Baymag Mine

 mine, mining

This is the area for Mine Lease M-31 for the Baymag Mine which is an open pit operation that produces 180000 mtpy of high quality magnesite ore per year. The mineral is transported by trucks using covered trailers to Baymag’s state of the art production facilities in Exshaw, Alberta where it is calcined into various grades of magnesium oxide (MgO). Though most widely referred to as the Baymag Mine the title and file name is Mount Brussilof Magnesite Mine.

Magnesite was discovered here in 1965 by G.B. Leach who was conducting a mapping program in the area for the Geological Survey of Canada. During the program grab samples were obtained and assay tested at up to 87% magnesite. Based on those results New Jersey Zinc Exploration Candada Limited staked the area and conducted more mapping and diamond drilling. Imperial Oil Enterprise also investigated the area but for both companies no further work was performed. In 1969 Baykal Minerals did more work which resulted in the acquisition of more claims to a total of 278, then an agreement was arranged with New Jersey Zinc for Baykal to conduct the mining on the claims.

After more field work in 1969 and 1970 a production feasibility report was completed by Acres Western Limited of Vancouver. In 1971 Baykal Minerals Limited and Brussilof Resources Limited merged to form Baymag Mines Company Limited, then in 1972 they optioned the property to Canadian Exploration Company (CANEX) who did more field work including 2819 meters of diamond drilling, increasing total drilling on the property to 5,255 meters. In 1975 a bulk sample was sent to German Refractory products producer Refratechnik, who were interested in the project to secure a raw material source. Crushed material was then sent to research companies KHD, Lorgi, and Polysius to develop a method to calcine and dead-burn the ore from the deposit.

In 1979 Baymag Mines, now a subsiduary of Refratechnik GmbH contracted Kilborn Engineering to re evaluate the feasibility of bringing the deposit into production. In 1981 Baymag entered into an agreement with John Wolfe Construction Company Limited to operate the mine and manage the shipment of the ore to the plant in Exshaw then Mining commenced in the second quarter of 1992. Baymag also acquired new claims in the area and has conducted several exploration programs and by the end of 1983 drilling length totaled 10,280 meters.

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