Victoria Gold Corp. and its Eagle Mine continue to be criticized about the June 24 landslide that has closed the site, this time by a Whitehorse scientist.

The Yukon government is under fire as well.

Angela Sabo, a Whitehorse scientist with some expertise in mining, is the latest to provide The Yukon Star with her perspective on what’s happened. She spoke to the paper Monday afternoon, expressing her concerns about what has happened and the clean-up efforts.

Her major point was one the government has not made clear so far. Officials have talked about how Victoria Gold has provided the government with a $104-million security deposit in the form of a bond to be used to remediate the mine once it closes if the company doesn’t do the work itself.

Sabo said that’s a bit deceptive, since she understands that money can only be accessed once the mine closes, and not for emergency situations like what is currently happening.

John Thompson, a communications analyst for the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, provided a somewhat unclear answer on that subject after being contacted by the Star.

“We collect financial security from all major mines in order to pay for reclamation and closure in the event of an operator failing to complete this work. The Yukon government may also use financial security in other, limited circumstances, as set out in the Quartz Mining Act and Waters Act,” Thompson said.

“It’s important to note that at this time the operator is responding to the situation on-site. We collect security for circumstances when that is not the case.”

That would suggest the government is not tapping into that bond as yet – something which two technical briefings have failed to clearly address, although there has been considerable talk about the bond.

Sabo had a number of thoughts about what happened at the site to make the heap leach pad collapse and trigger a landslide.

She said it’s possible the permafrost at the site could have melted, destabilizing the pad.

Sabo also said water infiltration is another possibility, similar to what other experts have been talking about.

The heap leach mound might also not have been levelled properly. The bigger you build such a pad, she said, the easier it can fall.

Sabo cited other mines where such heap leach pads have fallen. In one case she mentioned, the mine closed for more than 20 years.

Traces of cyanide were still found when it reopened, demonstrating how difficult it was to conduct a successful cleanup.

“You can’t do a quick cleanup, for sure,” Sabo said.

The mine shouldn’t have been built in its current location, she said, adding there simply isn’t enough space.

“But that’s the mentality of the Yukon,” Sabo said. “Mining is the only feasible industry here. There should be more accountability on the part of the politicians.” 

Sabo also noted that since the Eagle Mine is still relatively new, Victoria Gold might not have paid any royalties to the government as yet under the terms of territorial legislation.