Ghost Lake Mine

GHOST-LAKE-MINE

Framed entrance to Ghost Lake Mine Ramp.

Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Company's 10th producing mine in the Flin Flon-Snow Lake, Manitoba field of operations went into production August 21, 1972, when ore from Ghost Lake Mine was moved to a nearby stock-piling point, for transportation by CN ore cars to Hudson Bay's metallurgical complex in Flin Flon for treatment.

Ghost Lake Mine is located in close proximity to the Company's Chisel Lake Mine, about 15 miles southwest of Snow Lake and about 70 air miles east of Flin Flon.

A relatively small orebody containing ore in irregular solid sulphide lenses, the Ghost Lake Mine when production began, had an estimated ore reserve of 290,000 tons grading .022 oz. Gold, 1.03 oz. Silver, 1.58% copper, 14.5% zinc and 0.3% lead.

The ore was mined by both long-hole and short-hole open and shrinkage stopes, then trucked in 25 ton loads up the ramp to the surface to be dumped into ore cars spotted nearby.

Development of the property was begun in 1970 with the driving of a decline (ramp) from the surface, using trackless equipment. In 1971 the decline reached the ore zone at the expected horizon, and stope development was started. Levels were established in the ore at 365, 475 and 560 feet below surface with a ventilation and escape raise driven from the 560 ft. level to the surface and connected to the intervening levels. The production rate was around 250 tons per day.

Other producing Company mines in the Snow Lake area include Anderson, Stall, Osborne , Dickstone, Lost, Spruce Point, and Rod. Producers in the Flin Flon area, are the Flin Flon Mine, Schist Lake Mine, Birch Lake Mine, Coronation Mine, Konuto Mine, Cuprus Mine, Centennial Mine, Trout Lake Mine, Westarm Mine, Callinan 777 Mine, White Lake Mine – brought into production June 15, 1972 and Flexar, was mined out during the last half of 1972 reducing the number of HBM&S producing mines in these areas. Of the above mines, the only one operating in the Flin Flon area today is the Callinan 777 Mine, which is expected to operate until 2018-2020 is the projected time frame for the life of this mine.

Chisel Lake head frame seen from behind Ghost Lake enclosed ramp.

First ore for stockpile which was later transported to Flin Flon by CN Rail

Aerial view of Chisel Lake Mine showing entrance to Ghost Lake decline in lower left corner.

Copyright 2013 G.B.Reid