RED LAKE REGIONAL HERITAGE CENTRE
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Mining & the Environment

The creation of the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (1972) and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (1985) marked the beginning of environmental monitoring of mining projects. Today, the mining companies of the Red Lake camp are committed to reducing their environmental impact, employing best practices and aiming to be better than industry standards.
​
Major Historic Mining Issues
  1. Historically, tailings (the waste material after the milling process) were often put directly into the waters of the region without treatment. This was considered industry standard at the time and only became monitored with the creation of government enforced environmental standards. Tailings polluted waters like Balmer Lake with heavy metals, arsenic and ammonia until rehabilitation work began in the 1990's.
  2. Some mines in Red Lake used roasters in the gold extraction process. Byproducts arsenic trioxide dust and sulphur dioxide were discharged into the atmosphere until companies introduced an arsenic recovery process in the 1970's. High-quality arsenic dust was collected and sold. Companies kept low-quality arsenic and any unsold high-quality arsenic in sealed underground stopes. However, this storage method did not prevent the dust from coming into contact with water, causing it to remobilize and become a contaminant.
  3. If companies could not sell their equipment and buildings, they often abandoned the mine sites as they stood.  Deserted buildings, equipment and waste rock/ore stockpiles could cause issues ranging from contaminated water sources to continued disruption or the elimination of plant and wildlife species.
  4. Historically, mining companies stored waste rock (rock removed to get access to the orebody) around the shafts in what is known as Mine Waste Dumps. The waste rock was not separated as non-acidic and potentially acid generating. In Red Lake, waste rock was used for landfill and construction around the community.​
Picture
Source: The District News, October 27, 1960
Picture
Abandoned equipment at McMarmac Red Lake Gold Mines, 1980's
PictureWater testing at Balmer Lake - Photo courtesy of Goldcorp
Contemporary Environmental Practices
  1. Tailings/waste management has significantly improved and today companies treat tailings before they leave the mill. Solids are used as backfill, while tailings ponds are used to treat tailings water and safely discharge them. To assist with the continued rehabilitation efforts with Balmer Lake, Goldcorp utilizes a wetland to clean the water further before it enters the lake.
  2. The autoclave replaced the roaster, utilizing high pressure and heat to oxidize ore for recovery. Any arsenic present is combined with iron to produce a stable compound, which discharges into a tailings pond. Autoclaves can also be used to stabilize arsenic-trioxide dust for safer long-term storage.
  3. Mine closure plans and reclamation became part of the Ontario Mining Act in 1990, reducing the lasting environmental footprint left by mining. Closure plans detail facility and infrastructure removal as well as the land restoration that will happen when the project closes. Companies have to pay a reclamation bond or financial assurance payment to ensure that money is available for reclamation. The Crown holds the bond in trust and guarantees that closure plans are carried out, even if the company faces financial issues. Companies reclaim the bond after all restoration has been completed.  
  4. New environmental standards require mines to categorize mine waste into two categories: i) non-acidic or ii) potential acidic generating. The risk for contamination, however, means that even non-acidic waste is not a desirable purchase as landfill. Instead, waste is either used on mine property or is used as backfill in the mine after closure. 



Timeline
Historic Red Lake Mining
Red Lake Geology
The Red Lake Gold Rushes
From Hudson to Headframe
Community Development
Commerce
Education
Medicine
Recreation
Mining Practices
Going Underground
Equipment
Extraction
Milling
The Mill Process
Safety
Refuge Station
Mine Rescue
Health Issues
Jobs
Contemporary Red Lake Mining
Environment
Labour
Innovation
Exploration
Indigenous Rights
Gold Prices
Mining and Exploration Companies
Goldcorp Inc.
Rubicon Minerals
Premier Gold Mines
Pure Gold Mining
Rimini Exploration & Consulting
Other Mining & Exploration Companies
Glossary
Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre
51A Highway 105 P.O. Box 64
Red Lake, ON, Canada
P0V 2M0
807-727-3006
[email protected]
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The Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre is a charitable organization, funded by the Municipality of Red Lake, the Ontario Ministry of Culture, and through fundraising activities. Reg # 87315 2714 RR001.

  • Home
  • Heritage Online
    • Puzzles
    • Podcast
    • Online Programming >
      • Bannock
      • Dream Catchers
      • Eco Printing
      • Flower Pounding
      • Fur Trade
      • Mushrooms
      • Pysanky
      • Suncatchers
      • Wild Teas
  • Exhibitions and Events
    • Events
    • Upcoming Exhibits >
      • 100 Years of Red Lake
    • Current Exhibits >
      • NNT
    • Past Exhibits >
      • Hospital History
      • SouthPaw Photography
      • EZHI NAMANG: HOW WE SEE IT
      • Triple K Art
      • Red Lake on the Move
      • Fish Stories
      • Red Lake Art Show >
        • Red Lake Art Show 2016
        • Red Lake Art Show 2017
        • Red Lake Art Show 2018
        • 2023 Art Show
        • 2024 Red Lake Art Show
      • Woodland Caribou Provincial Park
      • Fire People >
        • Fire 14-1
        • Fire 14-2
    • Red Lake Speaker Series
  • History
    • On This Spot
    • Red Lake History
    • Aviation History
    • Immigration
    • Residential Schools
    • Heritage Centre History
    • Red Lake District Souvenir Record
  • Gift Shop
    • Accessories >
      • Jewellery
      • Key Holders
      • Purses, Wallets & Bags
    • Local Artists >
      • Rhonda Beckman
      • Valerie Blab
      • Kaila Erb
      • Lauren Furman
      • Patrick Hunter
      • Aaron LeBlanc
      • Amy Newport
      • Hidehiro Otake
      • Mark Nadjiwan
      • Sara Ramer-Dean
      • Rebecca Saikkonen
      • Wendy Yutzy
    • Books & DVDs
    • Cards
    • Clothing >
      • Scarves & Hats
      • T-Shirts
      • Long Sleeves
      • Socks
    • Home & Kitchen >
      • Glassware
      • Home Décor
      • Kitchen
      • Mugs
    • Glass Ornaments
    • Magnets
    • Miscellaneous
    • Norval Morrisseau Designs
  • Support
    • Volunteering
    • Memberships
    • Donor Wall
  • About Us
    • Strategic Plan
    • Annual Report
    • Services
    • Our Mission
    • Collections Policy
    • Newsletter
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Staff & Board
  • Mailing List
  • Mining Map
  • Donate Now
  • Woodland-Art
  • Mural Project Survey Teachers