12°c Partly cloudy
6°c Clear
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
A mining 'whopper'
The Meliadine camp, 21 kilometres from Rankin Inlet, can house 200 workers and will double in size once the mine opens.
Related Items
-
Columns
The two-billion-year-old rock that Eric Prosh, director of the Nunavut minerals department, placed on his desk was the size of a cantaloupe but as heavy as a pumpkin -- not surprising, given that rich-black rock is 65 per cent iron, three times the concentration of typical iron ore.
The ore body from which Prosh's sample was taken is so rich, in fact, that it has launched the biggest development in Arctic history -- an open-pit mine at Mary River near the top of Baffin Island, 1,200 kilometres north of Iqaluit (3,500 kilometres north of Winnipeg).
Baffinland Iron Mines Corp. plans to spend $4 billion bringing Mary River into production, an amount that includes the construction of a 150-kilometre railway (the first ever in the Arctic) to move ore to a port yet to be built at Steensby Inlet.
Nine, 320-metre icebreaking freighters will then ferry the ore year-round to Europe for processing.
Mary River is expected to create 5,000 construction jobs, 950 permanent jobs and billions in royalties for Nunavut over the expected 21-year life of the mine.
"It's a whopper, a completely different kettle of fish," Prosh said.
The Baffinland project, along with Agnico-Eagle's two gold mines in Kivalliq region, are expected to boost employment in Nunavut by 10 per cent, Prosh said.
The economic impact of the mines will be so great that mining, which already has eclipsed government as the No. 1 generator of GDP, will push Nunavut forward.
"Overnight these mines will cause a big bump in GDP," Prosh said. "And there's a bunch more in the pipeline."
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 29, 2012 A17
More Columnists
- Back to Top
- Return to Columnists
Poll
Most Popular Columnists
- A new mom's booze-fuelled hell
- Big Blue will have one helluva punter
- Political opportunity knocks to abolish Senate
- He's been taking funny seriously for 60 years
- 'Most hated man' in Senate
- Tick season means pets at risk of Lyme disease
- Can't lose when ends justify means
- Tell your dad what you think
- Feds trim the beef from research
- Katz bogeys again
- A new mom's booze-fuelled hell
- Katz bogeys again
- 'It's a beautiful story': There's not always a tomorrow to say you're sorry or make things right
- Tell husband you're not talking to her... maybe tell him why
- Burke will be back; he's just that good
- Mount Carmel Clinic: An oasis of acceptance in a judgmental world
- New Blue stadium lives up to the hype; now it's up to you
- Cancer doesn't care who it may kill
- Big Blue will have one helluva punter
- Jolie's mastectomy choice a game-changer
- Goodbye, Susan; a privilege to know you
- Twins are theirs, but province doesn't agree
- Bun Brouhaha: Kitchen staff's snap firing worthy of reality TV
- Beloved piece of Winnipeg's music history deserves better
- Facebook pokes Manitoba
- A new mom's booze-fuelled hell
- Katz bogeys again
- Dugouts could change the game
- Winter is coming
- White sucker right for Manitoba
- A new mom's booze-fuelled hell
- Tick season means pets at risk of Lyme disease
- Tapping sweetness from birch trees
- Political opportunity knocks to abolish Senate
- 'It's a beautiful story': There's not always a tomorrow to say you're sorry or make things right
- New Blue stadium lives up to the hype; now it's up to you
- Late deal in workplace sex-harassment case
- Explore Desire seminars to 'push the boundaries'
- A new mom's booze-fuelled hell
- Going gluten-free doesn't mean giving up foods you love
- Cancer doesn't care who it may kill
- Tapping sweetness from birch trees
- Mount Carmel Clinic: An oasis of acceptance in a judgmental world
- Katz bogeys again
- Twins are theirs, but province doesn't agree
- 'It's a beautiful story': There's not always a tomorrow to say you're sorry or make things right
- Bun Brouhaha: Kitchen staff's snap firing worthy of reality TV
- Dugouts could change the game
- Happily selling shoes at age 89
- Facebook pokes Manitoba
- White sucker right for Manitoba
- New Blue stadium lives up to the hype; now it's up to you
- Selinger's ability to sell case weak link in tax-hike plan
- Emotional roller-coaster
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.