Overview
| Stage | Production |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Production Start | ...  |
| Mine Life | 24 years (as of Jan 1, 2022) |
The Mary River iron ore deposits on North Baffin Island are considered to be one of the largest and highest quality iron ore open pit deposits in the world. Baffinland produces three iron ore products: Direct Shipping Pellets (DSP), Super Sinter Fines (SUSF) and Baffinland Hematite Lump (BHL).
The Project currently consists of four main operating centres: the Mary River Mine Site (the Mine Site), the 100-km long Milne Inlet Tote Road (Tote Road), the Milne Port facility (Milne Port) and the Northern Shipping Route. Collectively this area is known as the Northern Transportation Corridor. The operation includes open pit mining, crushing, transporting and stockpiling of ore 12 months of the year between the Mine Site, the Tote Road and Milne Port. The ore is then shipped to markets in Europe and Asia between July and the end of October. |
Source:
p. 124
In September 2020, the corporate structure was reorganized whereby Nunavut Iron Ore Inc. (NIO) became the sole parent company of Baffinland, while ArcelorMittal together with Energy and Minerals Group (EMG) became shareholders of NIO. Following this reorganization, ArcelorMittal retained its participation in the project and as of December 31, 2021, holds a 25.23% interest in NIO.
The mine is operated by Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation, a privately owned Canadian mining company.
Contractors
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Summary:
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 ........
Summary:
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.
Baffinland has also approved the project involving the construction of a railway, to replace the existing truck-haul operation for transport of iron ore from Mary River to Milne Inlet, as well as expansion of mining, crushing and screening operations and port ship loading capacity (the "Rail Ex ........
Flow Sheet:
Summary:
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Reserves at December 31, 2022:
Mineral reserves for Baffinland are estimated at a cut-off grade of 55% and a mass recovery of 100%.
Mineral resources for Baffinland are estimated at the cut-off grade of 55% and a mass recovery of 100%.
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade |
|
Proven
|
329 Mt
|
Iron
|
64.5 %
|
|
Probable
|
234 Mt
|
Iron
|
63.9 %
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
563 Mt
|
Iron
|
64.3 %
|
|
Indicated
|
12 Mt
|
Iron
|
62.3 %
|
|
Inferred
|
385 Mt
|
Iron
|
64.5 %
|
Financials:
| | Units | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|
Revenue
|
M USD
| ...... | ...... | ...... |
|
After-tax Income
|
M USD
| ...... | ...... | ...... |
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Pipelines and Water Supply
Source:
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Heavy Mobile Equipment as of December 31, 2021:
| HME Type | Size |
|
Excavator
|
|
|
Loader (FEL)
|
|
|
Truck (haul)
|
90 t
|
|
Truck (haul)
|
212 t
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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