The Meadowbank mine in the Nunavut Territory of northern Canada is one of Agnico-Eagle’s largest mines. It has almost 2.2 million ounces of gold in reserves* (24 million tonnes at 2.8 g/t), with tremendous potential for more.
The mine is located in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut, about 2,600 kilometres northwest of Toronto. It is 300 kilometres west of Hudson Bay and 70 kilometres north of Baker Lake, the nearest town. We have a large land position of almost 39,000 hectares.
Meadowbank depends on the annual, warm-weather sealift by barge from Hudson Bay to Baker Lake for transportation of bulk supplies and heavy equipment. A 110-kilometre all-weather road links Baker Lake to the site. An on-site airstrip is used for shipping food and goods and for transporting employees who work on a fly-in, fly-out basis.
Mine commissioning and first gold production from the Portage open pit began in early 2010. The mine is expected to produce 380,000 ounces of gold in 2011 and an average of 303,000 ounces of gold per year from 2012 through 2014, with a mine life through 2017.
* Source
Meadowbank December 31, 2010 Reserves and Resources
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Conversion and expansion drilling around the southern end of the Goose South deposit will remain a priority in the 2011 exploration program.
1970s
– The discovery of uranium in the Baker Lake area results in regional grassroots gold exploration programs over the next decade.
1983
– Ground is staked around a gold showing in the Meadowbank area.
2003
– Meadowbank is established as a major Canadian gold project.
2005
– Feasibility study results are announced.
2006
– The Nunavut Impact Review Board recommends development of the project. An Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement for the Meadowbank project is signed with the Kivalliq Inuit Association
.
2007
– A Development Partnership Agreement is signed with the Nunavut government. Agnico-Eagle acquires the project and accelerates development.
2008
– An all-season road is completed from Baker Lake to the site. In preparation for mining, the East and West Channel dykes are built in Second Portage Lake, and dewatering continues through to mid-2009. Portage mine pre-stripping begins and is carried on through 2009.
2010
– First gold is poured. Processing plant achieves commercial production March 1.
2011
–Since the June 2011 startup of the permanent secondary crusher, the design rate of 8,500 tpd has been consistently exceeded.