Energy, Mines, and Resources

Major Mine Licensing - Bellekeno

 

General InformationLocation of the Bellekeno mine on a map

The Bellekeno property is located 354 km north of Whitehorse and 50 km northeast of the Town of Mayo and 3 km east of Keno.

Elsa Reclamation and Development Company Ltd., a unit of Alexco Resource Corporation, owns the former assets of United Keno Hill Mines (UKHM) and is responsible, under a funding agreement with the governments of Canada and Yukon, for the care and maintenance of the properties and the eventual reclamation and closure of the overall UKHM sites. Alexco Keno Hill Mining Corporation (AKHMC), a separate subsidiary of Alexco Resource Corporation, has been incorporated for the purpose of mineral extraction, and is proposing to mine the former Bellekeno property.

AKHMC has completed a significant exploration program over the past three years on defining NI 43-101 resources at Bellekeno, as well as expanding additional exploration targets throughout the district. The Project Proposal states a combined mineral resource for the Bellekeno deposit totalling 537,400 tonnes grading 1,016 g/t silver, 13.5% lead 10.7% zinc for 17.6 Moz of contained silver or 38.3 Moz contained silver equivalent, in three distinct mineralized zones.

AKHMC commenced predevelopment work in June 2008 and is focused on carrying out further diamond drilling, and completing authorized early development work under their Class 4 Mining Land Use Approval until such time as a production decision is made and required licenses are in place to construct and operate the mine.

BellekenoThe proposed Bellekeno mine would be a 250 tonnes per day operation for years 1 and 2 and increased to a 400 tonnes per day operation for years 3 to 5. This project has been subject to an environmental and socio-economic assessment by the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board’s Mayo Designated Office (DO). An evaluation report was issued in June 2009 which recommended that the Bellekeno project be allowed to proceed, subject to specified mitigative terms and conditions. In July 2009, Yukon government issued a Decision Document which accepted this recommendation, allowing the project to move forward to permitting.

AKHMC has applied for a Quartz Mining License for the Bellekeno project, and this application is currently being reviewed by Yukon government.

AKHMC has an active Type “B” Water Use Licence for the activities associated with its Class 4 Mining Land Use Approval. In addition to the Quartz Mining License, it will be necessary for the company to obtain a Type “A” water licence before production can proceed at the Bellekeno mine.

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