Snowline Gold Corp is a visionary leader in the Canadian mining sector, focused on district-scale, greenfield gold discoveries to find world-class gold deposits in the Yukon, Canada. The majority of this work takes place in the eastern Tombstone Gold Belt, which hosts their flagship Rogue Property, and Valley deposit. This region is known for its rich mineral deposits and challenging geological and inclement environmental conditions.
Snowline Gold chose Minconsult Exploration Services through a competitive bid, impressed by our track record and our ability to handle complex construction projects in remote places.
Project Scope
Minconsult’s first season of work involved the construction of over 100 drill, pump and helicopter pads at various locations within the remote mountain terrain of the Selwyn Basin; this was particularly challenging because mountain hazards were a possible threat to both the crew and their gear. Drilling in the area was essential for conducting advanced drilling operations in order to assess the region’s potential.
The Challenges
Located in remote, mountainous terrain, the project area and mountain range with all the hazards that come with such terrain; this risks the drilling crews’ safety and the expensive drilling equipment. Additionally, the remote nature of the sites meant that logistics and access were highly challenging, complicating the transport of materials and personnel. Snowline needed a reliable and experienced partner who could handle both demanding environmental conditions and a company experienced in assessing managing risk in remote mountainous sites.
Minconsult’s Role
Our role was comprehensive, including risk assessment, strategic planning, site construction, and continuous safety management.
Our Approach
Our strategy blended risk management with hands-on construction experience. Before breaking ground, we completed detailed risk assessments of potential hazards to better understand what we were against.
Objectives:
- To safely construct drill pads in difficult mountainous areas.
- To ensure all construction remained on schedule in order to meet drilling timelines.
- To manage environmental and geological risks, prioritize all personnel and equipment safety.
The Solution
Minconsult created a risk management strategy, including a comprehensive hazard assessment. This initial assessment identified key risk factors, including rockfall potential and weather-related hazards, and outlined preventive measures to mitigate these risks effectively.
Site Selection and Risk Mitigation
Our team leaders and mountain safety technicians were at the heart of our project. With more than 30+ years of experience between them, their insights were critical in choosing the right sites for our operations. Together, they worked to ensure that we minimized any risks while optimizing the layout for maximum efficiency. Their expertise made a difference in setting us up for success in challenging mountain terrain.
Embedded Rescue Capability
We brought specialized rescue personnel directly onto our construction crews. This enhanced our on-site emergency response capabilities and provided the team with an enhanced sense of security, knowing that their safety and support were a priority.
Continuous Monitoring and Adaptation
We used cutting-edge technology to set up real-time weather monitoring and ongoing assessments of geohazards. This helped us adjust our strategies whenever there were environmental changes, allowing us to make continual progress while prioritizing safety.
The Results
We completed the project and set new benchmarks in terms of safety and operational efficiency in challenging environments.
- Zero Lost Time Incidents, Maximum Efficiency: We built over 100 structures in remote mountain terrain and upheld an excellent safety record from day one despite working in some of the most demanding conditions imaginable.
- Client Satisfaction and Trust: Our efforts exceeded Snowline Gold’s expectations across the board: safety, efficiency, and risk management. This success has highlighted our expertise as a leader in complex remote construction and strengthened our client relationship.
Our role in Rogue Project’s success demonstrated our ability to handle complex and challenging projects while reinforcing our reputation as a safe construction leader in demanding environments. Throughout this project, we focused on safety, innovative solutions, and operational excellence, leading to outcomes that exceeded the Client’s expectations.
Working in the Yukon’s Selwyn Basin, we achieved our construction goals with zero lost time incidents despite the challenging environment; this is a testament to our rigorous safety protocols and the professionalism of our team. This project exemplifies how Minconsult Exploration Services’ commitment to excellence, deep industry knowledge, and ability to innovate under pressure result in superior outcomes for our clients.
