Uranium mining in Canada
Encyclopedia
For many years, Canada
was the largest exporter of uranium
ore in the world and has been a major world producer since demand for uranium developed. In 2009 Kazakhstan
took over top spot, relegating Canada to second. 20% of the world's primary uranium production
came from mines in Canada in 2009. 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.
discovered pitchblende, a major uranium bearing mineral, on the shores of the Great Bear Lake
in the Northwest Territories
. This discovery led Labine's company, Eldorado Gold Mines Limited, to develop the Eldorado Mine
at Port Radium, Northwest Territories
in 1932 and a refinery to extract Radium from the ore in Port Hope, Ontario
the following year.
During World War II
, the demand for uranium exploded as the United States
and their allies, Britain
and Canada, began the Manhattan Project
to produce the first atomic weapons. As a result, in 1943 the Government of Canada
expropriated the assets of Eldorado and formed a federal crown corporation, Eldorado Mining and Refining Limited
, to oversee Canadian uranium assets. Exploration for uranium was restricted to Eldorado and the Geological Survey of Canada.
The ban on private prospecting
was lifted in 1947. This led to an exploration
boom that quickly resulted in the discovery of mines in the Northwest Territories (Rayrock
), Ontario (Bancroft
and Elliot Lake), and Saskatchewan (Uranium City
). By 1956, thousands of radioactive occurrences had been noted and by 1959, 23 mines were in operation in five districts. In 1959, Canadian uranium exports were valued at $330 million, more than for any other mineral exported from Canada that year. In the early 1960s, military demand for uranium declined and in 1965 Canada imposed a policy of only selling uranium for peaceful purposes. This period marked the end of the first uranium boom and saw the number of operating mines drop to four. To assist the domestic uranium industry, the federal government initiated a stockpiling
program to purchase uranium. This program ended in 1974 when demand for uranium for power generation was sufficient to support the industry.
A moratorium on Uranium exploration was declared in the province of Nova Scotia in 1984. This moratorium expired on January 1, 1995.
In 1980 the province of British Columbia introduced a seven year ban on uranium mining and exploration, which was not renewed. In 2008, the government established a “no registration reserve” under the Mineral Tenure Act for uranium and thorium. This excludes uranium and thorium from any mineral licences in the province. The government has also stated that they will "ensure that all uranium deposits will remain undeveloped."
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...
was the largest exporter of uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
ore in the world and has been a major world producer since demand for uranium developed. In 2009 Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
took over top spot, relegating Canada to second. 20% of the world's primary uranium production
Uranium mining
Uranium mining is the process of extraction of uranium ore from the ground. The worldwide production of uranium in 2009 amounted to 50,572 tonnes, of which 27% was mined in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan, Canada, and Australia are the top three producers and together account for 63% of world uranium...
came from mines in Canada in 2009. 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.
History
Canada's first recorded discovery of uranium came in 1930 when prospector Gilbert LabineGilbert LaBine
Gilbert LaBine, OC was a Canadian prospector who in 1930 discovered radium and uranium deposits at Port Radium, Northwest Territories. He has become known as the father of Canada's uranium industry. LaBine was president of Eldorado Mining and Refining Limited from its start in the late 1920s to 1947...
discovered pitchblende, a major uranium bearing mineral, on the shores of the Great Bear Lake
Great Bear Lake
Great Bear Lake is the largest lake entirely within Canada , the third or fourth largest in North America, and the seventh or eighth largest in the world...
in the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
. This discovery led Labine's company, Eldorado Gold Mines Limited, to develop the Eldorado Mine
Eldorado Mine
Eldorado Mine is located at Port Radium, Northwest Territories, Canada.It is also known as Port Radium, a name adopted for use at this specific site after 1942...
at Port Radium, Northwest Territories
Port Radium, Northwest Territories
Port Radium is a mining area on the eastern shore of Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada. It included the settlement of Cameron Bay and the Eldorado Mine and Echo Bay Mine. The name Port Radium did not come into use until 1936 and at the time it was in reference to the region as a whole...
in 1932 and a refinery to extract Radium from the ore in Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto and about west of Kingston. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County...
the following year.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the demand for uranium exploded as the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and their allies, Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Canada, began the Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
to produce the first atomic weapons. As a result, in 1943 the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
expropriated the assets of Eldorado and formed a federal crown corporation, Eldorado Mining and Refining Limited
Eldorado Mining and Refining Limited
The Eldorado Mining and Refining Limited company was originally organized in 1927 as Eldorado Gold Mines Limited to develop a gold mine in Manitoba. Its president Gilbert LaBine later found radioactive deposits at Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories in 1930, which led to the development of the...
, to oversee Canadian uranium assets. Exploration for uranium was restricted to Eldorado and the Geological Survey of Canada.
The ban on private prospecting
Prospecting
Prospecting is the physical search for minerals, fossils, precious metals or mineral specimens, and is also known as fossicking.Prospecting is a small-scale form of mineral exploration which is an organised, large scale effort undertaken by mineral resource companies to find commercially viable ore...
was lifted in 1947. This led to an exploration
Mineral exploration
Mineral exploration is the process of finding ore to mine. Mineral exploration is a much more intensive, organized and professional form of mineral prospecting and, though it frequently uses the services of prospecting, the process of mineral exploration on the whole is much more involved.-Stages...
boom that quickly resulted in the discovery of mines in the Northwest Territories (Rayrock
Rayrock Mine
The Rayrock Mine was a uranium producing venture in the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is located on the south side of Maryleer Lake and the north shore of Fault Lake, 169 kilometers northwest of Yellowknife and 74 kilometres northwest of Rae. Radioactive deposits were originally staked in 1948...
), Ontario (Bancroft
Bancroft, Ontario
Bancroft is a town located on the York River in Hastings County in the Canadian province of Ontario.- History :In 1853 the first pioneer family settled in the area, and over the next 15 years the settlement grew quickly, as another 88 families followed...
and Elliot Lake), and Saskatchewan (Uranium City
Uranium City, Saskatchewan
Uranium City is a settlement in northwestern Saskatchewan, Canada. It is on the northern shores of Lake Athabasca near the border of the Northwest Territories. It is above sea level. The settlement is northwest of Prince Albert, 760 km northeast of Edmonton and south of the Northwest...
). By 1956, thousands of radioactive occurrences had been noted and by 1959, 23 mines were in operation in five districts. In 1959, Canadian uranium exports were valued at $330 million, more than for any other mineral exported from Canada that year. In the early 1960s, military demand for uranium declined and in 1965 Canada imposed a policy of only selling uranium for peaceful purposes. This period marked the end of the first uranium boom and saw the number of operating mines drop to four. To assist the domestic uranium industry, the federal government initiated a stockpiling
Stockpile
A stockpile is a pile or storage location for bulk materials, forming part of the bulk material handling process.Stockpiles are used in many different areas, such as in a port, refinery or manufacturing facility. The stockpile is normally created by a stacker. A reclaimer is used to recover the...
program to purchase uranium. This program ended in 1974 when demand for uranium for power generation was sufficient to support the industry.
A moratorium on Uranium exploration was declared in the province of Nova Scotia in 1984. This moratorium expired on January 1, 1995.
- Past Producers
- Elliot Lake
- Stanleigh MineStanleigh MineThe Stanleigh Mine is an abandoned uranium mine located approximately 3 km northeast of Elliot Lake, Ontario, owned and operated by Rio Algom Ltd. The site has been rehabilitated and is currently undergoing environmental monitoring....
(1956–1960 and 1982–1996) - Spanish American MineSpanish American MineThe Spanish American Mine is an historical uranium mine located approximately northeast of Elliot Lake, Ontario, owned and operated by Rio Algom Ltd. The site is southeast of the Denison Mine....
(1957–1959) - Can-Met MineCan-Met MineThe 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 site was...
(1957–1960) - Milliken MineMilliken MineThe Milliken Mine is an abandoned uranium mine located approximately 2.5 km northeast of Elliot Lake, Ontario, owned and operated by Rio Algom Ltd...
(1957–1964) - Panel MinePanel MineThe Panel Mine is an abandoned uranium mine located approximately 14.5 km northeast of Elliot Lake, Ontario, owned and operated by Rio Algom Ltd...
(1957–1961 and 1978–1990) - Denison MineDenison MineThe Denison Mine is an abandoned uranium mine located approximately 12.5 km north 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 site was the...
(1957–1992) - Stanrock MineStanrock MineThe Stanrock Mine is an historical uranium mine located approximately 11.5 km northeast of Elliot Lake, Ontario, owned by Denison Mines. The site has been decommissioned and rehabilited with ongoing monitoring by Denison Environmental Services....
(1958–1960 and 1964–1985) - Quirke MineQuirke MineThe Quirke Mine is an abandoned uranium mine located approximately 13.5 km north of Elliot Lake, Ontario, owned and operated by Rio Algom Ltd...
(s) (1955–1961 and 1965–1990) - Pronto MinePronto MineThe 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....
(1955–1970) - Buckles MineBuckles MineThe 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...
(1956–1960) - Lacnor MineLacnor MineThe 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....
"Lake Nordic" (1956–1960) - Nordic MineNordic MineThe Nordic 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....
(1956–1970)
- Stanleigh Mine
- Agnew LakeAgnew LakeAgnew Lake is a lake near Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Its area is 2,940 hectares and its shoreline is 210 kilometers long. The lake has been the site of varied mining activity, including drilling for diamonds in the earlier half of the 20th century and for uranium in the latter half....
- BancroftBancroft, OntarioBancroft is a town located on the York River in Hastings County in the Canadian province of Ontario.- History :In 1853 the first pioneer family settled in the area, and over the next 15 years the settlement grew quickly, as another 88 families followed...
- Faraday/Madawaska Mine
- Bicroft Mine
- Past Producers
- Key LakeKey Lake-See also:* Unconformity uranium deposits* Uranium mining* List of uranium mines...
- Cluff Lake mineCluff Lake mineCluff Lake mine, located about from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan at the northern terminus of Saskatchewan Highway 955, is owned and operated by AREVA Resources Canada, formerly COGEMA Resources. The mine ceased uranium production at the end of 2002 when the ore reserves were depleted...
- Beaverlodge district
- Gunnar MineGunnar MineThe Gunnar Mine was a uranium mine in northern Saskatchewan, Canadalocated around southwest of the community of Uranium City. The mine was situated on the Crackingstone Peninsula on the north shore of Lake Athabasca in the Beaverlodge Uranium District....
- Beaverlodge Mine
- Current Mines
- McArthur River uranium mine
- Rabbit LakeRabbit Lake mineRabbit Lake is the second largest uranium milling facility in the western world, and is the longest operating uranium production facility in Saskatchewan. The facility is located approximately 800 km north of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on the northeast edge of the uranium rich Athabasca Basin....
- McClean Lake mineMcClean Lake mineThe McClean Lake mine is a uranium mine and milling operation located west of Wollaston Lake, about 700 kilometres north of Saskatoon, in the Athabasca Basin region of Saskatchewan, Canada. The McClean ore body was discovered in 1979, followed by the discovery of the JEB ore body in 1982...
- Gunnar Mine
In 1980 the province of British Columbia introduced a seven year ban on uranium mining and exploration, which was not renewed. In 2008, the government established a “no registration reserve” under the Mineral Tenure Act for uranium and thorium. This excludes uranium and thorium from any mineral licences in the province. The government has also stated that they will "ensure that all uranium deposits will remain undeveloped."
- Past Producers
- Eldorado MineEldorado MineEldorado Mine is located at Port Radium, Northwest Territories, Canada.It is also known as Port Radium, a name adopted for use at this specific site after 1942...
(1932–1940 and 1943–1960) - Rayrock MineRayrock MineThe Rayrock Mine was a uranium producing venture in the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is located on the south side of Maryleer Lake and the north shore of Fault Lake, 169 kilometers northwest of Yellowknife and 74 kilometres northwest of Rae. Radioactive deposits were originally staked in 1948...
(1957–1959)
- Eldorado Mine
Opposition to Uranium Mining
- Anti-nuclear movement in CanadaAnti-nuclear movement in CanadaCanada has an active anti-nuclear movement, which includes major campaigning organisations like Greenpeace and the Sierra Club. Over 300 public interest groups across Canada have endorsed the mandate of the Campaign for Nuclear Phaseout...
- Canada’s Deadly Secret: Saskatchewan Uranium and the Global Nuclear System