Contractors working at Yellowknife’s Giant Mine say blasting has now been moved to the afternoon of Tuesday, May 12.
Three hours of blasting are scheduled, between 1pm and 4pm, though that could change depending on the weather.
Blasting had originally been planned for Monday. Temperature and wind direction both need to be ‘favorable’ to proceed according to the contractor, Parsons.
The blasting will supply gravel to help reinforce the C1 pit at the mine site.
As part of the project to make the contaminated former gold mine safe, the pit needs reinforcing to ensure water from nearby Baker Creek can’t get in – which would risk spreading contaminated material.
Read more: What’s happening at Giant Mine – federal government
The contractor says precautions will be taken to stop dust from the blasting leaving the site.
The project is managed by the federal government, which anticipates paying a billion dollars, over the span of decades, to make the mine safe and maintain the site in future.
