4 • THURSDAY, November 15, 2012
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Economic impact expected Craigmont looks to continue work at Mount Polley From Page 1 Craigmont expects to continue its process of magnetite extraction this spring from tailings at Mount Polley Mine, about 100 kilometres northeast of Williams Lake, B.C. “There really doesn’t seem to be any opportunity that we will start up [at the Merritt location] again,” he said. The current inventory will continue to be held at the former Craigmont site. Merritt Mayor Susan Roline said the closure will have some economic impact. “The impact will
be what the company was buying in terms of services from the community,” she said, noting those included servicing vehicles and buying materials for the operation. Craigmont opened in 1961 as a copper producer, shutting down in 1982 because the copper price sunk too low for a profit. The current owners bought the mine in 1985 to produce magnetite out of the old Craigmont tailings pile. “Mining has always been a part of the Merritt economy,” she said. “Right now we’re seeing a resurgence in
the mining around us. We have several mines being worked on right now.” The mine typically closes this time of the year, but only for winter, as the equipment can’t be used in freezing weather. Magnetite is used by the western Canadian metallurgic coal industry to produce coal. Hermann said employees knew for several months about the closure and are receiving severance packages. Many of them have been relocated to other mines, and some will move to the Mount Polly operation.
Violations at mine extensive From Page 1 These included little to no lighting, inappropriate ventilation around reagent tanks, ship ladders instead of staircases, inappropriate guard-
ing around pulleys and pinch points, wood handrails and bare-metal plates as outdoor walkways. “The province plans to visit the site this weekend to ensure all violations
Give the
have been corrected before the shutdown is lifted,” the ministry spokesperson said. Huldra opened the mine in November 2011 to extract silver, lead and zinc from the rocky terrain.
IN REMEMBRANCE Briana Aspinall participates in a moment of silence during the Remembrance Day Ceremony on Sunday at the Merritt Civic Centre. Ian Webster/Herald
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