Lupin Mine
Lupin Mine was a gold mine in Nunavut, Canada.
History
The deposit was first discovered by Canadian Nickel Company Ltd, a subsidiary of Inco Limited, during its reconnaissance sampling and mapping activities in 1960. Additional exploration activities were performed between 1961 and 1964. In February 1979, Echo Bay Mines received permission from Inco to perform underground exploration program. The ores from Lupin Mine generally contained slightly more than average amount of gold per ton of rock. The operation lifespan of the mine was estimated to be six years. The decision to move forward to construct the mine was made in August 1980. A vertical mine shaft was initially constructed.Lupin mine opened in 1982 and was originally owned and operated by Echo Bay Mines, who in 2003 became a fully owned subsidiary of Kinross Gold Corporation. Approximately 20-25 miners worked on 12-hour shifts. Amenities for the mine workers included a recreational centre with satellite television, racquetball court, sauna, weight room and library. Alcohol was banned at the mine. While food and mine workers were flown in by plane through Lupin Airport, fuel, chemicals and explosives were transported to the mine each winter through Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road. The mine shaft was later extended to beneath the surface in 1990.
The mine ceased production briefly in August 2003, but was restarted in early 2004 to recover old stope pillars with a reduced crew. The mine closed again in February 2005 and, in 2006, the assets were sold to Wolfden Resources Limited and subsequently to Elgin Mining, Inc. of Canada in July 2011. Elgin states that the mine is currently on care and maintenance due to the low price of gold, and that "The mill and all associated infrastructure was properly decommissioned and are in good condition for re-commencement of operations" should market conditions prove favourable.
In January 2015 WPC Resources of Vancouver optioned the property from Toronto-based Mandalay Resources who had purchased Elgin Assets.
Although mining activities are currently paused, the mine is still being accessible by road during winter through Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road.