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 In
the Iles de la Madeleine, "Mines Seleine" have been
mining salt deposits for over a dozen years. This firm, privatized
at the end of the '80's, generates valuable spin-offs of around
12 million dollars annually and also provides jobs for about
200 people. This sector is very distinctive from the rest of
the island's economic activity because of its near year round
nature, operations being carried out for a period of 10 to 11
months.
However, 1995 was a difficult
year for the mining industry in the Iles de la Madeleine, as
at the beginning of May water infiltration and ground movements
provoked an emergency evacuation of the mine and a complete stoppage
of any mining activity. Since then, the mine's directors have
undertook a difficult sealing operation of the working pit.
Salt extracting operations
is back to normal since summer of 1997.
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Economy