Goldcorp announced Jan. 14 that it’s permanently closing underground mining activities at its Dome mine in Timmins by the middle of this year.
The company said 115 employees and 76 contractors will be affected.
The legendary underground mine has been a fixture in the Porcupine camp for more than 100 years since its discovery in 1909 and production start-up a year later.
The underground resumed operations in early 2006, after being put on care and maintenance in 2004.
In a news release, the company said production at its Hollinger open pit, Hoyle Pond underground mine and processing plant “will be optimized” and are “expected to continue for the foreseeable future.”
“The Dome underground has been an important contributor to Porcupine’s overall production, and a significant part of the history of this gold mining district,” said Brendan Zuidema, Goldcorp’s Porcupine Mine general manager. “We will be working with the United Steelworkers Union to close the site safely, responsibly and in accordance with the collective agreement, and are making outplacement services available to affected employees during this transition.”
In 2014, gold production from Porcupine totaled 300,000 ounces. Goldcorp’s 2015 operating results will be announced in February 2016.
