March 10th, 2006
silver queen mica mine
Phlogopite mica mines may be found at a number of locations throughout the Frontenac Axis region, along a corridor that runs roughly from Kingston to Perth. Many of the abandoned mines are accessible to the public as they are situated along hiking trails in provincial parks and conservation areas. We’ve made a point of visiting most of the mines at one time or another. A couple of weeks ago, while hiking at Murphy’s Point Provincial Park, we stopped to visit the Silver Queen mica mine. It was one of the larger area operations and is now preserved as an historic site with guided tours in the summer months. The above photo was taken at the side drift entrance. As can be seen, it is nothing more than a small tunnel extending into the side of a hill. The main entrance of the mine tunnels into the same hill from a different point along its perimeter.
Other sites we’ve visited aren’t quite so elaborate as the Silver Queen mine. Most are just large pits or trenches, usually about 4 to 6 meters wide. The pits don’t tend to be all that deep. Instead, it’s common to find several shallow excavations into hillsides or rocky knolls. Operations were very low tech, so tunneling was rarely deep or extensive. Some of the mines were quite small and, apparently, operated by farmers who dug mica on their lands to supplement their income.
Mines which we’ve visited include several trench and pit mines at Frontenac Park, Gould Lake Conservation Area, Mica Mines Conservation Area (near Long Lake), and the Silver Queen mine. When hiking in mica mine country, you’ll usually know you’re approaching an old mine site when you begin to see heavy concentrations of glittering mica flakes scattered along the trail.
A couple of online resources for anyone who might be interested in the history of mica mining in the Frontenac region:
Another Day, Another Dollar, by Jérome McDuff, from the Friends of Frontenac Park website.
And a page on the Sand Lake mica mine and general history of mining throughout the Rideau Lakes region.
Tags: mica, phlogopite, silver queen mica mine, frontenac park, murphys point provincial park