"Gold in Nova Scotia"- Jennifer Bates. a report from Dept of Mines and Energy 1987. Editor's note - Pay particular attention to page 14 with reference to Stirling mine.
Spillway Design/Construction project - Stirling Mine Site -This is a Nova Scotia government website. The first page is blank and you'll think it's still downloading but scroll down and you'll see the work that was contracted out to replace the spillway at the tailing's pond to control the discharge from the pond.
This is a link to Nova Scotia Natural Resources site which describes "The Stirling Mine Shaft Capping Demonstration Project" that was carried out on the two open shafts and two ventilation raises because of concern for public safety.
This project also served as a demonstration project using four different closure methods. The introduction gives background information on the mine operations and the map and Appendixes are very informative in regard to the methods used.
This project also served as a demonstration project using four different closure methods. The introduction gives background information on the mine operations and the map and Appendixes are very informative in regard to the methods used.
Hard rock mining was the type of mining that took place in Stirling. This site defines the hard rock mining process, describes types of underground access, ventilation requirements and various mine methods.
Click on this link to Mining.com to view this story by Marketwise Mining and Metals July 24, 2012. Though the land the old mine site is on belongs to the Municipality of the County of Richmond (as per conversation with County Clerk Don Marchard), Thundermin Resources Ltd is the company that has the mineral rights to the property. This article describes Thundermin's exploration program in Stirling.
Click on this link to 911 Metallurgist to see a flow sheet and explanation of how copper, lead, zinc and Gold Silver are extracted by flotation. Also click on Wendell Holmes interview for his recollection of this process at the Stirling Mine. You'll see a lot of similarities.
Click on this link to see photos of the Stirling Mine site in 1920's from the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia taken by J.P. Messervey 1929 of the "Stirling Zinc Mine"(Construction phase) and Glory Hole. There is an information bar to the right with subject relating to Gold mining. Although some gold was mined in Stirling, Richmond County,NS, it was not the main mineral. On this site methods of extracting gold are discussed. It is possible that the mine system that operated in the early days used an Arrastre or stamp mill to crush the ore. In the 1950's, when the mine last ran, a ball mill system was used to crush the ore and the main minerals mined were Copper, Zinc and Lead with traces of Silver and Gold.
Click on this link to see Cape Breton Post Article March 28/20 about this website. Just wanted to note some things:
1) On the time line add 1927- Mine taken over by British Metals. shafts pumped out ran for a few years. Closed around 1930 and reopened in 1935/36 for a few years - then closed around 1938.
2)Spinner's men shop was in Stirling in the 50's not Framboise
3)Strachan's Garage was in Stirling in the 50's - not Framboise
1) On the time line add 1927- Mine taken over by British Metals. shafts pumped out ran for a few years. Closed around 1930 and reopened in 1935/36 for a few years - then closed around 1938.
2)Spinner's men shop was in Stirling in the 50's not Framboise
3)Strachan's Garage was in Stirling in the 50's - not Framboise
In the interviews with Chrissy MacLeod MacMillan/Duncan MacLeod and Douglas Landry, they talk about the wooden water pipes they saw on the mine site. Harvey Freeman, who read their interviews has identified this system as "Wood Stave Piping". He notes, "In the interview with Douglas Landry the question was asked - why wood and not metal? The answer would be on cost vs expected life of the operation. Metal pipe would have been much more expensive in an 18" diameter". Harvey adds, "When I first went to Fourchu and traveled on the old road from Port Hawkesbury to St. Peters there was a wood stave pipe that I believe brought water to the pulp mill or heavy water plant. It was likely 4 or 5 feet in diameter. Thanks to Harvey for the link.
Click on this link to find all the submissions of Cape Breton Magazine free to view and search. .You don't have to register or sign in to access the magazines (I had difficulty with this) . To view the magazine of choice, click on the image of the magazine (on the right hand side of the page). To move through the pages click on the little green arrows on the top or bottom of the pages. Note this site has been inaccessible lately.
When Stirling Mine shut down around 1956 many of the miners who worked there went to Heath steel Mines, New Brunswick as per Zane Fanning's interview. It was a Zinc/Lead mine. Here is a link to the article written in 2020 shortly after it closed.
Metalliferous Environments, NS. - Base Metals "Volcanic Deposits: Stirling"
This is a report written sometime after 1983 which discusses exploration history, ore minerology, metal distribution, exploration techniques and mineral showing in Stirling, Richmond Co, NS
This is a report written sometime after 1983 which discusses exploration history, ore minerology, metal distribution, exploration techniques and mineral showing in Stirling, Richmond Co, NS
| richardson.pdf |
Some Geological Aspects of the Mindamar Mine, Stirling, Richmond County, N.S.Export Citation
Paul W. Richardson,
Organization: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
Pages: 3
This is a paper submitted at the Annual meeting of the Mining Society of Nova Scotia, Sydney, NS. July 1953 by P.W. Richardson Download the file above to see the whole report
"Introduction And Acknowledgments"
This paper outlines the geology and discusses the geological problems of the Mindamar mine. It is impossible to acknowledge the contributions of ideas of all the geologists who have worked in the area. Among the more important contributors are K. D, Watson, W. S. James, B.S.W. Buffam, and L. J. Weeks, and John MacPherson, the resident geologist at the mine.
A mineralogical and chemical study of the ore and country rock is being carried on by Dr. Watson at the University of California, Los Angeles.
General Information
The Mindamar mine is on Cape Breton Island, forty miles south-west of Sydney (Figure 1). The nearest railway stations are at St. Peters, which is thirty-two miles southwest of the mine, and at Sydney. Good gravel-surfaced roads connect the mine to the railways.The mine is producing at the rate of 600 tons a day of ore containing zinc, lead, copper, and minor amounts of silver and gold. At the present time the mill feed averages 9 .per cent combined metals, of which zinc makes u:p 7 1per cent and lead and copper each 1 per cent.
General Geology
The ore being mined by Mindamar occurs in a shear zone parallel to a northeasterly striking, vertically dipping, series of rocks consisting of rhyolite tuff, rhyolite, minor more basic flow rocks, and diorite (Figure 2). In the vicinity of the mine, these rocks have been termed the Mine Series. They belong to the Bourinot group, which has been assigned by L. J. Weeks to the Middle Cambrian. At the latitude of the mine, the Bourinot group is bounded on the northwest by the Stirling fault and extends eastward for two miles." Thanks to Tracy Lenfesty Librarian Nova Scotia Dept of Lands and Forestry/Energy and Mines for providing this information .
Paul W. Richardson,
Organization: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
Pages: 3
This is a paper submitted at the Annual meeting of the Mining Society of Nova Scotia, Sydney, NS. July 1953 by P.W. Richardson Download the file above to see the whole report
"Introduction And Acknowledgments"
This paper outlines the geology and discusses the geological problems of the Mindamar mine. It is impossible to acknowledge the contributions of ideas of all the geologists who have worked in the area. Among the more important contributors are K. D, Watson, W. S. James, B.S.W. Buffam, and L. J. Weeks, and John MacPherson, the resident geologist at the mine.
A mineralogical and chemical study of the ore and country rock is being carried on by Dr. Watson at the University of California, Los Angeles.
General Information
The Mindamar mine is on Cape Breton Island, forty miles south-west of Sydney (Figure 1). The nearest railway stations are at St. Peters, which is thirty-two miles southwest of the mine, and at Sydney. Good gravel-surfaced roads connect the mine to the railways.The mine is producing at the rate of 600 tons a day of ore containing zinc, lead, copper, and minor amounts of silver and gold. At the present time the mill feed averages 9 .per cent combined metals, of which zinc makes u:p 7 1per cent and lead and copper each 1 per cent.
General Geology
The ore being mined by Mindamar occurs in a shear zone parallel to a northeasterly striking, vertically dipping, series of rocks consisting of rhyolite tuff, rhyolite, minor more basic flow rocks, and diorite (Figure 2). In the vicinity of the mine, these rocks have been termed the Mine Series. They belong to the Bourinot group, which has been assigned by L. J. Weeks to the Middle Cambrian. At the latitude of the mine, the Bourinot group is bounded on the northwest by the Stirling fault and extends eastward for two miles." Thanks to Tracy Lenfesty Librarian Nova Scotia Dept of Lands and Forestry/Energy and Mines for providing this information .
| watson_1957[6614].pdf |
Mindamar Mine
Report by K.D. Watson - Download the file above to see the report. To rotate the page click on first button on the top right of screen. To fit to page click twice on the first button on the lower right part of the screen.
Pages: 8
Published: 6th commonwealth Mining And Metallurgical Congress Canada 1957
Thanks to Tracy Lenfesty - Librarian Nova Scotia Dept of Lands and Forestry/Energy and Mines for providing this information
Report by K.D. Watson - Download the file above to see the report. To rotate the page click on first button on the top right of screen. To fit to page click twice on the first button on the lower right part of the screen.
Pages: 8
Published: 6th commonwealth Mining And Metallurgical Congress Canada 1957
Thanks to Tracy Lenfesty - Librarian Nova Scotia Dept of Lands and Forestry/Energy and Mines for providing this information
Report Geology of Stirling - Kontak 1999
G. A. O’Reilly -From The Mineral Inventory Files - Volcanogenic Massive Sulphides at the Stirling Zn-Pb-Cu Deposit
Metallogenic Studies Stirling
McIntyre Power - Aluminum Oxide Powder linked to Parkinson's disease and other lung problems used in Ontario to prevent Silicosis from 1943-1979,
This is is a Youtube video of the Stirling mine by Terry Matthys. His video starts off at the50's mill loading dock looking from the Northwest; then the foundation which is likely that of the former Assay office; then the Glory hole; then the 30's mill which is on the other side of Strachan's brook; then the tailings pond; and then the 50's mill from the loading dock to the tank foundations. Great coverage.
Article about Stirling mine from Notyourgrandfathersmine.ca