Abitibi Asbestos Mining Ltd. property, Maizerets Township, Quebec

The Abitibi Asbestos Mining property in Maizerets Township, north of Amos in northwestern Quebec, was a chrysotile deposit that Asbestos, the industry's trade journal, called in 1975 "a large, undeveloped asbestos deposit."^3,11 In 1967 the journal reported that the company was "exploring avenues to finance for production" and that the fiber was "largely in Groups 4 and 5 and is suitable for asbestos-cement products."⁹ The sources place it "near Amos," "50 miles north of Amos," and "about 100 miles north of Val d'Or."^4,12,13

The deposit

The U.S. Bureau of Mines' Minerals Yearbook for 1969, drawing on Industrial Minerals, reported that drilling had indicated "an estimated 102.8 million tons of ore containing medium length chrysotile fiber," and that "an annual output of 75,000 tons of fiber is envisaged."¹¹ Asbestos that year gave "one-hundred million tons of asbestos-bearing rock amenable to open-pit mining."¹⁴ In 1970 the trade journal, citing a feasibility study by Kilborn Engineering Ltd., gave "open-pit ore reserves" of "105 million tons with a content of 4%," and the yearbook gave "105 million short tons."^12,15 In 1972 the journal described the fiber as "a fast-draining, strong, clean, cross-fiber Chrysotile, in Groups 4, 5 and 6."¹⁰

The two sources print the planned mining rate differently: Asbestos wrote of "a daily milling rate of 13,000 tons" for "a mine life of 25 years," while the yearbook for 1971 printed "25 years at a 130-ton-per-day ore rate."^16,17

Owners

In 1969 Asbestos reported that Abitibi held "a half-interest with Shields Minerals Corporation in a limited partnership which owns the property"; in 1970 it said Abitibi and Minbanco Corporation owned the project, and in 1971 it reported a planned merger under which Abitibi would be "controlling 100% of the asbestos deposit near Amos."^1,14,15 In 1972, the yearbook reported, Abitibi "sold an 18% interest" in the deposit to Brinco, Ltd., "which has an option on a further 33%."² Brinco's share appears as "a 55% interest" in 1976, "an approximate 60% interest" in 1977, and "60.4%" in 1979, according to Asbestos.^18,19,20 The yearbook for 1984 reported that Brinco sold "its 60.13% equity interest in Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co." to Dydar Resources Ltd., "a private firm."²¹

The pilot plant

Asbestos reported in December 1972 that "stockpiling was to start in November and a pilot plant is soon to be constructed," and the yearbook said Brinco's $2 million was providing "a 35-ton-per-day mill for pilot studies."^2,10 In 1973 the trade journal reported the pilot plant "completed and production of fiber for testing is underway," and the yearbook said "fibers are being amassed for test marketing."^5,13

Plans that waited

The yearbook for 1974 said the Amos mine "has scheduled production for 1978."⁷ In August 1975 Brinco estimated it would cost "about $260-million (Canadian) to bring the 'A' deposit into production by 1978," and the yearbook added that it "would take 3 years to enter full production once the decision to proceed was made."^3,22 By 1976 the estimate in Asbestos was "$292-million," with a plan to yield "about 220,000 tons of fiber per year," and the yearbook reported talks with ASARCO, Inc. "as to ways to finance, operate, and market fibers."^6,18

In 1977 Asbestos reported that Abitibi and Lake Asbestos of Quebec had "suspended discussions," halted "pending clarification of the new Quebec Government's plans concerning the asbestos industry in the Province"; that year the yearbook listed the property among those "awaiting development or financing decisions."^23,24 In 1978 the journal reported "new exploration is under way," cost estimates "well over C$400-million," and reserves "sufficient for 40 years of production at a peak annual rate of 250,000 tons of fiber"; the yearbook described talks that "could lead to a Can$400 million facility to produce 226,800 metric tons per year."^8,25

The documents report work here (mining, shafts or a mill) but no fiber sold or shipped; that is what our documents say, and the mine may still have sold some.⁵

Location

Year by year

Every statement about this mine in the documents, in each document's own words, by the year it is about.

1967

• Fiber: “The fiber is largely in Groups 4 and 5 and is suitable for asbestos-cement products” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining), p. 8⁹

1969

• Reserves: “One-hundred million tons of asbestos-bearing rock amenable to open-pit mining is indicated by drilling” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Company Limited; Shields Minerals Corporation), p. 22¹⁴
• Exploration: “an annual output of 75,000 tons of fiber is envisaged” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Ltd.), as reported by Industrial Minerals (London), p. 8¹¹
• Exploration: “Drilling by Abitibi Asbestos Mining Ltd. on property in Maizerets Township” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Ltd.), as reported by Industrial Minerals (London), p. 8¹¹
• Reserves: “an estimated 102.8 million tons of ore containing medium length chrysotile fiber” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Ltd.), as reported by Industrial Minerals (London), p. 8¹¹

1970

• Reserves: “open-pit ore reserves are calculated at 105 million tons with a content of 4%” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co. Ltd.; Minbanco Corporation), p. 16¹⁵
• Reserves: “drilling indicates reserves of 105 million short tons” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Ltd.), p. 8¹²
• Exploration: “planning a Can$57 to $87 million financing program to develop its property near Amos, Quebec” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Ltd.), p. 8¹²

1971

• Ownership: “Abitibi ... will be the surviving company, controlling 100% of the asbestos deposit near Amos” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co. Ltd.; Minbanco Corporation), p. 39¹
• Reserves: “Based on a daily milling rate of 13,000 tons, present reserves are sufficient for a mine life of 25 years” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co. Ltd.), p. 6¹⁶
• Reserves: “sufficient reserves to operate for 25 years at a 130-ton-per-day ore rate” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co. Ltd.), p. 8¹⁷

1972

• Fiber: “The fiber is a fast-draining, strong, clean, cross-fiber Chrysotile” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co. Ltd.), p. 18¹⁰
• Ownership: “sold an 18% interest in its Amos, Quebec, deposit to Brinco, Ltd.” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co., Ltd.), p. 10²
• Mill: “a 35-ton-per-day mill for pilot studies” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co., Ltd.), p. 10²
• Ownership: “In 1972, Brinco Ltd. entered into an agreement with Abitibi whereby it could acquire a majority interest” (Brinco Ltd.), p. 28³
• Exploration: “Stockpiling was to start in November and a pilot plant is soon to be constructed” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co. Ltd.; Brinco Ltd.), p. 18¹⁰

1973

• Reserves: “The 105-million-ton A zone; a 13,000-ton-per-day mill, which would produce about 160,000 tons of fiber per year ... for a mine life of 25 years” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co. Ltd.), as reported by Northern Miner, p. 38⁴
• Ownership: “Brinco Ltd. holds 18% interest in Abitibi and has the option to increase this to 51%” (Brinco Ltd.), as reported by Northern Miner, p. 38⁴
• Mill: “Construction of a pilot plant on the property ... is completed and production of fiber for testing is underway” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Ltd.), p. 34⁵
• Exploration: “Bulk tests have been run through its pilot plant, and fibers are being amassed for test marketing” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co., Ltd.), p. 8¹³
• Reserves: “proven ore reserves of 100 million tons of ore averaging 4% fiber” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co., Ltd.), p. 8¹³

1975

• Exploration: “a new $260 million estimate of the capital costs of bringing into production” (Brinco Ltd.), p. 9²²
• Exploration: “it would take 3 years to enter full production once the decision to proceed was made” (Brinco Ltd.), p. 9²²
• Exploration: “about $260-million (Canadian) to bring the "A" deposit into production by 1978” (Brinco Ltd.), p. 28³

1976

• Ownership: “Brinco holds a 55% interest in Abitibi” (Brinco Ltd.), p. 30¹⁸
• Exploration: “A production schedule ... calls for the processing of a minimum of 103-million tons of fiber-bearing rock; about 220,000 tons of fiber per year” (Brinco Ltd.), p. 30¹⁸
• Description: “discussions were underway with ASARCO, Inc. ... to finance, operate, and market fibers from the proposed $292 million facility” (ASARCO, Inc.), p. 9⁶
• Mill: “A 220,000-ton-per-year capacity is proposed”, p. 9⁶
• Ownership: “Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co.'s deposit ... is 55% owned by Brinco Ltd.” (Brinco Ltd.), p. 9⁶

1977

• Ownership: “Brinco Ltd., which holds an approximate 60% interest in Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co. Ltd.” (Brinco Ltd.), as reported by Northern Miner, p. 32¹⁹
• Exploration: “Abitibi and Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd. ... have suspended discussions concerning the possible development of the Abitibi property at Amos” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co. Ltd.; Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 27²³
• Exploration: “Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co. Ltd. and its property at Amos, Quebec” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co. Ltd.), p. 9²⁴

1978

• Opened: “The Amos mine of the Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co. has scheduled production for 1978” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co.), p. 9⁷
• Exploration: “New exploration is under way; Proven and probable ore reserves in three orebodies have been determined sufficient for 40 years of production at a peak annual rate of 250,000 tons of fiber” (Brinco Ltd.), p. 28²⁵
• Mill: “a Can$400 million facility to produce 226,800 metric tons per year” (Brinco, Ltd.), p. 11⁸
• Exploration: “Exploration continued at the Abitibi asbestos project near Amos in northwestern Quebec”, p. 11⁸
• Ownership: “Brinco, Ltd., the majority owner” (Brinco, Ltd.), p. 11⁸

1979

• Ownership: “Abitibi Asbestos is 60.4% owned by Brinco” (Brinco Ltd.), p. 26²⁰

1980

• Reserves: “Proven and probable ore reserves in three orebodies have been determined sufficient for 40 years of production at a peak yearly rate of 226,800 tonnes of fiber” (Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co. Ltd.), p. 18²⁶

1984

• Ownership: “Brinco announced the sale of its 60.13% equity interest in Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co. ... to Dydar Resources Ltd.” (Dydar Resources Ltd.), p. 6²¹

Other names

Documents call this mine “property in Maizerets Township”, “property near Amos”, “Amos, Quebec, property”, “Amos, Quebec, deposit”, “property 50 miles north of Amos”, “Amos mine”, “Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co. property in Maizerete Township”, “Maizerets Township”, “Maizarets Township”, “"A" deposit”, “Abitibi Asbestos Mining Co. deposit”, “Abitibi asbestos project”, “property at Amos”.

References

1. Asbestos Magazine, 1971, May 1971 (May 1, 1971), p. 39.
2. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1972 (January 1, 1973), p. 10.
3. Asbestos Magazine, 1975, December 1975 (December 1, 1975), p. 28.
4. Asbestos Magazine, 1973, March 1973 (March 1, 1973), p. 38.
5. Asbestos Magazine, 1973, June 1973 (June 1, 1973), p. 34.
6. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1976 (January 1, 1977), p. 9.
7. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1974 (January 1, 1975), p. 9.
8. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1978–79 (January 1, 1980), p. 11.
9. Asbestos Magazine, 1967, December 1967 (December 1, 1967), p. 8.
10. Asbestos Magazine, 1972, December 1972 (December 1, 1972), p. 18.
11. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1969 (January 1, 1970), p. 8.
12. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1970 (January 1, 1971), p. 8.
13. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1973 (January 1, 1974), p. 8.
14. Asbestos Magazine, 1969, December 1969 (December 1, 1969), p. 22.
15. Asbestos Magazine, 1970, December 1970 (December 1, 1970), p. 16.
16. Asbestos Magazine, 1971, December 1971 (December 1, 1971), p. 6.
17. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1971 (January 1, 1972), p. 8.
18. Asbestos Magazine, 1976, December 1976 (December 1, 1976), p. 30.
19. Asbestos Magazine, 1977, June 1977 (June 1, 1977), p. 32.
20. Asbestos Magazine, 1979, December 1979 (December 1, 1979), p. 26.
21. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1984 (January 1, 1985), p. 6.
22. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1975 (January 1, 1976), p. 9.
23. Asbestos Magazine, 1977, December 1977 (December 1, 1977), p. 27.
24. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1977 (January 1, 1978), p. 9.
25. Asbestos Magazine, 1978, December 1978 (December 1, 1978), p. 28.
26. Asbestos Magazine, 1981, January 1981 (January 1, 1981), p. 18.