The Mary River deposits can be described by the depositional model proposed for Algoma-type iron formation. The characteristic stratigraphy for Algoma-type iron formations comprise of a lower succession of typically intermediate volcanics interbedded with acid volcanics, volcaniclastic sediments, and their sedimentary derivatives. This succession is followed by banded iron formation comprised of alternating cherty bands and iron oxides or bedded or banded pure oxides ranging from metres to hundreds of metres in thickness, depending on depths of the original basins. This succession in turn is overlain by a sequence of volcanics and volcaniclastic sediments often intruded by ultramafics and granitic intrusive bodies.

Mary River Group greenstone belts across northern Baffin Island consist of variable amounts of banded iron formation (BIF), which are associated with metasedimentary, metavolcanic and metaigneous rocks (Jackson et. al., 1978a, b, c; Jackson and Morgan, 1978). The banded oxide and silicate facies iron formations comprise the lateral equivalents of the high-grade Mary River deposits, which are almost entirely composed of iron oxides, suggesting a significant enrichment of iron through secondary processes.

Duke (2010) suggests growing evidence for a secondary Fe enrichment mechanism associated with widespread retrograded mylonitic detachments along the base of the high grade and enriched BIF across north central Baffin Island in places such as th ........

Baffinland has two main operating locations – the mine site at Mary River and Milne Port, located approximately 86 kilometers north-west of the mine site.The Mary River mine is selfsustaining and is equipped with an airstrip and aerodrome. It is a conventional open pit truck and shovel operation. Ore is delivered to crushers before the crushed product is transported via the 100 kilometer Tote road to Milne Port. Milne Port has been fully developed to accommodate a 5 million-tonne ore stockpile, an ore dock, maintenance facility, and associated infrastructure for the operation of the port facilities.

Mining and Crushing
Once blasted, Baffinland mines out the materials using hydraulic excavators and large front-end loaders to load our 90-tonne and 212 tonne haul trucks. Ore is delivered to our nearby portable crushers, while waste material is transported to a dump location on site.

Ore Hauling
Baffinland’s ore handling team transports the crushed materials by truck from our crushing area to our port site along a 100km tote road. The road requires regular maintenance, and is monitored at all times for safety and potential environmental impacts.

The capacity of the proposed mining, comminution and handling facilities are considered modest for iron ore operations. The subarctic location will necessitate thorough weatherproofing, but otherwise the crushers, screens and other processing and transfer equipment are conventional in their selections.

The process consists of sequential crushing by jaw and cone crushers in closed-circuit with vibrating screens. The plant will deliver two products, lumps and fines, to stockpiles for blending prior to transfer to the port for ocean transport.

Lump iron ore is expected to be the main product from the Project and will be about 75% of the total production by weight. This product will have high iron grade by world standard, and will have variable impurity content, depending on the mine plan and schedule. The lump product has been found suitable for blending as direct feedstock for blast furnace iron making. The minority fines product would also be saleable depending on ........