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
March 10th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
Excellent post, Bev. It’s terrible, but I haven’t even visited the local historical mine sites, even though I live right next door. I guess it’s a matter of taking the time to be a tourist in one’s own community.
Mica flakes are a consistent part of the soil makeup in my garden. It is beautiful to see the shiny glitter in the garden when the sun shines!
March 10th, 2006 at 6:51 pm
Randa – I hope you’re able to get out to visit a couple of the mines. The Silver Queen mine is probably the best in the area – you can go on a tour of the mine by registering at the park gatehouse at Murphys Point Prov. Park. I’m not sure how often they do the tour, but I think it’s quite frequent in summer. I’ve never been on the tour, but we may make a point of going this summer. It’s only about a kilometer walk to the mines from the parking area on Lally Road. The other neat mine site in your general area is at the Mica Mines Conservation Area that runs off of Long Lake Road. It’s a longer hike though. You follow the Rideau Trail where it enters the Conservation Area lands and the trail passes right alongside a few of the old pits. There are a couple of pieces of equipment still left around the site. Great area for seeing snakes as well! – bev
April 8th, 2006 at 4:27 pm
Leeds County also offers many mine sites that have been overlooked but are of historical interest. Leeds was more noted for its pyrite production and rare octahedral pyrite crystals can still be found. As with the mica mines, many were open pit, but mines like the Billings and Shipman were partly underground workings. Only one is still accessable at this point however.
April 9th, 2006 at 1:37 pm
Al – thanks for your notes. I’ve known a bit about other mining down in Leeds. I’ve wondered about the iron mining and smelting activity around Delta and Lyndhurst, but have never really found that much info. No doubt, I’m probably looking in the wrong places as there must be quite a bit on that history.
April 9th, 2006 at 4:49 pm
Burning Silo
I have been working on the history of mining in Leeds County for the last two years and there are no shortages of mines.
Lyndhurst used to be called Furnace Falls. Iron and smelting was carried on around 1800 to about 1820. Also ferrous-magnetite was mines near Newboro.Along with that, lead (galena) mining and quartz crystal were carried on to the south of Lyndhurst near the Outlet.
Al
April 10th, 2006 at 11:57 am
Al – Is there anything much left in the way of historic mining sites in or around Lyndhurst? When I’ve driven through town, I’ve seen street names related to iron — can’t think of the names offhand, but I think one is “Iron mine road” or something to that effect. However, it looks like the road goes into someone’s yard, so I’ve never driven down to explore.
Are you going to publish a book once you’re finished with your research? If so, be sure to drop back by to post something about it.
April 11th, 2006 at 2:17 am
My aim is to eventually put out a book on the mining history and minerals of Leeds County. Over the past two years I have given talks on the subject ie: the Brockville Museum.
The road that you mention does go into some private property and gets its name from the local Iron bearing rock.However not much remains of the mining and smelting industry.
April 12th, 2006 at 5:39 pm
I may have forgotten to mention about the Long Point Lead Mine. It was first worked around 1854 and some good galena and calcite specimens have come from there. The calcite is interesting in that it is violet in colour. Then there is the Steel`s quartz mine. However it is off limits to collecting.
I will be having a small display of pyrite crystals and perhaps some calcite etc; at the Brockville library for the month of June. You may find that of interest. You may note that generally I do not give out the exact locations for some of these sites since I want to preserve the sites and not have them open for general collecting. It may sound greedy on my part (which isn`t the intent), but some sites have crystal deposits that cannot be found elsewhere in Canada and the only other location is Peru.
April 12th, 2006 at 6:26 pm
Al – Thanks for posting more info on your research and upcoming book, and also for the exhibit at the Brockville library in June. If I get down that way, I will definitely try to stop by to check it out. Regarding not giving out exact locations of mine sites, etc… I completely understand. That’s done quite a bit among people in the naturalist community with regards to sensitive habitat, nesting birds, rarer species of plants or animals, or with animals (particularly reptiles and amphibians) which might be collected by someone who would illegally wish to keep it (or sell it) as a pet.