“Description of the Catface Property, Vancouver Island, BC” is a report prepared by SRK Consulting (Steffen Robertson and Kirsten (Canada)) for Doublestar Resources, February 2003.

The report summarizes all the info collected, up to Feb. 2003, about the Catface Mountain copper deposit in Clayoquot Sound. It also offers an analysis of waste rock and tailings disposal options, something not considered in previous reports.

Here’s a summary of the main points from the SRK report about the potential open-pit copper mine on Catface Mountain:

-158 million tonnes estimated copper-molybdenum deposit, with potential for 300 million tonnes

-the 158 million tonnes is from “Cliff Zone” deposit

-potential exists for expansion of Cliff deposit, plus there are 2 more deposits, Irishman (Bawden) Creek Zone and Hecate Bay Zone, which have not been studied enough to enable resource estimates, hence the potential for 300 million tonnes total

-gold, silver and possibly rhenium also present, but not estimated

-low grade copper, .4%, which means 99.6% of ore is waste and ends up as tailings

-volume of tailings would be in the order of 103 to 250 million cubic metres (123 to 300 million tonnes) (tailings = pulverized ore that remains after minerals are extracted)

-total volume of waste rock could be 110 to 170 million cubic metres (198 to 306 million tonnes) (waste rock = rock that has to be stripped off in order to reach the copper ore)

-closest suitable area for dumping waste rock and building tailings pond is lowland to north of Catface Mt, at Whitepine Cove

-map shows potential waste rock disposal area as occupying the upper half of  Pineetl Creek, a salmon bearing stream that flows into Whitepine Cove at Pineetl Indian Reserve (Ahousaht First Nation)

-map shows potential tailings pond covering the lower half of Pineetl Valley, as well as 2 adjacent streams (one to the west, and one to the east –the one to the east flows into Cypre River through a wetland)

-tailings pond is shown as about 2 km x 1 km in area, stretching from Pineetl Indian Reserve boundary to Cypre River

-a dam 50 to 80 metres high will be required to hold the tailings pond

-the main “Cliff Zone” deposit extends to 350 metres depth, so at least the top 350 metres (1,150 feet) of Catface Mt would be removed –height of Catface is 962 metres (North Peak) and 880 metres (South Peak)

-mining of Irishman Creek and Hecate Bay Zones would increase mine’s footprint

-due to high rainfall (3.3 metres annually), issue of run off from open-pit mine and its effect on water volume and water quality in streams that encircle Catface Mt

-issue of heavy metal and sulphuric acid leaching: water drainage may be acid rock drainage, or neutral drainage containing copper, or possibly alkaline drainage containing molybdenum

-seismic (tremors/earthquakes) and tsunami risks exist

-required infrastructure: deep water port, ore processing plant, office, maintenance facilities, power from diesel generators


Additional impacts not covered by SRK report:

-continuous noise and dust (mine operates non-stop, 24/7), night lighting

-will be seen and heard from Ahousaht (3 km west of Catface) and Tofino (13 km south); Ahousaht will get dust, and probably Tofino as well

-shipping will have to go through deep channels around the north side of Flores Island, in pristine waters

-due to high rainfall, tailings pond is bound to overflow, despite a 50 to 80 metre-high enclosing dam

 

Additional Info:

-in 2007, Doublestar was bought by Selkirk Metals Corp, also out of Vancouver

-so far, things are still at the exploratory testing phase -Doublestar tried for 6 years to get Ahousaht First Nation to sign a Memorandum of Understanding re exploratory drilling, but was unsuccessful because Ahousaht community is so divided on the issue

-in mid-March, 2008, a Memorandum of Understanding re exploration was signed between Selkirk Metals and Ahousaht Band Council, although hereditary chiefs remain opposed

-in July 2008, BC Ministry of Mines approved Selkirk's application for exploratory drilling, without obtaining approval from local Central Region Board, as is required for all resource use applications in Clayoquot Sound

- Selkirk carried out exploratory drilling from mid-July to early September 2008; drill results from 6 cores confirmed a low grade copper molybdenum deposit (about 0.4% copper)

-in April 2009, Selkirk applied for a second season of exploratory drilling

-some years of exploration are still required before Selkirk would be ready to apply for permits for an actual mine

Updated June 2009 by Friends of Clayoquot Sound