The file contains photographs originally found in an unmarked and undated black binder depicting colour-coded mill equipment and machinery. Several of these images are annotated “Bell”, “Bell Asbestos”, and “National”. It is speculated that these images originate from the underground asbestos mine in Thetford Mines, Quebec operated by Bell Asbestos Mines Ltd. and the National Mine in Quebec. One image appears to be, or looks similar to the new mill at Cassiar, built in 1971.
File contains photographs annotated Nordenham, presumably indicating that these images were taken in the Asbestos Corporation's plant in Nordenham Germany. The images depict bagging machinery in the mill, including a palletizer, automatic sewing machine, packer, shrinkwrap machine, glue applicator and cement bags. Some of the images include detailed annotations.
Handwritten photo captions below this item and item 2000.1.1.2.2.2: "ELEVATION OF SITE: 6000' " "Two views of completed Crusher Bldg." Man in white hard hat stands beside steel drums in front of garage door on side of crusher building. Mountainside road to crusher in foreground, mountain range in background.
Photograph depicts man driving bulldozer in front of framework for Crusher building, view facing into the mountain. Excavated dirt in foreground.
Photograph depicts three men pushing wheelbarrows in crusher construction site. The end of a tractor is semi-visible on right of image. Miscellaneous tools and materials scattered throughout area, rock wall of mountainside in background.
View facing into mountainside and showing various levels of foundations. Men can be seen working on site. Unidentified machinery and pile of long metal rods in foreground.
Photograph depicts a round bucket attached to the main hook line of a crane (crane not visible in image) suspended over building framework in crusher construction site. Four construction workers stand around the bucket. Two men can be seen on roof of long building in background believed to be the section of the crusher building which housed conveyor B. Dirt road crosses midground.
Photograph depicts one man standing on framework of crusher building and a second man leaning over on a lower level. Lumber and hose in foreground.
Handwritten caption beside this photo reads: "View of Crusher Base." Wood and metal framework throughout, lumber and scaffolding in foreground. View facing into mountainside.
View showing various levels of foundations. Men can be seen working on site. Vertically protruding planks from framework in foreground. A long building believed to be housing conveyor "B" can be seen in background, as well as the tree-covered valley.
Handwritten caption beside this photo reads: "Damage to Cassiar Grader, result of hazardous access to site". Rocks and rubble in foreground, mountain in background. Grader appears to be sitting on edge of cliff.
Photograph depicts four construction workers in front of tall wood structure extending to top level of construction area. Building material and supplies cover the ground: lumber, saw horses etc. Barricades against loose rock enclose area in midground (see item 2000.1.1.2.352). Plastic-covered pile sits at top level in background.
Photograph depicts different levels of crusher foundations built into mountainside. Dirt piles and unidentified machinery in foreground, power lines and mountain range in background.
Handwritten caption beside this photo reads: "Lowering Crusher Base into place." Square crusher base in foreground is being lowered by a traveler crane on wheels. Two construction workers stand watching on left. Crane stands against mountainside in background.
Handwritten caption beside this photo reads: "Moving the sides of Bin into place. Weight nine tons". Two construction workers on right of a large steel bin side. Steel framework and sheeting in background.
Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "RETAINING RIBS JUNE 29/64". Photograph depicts construction workers on and near wooden framework structure extending from base of crusher building. Crane in background against mountainside. Miscellaneous construction equipment and materials throughout.
This file contains various aspects of the underground mine.
- Photos depicting damage to the underground mine such as fallen rocks, cracked shotcrete, twisted rock bolts and metal mesh, exposed and damaged steel structural frames, and repairs underway.
- Steel cables, chains, support arches, and custom welded rebar frames used in the structural reinforcement of the underground mine.
- Several engineering tests related to the structural damages are depicted.
- Two sets of images show a Porta Power hydraulic tool with a ready rod attached, a hand pump, as well as images of a technician testing the holding power of a rock bolt.
- Set of images documents a technician drilling cores and installing extensometer anchors, as well as grouting the anchors and connecting an extensometer. Technicians are shown inspecting damages with a ruler and rockhammer for scale.
- A set of images showcase the threaded rebar, nuts, and face plates used for rockbolts.
- Utility vehicles, yellow vent ducting, and utility pipes are visible in several images.
- Also include is an image of a man in office space, foggy night scene with a telephone pole, office desk, stack of supplies including concrete, steel cable, and spray paint, and several images of a broken piece of ore and concrete outside the mine portal.
- Several images depict miners working in the bucket of a scoop tram.
- Photos of the stramler feeder breakers, which was used in the underground mine.
- Images of ground support verifications where the deficiency of the exhaust ramp was investigated. This collection has various annotations explaining the broken shotcrete and the wire mesh installed.
- A collection of photographs depicting tunnel shotcrete failures. Each photograph has an accompanied textual annotation.
- Photos of MMD #750 Sizer equipment - assumed used in Underground Mine.
- Photos of pump used in 1335 level, wheel fan for ventilation removed from 1350 level,
- A collection of ground fall event 29 March 1989 - with annotations depicting damage
File contains images depicting the underground mine at Cassiar, showing structural damages, repaired damage ground support, and mining and repair processes.
The file contains a photo inventory entitled “Underground Mine Structural Inspection, Rock Mechanics Dept. Foto Documentation” with a complete file inventory linking the picture number to a location, title, and dated film. This photographic documentation was assembled for the purposes of liaising with a underground mining consultant located in South Africa.
- Images document structural ground support including steel cables, support arches, metal mesh, shotcrete, rockbolts, wooden beams.
- Images show ground support damaged through ground movement, but some depict newly installed or repaired support.
- Images depict ventilation ducting that was crushed or torn.
- Mining processes depicted include miners installing a rock breaker, miners paving the adit floor with concrete, miners inspecting a damaged section of mine, miner loading drill or blastholes with ANFO (ammonium nitrate / fuel oil mixture) explosives, and long hole drilling.
- Technical elements of the underground mine depicted include a mining device and ore in a chute (annotated ‘1290 crusher’), the conveyor, ‘LH drill’, ore processing machine annotated ‘1350 breaker’, and an electrical box titled ‘Weighometer’.
- Specific locations shown include ore draw points, ore passes, access drifts, a hatch and door titled “Fuel station 1415”, and a dead end drift with a stack of equipment and an orange cable annotated “1335 access electrical stations”.
File depicts a Caterpillar front end loader. Images show dozens of angles and a number of components including the shovel, the engine, the cab, and the tires. Machine seems to be located in some kind of junkyard. Notes on original photo envelope: "Photos taken by Finning during final inspection."
Image of man seated with shovel in mountainous area, loose asbestos fibre in background. This photograph is believed to be either a double exposure of two images, or a print made from two negatives at once. Photo depicts an unidentified man sitting on the south ridge of the Cassiar ore body, where the crusher and rock reject plant would eventually sit. Valley in background appears to depict the "Footwall Road," which was cut into the mountain from the pit to the crusher plant and became the mine's main haul road.
Photograph depicts unknown men driving bulldozers on edge of mine area at high elevation. Dozers are Internationals, model TD24 (manufactured between 1947 and 1955). Valley and mountain range in background.
Photograph depicts unknown man driving bulldozer on edge of mine area at high elevation. Mine road can be seen below leading to Cassiar plant in background on left, townsite visible on right. South mountain range in distance. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "1961".
Photograph depicts benches from strip mining operations at the Cassiar mine. Haul trucks and equipment believed to be used for explosive purposes can be seen in mine. Shop and mountain range visible in background. Handwritten annotation on recto of photograph: "Cassiar, BC / June 1970 / by Tom Kiefer". Image consists of three photographic prints adhered together to form one comprehensive panoramic.
Photograph depicts men standing near two Atlas Copco Drillmasters (blasthole drills). These are precision hammer drills which had their own power source. Large bags of ammonium nitrate in foreground, mountainside in background. The men depicted here were likely members of the explosive crew. It is believed that this photo was taken on the North ridge, near the cirque dump. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "1961".
Photograph depicts a man wearing a hard hat preparing long narrow bags of explosive material. Large bags of ammonium nitrate in right foreground, mountains in background. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "1961".
Photograph depicts a man wearing a hard hat preparing long narrow bags of explosive material. Large bags of ammonium nitrate in right foreground, mountains in background. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "1961".
Photograph depicts a man near the diesel-fired burners of the ore dryers. The large pipes and valves above were part of the fuel supply system fed by Cassiar's fuel tank farm which also supplied the power house generators. The dryer section of the mill received ore from the crushing plant by tramline and truck. These burners blasted the ore with hot air, and dried ore to desired moisture content before it was sent to the dry rock storage building and stored for mill use. Handwritten annotation on verso of photograph: "1961".
Photograph depicts unidentified man lifting package of asbestos bags with forklift in large building. Truck in background, ready for loading. Tires and wood flats against wall in background.
Photograph depicts palletizer machinery, where bags of asbestos fibre were shrink-wrapped and made ready for shipping pallets. Palletizer was located near shipping (believed to be in mill building). Unidentified man visible in machinery on far left.
Photograph depicts 4 men working on building speculated to be foundation for diesel engine. Oil tanks and mountains in background.
Photograph depicts 4 men and dog in front of building (first man not clearly visible). Corresponding note on accompanying photo description page: "2. Four staff members (poor snap). L to R - Paisaud, Farewell, Tigert Hood. Taken in front of office."
Photograph depicts 2 men working on building project, rocks and boulders in foreground, mountainside in background. Corresponding note on accompanying photo description page: "6. Making concrete form for first diesel engine, Two men in foreground."
Photograph depicts 5 men working on structure in snowy area, 1 man on ground with wheelbarrow, trees and mountainside in background. Corresponding note on accompanying photo description page: "9. Pouring concrete for mill. Man wheeling wheelbarrow in foreground."
Photograph depicts 5 men working on mill construction in foreground. Dump truck, equipment, tool shed, group of men, trees and mountain base in background. Corresponding note on accompanying photo description page: "10. Pouring concrete for mill walls. Man dumping wheelbarrow in foreground."
Photograph depicts dog and group of men working in cluttered building project, wood planks scattered throughout, trees in background. Corresponding note on accompanying photo description page: "12. Concrete pier for feed end of drier. Wooden forms stripped. Tool shed in background."
Photograph depicts man near two buildings under construction, building supplies on ground. Tree branch in foreground; finished buildings, trees, and mountain in background. Corresponding note on accompanying photo description page: "5. Tent campsite. Looking west."
Photograph depicts group of men working in construction area among saw horses. Snow and lumber pile cross foreground. Visible in background: dump truck, white tent building, stand of trees, unidentified machinery speculated to be concrete mixer. Corresponding note on accompanying photo description page: "1. Building forms for concrete walls - Service Garage. This building is to be used temporarily as a machine shop."
Photograph depicts two men working near concrete mixer and wood frames for walls. Snow and lumber in foreground; two buildings (one white tent building), stand of trees, and mountain in background. Corresponding note on accompanying photo description page: "2. Pouring concrete for foundation walls - Service [garage]."
File contains photographs documenting the construction of Cassiar's new mill building. Photos depict early excavation, foundations, framework, construction of all seven stories, sheeting, siding, and roof tarring. Also included are photos depicting the large model of the mill, as well as construction work done on the tramline. Photos taken inside the mill depict flooring work, and milling machinery including feed chutes, screens, fans, wheelabrators, control panels, electrical panels, conveyor systems, vacuum systems, and the fan-driven air system that transported the fiber. Many photos depict construction workers, building supplies, worksites, and equipment including cranes, bulldozers, tractors, hauling trucks and trailer flatbeds. Some photos depict aerial views from the new mill and feature the plantsite, tramline, mine road, mountains, and valley.
Photograph depicts Joseph wearing safety gear while standing at testing equipment on raised sampling station. Sign below Joseph reads "DO NOT DISTURB / SAMPLING IN PROGRESS / PROPERTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL DEPT. / CASSIAR ASBESTOS LTD." Helen Joseph took air quality tests in the working areas and town (see item 2000.1.1.3.19.135). Power lines, unidentified building, and mountain base visible in background. Photo was taken during winter.
Photograph depicts two unidentified men wearing coveralls, hard hats, and headphones, while working at table in garage. Blasthole drill stands behind them in background.
Men can be seen working on site, building tools and supplies scattered throughout. Handwritten caption beside this photo reads: "View showing various levels of foundations". A chute of some kind extends from high level to men near bottom. Dirt road at site, and tree-covered valley can be seen in background. Construction of a long structure near the edge of the excavation area can be seen in midground; this is believed to be conveyor "B".
Man in hard hat and overalls bent over wood structure in front of a wood box. Crusher building foundation, mountainside, and power lines in background.
Handwritten caption beside this photo reads: "Work crew eating in open at 10˚ below zero, evicted from Lunchroom, due to damage to, from falling rock." Men are shown sitting in snow. Various metal materials in foreground, snow-covered mountainside in background. It is believed that power lines are also visible in background.
Four construction workers stand to left of blasthole drill number "604" among many empty cardboard boxes. Mountain range can be seen in background.
Handwritten caption beside this photo reads: "Placing Crusher Pinion; Pitman; weight approx. 20 tons". Man stands on top of a very tall, red peice of equipment believed to be a crusher pitman. Boom of crane is visible in foreground, and two other men stand on a high level of the crusher building. Crusher foundations, an unidentified building, and mountain in background.
Handwritten caption beside this photo reads: "Erection of steel framework of Building". Red rectangular equipment stands enclosed in wood frame, which is also being enclosed in the much larger steel frame of the crusher building. Men are working on site, and boom of traveler crane can be seen on right. Other buildings at crusher plant are visible at top of mountain in background.
Handwritten caption beside this photo reads: "View of Bin and Pan Feeder". Interior view of crusher building. A square, snow-covered object is being lowered by crane into building.
Photograph depicts the steel sheeting of the crusher building underway. Three men stand on platform suspended by cables close to roof of crusher building. Three other men can be seen working on the roof of the building, one walking, one sitting, one lying on his stomach very close to the edge. All are wearing safety gear. Cassiar mountain range in background.
Conveyor sits on tall steel framework, encased in steel sheeting, and stands to right of snow-covered slope. Propane tank sits on log structure below conveyor. Snowy mountains in background. See also item 2000.1.1.2.373. Handwritten caption below this photo reads: "Project completed - at 52˚ temp."