Sudbury’s Magna Mining looks to reopen Crean Hill Mine
Magna Mining, an exploration development company in Sudbury, recently purchased a local property with a view of starting production again.
Magna Mining acquired Lonmin Canada Inc., the company that owns the former Crean Hill Mine, which was once the property of Inco.
This mine operated under Inco for roughly 80 years, producing approximately 20 million tonnes of ore before closing in 2002.
Jason Jessup, CEO of Magna Mining, said that between 2005 and 2017, about 90,000 metres of drilling was completed.
“After that, Lonmin Canada was acquired by Sibanye-Stillwater and we purchased the company from Sibanye,” Jessup said.
Magna Mining said the next step is to complete drilling on the property, which will support a technical study to demonstrate it makes economic sense to reopen the mine.
The hope is to begin development in late 2023.
Jessup said the project, along with Magna’s plan for the Shakespeare project at an old Falconbridge property, could have a significant positive impact on the community.
“We think it has a lot of synergies potential for a hub-and-spoke production model, where we have a centralized mill and feed coming in from multiple sources,” he said.
“Our hope and our ambition is to be a significant employer in the region.”
Stan Sudol, a Toronto-based consultant and editor of the website 'The Republic of Mining,' told CTV News this is a great move for the community.
“There’s an old mining saying that says ‘the best place to find a new mine, is in the shadow of a head frame,” Sudol said.
“With a 130 years of mining in the Sudbury basin, there’s a lot of potential for new mines to be found. Traditionally we’ve not had a lot of junior activity in the Sudbury basin and I think that’s a bit of a shame. Having new juniors come in and, of course, being innovative and somewhat nimble, and Magna Mining -- who knows? It could be the future Inco of the next generation.”
Magna Mining said a feasibility study done on the Shakespeare project shows that once it’s in production, it would take around 159 employees to operate that mine, with Crean Hill possibly employing around the same number.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.