Studies and field tests have been conducted since 2019 in order to assess various potential Canadian Malartic mine site restoration opportunities, with an emphasis on incorporating material from mining operations in order to promote a circular economy. For instance, the use of materials generated when certain areas of the property were stripped would do away with the need to bring in natural material from off-site borrow pits.
Construction of some 32,000 m2 of cells – the equivalent of almost six soccer fields – to test coverage options was finalized in December 2020. Each cell was fitted with instruments (a total of approximately 1,600 probes) to monitor the influence of climatic conditions on the coverage options, among other things. The cells are also equipped with a water collection system to analyze the quality of the water coming from them. Performance data have been collected from the tests since 2021 and continue to be collected. The data have been incorporated into evaluative studies of different coverage scenarios.
In addition to these coverage tests, revegetation study cells were built in order to assess the effect of vegetation on the coverage options as well as the survival of plant species on the site. Data collection began in 2017 and is ongoing.
The financial guarantee covering the cost of restoring the Canadian Malartic Mine site in a timely fashion once it ceases operations is estimated to be $320.3 M. An addendum to the Restoration Plan was filed in November 2021. The updated Restoration Plan was approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests, on May 12, 2022. Update of the restoration plan began in early 2024.
The Odyssey Mine site’s restoration plan was approved on September 3, 2021, and the financial guarantee covering the cost of restoring the entire site is slightly more than $13 M.
