Tailings at Abandoned Mine Near Timmins Ontario is a major producer of metals. Today, mineral staking is proceeding in the northern Boreal forest before there is planning to decide where mining is appropriate. As of spring 2005, 4,400 mining claims had been staked in the northern Boreal region. Mining disturbs the local environment and also changes water flows, disrupts wildlife and fish movements, and can contaminate water systems.

Diamonds: The Victor Diamond Mine near Attawapiskat was recently given approval through the environmental assessment process. The mine will likely involve road construction through intact boreal forest and a new hydro transmission corridor. Potential environmental impacts from the mine include:

• Waste rock: 2.5 million tonnes of rock will be processed each year and 28.7 million tonnes of rock will be removed from the ground during the life of the mine. This rock may generate chemicals that can leach into the surrounding water systems, poisoning them for centuries.
• Changes to water quality and quantity: 100,000 m3 of salty water will be pumped out of the mine pit into the Attawapiskat River each day. The flow of one nearby river will be decreased by more than 15% and another river will be diverted entirely.
• Impact on habitat and disturbance to muskeg: The mine itself will cover an area of 5,000 hectares and its related infrastructure (e.g., roads, hydro corridor) will fragment a much larger area. Up to 2,000 km2 of muskeg may dry out as a result of each pit.

In return for these potential impacts, the life of the Victor Diamond Mine is expected to be only 12 years. The company also has laid claim to several nearby areas that are thought to contain diamonds. Read more on the Victor Diamond mine...