Minroc aims to revive Cassiar project

With the results of an independent engineering study in hand, Minroc Mines (MN-T) is arranging financing to bring its chrysotile asbestos fibre project into commercial production by the second quarter of 1999.

Situated in northern British Columbia, the past-producing Cassiar mine and plant will be refurbished over the next four months and recommissioned next spring. By the first quarter of 2000, Minroc hopes to achieve full production of chrysotile fibre (combining wet and dry processes) of 68,000 tonnes annually.

Production output will be modest in the early stage. Kilborn/ SNC-Lavalin based its study on the production of 18,000 tonnes per year of high-quality chrysotile fibre by the dry process over an initial 15-year period.

The feed source for the dry plant will be run-of-mine ore and reserves mined on site. The surface stockpiles contain more than 3 million tonnes of mined ore yeilding 10% contained fibre.

Capital costs are estimated at $3 million, in addition to monies already spent on test work and rehabilitation. Minroc says this low cost for commercial dry production reflects the excellent condition of the dry process plant and related infrastructure at Cassiar, which were upgraded in 1982.

The wet plant feed will be obtained from an existing stockpile and processed through Cassiar’s new wet plant, which is being incorporated into the existing dry plant. Once the wet plant is completed, it will deliver 50,000 tonnes per year of wet process product, bringing Cassiar’s total output of fibre to 68,000 tonnes annually.

Meanwhile, Minroc is drawing up plans to develop a magnesium metal facility at Cassiar, based on an existing, high-grade stockpile of magnesium resources.

Farther afield, the company has acquired a major interest in the Kanyemba uranium-vandium project in Zimbabwe, now at the feasibility stage.

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