Heath Steele Mines, New Brunswick
Encyclopedia
Heath Steele Mines, situated 60 km northwest of Newcastle, New Brunswick
, Canada
, at the headwaters of the Tomogonops and Little Rivers, was a large and productive copper, lead and zinc mine which operated from 1956 to 1999. The mine was an economic cornerstone of Miramichi
communities throughout this period.
The mine was initially developed as a collaboration between the American Metal Company (later Amax) and Inco (International Nickel Company) and consequently was also known as the Little River Joint Venture.
The mine was named after Mr. Heathcliff Steele, the Vice-President of Exploration of the American Metal Company. It seems that Mr. Steele had little directly to do with the mine, but the parent company probably bestowed the name as an honour on his retirement from the company.
No smelter was included in the facility. The ore
concentrates were instead hauled by rail to various smelter operations (for example at Belledune
) for further processing, or to the ports at Newcastle
and Dalhousie, New Brunswick
where the concentrates could be shipped to customers overseas (e.g., Spain, Finland).
body at the Heath Steele site, Heath Steele A Zone, was discovered in 1953 by prospectors working for Matthew James Boylen
. Mr. Boylen brought more mines into production than anyone else in Canadian history, and was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame
. This was the first discovery in Canada of an ore body by means of an airborne electromagnetic survey (AEM).
American Metals had financed Mr. Boylen's exploration, and as a result of a 1953 agreement with Inco, acquired a 75% ownership of the new mine. Initial exploratory drilling estimated the reserves as including 4,200,000 tons (2.9% Lead, 7.1% Zinc, 1.1% Copper, 3.20 ounces/ton Silver, and 0.02 ounces/ton Gold) and 3,000,000 tons (1.2% Lead, 3.5% Zinc, 1.3% Copper, 1.90 ounces/ton Silver, and 0.02 ounces/ton Gold).
By 1957 a mine and milling operation were established to extract copper, lead and zinc from the ore; it was served by a 30 kilometre railway line from the CN Rail
main line at Bartibog Station. Due to low metal prices and metallurgical issues, the mining operation was suspended in April 1958. Mining resumed in June 1962. In 1969 the mine started an ambitious expansion, and by 1979 was producing over 185,000 tonnes of mineral concentrates per year.
As the ore body was gradually depleted operations were increasingly dependent on strong metal prices. In 1979 Noranda purchased American Metals 75% share in the operation. Metal prices declined, forcing the mine to suspend operations in April 1983. In 1986 Noranda purchased all of the remaining interest in the mine. The mine reopened in 1989, closed in 1991, reopened in 1992. Mining was again suspended in July 1993, resuming in November 1994. As of 1994 reserves stood at 3.6 Mt (7.1% zinc, 2.0% lead, 0.9% copper and 73 g/t silver). The underground mine was finally closed and allowed to flood in 1999.
Over the years, concerns were often vented concerning the potential environmental impact
of this mining operation, and more specifically Heavy metal pollution and acid mine drainage, on the Tomogonops and Miramichi River
systems. Fish kills in these rivers were occasionally (e.g., 1960 and 1991) attributed to the company.
s rich in copper, lead and zinc.
Newcastle, New Brunswick
Newcastle is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, it was an incorporated town and the shire town of Northumberland County....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, at the headwaters of the Tomogonops and Little Rivers, was a large and productive copper, lead and zinc mine which operated from 1956 to 1999. The mine was an economic cornerstone of Miramichi
Miramichi, New Brunswick
Miramichi is the largest city in northern New Brunswick, Canada. It is situated at the mouth of the Miramichi River where it enters Miramichi Bay...
communities throughout this period.
The mine was initially developed as a collaboration between the American Metal Company (later Amax) and Inco (International Nickel Company) and consequently was also known as the Little River Joint Venture.
The mine was named after Mr. Heathcliff Steele, the Vice-President of Exploration of the American Metal Company. It seems that Mr. Steele had little directly to do with the mine, but the parent company probably bestowed the name as an honour on his retirement from the company.
No smelter was included in the facility. The ore
Ore
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
concentrates were instead hauled by rail to various smelter operations (for example at Belledune
Belledune, New Brunswick
Belledune is a Canadian village in Gloucester County, New Brunswick.The little community of Belledune represents an amalgamation of Jacquet River, Armstrong Brook, and Belledune in 1994...
) for further processing, or to the ports at Newcastle
Newcastle, New Brunswick
Newcastle is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, it was an incorporated town and the shire town of Northumberland County....
and Dalhousie, New Brunswick
Dalhousie, New Brunswick
Dalhousie is a Canadian town located in Restigouche County, New Brunswick.- History :Dalhousie is the shire town of Restigouche County and dates European settlement to 1800. The Town of Dalhousie has been through some very distinct periods between its founding in 1825 and today...
where the concentrates could be shipped to customers overseas (e.g., Spain, Finland).
History
The first oreOre
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
body at the Heath Steele site, Heath Steele A Zone, was discovered in 1953 by prospectors working for Matthew James Boylen
Matthew James Boylen
Matthew James "Jim" Boylen was a Canadian businessman and Thoroughbred racehorse owner.Jim Boylen was born in Weston, Ontario and raised in Alberta. In his early teens he left home and returned to Northern Ontario where he and elder brother Fred eventually operated a trading post...
. Mr. Boylen brought more mines into production than anyone else in Canadian history, and was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame
Canadian Mining Hall of Fame
The Canadian Mining Hall of Fame aims to recognize the accomplishments of leaders in the mining industry.It was conceived by Maurice R. Brown as a way to recognize and honor the legendary mine finders and builders of this Canadian industry. The Hall was established in 1988...
. This was the first discovery in Canada of an ore body by means of an airborne electromagnetic survey (AEM).
American Metals had financed Mr. Boylen's exploration, and as a result of a 1953 agreement with Inco, acquired a 75% ownership of the new mine. Initial exploratory drilling estimated the reserves as including 4,200,000 tons (2.9% Lead, 7.1% Zinc, 1.1% Copper, 3.20 ounces/ton Silver, and 0.02 ounces/ton Gold) and 3,000,000 tons (1.2% Lead, 3.5% Zinc, 1.3% Copper, 1.90 ounces/ton Silver, and 0.02 ounces/ton Gold).
By 1957 a mine and milling operation were established to extract copper, lead and zinc from the ore; it was served by a 30 kilometre railway line from the CN Rail
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
main line at Bartibog Station. Due to low metal prices and metallurgical issues, the mining operation was suspended in April 1958. Mining resumed in June 1962. In 1969 the mine started an ambitious expansion, and by 1979 was producing over 185,000 tonnes of mineral concentrates per year.
As the ore body was gradually depleted operations were increasingly dependent on strong metal prices. In 1979 Noranda purchased American Metals 75% share in the operation. Metal prices declined, forcing the mine to suspend operations in April 1983. In 1986 Noranda purchased all of the remaining interest in the mine. The mine reopened in 1989, closed in 1991, reopened in 1992. Mining was again suspended in July 1993, resuming in November 1994. As of 1994 reserves stood at 3.6 Mt (7.1% zinc, 2.0% lead, 0.9% copper and 73 g/t silver). The underground mine was finally closed and allowed to flood in 1999.
Over the years, concerns were often vented concerning the potential environmental impact
Environmental degradation
Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife...
of this mining operation, and more specifically Heavy metal pollution and acid mine drainage, on the Tomogonops and Miramichi River
Miramichi River
The Miramichi River is a Canadian river located in the east-central part of New Brunswick. The river drains into Miramichi Bay in the Gulf of St. Lawrence...
systems. Fish kills in these rivers were occasionally (e.g., 1960 and 1991) attributed to the company.
Geology
The Heath Steele deposits are volcanogenic massive sulfide ore depositVolcanogenic massive sulfide ore deposit
Volcanogenic massive sulfide ore deposits are a type of metal sulfide ore deposit, mainly Cu-Zn-Pb which are associated with and created by volcanic-associated hydrothermal events in submarine environments....
s rich in copper, lead and zinc.