RICHARDSON TOWNSHIP, ON — A large, unexpected buildup of water in a tailings area has disrupted some operations at New Gold's Rainy River mine northwest of Fort Frances.
The company says the mill has been shut down, but it hopes to become fully operational within five days, depending on whether more precipitation falls.
In a statement on Wednesday, New Gold Inc. said that after the problem came to light, it idled the mill on April 24 and calculated there was approximately 700,000 cubic metres of excess water stored in the mine's tailings management area.
The buildup, it said, was "driven by the rapid spring melt and large snow pack this year."
With the help of additional pumps, the company is now transferring water from the TMA to a water management pond.
It said it is also working with government regulators to expedite the deposition of tailings into another cell in order to improve overall water management.
Mining and crushing operations have not been impacted, with ore being stockpiled for processing when the mill is restarted.
