Reed possible chromite mine Gateford and Macamic say

Partners Gateford Resources and Macamic Resources expect to have a drill program completed by March, 1988, on their Reed-Belanger chromite property in the Eastern Townships, Que. Macamic must spend $750,000 on the program in order to earn a 50% interest, Jacques Beauregard, Macamic’s president, told The Northern Miner during a meeting with Gateford officers.

A former chromite producer, the Reed-Belanger is believed to host one million tons grading 8%-10% chromite. The Macamic-funded program has the objective of defining between 3 million-5 million tons of similar grading material. If successful, the property would be capable of treating 20,000-40,000 tons of material for processing into ferrochrome — a chromium value added product, Gary Van Nest, president of Gateford explained.

The partners are especially encouraged by the geology of the property, which suggests that the tonnage objective could be met by the upcoming drill program. Also, low hydro costs in Quebec make the project attractive, as conversion to ferrochrome is extremely energy sensitive. (Quebec has some of the lowest hydro costs in the world.)

Chromium finds numerous applications in military and chemical uses as a metallurgical alloying metal. Current U.S. demand is met entirely from offshore mines, primarily from African producers.