Nunavut Mining Week – mineral resources a part of territory’s past, present… and future
Nunavut has a rich history of exploration and mining. Modern mining commenced in the territory with the Rankin Inlet nickel mine which began production in 1957. Since then, several mines have been built, and today, Nunavut boasts four operating mines, three gold and one iron. To commemorate its minerals industry, Nunavut Mining Week occurs September 18-25, 2022.
NEW! 2022 Nunavut Mining Week activity booklet
We’ve updated this year’s edition of our activity booklet!
The 2022 edition is available to download here: Nunavut Activity Book
Lots of fun and interesting activities for children and youth too!
During Mining Week 2022, download and print and complete as many activities and questions as you can. Then scan or take picture and email to generalmanagernu@miningnorth.com. For a chance to win a prize pack, e-mail your work by Friday, September 23.
Click on these links for more details about Nunavut’s mineral resources industry.
Backgrounder
Over the past decade, Nunavut’s mineral resources industry has experienced a resurgence. Nunavut currently has four operating mines making the mineral resources industry the largest private sector part of the territory’s economy. The value of the territory’s mineral production has grown to $1.3 billion in 2019 from zero production in 2009. With this growth, employment and business benefits have been created for Nunavummiut.
Nunavut’s operating mines
- Meadowbank (Agnico Eagle Mines) – gold
- Meliadine (Agnico Eagle Mines) – gold
- Mary River (Baffinland Iron Mines) – iron
- Hope Bay (TMAC Resources) – gold
Nunavut mines production 2019 (Source: NRCan)
- Gold: 14,473 kilograms worth $850,710,000
- Iron ore: 5,205,000 tonnes worth $463,242,000
- Silver: 3 tonnes worth $2,027,000
Value of minerals produced 2019 (Source: NRCan)
- $1,315,978,000
- 7% of Canada’s mineral production
Employment 2018 (Source: NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines)
- Nunavut jobs: 689 (16%)
- Southern jobs: 3,648 (84%)
Business Spend 2007-2018 (Source: NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines)
- Nunavut: $4.0 billion
- Southern: $4.6 billion
Business Spend 2018 (Source: NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines)
- Nunavut: $765.9 million
- Southern: $795.7 million
Economy (Source: Nunavut Bureau of Statistics)
- Mining is 23% of Nunavut’s GDP
- Largest private sector contributor to economy
National facts and figures (Source: Mining Association of Canada)
- In 2018, Canada’s mining industry contributed $97 billion, or 5%, to Canada’s total nominal GDP
- The industry’s direct employment was 409,000 jobs and an additional 217,000 indirect jobs
- Largest private sector employer of Indigenous peoples providing over 16,500 jobs
- Canada ranks among the top five countries in the global production of 15 minerals and metals, many of which are integral to the low carbon technology needed for a greener future
- Valued at $105 billion in 2018, mineral exports accounted for 19% of Canada’s total domestic exports
- Average annual pay for a mining worker in 2018 was $123,000