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History | Employees
Aeriel View of Campbell Complex |
In May 2006 Goldcorp acquired the Placer Dome Canadian operations, which saw the combination of two major Canadian gold mining operations. The new Red Lake Gold mines now consists of the Red Lake Complex and the Campbell Complex.
Red Lake Complex
Following the discovery of a high grade ore zone and subsequent expansion of mine facilities, the Red Lake Complex was revitalized and achieved full production on January 1, 2001. Mining is carried out using underground cut and fill techniques allowing maximum ore extraction and minimal dilution. The high-grade, narrow vein system is being mined at the rate of 577,272 kilograms (635 tonnes) per day with an average grade of over 68 grams/ tonne (two ounces per ton). The high-grade mineralization and complex geometry of the ore body require operating under unique circumstances. Various mining cut and fill methods are currently in use.
The implementation of innovative mining techniques, as well as improvements and refinements to other areas of the operation, has been key to the success of the Red Lake Complex in the last four years. Goldcorp has implemented the use of new Virtual Reality (VR) technology for mine design and planning purposes, and has recently built a state-of-the-art VR studio on site. Goldcorp is also spending C$196 million on a new 1,924 metres (6,312 ft.) deep shaft currently under construction. The new shaft to be ready in 2007, will increase hoisting capacity, reduce time to access the workplaces, and provide significant cost savings.
Campbell Complex
The Campbell Complex produced 209,186 ounces of gold during 2005. In December 2005, Placer Dome announced that exploration drilling confirmed the extension of Goldcorp's Red Lake property High Grade Zone (HGZ) onto the Campbell mine property. Targeted drilling intersected the HGZ and a secondary wedge hole targeting the Hanging Wall 5 zone, the most prolific mineralized zone within the HGZ, is in progress. Campbell Complex is 100% owned by Goldcorp.
History
Red Lake Gold Mines has had a long and colorful history. The Red Lake Gold Rush began in 1926, during the last of the era’s great gold rushes. Early efforts to locate viable gold stakes were unsuccessful and most prospectors left the area in frustration. In 1944, as World War II drew to an end, exploratory drilling struck gold in what is now known as Balmertown to begin a long line of successes.
Red Lake Gold Rush
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1944 |
Dome Exploration, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dome Mines Limited, optioned the property. Campbell Red Lake Mines Limited was incorporated. |
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1945 |
Two enterprising young men, John Brewis and Arthur White, formed and incorporated Dickenson Mines Limited and commenced development drilling at what would become Red Lake Mine. Early equipment was crude – a tree as a ginpole, a diamond drill winch hoist, a forty-five gallon drum bucket and a jack-hammer, steam powered by a wood boiler salvaged from the bush. However, much was achieved and one year later, essential mine buildings were near completion and a contract was signed with Ontario Hydro for electric power, thus bringing electricity to the site. |
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1945 |
Gold deposits were discovered on the property at Campbell. |
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1946 |
The head frame at Red Lake was up, the shaft collar poured and shaft sinking had started. Within six months a depth of 166 metres had been reached, with stations at four levels. By the end of 1946, 2,667 metres of cross cuts, drifts and raises had been carved from the rock. In 1947, Highway 105 was completed, linking Red Lake with the Trans-Canada Highway, 175 kilometres to the south. The average value of the ore mined was $13.01 a tonne and gold was worth $35.00 an ounce. The first gold at the mine (now the “Red Lake Mine”) was poured on 21 January 1949. |
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1949 |
Underground mine production started at Campbell. |
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1991 |
Autoclaving replaced roasting in the mill at Campbell. |
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1994 |
Red Lake Mine was a marginal operation that been in continuous operation since 1948. It had been starved of capital and its performance had always been overshadowed by Campbell. Conventional wisdom said the Red Lake was finished, but Goldcorp challenged this belief at the beginning of 1995 when a $7 million exploration program was initiated that lead to the discovery of a high grade zone of gold mineralization. |
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1995 |
New shaft from surface approved at Campbell. |
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1995 |
Significant discovery announced at Red Lake – nine holes averaging 311.31 grams of gold per tonne across 2.3 metres. The mineralization was discovered at a depth and location previously thought to have no potential. |
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1996 |
Decline to Levels 27 through 30 at Campbell was 50% complete by July, allowing for extraction of first development ore from depth development project. |
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1997 |
Mill flotation circuit upgraded at Campbell. |
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1998 |
Construction of paste fill plant started at Campbell. |
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1999 |
Operation of the Reid Shaft at Campbell commenced and the paste fill plant was commissioned. |
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2000 |
Exploration development began on 39 level from the Reid Shaft at Campbell. |
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2001 |
Discovery on the DC Zone at Campbell. Depth development project was completed. Campbell shaft (#1) was converted to people and material movement only. All hoisting (ore/waste) is skipped from the Reid shaft. |
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2002 |
Feasibility completed on the DC Zone. Pre-production development commenced at Campbell. |
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2003 |
Construction of the DC zone infrastructure progressed. Ore production started ahead of schedule at Campbell. |
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2003 |
Joint Venture with Wolfden on the East Bay exploration property returned good drilling intersections at Campbell. |
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2004 |
An additional 1.4 million ounces of Inferred Resources were outlined and will be one of the focus areas to add new reserves in the future at Campbell. |
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2005 |
Intersection of the Red Lake “high grade zone” on the Campbell Mine Property. High grade zone with significant visible gold discovered within Deep Campbell. |
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2006 |
Red Lake completes a fibre optic network which provides the backbone for the mine’s communication system and connects surface to underground for video, voice and data. This allows the maximum amount of data to be captured and analyzed in real time. It shortens decision making time frames, lowers working capital requirements, increases efficiency, lowers costs and improves safety. |
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2006 |
Goldcorp acquires Campbell mine to create the combined Red Lake Gold Mines. The operation is now one of the richest and most profitable gold mines in the world. |
Employees
Red Lake Gold Mines have an active workforce that is involved in a variety of community awareness programs, through local events and schools. The mine promotes ‘active living’, including organized runs and other sporting events, and provides subsidized memberships to the local recreation centre.
All employees and most of the contractors belong to the Red Lake Mine Club or the Campbell Athletic Association. These clubs organizes different social events throughout the year. All the events are family oriented and include golfing, curling, bowling and card tournaments. The clubs also hold family carnivals and skating parties.
Red Lake Gold Mines also encourages professional development through on-line programs, conferences and on-site training, including leadership and management training.
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Annual Employee Curling Bonspiel
Annual Employee Golf Tournament
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