CommunityOpen House

OPEN HOUSE August 14, 16, 19, 2014

Blue Mountain Plant

Open House Agenda

Nepheline Operations

History and current status

Nepheline

What is it? / Uses?

Summary of mining & processing activities

Environmental Improvements

Upcoming Projects

Questions & Answers

Tour of Quarry/Tailings

History

The Nepheline ore body was discovered in the 1890’s but it’s potential was not recognized until the 1920’s after research into glassware and ceramics

Mining has taken place at this site for over 75 years

Blue Mountain - since 1955

Nephton – since 1935

Canada was the first country to develop the use of Nephelineas a raw material for glass, ceramic and filler industries and was the world's only producer for many years

Unimin’s Nepheline is shipped all over the world including North America, Central America, Europe, Australia and Asia

Canadian NephelineOperations

Current Status

There are 2 operating plants on the property Blue Mountain & Nephton

Currently, active mining is conducted adjacent to the Blue Mountain plant site

The quarry produces approximately 1,000,000 tons annually

Unimin employs ~200 people

Unimin is supported by numerous industries, vendors and suppliers in the area

Nepheline A white to light gray medium-grained igneous rock

Consists of feldspars, nepheline and minor amounts of mafic minerals, such as biotite, hornblende and magnetite

Inert and non-toxic

Silica-free so it cannot cause silicosis

A preferred source of raw materials for glass manufacturing because it causes glass batches to melt rapidly at lower temperatures, which reduces energy consumption, lengthens the life of the glass furnace and improves the yield and quality of glass

Nepheline Syenite

What is it used for?

Ceramics Porcelain Hygiene Products Abrasives Plastics & Filters Glass Paint Insulation

Uses

Nepheline Milling Operations

Ore is recovered by drilling, blasting and hauling from traditional open pits.

It is processed using dry, mechanical, non-chemical methods including: Crushing Drying Separation (air & magnetic) Screening Grinding

Product Storage and Loadout (rail & truck)

Mining

The ore is located in a ridge that extends from Blue Mountain plant in the north, to the Nephton plant in the south - a distance of ~ 7 kms

For almost 30 years now, mining has been conducted from two quarries adjacent to the Blue Mountain plant site

Unimin’s mine planning department has estimated that these two quarries have a mine life of at least 25 years

Unimin will continue to expand the quarry footprint to the west and south as the ore quality dictates

Blue Mountain active quarries

Mineral Processing

The mine rock is transformed into sand-size and powder-size material and shipped to the customers as bagged or bulk product in trucks and rail cars

The rock is processed without chemicals, by dry mechanical processes, including crushers, grinding mills, screens, air classifiers, magnetic separators, conveyors, and bucket elevators

Traditionally Unimin ensured that all process changes included dust abatement strategies. More recently, existing and new process changes have considered noise abatement as part of the project scope

Process changes are designed for minimizing waste and improving product quality

Process changes are authorized by the MOECC prior to construction

Blue Mountain Plant site

Tailings Crushed rock that is not sold as product can be commingled with

waste rock but it is usually placed in tailings storage areas

Mineral waste is mixed with water and pumped as slurry to the tailings where it settles. Clean decanted water is discharged to the environment as per our ECA (Environmental Compliance Approval)

Nepheline tailings are inert and non-toxic

The tailings grow and support vegetation

Unimin’s consultant designed a tailings that could be advanced vertically in three 5-metre lifts. Unimin secured approval for this tailings design from appropriate agencies. The first lift has now been initiated.

Blue Mountain Tailings

Tailings Dust Management

Blue Mountain utilizes three primary methods to control dust lift-off Vegetation – Buckwheat Irrigation – Large Water Cannons

Encapsulation – Rock Armour & Gravel

100% of tailings is covered by one or more of these methods

Blue Mountain also has contingency plans, where gravel or calcium chloride can be immediately applied to any areas that exhibit liftoff

WATER CANNONS - REVEGETATION& ROCK ARMOUR

Blue Mountain Tailings Dust suppression techniques:

Dust Monitoring Results

Dust monitoring has occurred around the Kasshabog Lake area in 2012, 2013 and 2014

Results to-date show that Unimin is well below MOECC dust standards

Dust mitigation efforts are successful

Noise Concerns

Unimin received a number of noise complaints in 2012 & 2013

An independent consultant has confirmed that Unimin operates within MOECC noise standards

However, Unimin has taken the following actions to further improve noise impacts:

Added numerous silencers to fans

Eliminated tonal backup alarms from mobile equipment

Continue to work with Kassh Lake residents to identify and reduce specific noise sources

Upcoming Projects

Minbloc Packaging project

Addition of bag and bulk packaging equip

Back up tailings pump project

Addition of back up pump and infrastructure

Canadian Nepheline Modernization

Equipment upgrades and additions Processing rearrangements Building removal and additions

Minbloc Packaging Project

This project transfers the Minbloc production of export shipments from Tamms, Illinois to Blue Mountain.

Addition of equipment to fill paper bags and bulk sacks with product for shipment

Installed in an industrial footprint adjacent to existing buildings

Equipment would be removed at closure

Minbloc Packaging Project Location

Back up tailings pump project

Addition of back up pump and infrastructure to improve plant reliability

Installed in an industrial footprint adjacent to existing buildings

Equipment would be removed at closure

Back up Tailings Pump Location

Canadian Nepheline Modernization

Equipment upgrades and additions

Processing rearrangements

Building removal and additions

Currently conducting engineering and environmental assessments

Environmental information will be used to develop plans to minimize impacts

Buildings will be removed at time of mine closure

From approval to completion will take 4 to 6 years

Canadian Nepheline Modernization

Reduced environmental footprint

Newer processes & technologies

Closing Nephton4 to 6 years away

Less water & energy

Permitting & Consultation

Unimin will obtain environmental permits with appropriate municipal, provincial and federal agencies

Unimin will also engage aboriginal communities in consultation

Unimin has initiated public consultation with this Open House forum

canadiannepheline.com

Questions

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