The Quinsam Coal Project

"Quinsam Coal Ltd. is assessing the potential of developing a thermal coal deposit near Middle Quinsam Lake on Vancouver Island. The coal reserve outlined is classified as a high-volatile, bituminous ""A” steam coal and is composed off our separate seams of varying quality within the Late Cretaceous Comox Formation.Open-pit mining methods will utilize a walking dragline and a truck / shovel module as the primary stripping tools. Following washing and mechanical drying in a Baum jig preparation plant, the coal will be transported to the proposed dock at Campbell River for shipment via 55, OOO-DWT vessels to world markets. The paper will outline the development and status of the project to date. IntroductionQuinsam Coal Ltd. is a joint venture of Weld wood of Canada Ltd. and Luscar Ltd . The participants propose to develop a thermal coal mine in the Middle Quinsam Lake area, 17 miles inland from Campbell River on Vancouver Island (Fig. I). By acquiring all the assets of Canadian Collieries in 1962, Weldwood also came to own the coal rights of the area proposed for development. Luscar Ltd . ha s been designated as project manager until completion of construction and thereafter will act as operator of the mine.Surface mining methods will be used to produce approximately 1.0 million short tons of coal annually from the Quinsam property. Seven separate mining pit s will be developed along with the supporting minesite facilities, including a proper paration plant. Transportation routing to Campbell River and the establishment of docking facilities will be required. The initial economic life of the mine is 12 years, with the provision to extend this in the future by developing higher-ratio, auger or underground reserves."