The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor BacTech Environmental Corp. has wrapped up the bioleach phase of testing for a groundbreaking project in Snow Lake. The Toronto-based company announced it recently completed the five-month testing process of decades-old mine waste in the northern town. BacTech has requested that its contractor for the testing now subject the oxidized material to treatment with cyanide. This, BacTech said, will determine the ultimate recovery of gold from the samples, with final recovery results to be announced later this month. BacTech plans to build in Snow Lake a high-tech bioleach plant that will process an old pile of mine waste known locally as 'Toke Mountain'. Neutralize The plant will not only neutralize the toxic waste, but will also extract from within it gold that could not be recovered by the technology of the day. BacTech expects to spend $18 million to $20 million to construct the new-to-North America facility. The company hopes to start construction in July or August and commission the plant about four months later. In January, BacTech officials were in Snow Lake to conduct a public consultation with citizens. Ross Orr, president and CEO, provided an overview of the proposed project followed by a technical presentation by Dr. Paul Miller. Following the meeting, an alternate site for the proposed Snow Lake plant was identified. BacTech said it will lead to a significant reduction in the costs associated with material handling for delivery of material to the plant for processing. The acquisition of the proposed property, which BacTech did not identify in its latest news release, is underway. Late last year, BacTech signed a contract with the Mines Branch of the Manitoba Department of Innovation, Energy and Mines, to remediate the mound of tailings.
