Echo Bay Mines Ltd., a subsidiary of Kinross Gold Corporation

Lupin Gold Mine, Nunavut, Canada

The Lupin deposit, located on the west shore of Contwoyto Lake 80 km south of the Arctic Circle and 400 km north of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, is a banded iron formation that was discovered in 1960. Echo Bay Mines Ltd. brought the mine into commercial production in 1982 and pioneered the use of supporting a mining operation by aircraft for the rotation of employees and transportation of perishables; and shipping of ore to market and the transport of operational consumables over the Lupin Winter Road (now known as the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road). With the exception of a period of suspension from 1998 to 2000, due to low gold prices, the Lupin Mine operated from 1982 and produced approximately 3 million ounces of gold. Lupin Mine was purchased by Kinross Gold Corporation and on February 1, 2003 mine operations were again suspended. The mine is now owed my Minerals and Metals Group (MMG) and remains in care and maintenance status.

Ulu Exploration Facts

Echo Bay Mines Ltd. operated the Ulu gold advanced exploration project located approximately 160 km north of the Lupin gold mine.  The property is now owed by Minerals and Metals Group (MMG).

Nuna's  Role

Prior to founding NUNA in 1993, John Zigarlick was President and Chief Executive Officer of Echo Bay Mines Ltd. John was instrumental in the concept, planning and execution of placing Echo Bay’s Lupin gold mine into production. NUNA, under contract to Echo Bay Mines, provided reclamation and site;  services at the Lupin Mine site and development support and logistics services for the Ulu exploration project.  NUNA's services provided for:

Lupin Mine

  • Tailings reclamation including crushing and transportation of esker materials and backfill at the tailings site.

  • Refurbishment of existing dams and new dam construction.

  • Transportation of 27,000 tonnes of cement in bulk bags from Hay River, NT to Lupin, to supply the paste backfill plant.

  • Construction and maintenance of the 567 km Lupin Winter Road from Yellowknife to Lupin. (The winter road services mines enroute. NUNA has constructed and operated the winter road (now known as the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road) since 1998.

  • Site services for Lupin operations.

Ulu Exploration

  • Construction of Ulu support roads and airstrip.

  • Mobilization of the Ulu camp shop and support services.