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Advocate Mines
1960
Advocate Mines, NL
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Advocate/Baie Verte Mines/Terra Nova Ltd.
The Baie Verte asbestos deposit was discovered in 1955 by Norman Peters, a Newfounland prospector. Almost immediately after its discovery preliminary work began, and a test facility was set up at camp #1, near the current location of the Fleur de Lys dump. In 1963 the official opening of Advocate mines, a division of the giant John Mansfield Company, occurred. This new mine modern facility, and open pit mining began there in the same year. At this point the mine employed up to 550 people. However as the mine progressed into the 70's it became apparent that the mining of asbestos was hazardours to the health of the workers, as many of them were developing cancer, lung diseases and other serious problems. In 1976 the union was successful in having Dr. Irving J. Selikoff, a world renowned specialist, come to Baie Verte and examine 485 mine and mill workers. This report confirmed the fears of the workers and the union demanded that the company enact measures in order to ensure their safety. The company refused to listen, it stated that the proposal was not economically feasible. Future premier A Brian Peckford, who was then Minister of Mines, took a similar position, pointing out that pursuing a hard line on these issues jeopardized the operation. The union stood firm, and when no deal was reached, the workers went on strike. The strike lasted 14 weeks and included mass demonstrations. Eventually the company gave into many of the unions demands, and some improvements in the area of working and living conditions. By 1980, however, the Baie Verte Mine was facing another set of problems. Although the asbestos reserves were still estimated to be very extensive, the higher grade material which was readily available near the surface was in short supply. This coupled with the low market value and health concerns of the day forced the mine to close in 1981.
The mine was reopened in 1982 by Transpacific asbestos, which ran the operation under the name of Baie Verte Mines Ltd. This continued until 1990 when legal and health problems forces the mines closure once more.
On July 23, 1991 Terra Nova Ltd. Began production by extracting asbestos fibres from the mine "tailings"(waste) using a prototype "wet process". This new method was the only of its kind on the planet and was the safest method of processing asbestos known, the mine continued operation under this process until 1994 when the mine closed it doors for the last time. The property is currently being used by Northco Forest Products as the site of a modern sawmill operation.
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Advocate Mines
1980
Advocate Mines, NL
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Advocate Mines
10 August 1964
Advocate Mines, NL
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Shovels
September, 1963
Advocate Mines, NL
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First Truck of Ore
20 September 1983
Advocate Mines, NL
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Drilling holes with the Garden Denver drill
1964
Advocate Mines, NL
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1964, Drilling of blast holes using the Garden Denver drill. This air drill was the first model of drill used in the Advocate Mine when it opened in 1955. Commonly referred to as a "Hammer hole" because it hammered in the hole as it drilled. It was fitted with a 6 inch drill bit and 5 foot rods, it was capable of drilling a hole 6 inches in diameter. In 1964 these drills were fitted with dust collectors by the union because of complaints about the massive amounts of dust that the drill created when being used.
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A large Joy drill
18 February 1967
Advocate Mines, NL
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February 18th, 1967. A large Joy drill, this diesel powered hydraulic drill was the second model of drill to be used after the Garden Denver air drill.
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First Blast
April, 1960
Advocate Mines, NL
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Driller
1964
Advocate Mines, NL
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Office
May, 1963
Advocate Mines, NL
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May 1963, Quality control is an important component of the refining process for asbestos. Shown here is the quality control laboratory where samples are prepared and the Bauer Mcnett test for fibre length is conducted.
Pictured left to right, Dawson Anthony, Cecil Gilbert, Jack Shea, and Gerald Dwyer.