Historic Environment Challenges

Historical mining activities have brought a sense of pride and belonging to many, while leaving some legacy issues to be dealt with using today’s knowledge and technology.

For instance, mine tailings and some hazardous materials were left unmanaged at the site after mine closure.

Reducing Environmental Impacts

Gold Candle initiated remediation work after assuming ownership of the historical Kerr-Addison property in 2015.

Previous, ongoing, and current activities and initiatives to reduce environmental impacts include:

  • Removing calcium cyanide and hydrocarbon barrels (2015 and 2017)

  • Removing two old oil tanks, with waste material disposal properly documented

  • Recycling scrap metal

  • Adding gravel to raise roadbed level of the 5-Minute Trail

  • Working with experts to tackle specific aspects – studies, tests, assessments etc

  • Conducting preliminary evaluations to find impacts of potential future development

  • Increasing water recirculation when drilling

  • Using bio-degradable and non-toxic drill fluids

  • Carefully controlling existing hydrocarbons

  • Ongoing reclamation of surface disturbance

  • Cementing of any holes where water is at surface

Surface Water Sampling

Gold Candle initiated surface water sampling at the site in 2020. As increased efforts were put into the overall project in 2022, Gold Candle undertook further water sampling and other environmental evaluations around the historical workings, with the help of external consultants. Elevated concentrations of metals (including arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, iron, and nickel) were found in water seepage and lake water near the 5-Minute Trail.

Since arsenic was the element with the highest exceedance per the Ontario Provincial Water Quality Objectives, it became the primary focus of Gold Candle’s investigations.

A scoping-level preliminary Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) was completed in 2022 to assess the potential health risks associated with human exposure to substances (primarily arsenic) present in the seepage water along the 5-Minute Trail. The key finding was that short term exposures would not result in adverse health effects. 

The Company is planning on further investigating the seepages and developing a suitable management plan while the potential for Project redevelopment is better understood.