Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Black Lake, Quebec

The Lake Asbestos mine lay under what had been Black Lake, Quebec, which Asbestos, the industry's trade journal, placed "about five miles south-southwest of Thetford Mines," and it gave chrysotile.^8,10 The U.S. Bureau of Mines' Minerals Yearbook for 1948, drawing on the Northern Miner, reported that United Asbestos "has discovered a large deposit under Black Lake," which appeared to hold "50,000,000 tons averaging 4½-percent asbestos."¹¹ In 1949 United announced it had obtained "surface rights on the shores of Black Lake, under which its deposit lies, suitable for a mill site," and the yearbook for 1950 said a shaft had been sunk but that "production was still in the indefinite future."^1,12

United Asbestos and Asarco

In 1952, the Minerals Yearbook reported, the American Smelting & Refining Co. conducted, "under option, large-scale milling tests" of rock from United's property, and its subsidiary Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd. was doing "preliminary mining and milling."³ A 1978 article in Asbestos says Asarco incorporated Lake Asbestos on "September 17, 1952, to develop asbestos orebodies which had been discovered under an area occupied by what then was a lake."¹⁰ The yearbook for 1953 reported, from the press, that Lake Asbestos "has exercised an option to develop the Black Lake property" of United.⁵

The trade journal described the arrangement in different words over the years: in 1955 Lake Asbestos was "to operate the mine under lease from United Asbestos Corp., Ltd., holders of the mineral rights"; in 1956 United was "the owners," with Lake Asbestos working "on a profit-sharing basis"; in April 1958 United had "transferred its properties to Asarco" and would share in the profits.^7,13,14 In 1978 Asbestos still called Black Lake "an asbestos mine owned by United but operated by Lake Asbestos," and in 1979 "a joint venture with Asarco."^6,15

Draining the lake

To reach the ore the lake had to go: the Quebec Legislature amended the Quebec Mining Act "to permit drainage of the lake," the Minerals Yearbook for 1952 reported.³ The yearbook for 1954 said the deposit "will be mined by open-pit methods" and that Lake Asbestos "started draining Black Lake"; a 1979 article in Asbestos says the company "began its mining operation as Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd. on May 7, 1954."^6,16

Lake Asbestos began dredging in 1955, according to the yearbook and the trade journal.^7,17 Asbestos later recounted that over four years "55-billion gallons of water and 31-million cubic yards of lake bottom and glacial over-burden were suction-dredged," and a 1957 article listed "a diversion channel for the Becancour River, new drainage courses, relocation of 1 1/2 miles of main highway and removal of 25,000,000 cubic yards of silt."^10,18 In 1956 the yearbook gave the silt removal rate as "about 1 million cubic yards per month," while Asbestos gave "900,000 cu. yds. per month."^19,20 Asbestos called it "a new $21,000,000 undertaking" in 1956, and in 1958 said Lake Asbestos was "spending $32.5 million" to bring the property into production.^13,14

The mill and the opening

The planned mill's size changed from report to report: "at least 4,000 tons daily" in 1952, "at least 5,000 tons daily capacity" in 1953, and "about 500 tons of ore daily" as printed in 1955.^2,4,7 In May 1956, the yearbook reported, a contract was let for "a mill having a capacity of 5,000 tons of rock per day at a cost of $7.7 million," while Asbestos that year described "a 4,000-ton-a-day mill" to cost "around $9,000,000."^13,19,20 The finished building was "a $9.2-million, 14-story mill, operating on 11 floors," in the yearbook's words, with what Asbestos called "a rated production capacity of 100,000 tons of asbestos fibres per year."^21,22

Asbestos reported that the operation "was formally dedicated on October 16th, 1958," and that Lake Asbestos "was officially in production" that day; the yearbook described "the $36 million, Black Lake 100,000-ton-per-year operation."^21,22,23 The trade journal pictured the pit as "about the size of New York's LaGuardia airport," where "a few years ago this was a 500-acre lake."²³ Reserves were given as "4,700,000 tons of asbestos" in January 1958 and as "47 million tons" of ore in April 1958.^8,14

Output

The Minerals Yearbook reported production of "100,612 tons, compared with 95,042 tons in 1961," and Asarco's annual report, as Asbestos reported it, gave "90,008 short tons" for 1963 and "117,365 short tons in 1966 against 114,803 in 1965."^24,25,26 In 1972 United and Lake Asbestos agreed to buy from Asbestos Corporation "the mining rights adjacent to the LAQ open pit," which Asbestos said would add "some 45 million tons" to minable reserves.²⁷ The trade journal gave mill capacity at Black Lake as "161,000 short tons per annum" in 1975 and described an "Asarco-patented process ... based on magnetic separation" used there in 1976.^28,29 Some later figures in Asbestos cover Black Lake and the National mine at Thetford Mines together, such as "a record 280,000 tons of fiber in 1978."⁶ A 1981 report, drawing on brokers' research, said "Black Lake operations for 1980 resulted in production of 160,057 tons."³⁰

The company changed its name to Lac d'Amiante du Quebec, Ltee, "effective November 1, 1978."¹⁵ In 1977 the trade journal reported "$6-million is being spent to improve the workplace environment at Black Lake," and in 1980 the company planted "pine and spruce saplings to cover a waste dump."^30,31

The workers

Asbestos reported "the nearly 1,000 employees" of Lake Asbestos at Black Lake and the National division in 1976, and "Employment totals 1050" in 1977 for both together.^10,31 In March 1975 "the 3,500 employees of the four companies producing asbestos in the Thetford Mines area struck," Lake Asbestos's workers among them, and the yearbook says they "remained on strike for 7 months."³² The U.S. Geological Survey reported that Mazarin Inc. resolved a labor dispute with employees of Lake Asbestos of Canada and LAB Chrysotile, ending "a 5-month lockout that began in July 2002."³³

The end

In 1997 LAB Chrysotile "announced plans to expand its Lac d'Amiante du Quebec chrysotile mine," which the Survey said would "extend the life of the mine by 10 years."³⁴ In 2004 LAB Chrysotile announced that it "would close its Black Lake asbestos mine near Thetford Mines, Quebec, Canada, for an indefinite time period," giving as reasons "increasingly strict exposure standards and increased international competition."³⁵ The Survey's report for 2011 says LAB Chrysotile, through Lac d'amiante du Canada, "indefinitely idled its chrysotile mine in Thetford Mines, Quebec," that "a rock slide prevented access to some of its high-grade ore," and that the companies sold fiber "from inventory."³⁶ "In January 2012, LAB Chrysotile filed for bankruptcy."³⁶

The documents report this mine producing asbestos fiber for sale.²⁵

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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
1956	100,000 tons of asbestos per year	19
1957	100,000 tons of fibre annually (planned)	37
1958	100,000 tons of fibre annually (planned)	14
1958	100,000 tons of asbestos a year (expected)	23
1958	100,000 tons per year	21
1961	71,000 tons	38
1961	95,042 tons	24
1962	100,612 tons	24
1962	100,612 tons	25
1963	90,008 short tons	25
1965	114,803 short tons	26
1966	117,365 short tons	26
1973	200,000 tons per year of fiber	39
1974	210,000 short tons per year (capacity)	40
1976	248,000 tons of fiber	10
1977	255,000 tons	15
1978	280,000 tons of fiber	6
1980	160,057 tons	30

Year by year

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

1948

• Exploration: “let a contract for 10,000 feet of diamond drilling” (United Asbestos Corp., Ltd.), p. 48⁴¹
• Reserves: “the deposit contains 50,000,000 tons averaging 4½-percent asbestos” (United Asbestos Corp.), as reported by Northern Miner, p. 9¹¹
• Exploration: “United Asbestos Corp. has discovered a large deposit under Black Lake, and an aggressive drilling program is in progress” (United Asbestos Corp.), as reported by Northern Miner, p. 9¹¹

1949

• Ownership: “obtained surface rights on the shores of Black Lake, under which its deposit lies, suitable for a mill site” (United Asbestos Corp.), as reported by Northern Miner, p. 8¹

1950

• Exploration: “drilling results were quite encouraging, but production was still in the indefinite future” (United Asbestos Corp., Ltd.), p. 8¹²
• Exploration: “has extensive properties near and under Black Lake, and a shaft has been sunk” (United Asbestos Corp., Ltd.), p. 8¹²

1951

• Exploration: “is taking steps to develop its promising deposit under Black Lake” (United Asbestos Corp., Ltd.), p. 7⁴²

1952

• Worked: “Lake Asbestos ... has already taken over all expenses in connection with the operation of the United property” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 48²
• Mill: “Initial capacity for milling ore will be at least 4,000 tons daily” (United Asbestos Corporation), said by A. B. Davidson, President, United Asbestos Corporation, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 48²
• Ownership: “agreement with Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd., respecting completion of United's mine at Black Lake” (United Asbestos Corporation; Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 48²
• Worked: “Preliminary mining and milling are being conducted by Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd., a subsidiary of American Smelting & Refining Co.” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 9³
• Description: “The Quebec Legislature has amended the Quebec Mining Act to permit drainage of the lake”, p. 9³
• Exploration: “conducted, under option, large-scale milling tests of asbestos-bearing rock from the property of United Asbestos Corp. Ltd., under Black Lake” (American Smelting & Refining Co.), p. 9³
• Ownership: “under option” (American Smelting & Refining Co.), p. 9³
• Ownership: “agreement with American Smelting & Refining Company ... to bring United's Black Lake, Quebec, property into production on the basis of 4,000 tons daily” (United Asbestos Corporation; American Smelting & Refining Company), p. 16⁴³
• Ownership: “incorporated by Asarco September 17, 1952, to develop asbestos orebodies which had been discovered under an area occupied by what then was a lake” (Asarco Inc.), p. 4¹⁰

1953

• Description: “underground mining by the usual stoping methods; draining of Black Lake ... or open-pit mining” (United Asbestos Corporation), p. 16⁴³
• Mill: “a milling unit of at least 5,000 tons daily capacity” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 47⁴
• Opened: “Lake Asbestos plans to put into production the property of United Asbestos at Black Lake, following ... an order-in-council to permit the draining of the lake” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), said by Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd., as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 47⁴
• Reserves: “Extensive exploratory work has established the presence of a large body of asbestos-bearing rock” (Lake Asbestos Co.), p. 10⁵
• Description: “Development involves drainage of the lake and removal of a heavy burden of silt. The operations proposed are expected to cost over $15 million” (Lake Asbestos Co.), p. 10⁵
• Mill: “erect a mill of 5,000 tons daily capacity” (Lake Asbestos Co.), p. 10⁵
• Ownership: “has exercised an option to develop the Black Lake property of United Asbestos Corp.” (Lake Asbestos Co.), p. 10⁵

1954

• Description: “It will be mined by open-pit methods” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 9¹⁶
• Exploration: “started draining Black Lake” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 9¹⁶
• Opened: “began its mining operation as Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd. on May 7, 1954” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 31⁶

1955

• Description: “The lake is relatively shallow—only 15 feet deep—over much of the area where the ore body lies” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 24⁷
• Mill: “a mill capable of handling about 500 tons of ore daily” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 24⁷
• Ownership: “to operate the mine under lease from United Asbestos Corp., Ltd., holders of the mineral rights” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 24⁷
• Description: “Over 25 million yards of mud, sand, gravel, and boulder clay will be removed from the lake in preparation for open-pit mining of a large ore body” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), as reported by Canadian Mining and Metallurgical Bulletin, p. 11¹⁷
• Exploration: “began dredging operations at Black Lake” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), as reported by Canadian Mining and Metallurgical Bulletin, p. 11¹⁷
• Description: “located about five miles south-southwest of Thetford Mines; A dredging operation to reach the orebodies, begun in 1955; 55-billion gallons of water and 31-million cubic yards of lake bottom and glacial over-burden were suction-dredged” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 4¹⁰
• Exploration: “Dredging commences in May at the east end of Black Lake ... to make available for open-pit mining a newly-discovered deposit” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 24⁷

1956

• Exploration: “A new $21,000,000 undertaking involving the drainage of Black Lake” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec), p. 4¹³
• Ownership: “Initiated in 1948 by United Asbestos Corporation, the owners, the project is being carried out by Lake Asbestos of Quebec ... on a profit-sharing basis” (United Asbestos Corporation; Lake Asbestos of Quebec), p. 4¹³
• Mill: “A 4,000-ton-a-day mill will be built at the site” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec), p. 4¹³
• Description: “Waters have been diverted and dredging has started” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec), p. 4¹³
• Mill: “commencement of milling operations about the middle of 1958 at a rate of 4,000 tons daily. The mill is to cost around $9,000,000” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 56²⁰
• Ownership: “Operations are being conducted by Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd., subsidiary of American and Refining Company, on a profit sharing basis” (United Asbestos Corporation; Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 56²⁰
• Exploration: “Current work is removing the silt covering the known ore in the lake ... at a rate of 900,000 cu. yds. per month” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 56²⁰
• Description: “Design of the open pit has been completed” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 56²⁰
• Ownership: “Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd., a subsidiary of American Smelting & Refining Co.” (American Smelting & Refining Co.), p. 9¹⁹
• Output: “an output of 100,000 tons of asbestos per year is forecast” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), as reported by Skillings' Mining Review, p. 9¹⁹
• Description: “The deposit underlies Black Lake, from which silt was being removed at a rate of about 1 million cubic yards per month” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), as reported by Skillings' Mining Review, p. 9¹⁹
• Description: “diversion channel for the Becancour River, new drainage courses, relocation of 1 1/2 miles of main highway and removal of 25,000,000 cubic yards of silt” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Limited), p. 16¹⁸
• Mill: “Construction of a 4,000 ton mill is in hand with production anticipated in 1958” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Limited), p. 16¹⁸
• Mill: “a contract was let ... for constructing a mill having a capacity of 5,000 tons of rock per day” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), as reported by Skillings' Mining Review, p. 9¹⁹

1957

• Description: “Canada's King's Highway, which was re-located by ASARCO to make room for the mining and milling development” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 52³⁷
• Reserves: “Proved reserves can support this production rate for more than 40 years” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 52³⁷
• Mill: “A new asbestos fibre mill is now under construction at Black Lake, Que.” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 52³⁷
• Output: “the Lake Asbestos operation will produce over 100,000 tons of high grade chrysotile asbestos fibre annually” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 52³⁷
• Mill: “the 14-story mill” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 52³⁷
• Mill: “completing a $9.2 Million mill ... Output of the mill which is expected to go into production early in 1958, will be some 100,000 tons of asbestos per year” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 22⁸
• Fiber: “a new free world source of chrysotile asbestos” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 22⁸
• Worked: “Mining and milling operations were conducted by Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd., a subsidiary of American Smelting and Refining Co.” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 8⁴⁴
• Reserves: “Lake Asbestos reserves are estimated at 4,700,000 tons of asbestos, enough for more than 40 years operation” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 22⁸
• Mill: “the new mill having a capacity of 5,000 tons a day”, p. 8⁴⁴
• Description: “The remarkable engineering operations involved in draining Black Lake and stripping the heavy overburden from the asbestos deposit, chiefly by dredging methods, were described”, p. 8⁴⁴

1958

• Opened: “mining would begin by mid-1958”, p. 8⁴⁴
• Exploration: “Lake Asbestos is spending $32.5 million to bring a 600 acre property at Black Lake — in the Thetford area — into production” (Lake Asbestos), p. 4¹⁴
• Output: “Production target is mid-1958. Eventually output: 100,000 tons of fibre annually” (Lake Asbestos), p. 4¹⁴
• Ownership: “Sharing in the profits of the Lake Asbestos project will be United Asbestos which transferred its properties to Asarco” (American Smelting & Refining Co. (Asarco); United Asbestos), p. 6¹⁴
• Opened: “the Lake Asbestos properties in which American Smelting & Refining Co. and United Asbestos share” (Lake Asbestos), p. 4¹⁴
• Reserves: “Ore reserves are estimated at 47 million tons. A mine life of 50-75 years has been established with enough ore to support open-pit operations for 20 years” (Lake Asbestos), p. 4¹⁴
• Exploration: “Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd., Black Lake, Megantic County” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 8⁴⁵
• Description: “an open pit mine, about the size of New York's LaGuardia airport. A few years ago this was a 500-acre lake” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 6²³
• Output: “expected to yield 100,000 tons of asbestos a year for at least twenty years, from open pit mining; after that underground mining will probably be necessary” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 6²³
• Ownership: “Owned and operated by Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Smelting and Refining Company” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 6²³
• Output: “100,000-ton-per-year operation” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 9²¹
• Description: “diverting the Becancour River, building four dams, draining a 2½-mile lake” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), as reported by Engineering and Mining Journal, p. 9²¹
• Output: “It was expected that the plant would increase the free world production of asbestos 7 percent” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), as reported by Chemical Age, p. 9²¹
• Ownership: “a subsidiary of the American Smelting and Refining Co.” (American Smelting and Refining Co.), p. 9²¹
• Mill: “a $9.2-million, 14-story mill, operating on 11 floors” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), as reported by Engineering and Mining Journal, p. 9²¹
• Mill: “Its 14-story mill, built at a cost of over $9,000,000, has a rated production capacity of 100,000 tons of asbestos fibres per year” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Limited), p. 24²²
• Opened: “Both the Lake Asbestos and the National Mines Divisions first produced asbestos from their respective mines in 1958” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 36¹⁵
• Opened: “The formal dedication of the $36 million, Black Lake 100,000-ton-per-year operation ... took place in October” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), as reported by Engineering and Mining Journal, p. 9²¹
• Opened: “A $36 million mining and milling operation ... was formally dedicated on October 16th, 1958 at Black Lake, Quebec” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 6²³
• Opened: “Lake Asbestos of Quebec Limited was officially in production on October 16th, 1958” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Limited), p. 24²²

1960

• Output: “production nearly doubled” (United Asbestos Corp.), p. 7⁴⁶
• Output: “Asbestos recovery ... increased to 5.15 percent in the first half of the year” (United Asbestos Corp.), p. 7⁴⁶

1961

• Output: “production increased from 62,000 to 71,000 tons” (United Asbestos Corp.), p. 8³⁸
• Output: “Fiber recovery ... increased to 5.46 percent in the first 9 months of 1961” (United Asbestos Corp.), p. 8³⁸
• Output: “95,042 tons in 1961” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 7²⁴

1962

• Reserves: “Ore reserves were increased at the company's Black Lake, Quebec, mine by continued development work on the open pit” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 7²⁴
• Output: “totaled 100,612 tons” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 7²⁴
• Output: “compared with 100,612 tons produced in 1962” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Limited), said by American Smelting and Refining Company, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 28²⁵

1963

• Output: “Production of asbestos fibre during 1963 by Asarco's subsidiary, Lake Asbestos of Quebec Limited, was 90,008 short tons” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Limited), said by American Smelting and Refining Company, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 28²⁵

1964

• Fiber: “Chrysotile crudes from Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd., Black Lake” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), as reported by American Mineralogist, p. 10⁹
• Output: “Asbestos fiber produced and shipped for the 6-month period was 11 percent and 14 percent above that of the corresponding period in 1963” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), as reported by Northern Miner (Toronto), p. 8⁹
• Output: “mine production and sales at the Black Lake property ... during the first months of 1964 were at an alltime high” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), as reported by Northern Miner (Toronto), p. 8⁹
• Worked: “continued without interruption during the year and both production and earnings attained new high levels” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Limited), said by American Smelting and Refining Company, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 25⁴⁷

1965

• Exploration: “began extensive work at Coleraine to enlarge its open-pit mine during the next 4 or 5 years” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Limited), p. 4⁴⁸
• Output: “against 114,803 in 1965” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Limited), said by American Smelting and Refining Company, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 27²⁶

1966

• Exploration: “The long-range contract stripping program begun in 1965 is now about 20% completed” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Limited), said by American Smelting and Refining Company, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 27²⁶
• Output: “Production of asbestos amounted to 117,365 short tons in 1966” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Limited), said by American Smelting and Refining Company, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 27²⁶

1972

• Ownership: “reached an agreement to purchase from Asbestos Corporation the mining rights adjacent to the LAQ open pit at Black Lake” (United Asbestos; Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.; Asbestos Corporation), p. 20²⁷
• Reserves: “Minable reserves will be increased by some 45 million tons” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.; United Asbestos), p. 20²⁷

1973

• Description: “LAQ's recent purchase of five new 85-ton trucks and an 11-cubic-yard power shovel” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec), as reported by Asbestos Producer, p. 34⁴⁹
• Output: “The combined production will put Lake Asbestos at nearly 200,000 tons per year of fiber” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 8³⁹
• Ownership: “a subsidiary of American Smelting and Refining Co.” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 8³⁹

1974

• Ownership: “Asarco | Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd | 210,000” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd), as reported by Economic Analysis of Proposed Effluent Guidelines, The Asbestos Products Manufacturing Industry, EPA-230/1-73-001, p. 8⁴⁰
• Output: “Fiber-producing capacity 210,000 (short tons per year)” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd), as reported by Economic Analysis of Proposed Effluent Guidelines, The Asbestos Products Manufacturing Industry, EPA-230/1-73-001, p. 8⁴⁰

1975

• Idle: “the strike of asbestos workers at Thetford Mines ... is now in its fifth month; The five stricken companies are ... Lake Asbestos of Quebec” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec), p. 40⁵⁰
• Mill: “Mill capacities are 161,000 short tons per annum at Black Lake” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 32²⁸
• Idle: “remained on strike for 7 months” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 9³²
• Workforce: “the 3,500 employees of the four companies producing asbestos in the Thetford Mines area struck” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), p. 9³²

1976

• Mill: “Mill capacity at the Black Lake Division is 161,000 short tons per year; An Asarco-patented process ... based on magnetic separation for the preconcentration of asbestos ore” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 34²⁹
• Worked: “Lake Asbestos long fibres; Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd., Black Lake, Quebec” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.), said by Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd., p. 29²⁹
• Ownership: “ASARCO -> Lake Asbestos (100)” (ASARCO), p. 6⁵¹
• Workforce: “the nearly 1,000 employees of Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd., at Black Lake, and the National Mines Division” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 4¹⁰
• Output: “In 1976, the nearly 1,000 employees of Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd., at Black Lake, and the National Mines Division, near Thetford Mines, produced 248,000 tons of fiber” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 4¹⁰

1977

• Dust and health: “$6-million is being spent to improve the workplace environment at Black Lake” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 30³¹
• Workforce: “Employment totals 1050 and annual production capacity is 260,000 tons” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 30³¹
• Output: “Production of Chrysotile Grades 4-6 hit a record level in 1977, at 255,000 tons” (Lac d'Amiante du Quebec, Ltee), p. 36¹⁵

1978

• Mill: “one of 36 screens in three rock lines at Black Lake” (Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.), p. 5¹⁰
• Ownership: “the joint venture at Black Lake—an asbestos mine owned by United but operated by Lake Asbestos” (United Asbestos Inc.), p. 38¹⁵
• Output: “Production of Chrysotile Grades 4-6 reached a record 280,000 tons of fiber in 1978 from the combined facilities of Lake Asbestos at Black Lake ... and National Mines” (Lac d'Amiante du Quebec Ltee), p. 31⁶
• Ownership: “This mining company officially changed its name from Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd., effective November 1, 1978” (Lac d'Amiante du Quebec, Ltee), p. 36¹⁵

1979

• Output: “Record production levels and asbestos fiber sales were achieved in 1979, surpassing the 1978 record output of 280,000 tons” (Lac d'Amiante du Quebec Ltee), p. 24³⁰
• Ownership: “the operations of Lac d'Amiante du Quebec Ltee at Black Lake, a joint venture with Asarco” (United Asbestos Inc.; Asarco), p. 34⁶

1980

• Reserves: “At January 1980, estimated ore reserves were in excess of 100-million tons grading 3.7% asbestos, with a 25-year life” (United Asbestos Ltd.; Asarco), as reported by Midland Doherty Ltd.; Gardiner Watson Ltd., p. 25³⁰
• Output: “Black Lake operations for 1980 resulted in production of 160,057 tons” (United Asbestos Ltd.; Asarco), as reported by Midland Doherty Ltd.; Gardiner Watson Ltd., p. 25³⁰
• Mill: “United Asbestos Ltd. ... is a joint operator with Asarco of the asbestos mine at Black Lake. Mine and mill capacity is 170,000 tons of fiber per year” (United Asbestos Ltd.; Asarco), as reported by Midland Doherty Ltd.; Gardiner Watson Ltd., p. 24³⁰
• Dust and health: “At Black Lake, LAQ planted pine and spruce saplings to cover a waste dump; covering, within 20 years, of a total of 145 acres” (Lac d'Amiante du Quebec Ltee), p. 24³⁰

1985

• Ownership: “signed a memorandum of intent to form a partnership [Lac d'Amiante du Quebec]” (Lac d'Amiante du Quebec), as reported by Industrial Minerals (London), p. 6⁵²
• Worked: “All four companies operated mines in the Thetford area of Quebec [Lac d'Amiante du Quebec]” (Lac d'Amiante du Quebec), as reported by Industrial Minerals (London), p. 6⁵²

1986

• Ownership: “formed a partnership, effective July 1, 1986 [Lac d'Amiante du Quebec]” (Lac d'Amiante du Quebec), p. 6⁵³

1997

• Reserves: “extend the life of the mine by 10 years” (LAB Chrysotile), as reported by Industrial Minerals, p. 2³⁴
• Exploration: “announced plans to expand its Lac d'Amiante du Quebec chrysotile mine” (LAB Chrysotile), as reported by Industrial Minerals, p. 2³⁴

2002

• Workforce: “resolved a labor dispute with employees of Lake Asbestos of Canada and LAB Chrysotile mining companies” (Mazarin Inc.), as reported by Mazarin Inc. press release, p. 2³³
• Idle: “a 5-month lockout that began in July 2002” (Mazarin Inc.), as reported by Mazarin Inc. press release, p. 2³³

2004

• Idle: “would close its Black Lake asbestos mine near Thetford Mines, Quebec, Canada, for an indefinite time period” (LAB Chrysotile Inc.), as reported by Mining Engineering, p. 2³⁵
• Dust and health: “increasingly strict exposure standards and increased international competition” (LAB Chrysotile Inc.), as reported by Mining Engineering, p. 2³⁵

2011

• Ownership: “through its subsidiary Lac d'amiante du Canada” (LAB Chrysotile), as reported by Canadian Broadcasting Corp., 2011, 2012; Canadian Mining Journal, 2011, p. 3³⁶
• Idle: “indefinitely idled its chrysotile mine in Thetford Mines, Quebec” (LAB Chrysotile), as reported by Canadian Broadcasting Corp., 2011, 2012; Canadian Mining Journal, 2011, p. 3³⁶
• Description: “a rock slide prevented access to some of its high-grade ore” (LAB Chrysotile), as reported by Canadian Broadcasting Corp., 2011, 2012; Canadian Mining Journal, 2011, p. 3³⁶
• Description: “continued to sell chrysotile fiber from inventory” (LAB Chrysotile), as reported by Canadian Broadcasting Corp., 2011, 2012; Canadian Mining Journal, 2011, p. 3³⁶

2012

• Ownership: “In January 2012, LAB Chrysotile filed for bankruptcy” (LAB Chrysotile), as reported by Canadian Broadcasting Corp., 2011, 2012; Canadian Mining Journal, 2011, p. 3³⁶

In court opinions

Court opinions in our case-law 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.

The mine’s fiber in products (3)

• Bush v. Abex Corp. (1989): “VENDOR FIRST RECORD Asbestos Fibre Corporation 1/13/72 Johns Manville Corporation 4/30/75 Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd 1/11/77”
• Buttitta v. Allied Signal, Inc. (2010): “GM set forth that it purchased chrysotile asbestos for use in its disc brake linings from ACL (1967), Lake Asbestos (1967- 1970), Canadian Johns Manville (1967-1984)”
• McGUFFIE v. Mead Corporation (2014): “Asarco was to supply the asbestos, via its subsidiary Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.”

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 workers (1)

• Cordier S 1984: Radiographic changes in a group of chrysotile miners and millers exposed to low asbestos dust concentrations: “together with the 19 office workers of Lake Asbestos, formed a total referent group of 48”

Studies of the mine’s fiber (6)

• Barbeau C 1985: Metallic elements in crude and milled chrysotile asbestos from Quebec: “TABLE 3 AVERAGE MINOR ELEMENTS CONCENTRATIONS IN CRUDE CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS FROM QUEBEC MINES Jeffrey mine Bell mine Carey mine Lake Asbestos mine National mine”
• Kido T 2008: Chrysotile asbestos causes AEC apoptosis via the caspase activation in vitro and in vivo: “Chrysotile asbestos used in vivo studies was Canadian chrysotile class 7M and purchased from LAB Chrysotile, Inc., Black Lake, Quebec.”
• McCrone WC 1974: Detection and identification of asbestos by microscopical dispersion staining
• Morimoto Y 1993: Synergistic effects of mineral fibres and cigarette smoke on the production of tumour necrosis factor by alveolar macrophages of rats: “The fibres used in this study were Canadian chrysotile, (LAB chrysotile class 6, Quebec)”
• Nagatomo H 2007: Change of heme oxygenase-1 expression in lung injury induced by chrysotile asbestos in vivo and in vitro: “was Canadian chrysotile class 7M, and was purchased from LAB Chrysotile, Inc., Black Lake, Quebec.”
• Veetil SP 2015: Direct gas-solid carbonation of serpentinite residues in the absence and presence of water vapor: a feasibility study for carbon dioxide sequestration: “serpentinite mining residues (SMR) from a chrysotile ex- traction mine at Black Lake, Quebec.”

Other names

Documents call this mine “property of United Asbestos Corp. Ltd., under Black Lake”, “Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.”, “Black Lake property”, “Lake Asbestos”, “Lake Asbestos of Quebec Ltd.”, “Lac d'Amiante du Quebec”, “Lac d'Amiante du Quebec chrysotile mine”, “Lake Asbestos of Canada”, “United Asbestos mine at Black Lake”, “LAQ open pit”, “Lake Asbestos of Quebec”, “Lac d'Amiante du Quebec, Ltee”, “Lake Asbestos Division”, “large deposit under Black Lake”, “Black Lake mine of the United Asbestos Corp.”, “Black Lake asbestos mine”, “LAB Chrysotile”, “Lac d'amiante du Canada”.

See also

• Thetford Mines in the Lexicon
• Lake Asbestos of Quebec, Ltd.: the company's documents, people, products and plants
• American Smelting & Refining Co.: the company's documents, people, products and plants
• Asarco: the company's documents, people, products and plants
• All asbestos mines

References

1. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1949 (January 1, 1950), p. 8.
2. Asbestos Magazine, 1952, October 1952 (October 1, 1952), p. 48.
3. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1952 (January 1, 1953), p. 9.
4. Asbestos Magazine, 1953, September 1953 (September 1, 1953), p. 47.
5. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1953 (January 1, 1954), p. 10.
6. Asbestos Magazine, 1979, December 1979 (December 1, 1979), pp. 31, 34.
7. Asbestos Magazine, 1955, May 1955 (May 1, 1955), p. 24.
8. Asbestos Magazine, 1958, January 1958 (January 1, 1958), p. 22.
9. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1964 (January 1, 1965), pp. 8, 10.
10. Asbestos Magazine, 1978, June 1978 (June 1, 1978), pp. 4–5.
11. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1948 (January 1, 1949), p. 9.
12. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1950 (January 1, 1951), p. 8.
13. Asbestos Magazine, 1956, March 1956 (March 1, 1956), p. 4.
14. Asbestos Magazine, 1958, April 1958 (April 1, 1958), pp. 4, 6.
15. Asbestos Magazine, 1978, December 1978 (December 1, 1978), pp. 36, 38.
16. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1954 (January 1, 1955), p. 9.
17. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1955 (January 1, 1956), p. 11.
18. Asbestos Magazine, 1957, April 1957 (April 1, 1957), p. 16.
19. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1956 (January 1, 1957), p. 9.
20. Asbestos Magazine, 1956, December 1956 (December 1, 1956), p. 56.
21. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1958 (January 1, 1959), p. 9.
22. Asbestos Magazine, 1959, July 1959 (July 1, 1959), p. 24.
23. Asbestos Magazine, 1958, November 1958 (November 1, 1958), p. 6.
24. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1962 (January 1, 1963), p. 7.
25. Asbestos Magazine, 1964, April 1964 (April 1, 1964), p. 28.
26. Asbestos Magazine, 1967, May 1967 (May 1, 1967), p. 27.
27. Asbestos Magazine, 1972, December 1972 (December 1, 1972), p. 20.
28. Asbestos Magazine, 1975, December 1975 (December 1, 1975), p. 32.
29. Asbestos Magazine, 1976, December 1976 (December 1, 1976), pp. 29, 34.
30. Asbestos Magazine, 1981, January 1981 (January 1, 1981), pp. 24–25.
31. Asbestos Magazine, 1977, December 1977 (December 1, 1977), p. 30.
32. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1975 (January 1, 1976), p. 9.
33. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 2002 (January 1, 2003), p. 2.
34. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1997 (January 1, 1998), p. 2.
35. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 2004 (January 1, 2005), p. 2.
36. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 2011 (January 1, 2012), p. 3.
37. Asbestos Magazine, 1957, March 1957 (March 1, 1957), p. 52.
38. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1961 (January 1, 1962), p. 8.
39. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1973 (January 1, 1974), p. 8.
40. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1974 (January 1, 1975), p. 8.
41. Asbestos Magazine, 1948, July 1948 (July 1, 1948), p. 48.
42. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1951 (January 1, 1952), p. 7.
43. Asbestos Magazine, 1953, May 1953 (May 1, 1953), p. 16.
44. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1957 (January 1, 1958), p. 8.
45. Asbestos Magazine, 1958, October 1958 (October 1, 1958), p. 8.
46. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1960 (January 1, 1961), p. 7.
47. Asbestos Magazine, 1965, April 1965 (April 1, 1965), p. 25.
48. Asbestos Magazine, 1965, December 1965 (December 1, 1965), p. 4.
49. Asbestos Magazine, 1973, June 1973 (June 1, 1973), p. 34.
50. Asbestos Magazine, 1975, August 1975 (August 1, 1975), p. 40.
51. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1976 (January 1, 1977), p. 6.
52. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1985 (January 1, 1986), p. 6.
53. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1986 (January 1, 1987), p. 6.