Lupin Mine
Encyclopedia
Lupin Mine was a gold mine in Nunavut
Territory, Canada
. It opened in 1982 and was originally owned and operated by Echo Bay Mines Limited
, who in 2003 became a fully owned subsidiary of Kinross Gold
Corporation.
The mine ceased production briefly in August 2003, but was re-started in early 2004 to recover old stope pillars
with a reduced crew. The mine closed again in February 2005 and, in 2006, the assets were sold to Wolfden Resources Limited and subsequently to Zinifex
. Plans are ongoing to use the production plant to operate a proposed mine at Izok Lake, located to the south west near the Nunavut and Northwest Territories
border. Lupin may also be reopened to recover the last available ore reserves.
During the winter, the mine is served by the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road
.
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
Territory, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It opened in 1982 and was originally owned and operated by Echo Bay Mines Limited
Echo Bay Mines Limited
The Echo Bay Mines Limited company was organized in 1964 to develop a silver deposit at Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories, which became known as the Echo Bay Mine. The company leased the old Port Radium settlement from Eldorado Mining and Refining Limited and used the old camp and mill to...
, who in 2003 became a fully owned subsidiary of Kinross Gold
Kinross Gold
Kinross Gold Corporation is a Canadian-based gold mining company with a gold production guidance of 4.5 to 4.9 million gold ounces by 2015. Kinross owns mines and projects in Canada, the United States, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Russia, Ghana and Mauritania, employing approximately 7,500 people...
Corporation.
The mine ceased production briefly in August 2003, but was re-started in early 2004 to recover old stope pillars
Stoping (mining method)
Stoping is the removal of the wanted ore from an underground mine leaving behind an open space known as a stope. Stoping is used when the country rock is sufficiently strong not to cave into the stope, although in most cases artificial support is also provided...
with a reduced crew. The mine closed again in February 2005 and, in 2006, the assets were sold to Wolfden Resources Limited and subsequently to Zinifex
Zinifex
Zinifex was an Australian company which operated two zinc and lead mines, three zinc refineries and a lead smelter. It was created following the insolvency of Pasminco in 2002, taking on Pasminco operations. In 2008 it merged with Oxiana Limited to form OZ Minerals.-History:Zinifex was the...
. Plans are ongoing to use the production plant to operate a proposed mine at Izok Lake, located to the south west near the Nunavut and Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
border. Lupin may also be reopened to recover the last available ore reserves.
During the winter, the mine is served by the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road
Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road
Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road is an annual ice road first built in 1982 to service mines and exploration activities in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut in Northern Canada. Between long, the road is said to be the world's longest heavy haul ice road and operates for eight to ten weeks...
.