Con Mine chemical drum found near lake not harmful, says company

A rusty chemical barrel foundrecently along the shore of Great Slave Lakenear the shuttered Con Mine likely isn't dangerous, says the mine's owners.

When aCBC employee discovered the barrel near the old Yellowknife gold minethis week, it wasempty except for black material in the bottom. The label on the abandoned drum shows it once contained potassium amyl xanthate, adangerous chemicalused to extract ore.

Con Mine closed in 2003. It's currentlyowned byNewmontMining Corporation and operated underMiramarNorthern Mining Ltd.

Potassium amylxanthateisa flotation agent used to help extract ore. It usually comes in a bag inside the drum.

General Manager Scott Stringer told CBC News after the chemicals were removed during mining, the drum was likely recycled and used for another purpose at the mine. It should have been disposed of at the mine's landfill.

He's not sure when or why it was leftby the shore.

Stringer says the material that resembles black sand that was found in the barrel is probably activated charcoal, which is used to filter water and not harmful. Ithas been sent out for analysis.