Kam Kotia mine site (City of Timmins)

 mine, pollution, mining, lead production / processing, zinc mine/processing

 Upload a photo

The Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) has begun the rehabilitation of the Kam Kotia Mine site. This site is considered to be the worst abandoned mine site within the Province.
The site was originally mined for copper, zinc and silver in the 1940’s and eventually ceased production in 1972. During that time 6 million tonnes of sulphide rich tailings were deposited into three tailings areas, two of which were unimpounded. The tailings are currently located on more than 500 hectares of land and produce acid mine drainage that has severely impacted one river, is impacting on another and could potentially be threatening the ground water in the area.

Under a four year, $27 million fund for rehabilitating Crown owned abandoned mine sites throughout Ontario, a rehabilitation plan for the Kam Kotia Mine site has been developed. Phase “A”, which involved the construction of a lime treatment plant and a new engineered impoundment structure, was completed in July 2002. The Phase “B” work, which saw the relocation of the unimpounded south tailings to within the new impoundment structure constructed during Phase “A”, was conducted during the winter of 2002/03. The remaining three phases of rehabilitation will be completed as funds are available.