Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) reported on May 6, 2010, it had received approval from its shareholders to resume a C$435-million expansion program to increase its concentrate capacity by 4 million mt/y to 22 million mt/y by 2012. The investment is the first stage of a three-stage expansion program that could increase IOC’s concentrate capacity to 26 million mt/y. Initially approved in March 2008, the expansion program was suspended later that year as the global financial crisis impacted markets worldwide. The revised total project cost for the first-stage expansion, including investments made prior to suspension, is C$539 million.

Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines announced in mid-May 2010 receipt of a positive feasibility study for an increase in production capacity at its Bloom Lake iron mine in Quebec, Canada, from 8 million to 16 million mt/y of 66.5% Fe concentrate. Consolidated Thompson started production at Bloom Lake during the first quarter of 2010, and deliveries under previously signed off-take agreements were scheduled to begin in June.

Canada Lithium Corp. has received a positive, NI 43-101 compliant prefeasibility study of its Quebec Lithium project 60 km north of Val d’Or, Quebec. Prepared by BBA Inc. of Montreal in conjunction with SGS Lakefield, Golder Associates, Genivar Inc., and Caracle Creek International Consulting, the study proposes a Stage 1 open-pit operation producing 2,950 mt/d of ore and 19,300 mt/y of high-quality Li2CO3 on site. Total initial capital costs are estimated at $148 million, including a $27-million contingency.

Potash One reported in early April 2010 it has placed its first order for long-lead-delivery alloyed materials required to fabricate the evaporation/crystallization equipment at its Legacy potash solution mining project 80 km northwest of Regina, Saskatchewan. The evaporation/crystallization plant is being designed and supplied by Whiting Equipment Canada and will be the core of the Legacy processing facility. The order will enable Whiting to begin delivery of major equipment to the Legacy site in 2012. Commissioning and startup of the mine are planned for late 2013.

Seabridge Gold has reported results from an NI 43-101 compliant preliminary feasibility study (PFS) prepared by Wardrop of Seabridge’s 100%-owned KSM (Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell) gold-copper project in northern British Columbia. The study is based on estimated proven and probable reserves of 30.2 million oz of gold contained in 1.60 billion mt grading 0.59 g/mt gold derived from estimated total measured and indicated resources of 38.9 million oz of gold contained in 2.1 billion mt grading 0.57 g/mt gold, including allowances for mining losses and dilution.