Clinton Creek property, northwest of Dawson, Yukon

The Clinton mine stood on Clinton Creek in the Yukon, northwest of Dawson, and it was worked by Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd. from 1968 until 1978.^11,12 Asbestos, the industry's trade journal, placed it "about 48 air miles northwest of Dawson City," on "the south slope of Clinton Creek, 5 miles upstream from its confluence with the Fortymile River," while the U.S. Bureau of Mines' Minerals Yearbook for 1965 put it "about 70 miles northwest of Dawson."^1,13 A 1978 retrospective in Asbestos said "the property having been acquired by option in 1957."¹²

Exploration

The Minerals Yearbook for 1958, citing the Northern Miner, reported that of three asbestos prospects explored, "most work was concentrated in the Clinton Creek property, northwest of Dawson."¹¹ Asbestos wrote in 1959 that work there "has exposed an estimated reserve of about five million tons of high grade asbestos ore down to 50 feet below the adit level," and the yearbook for 1960 said the company reported "a reserve of 5 million tons of asbestos ore."^14,15 The 1963 yearbook reported a magnetometer survey and follow-up drilling indicating "an extension of the ore body where approximately 7 million tons of ore was developed previously."¹⁶ After diamond drilling in 1964, Asbestos reported that "the continuity of the original 5,000,000-ton orebody was confirmed," and both the journal and the yearbook gave a preliminary estimate of 12.3 million tons of ore.^17,18

Building the mine

In April 1965 Asbestos reported that Cassiar planned "to proceed immediately with financing" to bring the mine into production, expected "to commence in 1968 at an initial annual rate of 40,000 tons of fibre."⁶ The 1965 yearbook reported that "the Canadian Government would provide financial assistance" toward the mine, and that "a new road and river bridge from the boundary road to the mine will be constructed."¹ In November 1966 the journal said Cassiar had decided "to raise the initial production rate" to "60,000 tons of asbestos fiber per year from 40,000 tons."⁷ The company reported in 1966 that "the erection of the Mill and Service Buildings has commenced."³

Asbestos described the plan in August 1967: an open pit and milling complex "designed to produce 60,000 tons of asbestos fiber per year," with "2,300 tons per day" processed in the mill and "an aerial tramway" carrying crushed ore "from the open pit to the mill site."⁴ The mill would make two products, "CP fibre (Clinton pipe)," a Group 4 product, and "CY fibre," a Group 5 product, and an operating force "of between 180-190 persons" was expected.⁴

Production

The sources date the start in different ways: Cassiar's annual report said that "test samples of the first fiber produced reached customers in late November" 1967, while Asbestos, drawing on the Western Miner, said "the Clinton Mine commenced production April 1, 1968," and the journal's 1978 retrospective called April 1, 1968 the start of "official production."^5,12,13 The Minerals Yearbook reported that the mine "commenced operation" during 1968 and that shipments "totaled 53,749 tons," mostly to "the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia."⁹ By the end of 1968, the journal said, the mill "will have sufficient equipment to produce 300 tons of asbestos fiber per day."⁸

Output soon passed the early plans: Asbestos reported in 1969 that production had "increased to a rate of 90,000 tons of fiber per year," and in 1970 that "original expectations" had been "80,000 tons annually" but the mine was "now exceeding an annual rate of 90,000 tons."^13,19 Cassiar reported that in 1969 "the mill treated 952,889 tons of ore and produced 87,820 tons of fiber."²⁰ In 1973 the journal said each of Cassiar's two mines "produces slightly over 100,000 tons of asbestos fiber per year," and in 1975 that "the fiber refinery at the Clinton facility" had produced "91,392 tons of fiber" in 1974.^2,21 Clinton fiber equaled "QAMA Grades 4-6," according to Asbestos.²

The pits

The 1978 retrospective in Asbestos described "the main orebody, which was 80 to 250 feet wide, 800 feet deep and 2,000 feet long," with "a recoverable factor of 5½% of Chrysotile fiber," and "two additional but smaller pits."¹² The same article said the mine "removed four tons of waste for every ton of ore it produced."¹² In 1975 the journal named "the Porcupine, Creek and Snowshoe pits" as due to produce "until early 1978."²

The people and the road out

Asbestos reported in 1973 that the Clinton mine employed 350 workers, and in 1978 that "the community contained some 450 people."^12,21 Fiber went out by road: the journal wrote that over the life of the mine Cassiar's trucks "traveled approximately 28-million miles carrying fiber from Clinton Creek to the railhead at Whitehorse," and on by rail to Skagway, Alaska.¹²

The closing

The closing was forecast for years: the Minerals Yearbook for 1974 reported that Cassiar "announced the probable closure in 1977," and Asbestos wrote in 1975 that "extensive drilling at Clinton provided disappointing results and the mine will probably be closed in late 1977," with "probable ore reserves" of "6.5-million tons."^2,10 In January 1976 Cassiar said the closure date "is still late 1977, or early 1978," and a year later that the property "will cease operations during 1978."^22,23 The 1976 yearbook reported that a buyer, Turner Asbestos Fibers Ltd., ordered Soviet asbestos "to replace some of the declining supply from Cassiar's Clinton Mine."²⁴

Asbestos reported that "as of August 1978, Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd. officially ceased operations of its asbestos mine and mill at Clinton Creek," because "the supply of ore had been exhausted"; the Minerals Yearbook likewise reported the closing in August 1978 "owing to depletion of reserves."^12,25 Cassiar's annual report gave fiber production of "57,655 tons in 1978 compared with 105,224 tons in 1977," and said surplus assets "were sold by auction" in September.²⁶ The journal said that "during its ten-year life span the mine produced 1,033,699 tons of asbestos fiber valued at C$295-million."²⁷ The closing also shut Cassiar's Transport Division at Whitehorse, and Asbestos reported "a comprehensive job replacement program" with government agencies.^12,27 The yearbook wrote that the White Pass and Yukon Railway "may have to close because of the loss of its principal client, Cassiar's Clinton mine."²⁵

The documents report this mine producing asbestos fiber for sale.⁹

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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
1968	40,000 tons of fibre per year	6
1968	60,000 tons of fiber per year (planned)	7
1968	53,749 tons	9
1968	1,033,699 tons of asbestos fiber	27
1969	90,000 tons of fiber per year (rate)	19
1969	90,000 tons of fiber per year (rate)	13
1969	87,820 tons of fiber	20
1971	117,000 tons (estimate)	28
1973	100,000 tons of asbestos fiber per year	21
1974	100,000 tons per year	10
1974	91,392 tons of fiber	2
1978	57,655 tons of fiber	26
1979	100,000 tons (annual production capacity)	29

Year by year

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

1958

• Exploration: “two in Yukon Territory (Caley Creek and Clinton) are being developed”, p. 10³⁰
• Exploration: “most work was concentrated in the Clinton Creek property, northwest of Dawson” (Cassiar Asbestos), as reported by Northern Miner (Toronto), p. 10¹¹

1959

• Reserves: “work on the prospect at Clinton Creek, near Dawson, has exposed an estimated reserve of about five million tons of high grade asbestos ore down to 50 feet below the adit level”, p. 6¹⁴

1960

• Reserves: “A reserve of 5 million tons of asbestos ore was reported ... at its Clinton Creek property” (Cassiar Asbestos Corp., Ltd.), p. 7¹⁵

1963

• Reserves: “an extension of the ore body where approximately 7 million tons of ore was developed previously” (Cassiar Asbestos Corp., Ltd.), as reported by Northern Miner (Toronto), p. 8¹⁶
• Exploration: “a magnetometer survey was carried out at the Clinton Creek asbestos property, west of Dawson, Yukon Territory” (Cassiar Asbestos Corp., Ltd.), as reported by Northern Miner (Toronto), p. 8¹⁶

1964

• Reserves: “A preliminary estimate of the ore outlined to date was 12.3 million tons” (Cassiar Asbestos Corp., Ltd.), as reported by Cassiar Asbestos Corp. annual report, p. 6¹⁸
• Exploration: “Diamond drilling was carried out on the Clinton Creek property, Yukon Territory” (Cassiar Asbestos Corp., Ltd.), as reported by Cassiar Asbestos Corp. annual report, p. 6¹⁸
• Reserves: “A preliminary estimate of the ore outlined to date is 12,300,000 tons with 6% to 7% fibre, a value of $12.32 per ton of ore” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation), p. 23¹⁷
• Exploration: “The diamond-drilling carried out on the Clinton Creek property (Yukon) of Cassiar Asbestos Corporation during 1964 ... The continuity of the original 5,000,000-ton orebody was confirmed” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation), p. 23¹⁷

1965

• Exploration: “plans to proceed immediately with financing to provide funds to bring the Clinton Creek mine into production” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Limited), p. 6⁶
• Exploration: “Cassiar also has carried out diamond-drilling on its Clinton Creek Property” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Limited), p. 3³¹
• Exploration: “financial assistance towards the development of an asbestos mine at Clinton Creek” (Cassiar Asbestos Corp.), as reported by Northern Miner, p. 6¹
• Ownership: “owned by Cassiar Asbestos Corp.” (Cassiar Asbestos Corp.), as reported by Northern Miner, p. 6¹
• Description: “a new road and river bridge from the boundary road to the mine will be constructed” (Cassiar Asbestos Corp.), as reported by Northern Miner, p. 7¹

1966

• Mill: “the erection of the Mill and Service Buildings has commenced” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Limited), said by Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Limited, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 26³

1967

• Mill: “$24-million open pit and asbestos milling complex ... designed to produce 60,000 tons of asbestos fiber per year” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Limited), p. 8⁴
• Fiber: “CP fibre (Clinton pipe), is a Group 4 product, while the second, CY fibre, is a Group 5 product” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Limited), p. 8⁴
• Workforce: “an operating force of between 180-190 persons will be required for capacity operation” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Limited), p. 8⁴
• Description: “An aerial tramway will carry crushed ore from the open pit to the mill site” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Limited), p. 8⁴
• Opened: “Test samples of the first fiber produced reached customers in late November” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Limited), said by Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Limited, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 23⁵

1968

• Output: “production which is expected to commence in 1968 at an initial annual rate of 40,000 tons of fibre” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Limited), p. 6⁶
• Output: “decided to raise the initial production rate of its Clinton Mine to 60,000 tons of asbestos fiber per year from 40,000 tons” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation), p. 18⁷
• Mill: “reached a commercial rate of production and by the end of this year the mill will have sufficient equipment to produce 300 tons of asbestos fiber per day” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Limited), p. 12⁸
• Output: “Shipments for the year totaled 53,749 tons” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 9⁹
• Opened: “Clinton mine in the Yukon Territory commenced operation” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 9⁹
• Buyers: “the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia as the principal recipients” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 9⁹
• Description: “the Transport Division's tractor-trailer trucks traveled approximately 28-million miles carrying fiber from Clinton Creek to the railhead at Whitehorse” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 14¹²
• Output: “During its ten-year life span the mine produced 1,033,699 tons of asbestos fiber valued at C$295-million” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 32²⁷
• Opened: “The Clinton Mine commenced production April 1, 1968” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Limited), as reported by Western Miner, p. 4¹³
• Opened: “the property having been acquired by option in 1957; actual construction of the mine and its community commenced in 1966. Official production started April 1, 1968” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 14¹²

1969

• Output: “Production from the Clinton Mine increased to a rate of 90,000 tons of fiber per year” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Limited), p. 24¹⁹
• Description: “situated about 48 air miles northwest of Dawson City” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Limited), as reported by Western Miner, p. 4¹³
• Output: “The mine is now exceeding an annual rate of 90,000 tons” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Limited), as reported by Western Miner, p. 4¹³
• Output: “The mill treated 952,889 tons of ore and produced 87,820 tons of fiber” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Limited), said by Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Limited, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 49²⁰

1971

• Output: “expected to produce an estimated 117,000 tons of asbestos this year” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 10²⁸

1973

• Output: “Each mine produces slightly over 100,000 tons of asbestos fiber per year” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 14²¹
• Workforce: “Each mine produces slightly over 100,000 tons of asbestos fiber per year and employs 450 and 350 workers, respectively” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 14²¹

1974

• Output: “This would mean a loss of 100,000 tons per year of production” (Cassiar Corp.), p. 9¹⁰
• Output: “The fiber refinery at the Clinton facility treated 1-million tons of concentrate in 1974 and produced 91,392 tons of fiber” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 32²
• Reserves: “Probable ore reserves totaled 6.5-million tons” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 32²

1975

• Description: “The Porcupine, Creek and Snowshoe pits were to be in production this year and to continue producing until early 1978” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 32²
• Worked: “produces asbestos from ... the Clinton Mine at Clinton Creek, Yukon Territory. Clinton offers products equaling QAMA Grades 4-6” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 31²
• Dust and health: “A report on airborne concentrations of asbestos fibers at Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd., Clinton Creek ... was made public in March” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 10³²

1976

• Output: “the declining supply from Cassiar's Clinton Mine in the Canadian Yukon” (Cassiar), p. 9²⁴
• Buyers: “Turner Asbestos Fibers Ltd. ... declining supply from Cassiar's Clinton Mine” (Cassiar), p. 9²⁴

1977

• Closed: “announced the probable closure in 1977” (Cassiar Corp.), p. 9¹⁰
• Closed: “the mine will probably be closed in late 1977” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 32²
• Closed: “The Clinton Mine had an excellent year, and while a closure date is still late 1977, or early 1978, we anticipate a continuing good performance” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), said by Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd., p. 8²²

1978

• Closed: “the Clinton Mine which will be phased out of production in 1978 when ore reserves will have been depleted” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 31³³
• Closed: “It is sad that this great little property will cease operations during 1978” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), said by Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd., p. 8²³
• Closed: “The Clinton facility will be phased out late next year when ore reserves will have been depleted” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 28³⁴
• Closed: “closure in 1978 of its Clinton mine” (Cassiar Asbestos Corp. Ltd.), p. 9³⁵
• Closed: “With the anticipated closure of the Clinton Creek Mine in mid-1978, the Transport Division ... will be closed” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), said by Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd., as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 32³⁶
• Description: “The main orebody, which was 80 to 250 feet wide, 800 feet deep and 2,000 feet long; Two additional but smaller pits; four tons of waste for every ton of ore” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 14¹²
• Workforce: “The community contained some 450 people. A comprehensive job replacement program was instituted” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 14¹²
• Closed: “the Clinton Mine in the Yukon Territory, recently closed by Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 22²⁷
• Output: “Fiber production amounted to 57,655 tons in 1978 compared with 105,224 tons in 1977” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), said by Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd., as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 43²⁶
• Buyers: “The White Pass and Yukon Railway ... may have to close because of the loss of its principal client, Cassiar's Clinton mine”, p. 11²⁵
• Closed: “the closure of their Yukon mine” (Cassiar Asbestos Corp.), p. 11²⁵
• Closed: “As of August 1978, Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd. officially ceased operations of its asbestos mine and mill at Clinton Creek; The mine was closed because the supply of ore had been exhausted” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 14¹²
• Closed: “In August 1978 Cassiar Asbestos officially ceased operations at its Clinton Mine and Mill at Clinton Creek ... because of the depletion of ore supply” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 32²⁷
• Closed: “The Clinton Creek operation was shut down in August of this year” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), said by Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd., p. 8³⁷
• Closed: “closed its Clinton mine in the Yukon during August of 1978 owing to depletion of reserves” (Cassiar Asbestos Corp.), p. 11²⁵

1979

• Output: “The closing of Cassiar's Clinton Creek Mine will result in the loss of annual production capacity of slightly over 100,000 tons” (Cassiar Asbestos Corporation Ltd.), p. 20²⁹

In medical studies

Medical studies in our research library that name this mine, by how they concern it. A search found every one that names the mine and an AI reader sorted them; the quotation, checked word for word against the text, shows where. Those that name the mine only in passing or in a reference list are left out.

Studies of the mine’s fiber (2)

• McCrone WC 1974: Detection and identification of asbestos by microscopical dispersion staining
• Power IM 2010: Bioleaching of ultramafic tailings by acidithiobacillus spp. for CO2 sequestration: “tailings collected from an asbestos mine near Clinton Creek, Yukon, Canada. Columns, possessing an acid-generating substance colonized with Acidithiobacillus sp.”

Other names

Documents call this mine “Clinton Creek property”, “Clinton Creek asbestos property”, “Clinton Creek”, “Cassair Clinton mine”, “Clinton mine”, “Clinton Creek, Yukon, mine”, “Clinton Mine”, “Yukon mine”, “Clinton Creek mine”, “Clinton Creek Mine”.

See also

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

References

1. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1965 (January 1, 1966), pp. 6–7.
2. Asbestos Magazine, 1975, December 1975 (December 1, 1975), pp. 31–32.
3. Asbestos Magazine, 1966, September 1966 (September 1, 1966), p. 26.
4. Asbestos Magazine, 1967, August 1967 (August 1, 1967), p. 8.
5. Asbestos Magazine, 1968, May 1968 (May 1, 1968), p. 23.
6. Asbestos Magazine, 1965, April 1965 (April 1, 1965), p. 6.
7. Asbestos Magazine, 1966, November 1966 (November 1, 1966), p. 18.
8. Asbestos Magazine, 1968, December 1968 (December 1, 1968), p. 12.
9. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1968 (January 1, 1969), p. 9.
10. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1974 (January 1, 1975), p. 9.
11. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1958 (January 1, 1959), p. 10.
12. Asbestos Magazine, 1978, November 1978 (November 1, 1978), p. 14.
13. Asbestos Magazine, 1970, April 1970 (April 1, 1970), p. 4.
14. Asbestos Magazine, 1959, September 1959 (September 1, 1959), p. 6.
15. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1960 (January 1, 1961), p. 7.
16. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1963 (January 1, 1964), p. 8.
17. Asbestos Magazine, 1965, February 1965 (February 1, 1965), p. 23.
18. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1964 (January 1, 1965), p. 6.
19. Asbestos Magazine, 1969, December 1969 (December 1, 1969), p. 24.
20. Asbestos Magazine, 1970, June 1970 (June 1, 1970), p. 49.
21. Asbestos Magazine, 1973, April 1973 (April 1, 1973), p. 14.
22. Asbestos Magazine, 1976, January 1976 (January 1, 1976), p. 8.
23. Asbestos Magazine, 1977, January 1977 (January 1, 1977), p. 8.
24. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1976 (January 1, 1977), p. 9.
25. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1978–79 (January 1, 1980), p. 11.
26. Asbestos Magazine, 1979, July 1979 (July 1, 1979), p. 43.
27. Asbestos Magazine, 1978, December 1978 (December 1, 1978), pp. 22, 32.
28. Asbestos Magazine, 1971, December 1971 (December 1, 1971), p. 10.
29. Asbestos Magazine, 1979, April 1979 (April 1, 1979), p. 20.
30. Asbestos Magazine, 1958, October 1958 (October 1, 1958), p. 10.
31. Asbestos Magazine, 1965, December 1965 (December 1, 1965), p. 3.
32. Asbestos Magazine, 1975, July 1975 (July 1, 1975), p. 10.
33. Asbestos Magazine, 1976, December 1976 (December 1, 1976), p. 31.
34. Asbestos Magazine, 1977, December 1977 (December 1, 1977), p. 28.
35. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1977 (January 1, 1978), p. 9.
36. Asbestos Magazine, 1978, May 1978 (May 1, 1978), p. 32.
37. Asbestos Magazine, 1979, January 1979 (January 1, 1979), p. 8.