Kangiqsujuaq, Que. — At first glance, a sizable heap of old rusty barrels on the perimeter of Canadian Royalties’ (CZZ-T, CRYAF-O) Expo camp in Nunavik, Que., looks like a mini garbage dump.
But upon closer inspection, there’s a little order amidst the mess — some of the barrels are crushed and neatly stacked, ready for transport to the scrap metal yard.
These barrels do not belong to Canadian Royalties; they are a remnant from the days when the Ministry of the Environment did not exist and mineral exploration companies were not required to clean up after themselves.
More than 30 mining companies have joined funds and forces with the Quebec government and the Inuit community to clean up hundreds of abandoned mineral exploration sites.
The partnership, called Fonds Restor-Action (FRAN), was started by Virginia Mines (VGQ-T, VGMNF-O), Canadian Royalties and Azimut Exploration (AZM-V, AZMTF-O) in March.
More than $1.5 million has been raised so far in an effort to clean up 18 priority sites, but more than 600 sites have been identified.
Glenn Mullan, Canadian Royalties chairman, says a company called Expo Lingara began exploring on what is now part of Canadian Royalties’ Nunavik Nickel project back in 1967.
“By 1970, there were a couple hundred empty oil drums,” Mullan says. “They started blowing all over the place in all directions. There was a barrel on every lake.”
The waste has not gone unnoticed by the Inuit community.
“It really bothered the Inuit,” says Mullan, whose company has been exploring since 2001. “It was a constant topic of discussion in every meeting.”
Mullan says Canadian Royalties has been collecting barrels and other leftover debris on its property since 2002 and has come across 40 abandoned sites at the former Raglan South.
It’s hoped that part of the costs of the project will be recouped in scrap metal revenue.
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