Asbestos Corp. operations, Thetford Mines area, Quebec

In December 1975 Asbestos, the industry's trade journal, wrote that Asbestos Corporation "operates the King-Beaver, British-Canadian and Normandie Mines in the Eastern Townships of Quebec and the Asbestos Hill Mine at Putuniq, Ungava"; this page gathers what the sources say about the company's Thetford Mines operations as a whole.⁹ In a December 1931 advertisement, the company listed mines at Thetford Mines, East Broughton, Vimy Ridge, Black Lake, Coleraine and Robertson.¹ In December 1976 the journal said the company "produces over 300,000 short tons of Chrysotile, Grades 1-8, at the King-Beaver, Normandie, British Canadian and Asbestos Hill Mines in Quebec."¹⁰

Output in the annual reports

The company's annual reports, as Asbestos summarized them, measured each year against the last: J. G. Ross, the mines manager, reported that "tonnage of fibre produced in the year 1934 at all mines was 24.1% more than in 1933," with the King Mill run "thruout the year at capacity," and that fibre produced in 1936 "was 60% greater than in 1935."^4,5 For 1937 the report said "the tonnage of rock milled showed an increase of 91.8%" and fibre recovered "was 45.4% greater than in the previous year," and that "three increases in wage rates went into effect, being a total increase of 19.4% per hour on the base rate."⁶ For 1939 rock milled showed "an increase over 1938 of 6%."⁷

The report for 1964 said that "5,513,110 tons of ore were milled during 1964."⁸ For 1967 it said "all mines operated at or near capacity," with an average daily tonnage of ore processed "for all mines" of 27,008.² In 1969 "24,468,000 tons of rock were mined to process 9,975,000 tons of ore"; in 1970 "29,869,000 tons of rock were mined and 10,909,000 tons of ore were processed," and the average daily tonnage of asbestos produced "reached 1,033 tons."^11,12 For 1977 the company gave operating statistics for the Thetford Mines area of "22,882,000 tons of rock mined, 8,208,000 tons of ore processed and 209,200 tons of asbestos produced."³ For 1979 it said that "all mines and mills operated at capacity," and that at Thetford "26.7-million tons of rock were mined and 9.2-million tons of ore were crushed to produce 219,600 tons of asbestos vs. 213,400 tons produced in 1978."¹³

The journal's figures for capacity differ: in December 1975 it gave the total mill capacity at the Thetford operations as "about 350,000 short tons per year of QAMA Grades 1-8," and in December 1977 it gave "annual production capacity at these Thetford facilities" as 230,000 tons, with employment of 2210 people.^9,14 In January 1981 it called the company "the second largest asbestos producer in Canada," producing "some 220,000 short tons of asbestos fiber" a year at Thetford Mines from "three mines, three complete primary and secondary finishing mills and four integrated ore preparation and storage plants."¹⁵

Reserves

The sources gave proven ore reserves of "127,420,000 tons (excluding Asbestos Hill property)" at the end of 1964, in the company's report; "157-million tons" at December 31, 1974, with "an estimated 104-million tons of probable ore and 85-million tons of possible ore" in the Thetford area; "152-million tons" at the end of 1975; 226,243,000 tons at year-end 1977; "226.5-million tons" at year-end 1978; and 229,131,000 tons at year-end 1979.^{8,9,10,15,16,17}

Strikes and stoppages

Asbestos reported that the employees of four companies, Asbestos Corporation among them, "went on strike on February 14th" 1949.¹⁸ The sources describe the 1975 strike in different ways: the U.S. Bureau of Mines' Minerals Yearbook said that "in March the 3,500 employees of the four companies producing asbestos in the Thetford Mines area struck for higher wages and better working conditions" and "remained on strike for 7 months"; Asbestos in August 1975 named "five stricken companies," with the strike "now in its fifth month"; and the company's annual report said the strike "closed the company's three plants from March 18 through October 20."^19,20,21 The same report blamed the strike and "the fire in December 1974 which destroyed the King-Beaver Mill" for lower output: the average daily tonnage of asbestos produced "was 670 in 1975 against 1,213 in 1974."²¹ In January 1981 Asbestos reported that "twelve weeks of production were lost from March 4 to May 26, 1980, when some 1450 blue collar workers went on strike," and that on December 21, 1980, the company "laid off 180 Thetford employees and suspended all operations there until January 26, 1981."¹⁵

Dust control

The company's report for 1976, as Asbestos gave it, said "$10-million was spent or committed to improve working conditions," with "additional environmental improvement expenses of $20-million" projected for 1977 and 1978, and that "at the end of 1976 substantial improvements in dust levels were evident in all operations."²² In December 1977 the journal reported that "about $30-million is to be spent over the next few years to improve working conditions," and in December 1978 that capital spending "largely aimed at improving dust control at all operations" was continuing, with "approximately $40-million" to be spent by the time the programs were done.^14,16 In 1979 the company reported that it had "spent or committed $29.1-million in the last three years" on "advanced dust control methods and equipment," the journal gave the figure as "some $29-million," and both said that "with few exceptions, dust levels are well within government standards."^17,23

Ownership

In December 1976 Asbestos described the company as "54% owned by General Dynamics Corporation."¹⁰ On October 21, 1977, according to the journal, "the Province of Quebec announced its intent to acquire control of Asbestos Corporation, initially through the purchase of shares held by General Dynamics Corporation (54.6%) and subsequently through the acquisition of all other shares."³

The documents report this mine producing asbestos fiber for sale.¹⁵

Location

Output the documents report

Figures as printed, in the units each document uses (short tons before about 1990, metric tons after, in most U.S. chapters). Some are a year's output, some a daily rate or a capacity, some a company's total rather than this mine's alone; the statement for that year below says which.

Year	Figure	Source
1964	5,513,110 tons of ore milled	8
1969	9,975,000 tons of ore processed	11
1970	10,909,000 tons of ore processed	12
1975	670 short tons of asbestos produced per day (average)	21
1976	300,000 short tons	10
1977	209,200 tons of asbestos produced	3
1979	219,600 tons of asbestos	13
1980	220,000 short tons of asbestos fiber	15

Year by year

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

1931

• Worked: “Asbestos Corporation: mines at Thetford Mines” (Asbestos Corporation Limited), said by Asbestos Corporation Limited, p. 17¹

1934

• Output: “Tonnage of fibre produced in 1934 at all mines 24.1% more than in 1933” (Asbestos Corporation Limited), said by Asbestos Corporation Limited, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 38⁴

1936

• Output: “Tonnage of fibre produced in 1936 was 60% greater than in 1935” (Asbestos Corporation Limited), said by Asbestos Corporation Limited, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 37⁵

1937

• Output: “Tonnage of rock milled up 91.8% and fibre recovered 45.4% over 1936” (Asbestos Corporation Limited), said by Asbestos Corporation Limited, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 40⁶
• Workforce: “Three increases in wage rates in 1937, a total of 19.4% per hour on the base rate” (Asbestos Corporation Limited), said by Asbestos Corporation Limited, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 40⁶

1939

• Output: “Tonnage of rock milled increased 6% over 1938; cost per ton milled down 3%” (Asbestos Corporation Limited), said by Asbestos Corporation Limited, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 39⁷

1949

• Idle: “the employees of all four companies went on strike on February 14th” (Asbestos Corporation Limited), p. 42¹⁸

1964

• Output: “5,513,110 tons of ore were milled during 1964” (Asbestos Corporation Limited), said by Asbestos Corporation Limited, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 25⁸
• Reserves: “ore reserves at the end of the year were estimated at 127,420,000 tons (excluding Asbestos Hill property)” (Asbestos Corporation Limited), said by Asbestos Corporation Limited, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 25⁸

1967

• Worked: “All mines operated at or near capacity” (Asbestos Corporation Limited), said by Asbestos Corporation Limited, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 22²

1969

• Output: “24,468,000 tons of rock were mined to process 9,975,000 tons of ore” (Asbestos Corporation Limited), said by Asbestos Corporation Limited, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 42¹¹

1970

• Output: “29,869,000 tons of rock were mined and 10,909,000 tons of ore were processed” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), said by Asbestos Corporation Ltd., as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 48¹²

1974

• Reserves: “Proven ore reserves at December 31, 1974, totaled 157-million tons” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 30⁹

1975

• Idle: “the strike of asbestos workers at Thetford Mines ... is now in its fifth month; The five stricken companies are Asbestos Corporation” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 40²⁰
• Mill: “Total mill capacity at the Thetford operations is about 350,000 short tons per year” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 30⁹
• Idle: “remained on strike for 7 months” (Asbestos Corp., Ltd.), p. 9¹⁹
• Output: “average daily tonnage of rock mined was 72,330 short tons in 1975 against 106,634 in 1974; ... of asbestos produced was 670 in 1975 against 1,213 in 1974” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), said by Asbestos Corporation Ltd., as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 36²¹
• Reserves: “Proven ore reserves at the end of 1975 were 152-million tons” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 30¹⁰
• Workforce: “the 3,500 employees of the four companies producing asbestos in the Thetford Mines area struck” (Asbestos Corp., Ltd.), p. 9¹⁹
• Idle: “the strike at the operations in the Thetford Mines area which closed the company's three plants from March 18 through October 20” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), said by Asbestos Corporation Ltd., as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 36²¹

1976

• Output: “produces over 300,000 short tons of Chrysotile, Grades 1-8, at the King-Beaver, Normandie, British Canadian and Asbestos Hill Mines” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 30¹⁰
• Dust and health: “In 1976 $10-million was spent or committed to improve working conditions; At the end of 1976 substantial improvements in dust levels were evident in all operations” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), said by Asbestos Corporation Ltd., as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 40²²
• Dust and health: “spent or committed $29.1-million in the last three years ... via advanced dust control methods and equipment. With few exceptions, dust levels are well within government standards” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), said by Asbestos Corporation Ltd., as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 46²³

1977

• Workforce: “annual production capacity at these Thetford facilities is 230,000 tons. Employment amounts to 2210 people” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 27¹⁴
• Mill: “annual production capacity at these Thetford facilities is 230,000 tons” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 27¹⁴
• Output: “Operating statistics for the Thetford Mines area in 1977 were 22,882,000 tons of rock mined, 8,208,000 tons of ore processed and 209,200 tons of asbestos produced” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), said by Asbestos Corporation Ltd., as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 34³
• Ownership: “On October 21, 1977, the Province of Quebec announced its intent to acquire control of Asbestos Corporation” (Province of Quebec), p. 32³
• Reserves: “Proven ore reserves at year-end 1977 were 226,243,000 tons” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 30¹⁶

1978

• Dust and health: “Capital expenditures, largely aimed at improving dust control at all operations, are continuing. Approximately $40-million” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 30¹⁶
• Reserves: “Proven ore reserves at year-end 1978 were 226.5-million tons” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 28¹⁷

1979

• Dust and health: “ACL has spent or committed some $29-million to improve conditions at and around work areas via advanced dust control methods; dust levels are well within government standards” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 26¹⁷
• Output: “At Thetford, 26.7-million tons of rock were mined and 9.2-million tons of ore were crushed to produce 219,600 tons of asbestos vs. 213,400 tons produced in 1978” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), said by Asbestos Corporation Ltd., as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 39¹³
• Reserves: “Proven ore reserves at year-end 1979 totaled 229,131,000 tons” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 18¹⁵

1980

• Output: “Some 220,000 short tons of asbestos fiber are produced annually at its mining/milling operations at Thetford Mines” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 18¹⁵
• Idle: “Twelve weeks of production were lost from March 4 to May 26, 1980, when some 1450 blue collar workers went on strike” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 18¹⁵
• Idle: “Asbestos Corporation laid off 180 Thetford employees and suspended all operations there until January 26, 1981” (Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 18¹⁵

See also

• Asbestos Corp., Ltd.: the company's history, documents, people, products and plants
• All asbestos mines

References

1. Asbestos Magazine, 1931, December 1931 (December 1, 1931), p. 17.
2. Asbestos Magazine, 1968, May 1968 (May 1, 1968), p. 22.
3. Asbestos Magazine, 1978, May 1978 (May 1, 1978), pp. 32, 34.
4. Asbestos Magazine, 1935, April 1935 (April 1, 1935), p. 38.
5. Asbestos Magazine, 1937, April 1937 (April 1, 1937), p. 37.
6. Asbestos Magazine, 1938, March 1938 (March 1, 1938), p. 40.
7. Asbestos Magazine, 1940, February 1940 (February 1, 1940), p. 39.
8. Asbestos Magazine, 1965, April 1965 (April 1, 1965), p. 25.
9. Asbestos Magazine, 1975, December 1975 (December 1, 1975), p. 30.
10. Asbestos Magazine, 1976, December 1976 (December 1, 1976), p. 30.
11. Asbestos Magazine, 1970, July 1970 (July 1, 1970), p. 42.
12. Asbestos Magazine, 1971, August 1971 (August 1, 1971), p. 48.
13. Asbestos Magazine, 1980, July 1980 (July 1, 1980), p. 39.
14. Asbestos Magazine, 1977, December 1977 (December 1, 1977), p. 27.
15. Asbestos Magazine, 1981, January 1981 (January 1, 1981), p. 18.
16. Asbestos Magazine, 1978, December 1978 (December 1, 1978), p. 30.
17. Asbestos Magazine, 1979, December 1979 (December 1, 1979), pp. 26, 28.
18. Asbestos Magazine, 1949, March 1949 (March 1, 1949), p. 42.
19. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1975 (January 1, 1976), p. 9.
20. Asbestos Magazine, 1975, August 1975 (August 1, 1975), p. 40.
21. Asbestos Magazine, 1976, May 1976 (May 1, 1976), p. 36.
22. Asbestos Magazine, 1977, May 1977 (May 1, 1977), p. 40.
23. Asbestos Magazine, 1979, June 1979 (June 1, 1979), p. 46.