The Evolution of Structural Domains from Scoping Study to Operations for the Meadowbank Mine – Amaruq Site
Authors: Madison Raddatz1, Benjamin Peacock1, Robert Mercer1, Christian Tremblay2
Conference: RockEng 2025: 23rd Canadian Rock Mechanics Symposium
Date: August 17-19, 2025
1 Knight Piésold, North Bay, Ontario, Canada
2 Agnico Eagle Mines, Nunavut, Canada
ABSTRACT
Agnico Eagle Mines operates the Meadowbank Mine - Amaruq Site in the Canadian Arctic. The open pit and underground gold mine is hosted in a folded ore body and the complex rock mass structure strongly influences open pit slope and underground excavation performance.
Structural domains were defined for areas with similar structural characteristics and refined over time as the mine moved quickly from engineering studies to operations. The structural domains reflect advances in the geological understanding of the deposit, the contribution of data collection programs, and, eventually, the observed excavation performance. Data collection at Amaruq has included over 9,000 m of oriented core drilling as well as open pit and underground mapping.
This paper discusses how the structural domains were defined, how they have evolved over time, and how they have influenced the design and operation of the open pit and underground mine at Amaruq. Lessons learned through this process that may be applicable to other projects and mines are also discussed and summarized.
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