Cassiar concentrator
and mill complex, with
potential wet mill feed
stock pile in
background.

Cassiar
Operation

T he Cassiar Mine achieved a 35
year production record of
106,085 tonnes of fibre in 1988.
This was due, in part, to the
decision to operate the mine
thoughout the year in order to
meet the continued strong world
wide demand for asbestos
products. This was the first time
since 1981 that the operation ran
for the full twelve month period.

A higher than expected ore grade,
additional modifications to the
mill which increased efficiency,
and added production of short
fibre helped make the record year
possible. Important mill
modifications were made within
the concentrator to increase
rejection of barren rock and allow
a higher mill feed grade. These
refinements to the concentrator
obviate the need for a second
concentrator budgeted for the
McDame Project.

Mining Plan Accelerated
During the early summer, a
localized slide in the southern wall
of the pit, combined with cracking
and other signs of instability at
other locations, prompted a review
of the overall mining plan.
Although various methods of
stabilizing the pit walls were
available, the decision was made
to speed up the mining program by
about a year in order to reduce the
risk of losing ore.

Under the accelerated mining
plan, all ore will be removed from
the open pit by May, 1989, taking
advantage of the stability provided
by the frozen ground during the
winter months. Continuous
operation of the pit began at the
end of September and additional
staff was hired to carry out the
new plan. However, removing
greater quantities of material in
less time has resulted in greater
mining efficiencies, so the overall
costs have not increased
significantly. The ore removed
from the pit will be stockpiled and
will sustain mill operations until
production from the McDame
underground deposit becomes
available in late 1990.

7h a fe ,
Fibre Production
@ Fibre Produced © 1989 Estimated production

Tonnes (x 1000)

Source of Mill Feed

@ Open Pit Ore ® Underground Ore
Tonnes (x 1000)