MINERAL
INVENTORY FILE NO.
693
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRODUCT
COPPER
NTS AREA
63K13SE
REF.
CU03
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
NAME OF PROPERTY
Flin Flon Mine
OWNER OF
OPERATOR ADDRESS
1927- Hudson Bay Mining and
Smelting Co. Ltd.
1906-201 Portage
Ave.
Winnipeg MB R3B 3K6
OBJECT LOCATED
Shaft
MINING
DIVISION
The Pas
Latitude
54°34'00
Longitude
101°53'00 W
Uncertainty
(m)
100
UTM Zone
14U
Easting
314500
Northing
6072700
L.S./Quarter
Section
5
Section
6
Township
67
Range
29WPM
DESCRIPTION OF
DEPOSIT
The Flin Flon copper-zinc deposit lies between brecciated andesite and
schists of the hangingwall and “quartz porphyry” (rhyodacite) of the footwall.
The ore occurs on the eastern limbs and crests of minor folds of Amisk Group
rocks on a south-plunging anticline, west of the Burley Lake
Syncline.
Zinc–rich massive ore, and zinc-poor disseminated ore occur in the
deposit. The ore is predominantly massive. Chalcopyrite concentrates near the
footwall. Sphalerite, sometimes banded with pyrite, is more common toward the
hangingwall. Disseminated chalcopyrite and pyrite comprise approximately 30% of
the Flin Flon ore. Disseminated ore occurs on the footwall of the
deposit.
Six ore zones strike N30°W and dips 70°E for 1650 m (5500 ft.) along
plunge. The zones are an average 270 m (900 ft.) long, 21 m (70 ft.) wide, and
350 m (1500 ft.) thick.
Flin Flon was originally believed to have formed by
hydrothermal replacement related to plutonic intrusions. Recent authors
considered it a volcanogenic, massive sulphide deposit, possibly created, in
part, by hydrothermal fluids.
Gold, silver, tellurium, selenium, and cadmium
are recovered from the ore. Most of these are found in massive sulphide ore.
Spurr (1923, p. 122) also reports galena.
ASSOCIATED
MINERALS OR PRODUCTS OF VALUE
Zinc (Zn), Gold (Au), Silver (Ag), Cadmium (Cd), Tellurium (Te), and
Selenium (Se).
HISTORY OF
EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The Flin Flon mine is located in the city of Flin Flon, on the
provincial boundary between Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Very late in 1914,
trapper-prospector Thomas Creighton noted chalcopyrite on the shore of an
isolated, unnamed lake in northern Manitoba. In August 1915 Creighton brought
one of his partners, Jack Mosher to the site. They chipped samples and gold
worth $56/ton was panned from the lakeshore. Creighton and partner trenched both
sides of an unmineralized ‘horse”. They named the deposit Flin Flon, after a
character in a novel they found.
Creighton staked Unique (23144) and Mosher
staked Apex (23143) over the deposit. Jack Hamell was given an unrecorded
interest in the property, in return for the financial backing he gave Creighton,
Mosher and four other partners.
By the fall of 1916, over 1 830 m (6 000 ft.)
of diamond drilling in 18 holes had proven 5.5 million tonnes (t) (6 million
tons) of sulphide ore (Campbell, 1918). The work had been done under an option
to Hayden, Stone and Associates. Hayden and Stone, however, were not interested
in zinc and the onset of World War I further complicated the deal, so the option
was cancelled.
David Faskin and Great Sulphide Company, bought out two of the
partners in 1917, for $25 000 each, and optioned the remaining interest. The
claims were assigned to Standard Trust Co. in 1917. Under the option, Faskin et
al, drilled almost 5 500 m (18 000 ft.) and earned an interest in the
property.
By the end of 1918, 44 holes totalling 7800 m (25 644 ft.) had
probed the deposit. Ore reserves calculated from this drilling were 15 260 000 t
(16 812 290 tons) with possibly 2 700 000 t (2 975 100 tons) of additional ore.
The ore averaged 2.54 g/t (0.074 oz/ton) Au, 35.7 g/t (1.04 oz/ton) Ag, 1.69% Cu
and 3.49% Zn (Wallace, 1927). The drilling indicated the deposit to be over 760
m (2500 ft.) long in several lenses. Doubts were expressed about the mining
feasibility of the deposit. Its grade was thought to be low and the location too
remote (Bruce, 1918). By the end of 1918, the camp was deserted. The claims were
leased in 1919, as leases 13 (Apex) and 14 (Unique).
In 1920, the Flin Flon
deposit was optioned to Col. W. Thompson (75% interest) and The Mining
Corporation of Canada Limited (25% interest). Two vertical, two-compartment
shafts were sunk 140 m (460 ft.) apart. The #1 shaft was north of the horse, and
the #2 shaft was sunk to the south of it. Shaft #1 was sunk to 64 m (210 ft.)
with drifting and crosscutting at the 60 m (200 ft.) level. Shaft #2 was sunk to
93 m (304 ft.) with drifting at 30 m (100 ft.) and 90 m (300 ft.). Underground
work confirmed the drill results. The richest copper ore, assaying 3% to 5% Cu,
came from the disseminated part of the orebody. The whole deposit averaged 1.9 %
Cu and 3.8% Zn (Wallace, 1927).
The Mining Corporation of Canada Limited
(MCC) bought 68% interest in the property from the original partners in 1921.
Alex and David Faskin held the remaining 32% interest. A total of 104 kg (229
lbs.) of massive ore from diamond drill cores was sent to Ottawa for testing.
Pyritic smelting was suggested as the best extraction method, but zinc content
would have to be kept low by mixing the ore with low-grade material. The
property was idle for several years. The dual problems of the remote location,
and rich, but complex ore stalled development.
R.C. Wallace reported on the
feasibility of a mine at Flin Flon in 1921. He looked at the issues of power,
mine-life, tourism, etc., to help assess the advisability of putting in a
railway. He suggested the Province build the railway with certain
conditions.
118 kg (260 lbs.) of disseminated ore was sent to Ottawa in two
shipments during 1922 and 1923. It was harder to treat, but four possibilities
were suggested (Parsons, 1924).
In 1925, R.C. Channing, acting on behalf of
the Whitney interests, who in turn controlled Complex Ore Recoveries Company,
learned of the metallurgical problems at Flin Flon. Channing arranged with
Faskin and MCC to dewater and sample the shafts. 23 kg (50 lbs.) of ore were
recovered and sent to Colorado for testing. Tests showed that large amounts of
inexpensive power, available from a plant at Island Falls, would be needed to
process the ore efficiently.
The Whitney interests optioned the property in
1925. That year and the next, more ore was sent to Colorado, where a 1.81 t (2
ton) per day pilot mill was built for experimental treatments. Eventually, a
flotation plant, cyanide annex, and concentrator were added.
A pilot mill was
built in Flin Flon in 1926, and ore was mined to test it. This ore contained
talc, unlike the ore that had previously been sent to Colorado. Talc caused new
metallurgical problems, so the Flin Flon mill had to be modified.
In 1927,
the option was exercised, late that year, Whitney, MCC and Newmont Mining
Corporation created Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co. Ltd. (HBMS) as a holding
company. Flin Flon Mines Ltd. (FFML) was formed to hold title to the property
and to be the operating company. Apex and Unique were assigned to FFML in 1928.
Later that year, they were assigned to HBMS, and HBMS became the operating
company.
The pace of development accelerated, by 1927 the provincial
government guaranteed bonds for a railway from The Pas to Flin Flon. Two
permanent shaft sites were selected. A vertical main shaft was sunk into the
hangingwall, the second shaft, called #3 was sunk into the footwall
approximately 762 m (2500 ft) from the Main shaft. Dam building began on the
Flin Flon Lake to permit open pit mining.
In 1928, the railway was completed
and a hydroelectric plant was under construction at Island Falls. A second ore
zone was discovered by underground work. The pilot mill operated throughout the
year.
Shaft #3 was deepened when the known orebody was extended by diamond
drilling. The 5-compartment Main shaft was sunk to approximately 260 m (850 ft).
The Main shaft, later called North Main, was used to hoist all of the
underground ore. The Flin Flon concentrator, copper smelter, and zinc refinery
were constructed during this time.
Low metal prices, particularly for zinc,
greeted the first production by Flin Flon in 1930. The first ore to come from
the open pit and was stockpiled. Power began flowing from Island Falls in June
1930.
The following year, the Main and #3 shafts were connected on the 200 m
(650 ft.) level. Production increased from 776 t (855 tons) per day to 1184 t
(1305 tons) per day and the grade of the ore increased. Over the next few years,
both shafts were deepened to over 305 m (1 000 ft). In 1934, a vent was raised
from #3 to the open pit. Underground development took place on all levels in
preparation for increased production, the open pit was to steadily decrease
production until its maximum economic depth was reached. Underground production
was to steadily increase to keep a constant supply of ore to the mill. About 33%
of the ore came from underground and the remaining 66% came from the
pit.
Disseminated ore was sent directly to the smelter to help flux the
massive ore. Over 4536 t (5 000 tons) of lower grade rock from the pit was
stockpiled. Underground diamond drilling continued exploration of the
deposits.
Tellurium and selenium were first produced at Flin Flon in 1935,
from residues processed in previous years. Production averaged 176 t (1950 tons)
per day. Underground #3 shaft was deepened to 64 m (210 ft.) and 4114 m (13 498
ft.) of exploration drilling was done.
By the end of the year, ore reserves
had increased to 22 470 000 t (24 770 000 tons) with dilution, grading 2.74 g/t
(0.08 oz/ton) Au, 44 g/t (1.28 oz/ton) Ag, 2.10% Cu, and 3.86% Zn (Mining
Analyst, June 30, 1937).
Most ore above 67 m (220 ft.) had been extracted
from the pit by 1936. Up to 66% of the ore now came from underground. Cadmium
was produced at Flin Flon for the first time in 1936. Ore was proven to 914 m (3
000 ft.) and a winze was sunk to that level. Larger production and mining
tonnage necessitated new hoisting equipment to be installed in 1937. The North
Main shaft probably reached its final depth of 676 m (2 219 ft.) that
year.
Sinking of the 5-compartment South Main shaft (in Saskatchewan)
commenced in 1939, to provide a second hoisting shaft. In 1940, sinking hit
higher-grade ore. The shaft was extended to 914 m (3 000 ft.) It began hoisting
ore in 1942. Deepening of the open pit ceased in 1940, and reclamation began. By
1941, 97% of the millfeed came up the shafts. The #3 shaft became primarily a
ventilation shaft.
Peak production was reached in 1943, when an average of 5
614 t (6188 tons) per day were hoisted from underground. The South Main shaft
reached (3 500 ft.) and the winze at the North end of the mine was completed to
914 m (3 000 ft.) Thallium was discovered in zinc residue in 1945, but it was
not recovered.
Ore reserves in 1947, were 20 600 000 t (22 700 000 tons)
assaying 2.9 g/t (0.084 oz/ton) Au, 41.1 g/t (1.20 oz/ton) Ag, 3.0% Cu, and 4.3%
Zn (HBMS 20th Annual Report). This was a decrease of almost 4.5 million t (5
million tons) from the maximum reserves of 25 000 000 t (27 534 000 tons) that
was reported by HBMS in 1938 (11th Annual Report). The ore grade was slightly
higher in 1947. Exploration drilling below 1 143 m (3 750 ft.) had not proven
any additional ore, though the amount of drilling had increased. More and more
ore was hoisted through the South Main shaft, which reached a final depth of 1
241 m (4 073 ft.) in 1947. Shaft #3 was deepened to 990 m (3 250 ft.) and was
connected to South Main. The main winze, in the southern part of the mine, was
sunk to 1 542 m (5 059 ft.) in 1951. Drifting was done at 1372 m (4 500 ft.) and
at 1 524 m (5 000 ft.). Extensive exploration was also done.
Ore reserves
dropped to 15 447 000 t (17 028 000 tons) in 1952 (HBMS 25th Annual Report).
This was the first time since 1927 that they had fallen below 16 300 000 t (18
000 000 tons). Reserves grew to (17 456 000 tons) in 1953, due to 1 315 000 t (1
450 000 tons) of additional developed ore. After 1953, Flin Flon reserves
continued to decline. In later years, ore reserves for Flin Flon were not given
separately but included with the reserves of other HBMS deposits in the
Company’s Annual Reports. In 1957, Orders in Council (OIC) were issued to cover
the claims. The first OIC leases were issued six years later, upon renewal of
original leases. By 1958, Flin Flon still provided 91.3% of the ore milled by
HBMS, although less and less development was done there.
In 1962, the Flin
Flon mine produced slightly less than 907 000 t (1 million tons), for the first
time since 1936. Tonnage mined at Flin Flon had been decreasing along with
declining ore reserves. In the same year, Anglo American Corporation of South
Africa Ltd. bought a major part of the Whitney shares and became the major
shareholder of HBMS.
Flin Flon mined over 907 000 t (1 million tons) a year,
for one year, 1966, only. By 1969, it provided less than half the ore produced
by HBMS. Flin Flon still produced almost twice as much as the Osborne Lake mine
(See: Mind No. 479), the largest of the newer HBMS mines in the Snow Lake-Flin
Flon Belt. Pillars and remnants were the main source of ore, since at least
1968.
World Mining (February 1969) gave Flin Flon ore reserves, as of January
1968, as follows:
Area............................Tonnage Au Ag Cu
Zn
.....................................tonnes (tons)......g/t............g/t
...........%............%
................................................................(oz/ton)....(oz/ton)
Sub-level
open..............1 651 884
..........1.78..........23.............2.62%......2.1%
stoping
reserves...........(1 820 900)........(0.052).....(0.67)
Pillar and
Remnant........3 090
853..........2.5.............35.7..........3.05%......3.6%
......................................(3
407 100).......(0.072).......(1.04)
In 1975, 120 000 t (132 145 tons) of
ore were mined from material not previously classified as reserves (HBMS, 47th
Annual Report). A total of 56 400 000 t (62 154 576 tons), had been mined by the
end of 1976. The pit produced 5 700 000 t (6 285 042 tons) and 50 700 000 t (55
869 534 tons) came from underground (Western Miner, May 1977, p. 27).
Proven
reserves as of January 1976
were:
Area..........................Tonnage.................Au.................Ag.................Cu...............Zn
...................................tonnes
(tons)........g/t (oz/ton)...g/t
(oz/ton)....%................%
Manitoba.....................857
285.................1.98..............17.8.................2.62%.........2.1%
.....................................(945
000)..............(0.058)...........(0.52)
Saskatchewan............ 2 633
364..............1.54...............24.3................2.40%..........2.1%
.....................................(2
903 100)............(0.045).......... (0.71)
(Morgan and Cranstone,
1977).
Production from 1976 to 1980, was mainly from pillars and
remnants. Reduction in 1977 was to allow ore from Centennial and Westarm mines
(See: Mind Nos. 658 and 666) to be processed at the metallurgical plant. In
1980, development emphasis was on the North Main shaft pillar.
Full
production continued until at least 1991, using a cut and fill method on the
remnants and pillars. The mine gradually slowed production and stopped as it was
mined out in the 1990's. In 1998, a survey of the ore associated and barren
rhyolites was completed in the area (Syme, 1998). As of 2002, the South Main
shaft is being used to access the Callinan and 777 deposits (See Mind No. 1045
and 1044).
HISTORY OF
PRODUCTION
Year.................Tonnes...............Cu..............Zn..............Au
...............Ag
.........................Produced............%...............%................g/t.................g/t
........................(Tons)......................................................(oz/ton)........(oz/ton)
1930(1)............321
414..............0.29...........0.55..............0.79..................8.85
........................(354
371)...................................................(0.023).............(0.258)
1977.................587
463...............1.60..........2.23..............1.44..................23.66
.........................(647
699)..................................................(0.042)..............(0.69)
1930-1977(2)...57
286 641.........2.29........
..4.27..............2.84.................43.13
........................(63
160
610)..............................................(0.083)..............(1.26)
1978.................543
679..............1.67...........2.28..............1.47..................26.05
........................(598
679)...................................................(0.043)..............(0.76)
1979.................562
146..............1.61...........1.85..............1.37.....................22.9
.........................(619
663).................................................(0.04)..................(0.67)
1980.................603
756..............1.33............1.89.............1.20.......................18.6
.......................(665
530)....................................................(0.035)................(0.55)
1
First year of full production at Flin Flon
2 total includes open pit
(1931-1941) and underground production
All figures from HBMS Annual Reports,
1976-1980.
REFERENCES
Alcock, F.J 1922: Flin Flon Map Area, Manitoba and Saskatchewan;
Geological Survey of Canada Summary Report 1922, Pt. C, p. 1-36.
Alcock,
F.J. 1924: The Pas Mineral Belt; Canadian Mineralogist Journal, July 25, 1924,
p. 715.
Alcock, F.J. 1930: Zinc and Lead Deposits of Canada; Geological
Survey of Canada, Economic Geology Series, n.8, p. 202-208.
Bailes, A.H.
1971: Preliminary Compilation of the Snow Lake-Flin Flon-Sherridon Area;
Manitoba Mines Branch Geological Paper 1-71.
Bichan, W.J. 1960: The
Origins of the Massive Sulphides, Pt. 2.; Canadian Mineralogist Journal v. 81,
n. 5, May 1960, p. 69-72.
Brownell, G.M. and Kinkel, A.R. 1935: The Flin
Flon Mine Geology and Paragenesis of the Ore Deposit; Canadian Institute of
Mining and Metallurgy Transcript v. XXXVIII, p. 261-286.
Bruce, E.L.
1916: Amisk:Athapapuskow Lake Area, Northern Saskatchewan and Northern Manitoba;
Geological Survey of Canada Summary Report 1915, p. 129.
Bruce, E.L.
1917: Schist Lake and Wekusko Lake Areas, Northern Manitoba; Geological Survey
of Canada Summary Report 1916, p. 163-164.
Bruce, E.L. 1918:
Amisk-Athapapuskow Lake District; Geological Survey of Canada Memoir 105, p.
69-72.
Bruce, E.L. 1918: Schist Lake District, Northern Manitoba;
Geological Survey of Canada Summary Report 1917, Pt. D, p. 1-8.
Bruce,
E.L. 1920: Chalcopyrite Deposits in Northern Manitoba; Economic Geology, v. 15,
p. 386-397.
Byers, A.R., Kirkland, S.J.T. and Pearson, W.J. 1965: Geology
and Mineral Deposits of the Flin Flon Area, Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan
Department of Mineral Resources, Report 62, p. 90-94.
Campbell, J.A.
1918: Manitoba’s Northland; Province of Manitoba, Commissioner of Northern
Manitoba, p. 14-15.
Canadian Mines Handbook 1985: Hudson Bay Mining and
Smelting Co. Ltd.; Canadian Mines Handbook 1984-85, p. 181.
Cole, G.E.
1932: Progress in Metal Mining in Manitoba; Canadian Institute of Mining and
Metallurgy Transcript XXXV, p. 42-51.
Davies, J.F., Bannatyne, B.B.,
Barry, G.S., and McCabe, H.R.; 1962: Geology and Mineral Resources of Manitoba;
Manitoba Mines Branch, p. 64-72.
De Wet, J.P. 1943: Fighting Canada’s
Battles in Northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan Bushlands, SW 13, 63K; Unpublished
Information File, Manitoba Mineral Resources Division .
Financial Post
Corporation Service 1977: Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co. Ltd., August
1977.
Gale, G.H., Baldwin, D.A. and Koo, J. 1981: A Geological Evaluation
of Precambrian Massive Sulphide Deposit Potential in Manitoba; ER 79-1, Manitoba
Mineral Resources Division.
Howkins, J.B, and Martin, P.L. 1970: A
Comparison Between the Flin Flon and Snow Lake Orebodies of the Hudson Bay
Mining and Smelting Co. Ltd.; Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Annual
Meeting, Unpublished paper.
Koo, J. 1973: Origin and Metamorphism of the
Flin Flon Cu-Zn Sulphide Deposit, Northern Saskatchewan; University of
Saskatchewan, Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, 153 p.
Koo, J., and Mossman, D.J.
1975: Origin and Metamorphism of the Flin Flon Stratabound Cu-Zn Sulphide
Deposit, Saskatchewan and Manitoba; Economic Geology, v. 70, p.
48-62.
McLaren, A.J. 1932: Gold in Manitoba; Canadian Institute of Mining
and Metallurgy Transcript XXXV, p. 426-429, 432.
Mukherjee, A.C.,
Stauffer, M.R. and Baadsgaard, H. 1971: the Hudsonian Orogeny Near Flin Flon,
Manitoba: A Tentative Interpretation of Rb/Sr and K/Ar Ages; Canadian Journal of
Earth Sciences, v. 8, n. 8, p. 939-946.
Parsons, C.S. 1924: The
Concentration of the Flin Flon Disseminated Ore, Canada Mines Branch,
Investigations in 1922, Publication 608, Test 161, p. 83-110.
Parsons,
C.S. and Traill, R.J.; 1923: The Flin Flon Complex Sulphide Ore; Canada Mines
Branch, Investigations in 1923, Publication 589, Test 142, p.
99-110.
Phelan, R.E. 1935: History of the Flin Flon Mine up to
Construction; Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Transcript XXXVIII, p
55-70.
Roche, M.A. and Caulfield, J.P. 1935: Mining Methods and Problems
of Flin Flon; Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Transcript XXXVIII, p
87-109.
Sabina, A.P. 1972: Rocks and Minerals for the Collector: La
Ronge-Creighton, Saskatchewan; Flin Flon-Thompson, Manitoba; Geological Survey
of Canada Paper 71-27, p. 41-42.
Sangster, D.F 1972: Precambrian
Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide Deposits in Canada: A Review; Geological Survey of
Canada Paper 72-22.
Spurr, J.E. 1923: The Ore Magmas; McGraw-Hill, p.
122-123.
Stockwell, C.H. 1946: Flin Flon-Mandy Area (Marginal Notes);
Geological Survey of Canada Paper 46-14.
Stockwell, C.H. 1960: Flin
Flon-Mandy Area (Marginal Notes); Geological Survey of Canada Map
1078A.
Syme, E.C. and Forester, R.W. 1977: Petrogenesis of the Boundary
Intrusions in the Flin Flon area of Saskatchewan and Manitoba; Canada Journal of
Earth Sciences, v. 14, n. 3, p. 444-455.
Syme, E.C. 1998: Ore Associated
and Barren Rhyolites in the Central Flin Flon Belt: Case Study of the Flin Flon
Mine Sequence; Manitoba Mineral Resources Division, Open File Report
98-9.
Wallace, R.C. 1921: Report and Recommendations with Reference to
Proposed Railway from The Pas to the Flin Flon Property; Commissioner of
Northern Manitoba.
Wallace, R.C. 1927: The Flin Flon Orebody; Industrial
Development Board of Manitoba.
Western Miner 1977: Report to 1977: Hudson
Bay Mining and Smelting Co. Ltd.; Western Miner, v. 50, n. 5, May 1977, p.
22-30.
MAP REFERENCES
Alcock, F.J. 1923: Map 1978, Part of the Flin Flon Group of Claims;
1:6000 scale, geological map, Accompanying Geological Survey of Canada Report PN
1978.
Manitoba Mines Branch and Geological Survey of Canada 1963: Map
2454G Flin Flon; Manitoba Mines Branch and Geological Survey of Canada,
aeromagnetic map, scale 1:63 000.
Stockwell, C.H. 1946: Map 46-14A, Flin
Flon-Mandy; 1:9600 scale, geological map, accompanying Geological Survey of
Canada Paper 46-14.
Stockwell, C.H. 1960: Map 1078A, Flin Flon-Mandy;
1:12 000 scale, geological map, accompanying Geological Survey of Canada
Marginal Notes.
Surveys and Mapping Branch 1981: Map 63K/13W Flin Flon;
Surveys and Mapping Branch, Ottawa, topographic map (3rd edition), scale 1:50
000.
Tanton, T.L. 1941: Map 632A, Flin Flon; 1:63 360 scale, geological
map, accompanying Geological Survey of Canada Marginal Notes.
URL
N/A
Images
Images/0693-1
REMARKS
Apex and Unique are not the only claims to cover the deposit. They
were the first claims at this location, and are still the most important to this
mine. Shaft sinking and underground development was primarily done on these
claims.
See: Images/0693-1
NOTES
N/A
Compiled/Revised
by:
Compiled/Revised by: SMH JJJ
Date
Date: 02-73 10-77 07-02
