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Location: 1 km W from Goderich, Ontario, Canada
300 North Harbour Road, PO Box 370GoderichOntario, CanadaN7A 3Y9
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The Goderich Salt Mine is located near the east edge of the Michigan salt basin. The stratigraphy consists of a sedimentary rock sequences which includes salt evaporates (or halites) contained within the Silurian-age Salina formation. The Silurian dolomites, shales, and evaporites are overlain by the dolomites and limestones of Devonian-age and underlain by Ordovician limestones and shales. The Salina group is classified into units in ascending order from A to G.The sediments of the Salina formation approach 3,000 ft (900 m) maximum thickness near the basin depositional center thinning out to several hundred meters or less on the basin margins where the salt is absent. The aggregate thickness of the salt in the Salina formation can exceed 2,000 ft (600 m) in the thickest sequences in the depositional center of the basin, thinning out to zero at the basin margins. The salt strata are highly continuous over the basin, and most of the major salt units can be traced for hundreds of kilometers.In the Goderich area, the aggregate thickness of the Salina formation is about 1,000 ft (300 m), of which approximately 40% consists of salt beds, with the B unit salt being the dominant salt bed.The geological interpretation assumes that the A-2 evaporite salt bed is continuous and potentially thickens to the west towards the center of the Michigan basin. The regional stratigraphic sequence is well understood from many wells drilled across the basin and locally in the Goderich area. The salt strata are highly continuous over the basin, and most of the major salt units can be traced for hundreds of kilometers.On a local scale, the continuity of the salt beds can be impacted by the presence of pinnacle reefs, displacement by faults, or the local leaching of salt. The Company can use various tools to characterize geological conditions in nearby areas to assess the possibility of encountering these local ground conditions at the mine.Mineral Deposit TypeThe Goderich Salt Mine is situated in the A-2 salt bed. The A-2 salt is immediately overlain by the A-2 carbonate sequence and underlain by the A-1 carbonate sequence. The base of the A-2 salt bed is located approximately 1,750 ft to 1,760 ft below surface at the mine shafts’ location. The A-2 salt bed in the shaft area is approximately 79 ft thick. Other salt beds above the mine consist of B, D, and F salt beds at progressively shallower depths. The upper most F salt bed is about 980 ft below surface at the shafts’ locations. The salt beds are nearly horizontal and dip at approximately 1.5° to the southwest.The A-2 salt contains parting features that may be encountered during mining or present stability challenges when shallow in the roof. The clay partings often exhibit rippled surfaces. The features tend to be weak and roof separation is common when located immediately above the roof at room center. The dolomite / anhydrite / clay bands’ (commonly referred to as rock bands) thickness ranges from thin lamina (less than one quarter inch) and four to six inches. The frequency and thickness of the rock bands increase near the top and the bottom of the A-2 salt. Slumping or folding structures within the salt are common.The rock of the A-2 carbonate bed, which overlies the A-2 salt, is a dolomite. The thickness of the A-2 carbonate bed is about 140 ft and the bedding has prominent partings that range in spacing from less than one inch and one to two feet. The estimated cohesive strength at bedding features is very low. There is little evidence of cross fracturing or jointing within the dolomite. The rock is prone to raveling as observed in areas where it has been exposed in the mine roof.
