Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 22/98) - A top Breakwater Resources executive says having a town at the company's Baffin Island Nanisivik mine has been a plus.

"(Nanisivik) is one of the last mining towns. We feel it's been a big advantage to build the town," Breakwater Canadian operations vice-president John McConnell said.

Touting a town at the site is a big drift away from current practice -- allowing miners to commute to the site for several days at a time.

But, said McConnell, "I look at (the NWT diamond mining sector) and think they could have built a town rather than rotate workers. Many are missing the experience of seeing their kids grow up."

McConnell, who acknowledges suggesting companies build towns is "controversial," noted at Nanisivik, the average employee tenure is 15 years.

Nanisivik is a "full-service" community with educational and recreational facilities.

Asked what will happen to the town when Nanisivik shuts down, McConnell said it is something the company will have to come to grips with.

The houses could be moved to the community of Arctic Bay, located about 30 kilometres away.

"Inuit traditionally live along the water. Nanisivik is five kilometres from water."

Currently about 350 people live in Nanisivik. The mine employs 200 people.

The life of the zinc, lead mine is estimated at six years. But reserves have continually been expanded.

In 1980, ore reserve estimates gave the mine only five more years of life.

The mine's feasibility study described an operation which would last 12 years.

Nanisivik began production in 1976. Today, production is 2,200 tonnes per day grading 7.3 per cent zinc and .3 per cent lead.

"We've been successful in exploration. We keep finding small zones within the mine," McConnell said.

"Nanisivik, at 21 years, is a mature operation. Most people take the innovation for granted," he said.

"Nanisivik did open the North. It showed you could build a mine in a hostile environment and operate economically."

Building a town is among a list of things McConnell said Nanisivik has taught.

Other lessons -- take advantage of the cold, use dry drilling, use energy wisely and recruit diligently.

"We have good ground because it's frozen."

Cold weather also means more efficient operation of compressors. It takes less energy to compress cold air, McConnell said.

On dry drilling, he said air can be kept clean.

All of Nanisivik's power is produced on-site. Diesel fuel represents 10 to 15 per cent of the mine's annual operating costs so maximizing waste heat is essential.

Waste heat is used to dry the base metal concentrate and heat the buildings.

Finally, McConnell said Nanisivik has shown just how sensitive the Arctic environment is.

Stamp out a road in Central America and a year later it can't be found. Not so in the Arctic. Disturbing the Arctic environment can leave a lasting impression.

McConnell was among speakers at last week's fifth Arctic Mining Symposium held in Yellowknife. It was the first time the NWT hosted the forum.

Breakwater acquired Nanisivik in 1996. Last year, a record 805,000 tonnes of ore were mined resulting in $12.4 million in earnings.