Greyhawk Mine

Last updated
Greyhawk Mine
Headframe, Greyhawk Uranium Mine, 11 July 1956.png
Mine headframe, 1956
Location
Hastings locator map 2021.svg
Schlaegel und Eisen nach DIN 21800.svg
Greyhawk Mine
Location in Faraday, Ontario
Canada Southern Ontario location map 2.png
Schlaegel und Eisen nach DIN 21800.svg
Greyhawk Mine
Greyhawk Mine (Southern Ontario)
Canada Ontario location map 2.svg
Schlaegel und Eisen nach DIN 21800.svg
Greyhawk Mine
Greyhawk Mine (Ontario)
LocationFaraday, Ontario
Province Ontario
CountryCanada
Coordinates 45°1′54″N77°53′44″W / 45.03167°N 77.89556°W / 45.03167; -77.89556
Production
Products Uranium oxide
Production80,247 tonnes
History
Opened1957–1959, 1976–1982
Closed1982
Owner
Company Ovintiv

Greyhawk Mine is a decommissioned underground uranium mine located in Faraday Township near Bancroft, Ontario. It operated from 1954 to 1959 and from 1976 to 1982. The mine produced 80,247 tons of uranium ore, of which 0.069% was U3O8 worth $834,899.

Contents

Aside from uranium, the mine has produced some of the world's best samples of Kainosite-(Y).

Uranium discovery - 1922 to 1954

Uranium was first discovered in the nearby area of Cardiff in 1922 by W. M. Richardson. Between 1953 and 1956, one hundred area prospects were opened, including one by one which developed into Greyhawk Mine. [1]

Mine operations - 1954 to 1982

In 1954, Goldhawk Porcupine Mines Limited (who later became Goldhawk Uranium Mines Limited) undertook geology surveys, drilling to 450 feet deep. [2] During 1955 and 1956 Greyhawk Uranium Mines Limited sunk a vertical shaft to 361 feet creating three levels at depths of 110 feet, 211 feet, and 333 feet. They then drilled 114 holes (totalling 42,299 feet of drilling). [2]

By late 1956, there were 430 feet of underground cross-cuts, 1,606 feet of drifting, and 512 feet of raising, all at the first level. Underground drilling totalled 10,542 feet over 76 holes. [2] In 1958, the shaft was lowered further, to a new depth of 402 feet, from where lower levels were established. [2]

The ore was processed at the nearby Faraday mill on the Faraday Mine site. [2] [3]

Mining operations stopped in 1959. [1] [3]

Faraday Uranium Mines Limited purchased the site from Goldhawk Uranium Mines Limited in 1962. [2] [3] Madawaska Mines Limited was formed in 1975 and purchased the site, as well as the nearby Faraday Mine, restarting mining operations in 1976 until 1982. [2] [4]

Production

Over its two periods of operations, the mine produced 80,247 tons of uranium ore, of which 0.069% was U3O8 [2] worth $834,899. [3]

In addition to uranium, the mine produced some of the world's best samples of Kainosite-(Y). [5]

Incidents

Post mining

1978 and 1980 studies found that the natural weathering of the granite and gabbro rocks left on site has caused uranium leaching into the aquifer at concentrations ranging between 1.2 and 380 parts per billion, with higher concentrations measured deeper in the water table and in sediments. [7] [8]

200,000 tons of ore, averaging 0.065% U3O8, remain in the ground. [2]

As processing was done offsite, there are no tailings on site, therefore unlike the other nearby former uranium mines (Faraday/Madawaka Mine, Bicroft Mine, and Dyno Mine), the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission does not regulate the site. [4] [9]

The mine was owned by Ovintiv subsidiary EWL Management Limited, [10] which merged into Ovintiv in February 2022. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elliot Lake</span> City in Ontario, Canada

Elliot Lake is a city in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is north of Lake Huron, midway between the cities of Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie in the Northern Ontario region. Once dubbed the "uranium capital of the world," Elliot Lake has since diversified to a hub for forest harvesting, mine reclamation expertise, and advanced manufacturing. Elliot Lake is now known as a place for affordable retirement living, waterfront cottage lots and as a four-season destination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ovintiv</span> American energy company

Ovintiv Inc. is a hydrocarbon exploration and production company organized in Delaware and headquartered in Denver, United States. It was founded and headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, under its previous name Encana. It was the largest energy company and largest natural gas producer in Canada, before moving to the United States in 2020. The company was rebranded as Ovintiv and relocated to Denver in 2019–20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madawaska Mine</span> Abandoned uranium mine in Ontario, Canada

Madawaska Mine (previously known as Faraday Mine) is a decommissioned underground uranium mine in Faraday, near the town of Bancroft, Ontario, which produced 9 million pounds (4,082 tonnes) of U3O8 concentrate, at an average ore grade of 0.1074%, during its two periods of production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faraday, Ontario</span> Township in Ontario, Canada

Faraday is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within Hastings County adjacent to the town of Bancroft.

The Pronto Mine is an historical uranium mine located approximately 20 km south of Elliot Lake, Ontario near Spragge. The site is owned and operated by Rio Algom Ltd, has been rehabilitated and is currently undergoing environmental monitoring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buckles Mine</span> Historical uranium mine

The Buckles Mine is an historical uranium mine located approximately 4.5 km southeast of Elliot Lake, Ontario, owned and operated by Rio Algom Ltd. The site has been rehabilitated. Environmental monitoring is ongoing as part of the monitoring for the nearby Nordic Mine.

The Can-Met Mine is an abandoned uranium mine located approximately 12.5 km northeast of Elliot Lake, Ontario, owned by Denison Mines Ltd. The site has been rehabilitated and its tailings facility is currently undergoing environmental monitoring by Denison Environmental Services.

The Lacnor Mine, is an abandoned uranium mine in the Elliot Lake area of Ontario, owned by Rio Algom Ltd. The site has been rehabilitated and its tailings facility is currently undergoing environmental monitoring by Denison Environmental Services.

Consolidated Denison Mine, or the Denison Mine is an abandoned uranium mine located approximately 12.5 km north of Elliot Lake, Ontario. The site is bordered north by Pronto Mine, Quirke Mine and Nordic Mine; on the east by Panel Mine and Can-Met Mine; and south by Spanish American Mine and Stanrock Mine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uranium mining in Canada</span> Uranium mining in Canada

Canada is the world's second largest producer of uranium, behind Kazakhstan. In 2009, 20% of the world's primary uranium production came from mines in Canada. 14.5% of the world production came from one mine, McArthur River. Currently the only producing area in Canada is northern Saskatchewan, although other areas have had active mines in the past.

The Agnew Lake Mine was a uranium mine located in the township of Hyman approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) northeast of Agnew Lake, Ontario and 75 kilometres (47 mi) east of Elliot Lake, Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EWL Management Limited</span> Defunct Canadian mine holding company

The successor of multiple historical Canadian mining and energy companies, EWL Management Limited was an Alberta based corporation that owned five decommissioned mines in Ontario, including three former uranium mines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bicroft Mine</span> Abandoned uranium mine in Ontario, Canada

Bicroft Mine is a decommissioned underground uranium mine, located in Cardiff, near Bancroft, Ontario, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dyno Mine</span> Abandoned uranium mine in Ontario, Canada

Dyno Mine is a decommissioned underground uranium mine located at Cardiff, near Farrel Lake, approximately 30km southwest of Bancroft, Ontario. It operated from 1958 to 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uranium mining in the Bancroft area</span> History of mining in Bancroft, Canada

Uranium mining around Bancroft, Ontario was conducted at four sites, beginning in the early 1950s and concluding by 1982. Bancroft was one of two major uranium-producing areas in Ontario, and one of seven in Canada, all located along the edge of the Canadian Shield. In the context of mining, the "Bancroft area" includes Haliburton, Hastings, and Renfrew counties, and all areas between Minden and Lake Clear. Activity in the mid-1950s was described by engineer A. S. Bayne in a 1977 report as the "greatest uranium prospecting rush in the world".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur H. Shore</span> Canadian mine magnate

Arthur H. Shore was a mineral prospector and the first person set up a uranium mine in Faraday Township, Ontario. He co-founded and managed the Reeves feldspar Mine and founded the Faraday Uranium Mine. His uranium prospecting, according to Bayne in 1977, led to the "greatest uranium prospecting rush in the world."

Coldstream Copper Mine, sometimes called the North Coldstream Copper Mine, or the Coldstream Mine, or North Coldstream Mine is a decommissioned former copper, silver and gold mine adjacent to Burchell Lake. It is located 11km south of Kashabowie, in Northern Ontario, Canada.

Gordon Lake Mine was an underground copper mine near Werner Lake in the Kenora District of Ontario Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uranium mining in the Elliot Lake area</span> History of mining in Elliot Lake, Canada

Uranium mining in the Elliot Lake area represents one of two major uranium-producing areas in Ontario, and one of seven in Canada.

References

  1. 1 2 Reynolds, Nila (1979). Bancroft. A Bonanza of Memories. Bancroft Centennial Committee. p. 192.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Mineral Deposit Inventory Record MDI31F04SW00036: Greyhawk Mine, Greyhawk". www.geologyontario.mndm.gov.on.ca. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Greyhawk Mine, Faraday Township, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
  4. 1 2 "Radioactive and toxic wastes from the Bancroft unranium sites. Where are we going and who is in charge?" (PDF). Canadian Institute for Radiation Safety. 1 May 1987. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  5. ↑ McDougall, Raymond (2019-09-03). "Mineral Highlights from the Bancroft Area, Ontario, Canada". Rocks & Minerals. 94 (5): 408–419. doi:10.1080/00357529.2019.1619134. ISSN   0035-7529. S2CID   201298402 . Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  6. ↑ Grey Hawk Miner Killed By Falling Rock, Bancroft Times, 1958.
  7. ↑ Bin Daud, Mohamad (June 1980). A Study of Uranium in Ground Water Around Greyhawk Mine, Bancroft, Ontario. McMaster University (thesis). Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  8. ↑ Veska, E. (Waterloo Univ., Ontario (Canada)); Cherry, J.A. (Waterloo Univ., Ontario (Canada)); Sharma, H.D. (Waterloo Univ., Ontario (Canada)) (October 1983). "Origin and subsurface migration of radionuclides from waste rock at an abandoned uranium mine near Bancroft, Ontario". University of Ottawa. Retrieved 2023-01-06– via Atomic Energy Control Board, Ottawa, Ontario (Canada).{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ "Record of Proceedings. Request for Exemption from Licensing the Greyhawk and Agnew Lake Closed Uranium Mines without Tailings" (PDF). Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  10. ↑ "EWL Legacy Mine Properties Perpetual Management Strategy" (PDF). 1 May 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 January 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2021– via International Atomic Energy Agency.
  11. ↑ "Regulatory Action – Ovintiv Canada ULC". Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission . 2022-05-19. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.