There are challenges in developing a mine in a bog where limestone is all too present.
No question, but “(it) can be done with minimal impact (on) the environment,” says Dr. William Morris, geology and geography professor at McMaster University in Hamilton. He has written numerous papers on the environmental impacts of mine development in Northern Ontario.
Public input on De Beers Canada’s comprehensive environmental assessment closed July 11, giving organizations and individuals a chance to respond to the proposed Victor diamond mine development located 90 kilometres west of Attawapiskat.
Mining Watch Canada mines alert national co-ordinator, Joan Kuyek, replied in a paper to the study. Retired McMaster University professor Dr. Derek Ford responded with a paper to the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.
Both say the development may irrevocably damage fish and wildlife habitat, water and the geology.
The Attawapiskat region is comprised of karst landforms, generally the result of mildly acidic rainfall acting on soluble limestone or dolostone bedrock.
To look for diamonds in such an area would mean an exploration team would have to dig a big hole in the karst region, Morris says. That has its challenges.
“Limestone is a particular kind of material that when water passes over it, it can dissolve,” he says, creating large passages, caves and cavities.
Larger pits and government-approved remediation systems that look at where the water is coming and where it is going will help offset the damage.
“Mining companies have to meet strict annual reports of mining activity, the effect (on the environment) and the closure plans,” he says.
Sweden-based Hydrologic Consultants Inc. (HCI) was hired to assess the dewatering requirements by making a model that simulates the anticipated water inflow to the open pit at the Victor site. HCI then reviewed and amended the model in accordance with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and the information was printed in the Comprehensive Study Report.
Richard Molyneux, president and CEO of De Beers Canada, says they have “exhaustively and extensively responded to the challenges” of mine development in a karst location with recommendations from “highly experienced geologists and engineers.”
Organizations that have “not had access to the full information, by their own admission” have participated only in the last stages of the process, Molyneux explains.
However, the environmental organization’s concerns have been responded to by the appropriate federal departments.
“De Beers is comfortable that we understand what the issues are and everything is being planned and managed accordingly,” Molyneux says. There is a very narrow window of time to access the winter roads for equipment and machine transport.
“Time is getting very short for us to place orders for the equipment that needs to be delivered and if we don’t place the order now, and we lose (access) to the winter road, it can set the (project back a whole year).”
This stalls the economic development, educational and training components communities are counting on.
“There is a huge number of businesses and various parties that would be negatively affected by this delay.”
As a company, Molyneux says De Beers Canada has done everything anybody has asked and the $982 million investment is proof of their earnest willingness to work together. Certainly the company would not be happy if the upcoming deadlines are not met and they are “counting on organizations and companies to make this possible.”
