Manitoba Mining Information

Manitoba Mining Facts

Did you know :

• Over the last hundred years, Manitoba’s mining industry has resulted in over 70 mines and has been responsible for generating railways, roads and airports into the northern reaches of the province. Industry development gave rise to today’s mining communities of Flin Flon, Snow Lake, Lynn Lake, Leaf Rapids and Thompson in the north and Bissett in the south.
• Mining is the second largest primary resource industry in Manitoba. The Industry generated $2.1 billion in value production for 2006.
• Manitoba’s mining industry employs approximately 3,500 people directly and another 14,000 in indirect spin-off business.
• Many of the mineral deposits mined in Manitoba are located in ancient volcanic belts known as greenstone belts. Large deposits of Cu and Zn were formed billions of years ago as volcanoes erupted over ancient seafloors.
• The Thompson Nickel Belt is not located in a greenstone belt, but along an ancient collision zone between two continents.
• Mining operations at Flin Flon have been sustained for over 80 years and new discoveries are still being made. New base metal discoveries are also being made at Lynn Lake, Thompson and other historic areas.
• The geological potential for the discovery of new mineral resources in Manitoba outside the main mineral producing areas is also excellent.
• The main metals presently being produced are Copper, Nickel, Zinc, Tantalum and Gold. Lessor amounts of other minerals are also produced and may well rise to become more significant due to increased exploration activity. Platinum Group Metals, Rare Earth Minerals and Uranium deposits are some to watch.
• Gold was first discovered in the province in 1872 along the shores of what is now Molson lake, however it was until 1896 that the first claims were staked at what is now West Hawk Lake.
• The gold ming camp at Rice Lake was first staked in 1911. Today Rice Lake is the largest gold producing area in the province and home to San Gold Corporation, a company that experiencing great success in developing new gold mines and in exploration.