SUDBURY -- A video courtesy of Concrete Pictures shows the moment Vale's historic Number Nine Shaft was demolished on Thursday.

"The activity was carefully planned by a team of blasting and demolition experts and safely executed as planned," said Vale spokesperson Danica Pagnutti in an email.

"As a solid concrete structure 95 metres high, Number Nine Shaft had to be blasted down instead of dismantled. This activity follows careful demolition of several buildings at the site earlier this year including the sand and crusher plants, the mill and the conveyor trestle."

Built in 1966, Number Nine Shaft is one of the last remaining structures on the Stobie Mine site, which was placed on care and maintenance in 2017.

Vale said demolition of the mine site structures will reduce maintenance costs and pave the way for potential new development currently being studied.

The company also has plans to dismantle the historic Superstack.