Tom Semadeni, General Manager of Kidd Creek Mine Presents Annual Update

Tom Semadeni, General Manager at Kidd Creek Mines gave his annual Timmins Chamber of Commerce update on the state of operations at the copper, zinc and silver mine and left the room excited about the good works undertaken by Glencore around Timmins; the planning for a 50^th Anniversary celebration in 2016; and above all the possible extension of mining beyond 2021 the expected end date.

www.mininglifeonline.net interviewed Mr. Semadeni on the good works his company is involved in; plans for celebrating 50 years of operation in 2016; and the future of Kid Creek Mines.

Tom Semadeni, above, General Manager, Glencore Kidd Creek Mines (photo by Frank Giorno)

Improved Efficiencies

Though Kidd Creek is nearing the end of its life span scheduled for 2021, Semadeni said the mine is still being profitable because of new efficient operation techniques which includes an completely automated ore drilling and retrieval at the deep ore zones where it would be uneconomical to send work teams because of the cost of ventilation and electricity.

Benefits to Timmins

Kidd Operations had a significant economic impact on Timmins through its daily operations. In 2014 Kidd Creek supported the local economy by spending more than $62-million in Timmins, while expenditure outside Timmins stood at a combined $90-million. The company has also contributed more than $4-million on various community goodwill programs, since 2007.

2016 Marks 50th Anniversary

Next year will mark the 50^th anniversary of Kidd Creek Mines initially opened by Texas Gulf in 1966.

Semadeni said a planning committee has been set up to organize ways of marking the occasion.

Testing the Theory of a Mirrored Ore Deposit

During his presentation Semadeni explained that Kidd Creek geologists are testing a theory the Kidd orebody goes deep and then curves back up again. Semadeni said the exploration drilling rig was set up at the 7900 foot level to seek the mirror extension of the orebody on the other side of the current mining zone. The exploratory hole was 1.4 kilometre horizontal hole and Semadeni speculated that this is probably the deepest ever drilling anywhere in the world.

Semadeni said he was in part addressing rumours that have been circulating recently around Timmins about the potential unlimited orebody held at Kidd Creek

 He said that it is widely known that the ore zone does extend well below the 10,000 fee limit of the current shaft, but the cost of mining ore at the level would be too expensive when considering the cost of bringing the minerals to surface and refining them.

Uncovering a new horizontal extension of the current ore body would be less expensive, more economical and could extend the life of Kidd mine for many years.

"So we wanted to test that theory. If that theory is true then the rocks you see on this side of the orebody should see a mirror image," he explained.

"We have tested that theory. We drilled the hole. We've run geophysics down the hole. We've run some geochemistry testing," Semadeni explained.

Semadeni added that though they did not find the minerals they wanted, the company scientists believe the theory might still be good. He also added it would more exploratory drilling to confirm the theory.