CASSIAR ASBESTOS
Operations

A total of 895 102 metric tonnes of ore was
mined and processed during the year compared
to 983 160 metric tonnes in 1982. The mill
produced 82 185 metric tonnes of asbestos
fibre, compared to 78 206 metric tonnes in the
previous year. Recoverable mine grade averaged
9.41 percent compared with 7.82 percent in
1982. Waste mining at 3.188 million bank cubic
metres was approximately 312 000 cubic metres
less than in the previous year.

The mill was closed during the first two weeks
of the year as a result of a break in a haul rope
on the tramline and was closed again for a
seven-week period in July and August for a
holiday shutdown. Waste mining operations
were halted for a total of eleven weeks during
the year.

New collective agreements were negotiated with
bargaining units of the United Steelworkers of
America representing employees at Cassiar. The
new agreements are for a two-year period
commencing July 1, 1983 and include a
compensation package which falls within the
Federal government wage guidelines.

By July 1983, the Cassiar work force had
completed one million manhours of work
without a lost-time injury, a record
performance for British Columbia mines. The
Mining Association of British Columbia struck a
special plaque to honor the achievement.

Ore Reserves

Following a detailed geotechnical evaluation of
the mine, the design of the open pit was
modified and the net effect has been an increase
in ore tonnage and grade, and a decrease in
waste rock to be mined. Based on the ultimate
open pit design, ore reserves as of December 31,
1983 are now calculated to be 8.308 million
metric tonnes having an average grade of 6.85
percent asbestos fibre.

Additional Fibre Resources

Consulting engineers in association with Cassiar
personnel, have completed a preliminary
feasibility study for the development of the
McDame deposit, which is contiguous to the
Cassiar orebody. Previous exploration of the
McDame deposit identified approximately 13
million metric tonnes of asbestos-bearing
serpentinite having fibre grades similar to those
of the Cassiar orebody. Studies completed to
date indicate that the McDame deposit is
mineable by underground mining methods. A
commitment to proceed with development of
the McDame deposit would be required by
mid-1985 if development is to be fully complete
by the end of minelife of the existing Cassiar
open pit.

During the year, airborne magnetic and ground
magnetic surveys were completed in the Cassiar
area with the object of outlining near-surface
asbestos-bearing serpentinite bodies. A large
magnetic anomaly was defined adjacent to and
southeast of the Cassiar orebody and a drilling
program will be undertaken in 1984 to test this
anomalous area for near-surface asbestos
mineralization. Several other magnetic targets in
the Cassiar vicinity will also be the subject of
exploratory work during the year.

A rotary percussion drilling program of 1518
metres on the Tanya asbestos property, north of
the Cassiar mine, was completed during 1983,
and several holes intersected low-grade asbestos
mineralization over short intersections. It is
deduced that surface asbestos concentrations
and asbestos soil anomalies on the property are
caused by highly altered low-grade asbestos-
bearing diorite dykes and no further work is
planned on this project.

is

Brinco Mining Limited