Nanisivik zinc-lead ore
| |
| Location | |
|---|---|
  Nanisivik Mine Location in Canada Show map of Nunavut Nanisivik Mine Nanisivik Mine (Canada) Show map of Canada | |
| Location | Nanisivik |
| Territory | Nunavut |
| Country | Canada |
| Coordinates | 73°02′40″N 084°32′14″W / 73.04444°N 84.53722°W / 73.04444; -84.53722 |
| Production | |
| Products | Zinc lead silver |
| History | |
| Opened | 1976 |
| Closed | 2002 |
| Owner | |
| Company | Breakwater Resources |
| Website | Breakwater Resources |
| Year of acquisition | 1996 (Breakwater) |
Nanisivik Mine was a zinc-lead mine in the company townofNanisivik, Nunavut, 750 km (470 mi) north of the Arctic CircleonBaffin Island. It was Canada's first mine in the Arctic.[1] The mine first opened on 15 October 1976 and permanently closed in September 2002 due to low metal prices and declining resources. Mine reclamation began in April 2003.[2] It was one of the most northerly mines in the world.[3]
The mine was served by a port and dock located about 2.7 km (1.7 mi) north. It was used for shipping concentrate from the site, and receiving supplies. It is currently used by the Canadian Coast Guard for training[4] and is intended to become Nanisivik Naval Facility.
The mine also had its own airport (Nanisivik Airport) located about 7 km (4.3 mi) southwest and was the main airport for Arctic Bay, until they expanded the Arctic Bay Airport. The airport is about 19 km (12 mi) directly southeast of Arctic Bay but the road between them is 32 km (20 mi).[5]
Nanisivik has a tundra climate (ET) with long, cold winters and very short, chilly summers that are rarely mild. Early winter tends to be snowiest period of the year, with around 40% of all yearly snowfall falling during this short period.
| Climate data for Nanisivik (Nanisivik Airport) Climate ID: 2402730; coordinates 72°59′N 84°37′W / 72.983°N 84.617°W / 72.983; -84.617 (Nanisivik Airport); elevation: 641.9 m (2,106 ft); 1981–2010 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high humidex | −3.0 | 1.2 | −2.2 | −1.2 | 6.5 | 14.5 | 18.4 | 16.7 | 9.0 | 1.2 | −6.3 | −1.3 | 18.4 |
| Record high °C (°F) | −2.0 (28.4) |
2.0 (35.6) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
7.0 (44.6) |
18.5 (65.3) |
18.2 (64.8) |
17.0 (62.6) |
8.5 (47.3) |
2.0 (35.6) |
−6.0 (21.2) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
18.5 (65.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −26.8 (−16.2) |
−27.2 (−17.0) |
−24.7 (−12.5) |
−16.6 (2.1) |
−7.6 (18.3) |
2.2 (36.0) |
7.5 (45.5) |
3.9 (39.0) |
−3.3 (26.1) |
−11.3 (11.7) |
−19.8 (−3.6) |
−23.6 (−10.5) |
−12.3 (9.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −29.6 (−21.3) |
−29.9 (−21.8) |
−27.6 (−17.7) |
−19.8 (−3.6) |
−10.3 (13.5) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
5.1 (41.2) |
1.7 (35.1) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−13.6 (7.5) |
−22.5 (−8.5) |
−26.3 (−15.3) |
−14.8 (5.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −32.4 (−26.3) |
−32.3 (−26.1) |
−30.1 (−22.2) |
−22.9 (−9.2) |
−13.0 (8.6) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
2.7 (36.9) |
−0.5 (31.1) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−15.8 (3.6) |
−24.9 (−12.8) |
−28.7 (−19.7) |
−17.2 (1.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −48.5 (−55.3) |
−53.0 (−63.4) |
−47.5 (−53.5) |
−42.0 (−43.6) |
−28.3 (−18.9) |
−14.0 (6.8) |
−6.0 (21.2) |
−10.0 (14.0) |
−19.5 (−3.1) |
−35.0 (−31.0) |
−39.4 (−38.9) |
−45.5 (−49.9) |
−53.0 (−63.4) |
| Record low wind chill | −62.9 | −72.3 | −67.0 | −54.8 | −39.4 | −24.9 | −12.8 | −21.0 | −30.3 | −50.0 | −53.5 | −60.6 | −72.3 |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 5.4 (0.21) |
5.1 (0.20) |
8.4 (0.33) |
10.9 (0.43) |
24.0 (0.94) |
25.2 (0.99) |
45.7 (1.80) |
45.0 (1.77) |
38.4 (1.51) |
37.4 (1.47) |
18.1 (0.71) |
7.3 (0.29) |
270.9 (10.67) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.00) |
6.7 (0.26) |
37.0 (1.46) |
29.2 (1.15) |
4.4 (0.17) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
77.3 (3.04) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 5.4 (2.1) |
5.2 (2.0) |
8.4 (3.3) |
11.2 (4.4) |
24.0 (9.4) |
17.7 (7.0) |
8.5 (3.3) |
15.0 (5.9) |
32.3 (12.7) |
38.2 (15.0) |
17.9 (7.0) |
7.5 (3.0) |
191.3 (75.3) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 4.4 | 4.6 | 6.2 | 5.7 | 9.6 | 8.8 | 12.4 | 12.6 | 13.3 | 14.2 | 8.4 | 6.3 | 106.5 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.2 | 10.4 | 8.1 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 22.3 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 4.4 | 4.6 | 6.2 | 5.8 | 9.6 | 7.1 | 3.0 | 5.4 | 12.1 | 14.3 | 8.5 | 6.4 | 87.3 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 64.1 | 65.0 | 66.6 | 71.2 | 81.3 | 80.7 | 75.6 | 84.9 | 88.6 | 89.7 | 72.9 | 68.7 | 75.8 |
| Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010[6] | |||||||||||||
The Northwest Territories boast two of the world's most northerly mines; Polaris on Little Cornwallis Island and Nanisivik on Baffin Island. Both are Lead and Zinc mines.
