Series of rockbursts closes Kinross gold mine in Kirkland Lake

Underground production at the Macassa gold mine in Kirkland Lake, Ont., has been halted following a series of rockbursts.

Owner Kinross Gold reports that no employees were injured in the bursts, which occurred in the No. 3 shaft following routine longhole production on the 6,400- and 6,600-ft. levels.

A preliminary damage assessment indicates that the shaft cannot be used between the 5,700- and 6,000-ft. levels, and underground production has been canceled indefinitely. The temporary stoppage will affect about half of the operation’s 230 employees. Company officials and the Ontario government are expected to begin inspection of the damaged area, as well as other workings.

Mill production will continue at full capacity for at least two weeks owing to the availability of stockpiles and feed from two nearby mines.

Previous owner Lac Minerals was forced to suspend underground production at the operation for six months in November 1993 following a similar incident in a different section of the mine.