Pond Inlet (May 15/06) - A prospective new iron ore mine in Nunavut could employ more than 30 locals this year, and nearby communities are excited about employment possibilities.

Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation will release a scoping study in mid May about the Mary River Project, which is located southwest of Pond Inlet.

A diamond drill bores into the rock at the Mary River Project southwest of Pond Inlet. Baffinland Iron Mines Company expects to hire more than 30 people this year and the nearby communities of Arctic Bay and Pond Inlet are excited about job opportunities. - photo courtesy of Roland Landry

The amount of iron ore in the area could result in the development of a mine with a lifespan of 30 years, according to a recent Baffinland press release.

The company claims there is an indicated resource of 309 million tonnes of 66.1 per cent average grade iron ore.

"This will be a mine, the only question is when," said Gordon McCreary, president and chief executive officer of Baffinland.

Experienced miners from Arctic Bay who previously worked at the now closed Nanisivik zinc-lead mine are willing to do mine-related work, said Arctic Bay acting community economic development officer, Anna Qaunaq.

"There is potential for jobs with the Mary River Project," said Qaunaq.

She said some experienced miners and equipment operators in Arctic Bay have been unemployed since the closure of Nanisivik mine.

"We'll be looking to hire 30 to 40 people locally," said McCreary.

"This season we may try to do some recruiting in Arctic Bay, as well as Pond Inlet," he said.

In the 2005 exploration season, Baffinland employed 32 residents from Pond Inlet and spent $2 million with the community Co-op, said McCreary.

Baffinland has a budget of $22.6 million for the year and $15 million out of that total will be set aside for exploration.

People in Pond Inlet are interested in the exploration and potential mine site, said Colin Saunders, community economic development officer in Pond Inlet.

"It's a good economic ingestion to the community and the jobs are welcomed," said Saunders.

The scoping study is planned to be filed as an updated technical report for the company. It will be filed on the SEDAR website for public viewing.