always been a fascinating place for geologists,” said Shirley Peloquin at the Ontario Geological Survey office inside the Willet Green Millar Centre.

“It’s still proving to be a very rich place for nickel and other reserves of minerals and this could go on for decades. As demand shifts for other minerals prevalent in the area we are always mapping, surveying and cross-checking with historical data. We are always finding new deposits.”

She explained much of the underground of the basin, as well as areas northeast of the basin to the Quebec border, are largely untapped. Much of the focus has been on the easier to extract surface deposits. From a casual view it would look like deposits are dwindling, but the opposite is true.