Nanisivik Mine

Nanisivik Mine was a zinc-lead mine in the company town of Nanisivik, Nunavut, 750 km (470 mi) north of the Arctic Circle on Baffin Island. It was Canada's first mine in the Arctic.^[1] The mine first opened on 15 October 1976 and permanently closed in September 2002 due to low metal prices and declining resources. Mine reclamation began in April 2003.^[2] It was one of the most northerly mines in the world.^[3]

Nanisivik Mine

Nanisivik zinc-lead ore
Location
Nanisivik Mine Location in Canada Show map of Nunavut Nanisivik Mine Nanisivik Mine (Canada) Show map of Canada
Location	Nanisivik
Territory	Nunavut
Country	Canada
Coordinates	73°02′40″N 084°32′14″W
Production
Products	Zinc lead silver
History
Opened	1976
Closed	2002
Owner
Company	Breakwater Resources
Website	Breakwater Resources
Year of acquisition	1996 (Breakwater)

The mine was served by a port and dock located about 2.7 km (1.7 mi) north. It was used for shipping concentrate from the site, and receiving supplies. It is currently used by the Canadian Coast Guard for training^[4] and is intended to become Nanisivik Naval Facility.

The mine also had its own airport (Nanisivik Airport) located about 7 km (4.3 mi) southwest and was the main airport for Arctic Bay, until they expanded the Arctic Bay Airport. The airport is about 19 km (12 mi) directly southeast of Arctic Bay but the road between them is 32 km (20 mi).^[5]

Climate

Nanisivik has a tundra climate (ET) with long, cold winters and very short, chilly summers that are rarely mild. Early winter tends to be snowiest period of the year, with around 40% of all yearly snowfall falling during this short period.

Climate data for Nanisivik (Nanisivik Airport) Climate ID: 2402730; coordinates 72°59′N 84°37′W; elevation: 641.9 m (2,106 ft); 1981–2010 normals
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high humidex	−3.0	1.2	−2.2	−1.2	6.5	14.5	18.4	16.7	9.0	1.2	−6.3	−1.3	18.4
Record high °C (°F)	−2.0 (28.4)	2.0 (35.6)	−3.0 (26.6)	−0.5 (31.1)	7.0 (44.6)	18.5 (65.3)	18.2 (64.8)	17.0 (62.6)	8.5 (47.3)	2.0 (35.6)	−6.0 (21.2)	−4.4 (24.1)	18.5 (65.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	−26.8 (−16.2)	−27.2 (−17.0)	−24.7 (−12.5)	−16.6 (2.1)	−7.6 (18.3)	2.2 (36.0)	7.5 (45.5)	3.9 (39.0)	−3.3 (26.1)	−11.3 (11.7)	−19.8 (−3.6)	−23.6 (−10.5)	−12.3 (9.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−29.6 (−21.3)	−29.9 (−21.8)	−27.6 (−17.7)	−19.8 (−3.6)	−10.3 (13.5)	−0.1 (31.8)	5.1 (41.2)	1.7 (35.1)	−5.0 (23.0)	−13.6 (7.5)	−22.5 (−8.5)	−26.3 (−15.3)	−14.8 (5.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−32.4 (−26.3)	−32.3 (−26.1)	−30.1 (−22.2)	−22.9 (−9.2)	−13.0 (8.6)	−2.4 (27.7)	2.7 (36.9)	−0.5 (31.1)	−6.7 (19.9)	−15.8 (3.6)	−24.9 (−12.8)	−28.7 (−19.7)	−17.2 (1.0)
Record low °C (°F)	−48.5 (−55.3)	−53.0 (−63.4)	−47.5 (−53.5)	−42.0 (−43.6)	−28.3 (−18.9)	−14.0 (6.8)	−6.0 (21.2)	−10.0 (14.0)	−19.5 (−3.1)	−35.0 (−31.0)	−39.4 (−38.9)	−45.5 (−49.9)	−53.0 (−63.4)
Record low wind chill	−62.9	−72.3	−67.0	−54.8	−39.4	−24.9	−12.8	−21.0	−30.3	−50.0	−53.5	−60.6	−72.3
Average precipitation mm (inches)	5.4 (0.21)	5.1 (0.20)	8.4 (0.33)	10.9 (0.43)	24.0 (0.94)	25.2 (0.99)	45.7 (1.80)	45.0 (1.77)	38.4 (1.51)	37.4 (1.47)	18.1 (0.71)	7.3 (0.29)	270.9 (10.67)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.1 (0.00)	6.7 (0.26)	37.0 (1.46)	29.2 (1.15)	4.4 (0.17)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	77.3 (3.04)
Average snowfall cm (inches)	5.4 (2.1)	5.2 (2.0)	8.4 (3.3)	11.2 (4.4)	24.0 (9.4)	17.7 (7.0)	8.5 (3.3)	15.0 (5.9)	32.3 (12.7)	38.2 (15.0)	17.9 (7.0)	7.5 (3.0)	191.3 (75.3)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm)	4.4	4.6	6.2	5.7	9.6	8.8	12.4	12.6	13.3	14.2	8.4	6.3	106.5
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm)	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.2	10.4	8.1	1.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	22.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm)	4.4	4.6	6.2	5.8	9.6	7.1	3.0	5.4	12.1	14.3	8.5	6.4	87.3
Average relative humidity (%)	64.1	65.0	66.6	71.2	81.3	80.7	75.6	84.9	88.6	89.7	72.9	68.7	75.8
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010[6]

See also

• Polaris mine
• El Toqui mine
• El Mochito mine

References

1. "Government will continue seeking positive legacy from Nanisivik mine closure, minister says". Archived from the original on 13 March 2007. Retrieved 20 August 2007.
2. Canadian Mines Handbook 2003–2004. Toronto, Ontario: Business Information Group. 2003. p. 591. ISBN 0-919336-60-4. ISSN 0068-9289.
3. "Background on Free Trade and the Canadian Mining Industry". Val d'Or Star. 6 July 1988. p. 19. Retrieved 24 February 2016. The Northwest Territories boast two of the world's most northerly mines; Polaris on Little Cornwallis Island and Nanisivik on Baffin Island. Both are Lead and Zinc mines.
4. "Arcticnet – Naval gazing: Looking for a High Arctic port". Retrieved 7 August 2007.
5. Arctic Bay and Nanisivik Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
6. "Nanisivik A". Canadian Climate Normals 1981–2010. Environment and Climate Change Canada. 2 March 2022. Climate ID: 2402730. Retrieved 22 May 2022.