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HISTORY OF GIANT MINE During its operation, the mine produced 237,000
tonnes of arsenic trioxide waste.
Gold was first discovered by prospectors in
the Yellowknife area in 1896 in the rush of the Flash forward to the 1990s. After the mine changed
Klondike Gold Rush. It wasn’t until the arrival of ownership through the years, Royal Oak Resources
bush planes that the area became accessible and Ltd. purchased the mine to become its final private
mining started, precipitating a gold rush that went owner. When Royal Oak went into receivership in
unabated except for during the years of WWII—the 1999, the issue of the contamination needed to be
longest continuous gold mining operations in addressed.
Canadian mining history.
Gold was first discovered by prospectors in
the Yellowknife area in 1896 in the rush of
Giant Mine has also formed a legacy of
the Klondike Gold Rush.
contamination. Giant Mine was in full operation for
about 50 years. Gold at Giant Mine was found in
specific minerals called arsenopyrite ore. To release The courts transferred Giant Mine to the
the gold, the ore had to be roasted at extremely Government of Canada, represented by Indigenous
high temperatures. Unfortunately, this roasting and Northern Affairs. The Canadian Government
process also released arsenic rich gas, a highly struck an agreement with a Miramar Mining, selling
toxic by-product. Miramar the mine’s assets, ensuring employment
MAY 2022 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA 7
