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technical report on the nechalacho deposit, thor lake project ...

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THOR LAKE INFRASTRUCTURE<br />

SURFACE INFRASTRUCTURE<br />

The surface facilities will be organized into a compact unit to reduce <strong>the</strong> need for buses and<br />

employee transportati<strong>on</strong>. All facilities will be c<strong>on</strong>nected by corridors to provide pedestrian<br />

access in all wea<strong>the</strong>r c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s between <strong>the</strong> mill/power house/shops/offices and<br />

accommodati<strong>on</strong> units.<br />

CONCENTRATE STORAGE – THOR LAKE SITE<br />

C<strong>on</strong>centrate is planned to be stored at <strong>the</strong> Thor Lake and Pine Point sites and transported in<br />

custom-designed, covered c<strong>on</strong>tainers with removable lids. Each c<strong>on</strong>tainer will hold ~45 t wet<br />

solids as a damp filter cake. Initially, 1,600 c<strong>on</strong>tainers will be required at each end of <strong>the</strong> supply<br />

chain. Aval<strong>on</strong> will purchase c<strong>on</strong>tainers for its exclusive use. The first half of <strong>the</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tainers are<br />

required <strong>on</strong> site at <strong>the</strong> start of operati<strong>on</strong>s but <strong>the</strong> purchase and delivery of <strong>the</strong> sec<strong>on</strong>d half can<br />

be deferred until <strong>the</strong> first shipments of c<strong>on</strong>centrate are outbound from <strong>the</strong> site.<br />

C<strong>on</strong>tainers will be weighed and stored near <strong>the</strong> mill at <strong>the</strong> Thor Lake site through <strong>the</strong> winter<br />

m<strong>on</strong>ths. Over a <strong>on</strong>e year period <strong>the</strong>re will be approximately 1,600 c<strong>on</strong>tainers filled with<br />

c<strong>on</strong>centrate. If <strong>the</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tainers are stored in a single layer a 32,000 m 2 storage area is required<br />

(before allowance for driveways).<br />

As c<strong>on</strong>centrate quality may vary over an operating year a system for tracking loaded c<strong>on</strong>tainers<br />

and <strong>the</strong>ir c<strong>on</strong>tents will be developed. The same system will be required for returning c<strong>on</strong>tainers<br />

so that supplies can be located in a timely fashi<strong>on</strong>.<br />

In <strong>the</strong> spring when roads have cleared and frost is no l<strong>on</strong>ger an issue <strong>the</strong> loaded c<strong>on</strong>tainers will<br />

be moved to <strong>the</strong> storage area adjacent to GSL so that <strong>the</strong>y are in positi<strong>on</strong> for loading when <strong>the</strong><br />

annual shipping seas<strong>on</strong> commences. C<strong>on</strong>tainers will be moved short distances at <strong>the</strong> Thor<br />

Lake plant site and at <strong>the</strong> dock at GSL by c<strong>on</strong>tainer forklift. For <strong>the</strong> 8 km haul to <strong>the</strong> GSL dock<br />

<strong>the</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tainers will be loaded <strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>tainer trailers at <strong>the</strong> TLP site and offloaded at <strong>the</strong> dock site.<br />

Expanded Rate C<strong>on</strong>centrate Producti<strong>on</strong> Handling<br />

At <strong>the</strong> rate of 2,000 tpd <strong>the</strong> number of c<strong>on</strong>tainers to be handled at each end each year will<br />

increase to 3,200. The additi<strong>on</strong>al c<strong>on</strong>tainers will be purchased as part of <strong>the</strong> expansi<strong>on</strong> capital.<br />

Temporary Storage at Project<br />

The storage area at GSL will require space for loaded and empty c<strong>on</strong>tainers, c<strong>on</strong>tainer<br />

movement and loading, fuel storage and some bulk storage space. The yard will be designed to<br />

Technical Report 43-101 – March 13, 2011 Page 18-51<br />

Prepared by Aval<strong>on</strong> Rare Metals Inc.

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