ny ey er

grade increased to 9.82% from
9.07% in the previous year.

Despite a strike abbreviated
year, the 1979 production of 109,606
tons of fibre represents a record
mill output since the inception of
operations at Cassiar. The average
daily production rate per operating
day was 427 tons of fibre.

Effective January 1980, the
British Columbia Government
revised the standard of the permis-
sible level of airborne asbestos in
the working environment from 5 to
2 fibres per cubic centimeter. Con-
tinued emphasis on maintenance
and housekeeping, together with
optimum utilization of air filtration
systems already installed in the
plant, has achieved the required
standard in most areas. Further
revisions and modifications are
being implemented to bring the
remainder of the plant to the
permissible standard.

Of particular interest are the
encouraging results of the diamond
drilling program from the adit at
Cassiar which, from a preliminary
study, indicate a downward faulted
extension of the orebody. Diamond
drilling from the adit will continue
in 1980. The Company remains a
participant in the CUB joint-
venture program to search for
tungsten and other metals. Nothing
significant has been found to date
but exploration will continue dur-
ing 1980. Cassiar also entered into
another joint-venture program, to
explore for asbestos, with Cominco
Limited and Exploram Minerals
Limited. The consulting firm of
Archer Cathro & Associates Limited
is acting as operating manager of
both ventures. Drilling will be done
in 1980 on a known molybdenum
occurence south of the Cassiar
mine and further exploration will
be conducted on properties in the

Dease Lake and Terrace areas in
northern British Columbia.

Personal injury actions against
Cassiar Asbestos Corporation
Limited and others are continuing
in the United States. None of the
cases have progressed sufficiently
to make a determination as to the
likelihood of Cassiar’s liability or to
permit a reasonable estimate of the
amount of Cassiar’s liability, if any.
Certain cases have been dismissed
or settled and the Company has
commenced actions against its in-
surers to recover costs incurred in
connection with these cases.

With sadness, your Directors
record the death of Mr. Patrick
W.C. Griffith who had a long
association with the Company. Mr.
Griffith was replaced on the Board
by Mr. Stephen Gibbs, the newly-
appointed Chairman of Turner &
Newall Limited. Early in 1979 Mr. C.
W. Newton resigned as a Director
and Mr. K. H. Dixon of Turner &
Newall was appointed to fill the
vacancy.

The Directors wish to express
appreciation to all Cassiar em-
ployees for their loyalty and dedica-
tion during 1979.

On behalf of the Board,
J. D. Little

President &

Chief Executive Officer

March 12, 1980

Left: The late afternoon sun throws a
warm glow on the snow covered waste
benches which disguises the frigid environ-
ment of winter waste removal operations.

Right: Against a mountain backdrop, fire-
w ced frames the dry rock storage building
and a portion of the drying circ uit.