Niocan plans open pit mine south of Moosonee.A Quebec mining company intends to extract industrial minerals from its recently-acquired pyrochlore property on the James Bay James Bay, shallow southern arm of Hudson Bay, c.300 mi (480 km) long and 140 mi (230 km) wide, E central Canada, in Nunavut Territory between Ont. and Que. Numerous rivers flow into the bay; many of these have been developed for hydroelectric power in Quebec (see lowlands. Niocan Inc. of Oka, Que. is finalizing its acquisition of a lease to mine niobium niobium (nīō`bēəm), metallic chemical element; symbol Nb; at. no. 41; at. wt. 92.9064; m.p. about 2,468°C;; b.p. 4,742°C;; sp. gr. 8.57 at 20°C;; valence +2, +3, +4, or +5. on a property 50 kilometres south of Moosonee. Pyrochlore is the primary mineral from which niobium is obtained. "We feel confident this is going to be a second mine for us," says Niocan president Richard Faucher, who expects to develop the property over the next six to eight years with cash flow from their other niobium mine in Oka, northwest of Montreal Of Montreal is an American indie pop band formed in Athens, Georgia, fronted by Kevin Barnes. It was among the second wave of groups to emerge from The Elephant 6 Recording Company. . The Oka mine and mill, expected to begin construction in spring 2004, is in its final permitting stages and will provide 160 jobs. Niobium is used as an additive additive In foods, any of various chemical substances added to produce desirable effects. Additives include such substances as artificial or natural colourings and flavourings; stabilizers, emulsifiers, and thickeners; preservatives and humectants (moisture-retainers); and in the production of high strength, low alloy steel Low alloy steel is steel alloyed with other elements, usually molybdenum, manganese, chromium, vanadium, silicon, boron or nickel, in amounts of up to 10% by weight to improve the hardenability of thick sections. for products such as pipelines, car bodies, tool steels, steel hulls and rails. It is valued for its corrosion resistance and strengthening qualities. Niocan expects to invest $1.2 million to $1.5 million in exploration work over the next three years to define a reserve believed to be 62 million tonnes. The property is situated 40 kilometres from the Ontario Northland Railway The Ontario Northland Railway is a Canadian railway and provincial Crown corporation. Its north-south mainline has a southern terminus at North Bay, passing through Cochrane, and a northern terminus at Moosonee, on the south shore of James Bay - all in its namesake province of line, but is accessible by forest roads. Plans call for a small pit to mine the richer portions of what is expected to be a 20- to 30-year reserve of about 20 to 30 million tonnes at .7 per cent grade niobium "which makes it quite economical," says Faucher. Faucher says the global market demand for niobium has been "fairly good" over the years with new applications being devised for steel products. |
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