NorZinc receives permits for Prairie Creek mine

NorZinc plans to start production at the Prairie Creek zinc-lead mine in 2020. (Image from archives)

Vancouver-based NorZinc, owner of the Prairie Creek zinc-lead project 200 km west of Fort Simpson, has received the water licence and land use permit from Parks Canada for its portion of the all-season road to the mine site.

Combined with NorZinc’s existing mine operating permits, and the road permits issued by the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board earlier this month, the company now has all the major permits needed for construction and operation of the mine.

The company must receive updated road management plans before construction can begin on a winter road. Timely receipt of the updates is necessary to keep the project on track.

Don MacDonald, president and CEO of NorZinc stated, “I would like to thank all those inside and outside of NorZinc who have put in so much hard work, over so many years, to make this day possible.”

The history of the Prairie Creek mine – going back to the initial discovery in 1928 and the machinations of the Hunt brothers in the 1980s.

(This article first appeared in the Canadian Mining Journal)