Exploration agreement aims to help junior mining companies in northern Sask. and Man.
Future of Creighton, Sask.'s main industry 'up in the air,' according to longtime Mayor Bruce Fidler
An agreement between the Saskatchewanand federal governments worth approximately $2 millionwill aim to help junior mining companies in their exploration of northern Saskatchewanand Manitoba.
The agreement was signed in December 2017.
The future of the mining camps near Creighton, Sask., which is approximately 430 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon,is "up in the air," according to the town's mayor.
"The forecast put out a year ago byHudbay[Minerals] was that the 777 mine, the one in operation right now where they're producing ore, is going to run out and shut down in three or four years," said Bruce Fidler.
He estimates a shutdown would affect roughly 700 employees, who live for the most partin Creighton and Flin Flon,Man.
A processing plant in FlinFlon is still in operation, processing ore from a mine in Snow Lake.
"We've been hoping for some kind of program to come out for a couple years now, to assist the juniors in getting out there and doing exploration and drilling and finding another ore body that could save, or at least be, the next mine," said Filder.
Overhead survey
The agreement will fund an airborne survey of the FlinFlon and Creighton region, which is a well-known, "highly prospective" area.
Three mines are already in operation in the region. The777 mine, near Flin Flon, mines zinc and copper, and smaller amounts of gold and silver. The Lalor mine in the Chisel Basin produces the same minerals.
Nearby Reed mine produces copper. Hudbayowns the majority of each mine.
While there are many kinds of geophysical surveys, the new agreement focuses on two, using both a helicopter and an airplane.
"The helicopter is flying over a piece of land and it's emitting an electromagnetic currentat low level," said the head geologist on the project, Gary Delaney.
"That goes down into the ground and if there's a conductive body, that will generate its own current."
The conductive body could be indicative of a copper or zinc deposit.
Process will take years
Fidlerhopes a new mine can be set up before the others dry up, in order to keep the existing zinc metallurgical plant and concentrator operating.
The town's efforts have concentrated on economic development in recent months, to prepare for the loss of the mining sector. Creighton,FlinFlon, andDenareBeach have banded together to create a regional economic development committee.
A new economic development officer has been hired, and will start their role Feb. 1.
Corrections
- An earlier version of this story identified Kevin Ansdell as a geography professor. In fact, he is a geology professor.Jan 31, 2018 7:25 PM CT