The Pronto Mine is an historical uranium mine located approximately 20 km south of
Elliot Lake
Elliot Lake is a city in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is north of Lake Huron, midway between the cities of Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie in the Northern Ontario region. Once dubbed the "uranium capital of the world," Elliot Lake has since ...
,
Ontario near
Spragge. The site is owned and operated by
Rio Algom Ltd, has been rehabilitated and is currently undergoing environmental monitoring.
The mine was in operation from 1956 to 1960,
during which time it produced 4,643,835 pounds of
U3O8. Upon closure of the mine, the mill was converted to a copper concentrator to process ore from the nearby
Pater Mine
Pater may refer to: Latin for "father"
*a title given to a father deity
** Dis Pater, a Roman and Celtic god of the underworld, later subsumed by Pluto or Jupiter
** God the Father in Christianity
*a title or honorific applied to a male communit ...
and operated until 1970.
History
The Pronto mine is located on lot 3, concession II, Long township. It is located 11 miles east of
Blind River, it is near the
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway (french: Chemin de fer Canadien Pacifique) , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canadi ...
and
highway 17
Route 17, or Highway 17 can refer to the following roads:
For the roads named "A17", see list of A17 roads.
International
* European route E17
* European route E017
Australia
* Brisbane Valley Highway, Queensland
* D'Aguilar Highway, Queenslan ...
.
The Pronto deposit was discovered in 1953, by geologist Franc R. Joubin,
becoming the first uranium deposit discovered in the
Algoma region.
The prospecting was grubstaked by a J. H. Hirshhorn, a hotel owner.
They formed Peach Uranium Syndicate, which later became Peach Uranium and Metals Limited and started diamond drilling.
Messrs. Joubin and Hirshhorn, aided by staff from Preston East Dome gold mine, staked 1,400 claims and discovered more locations with uranium ore.
The summer 1953 publication of the success of Messrs. Joubin and Hirshhorn caused "the greatest staking rush in the history of Ontario"
In 1954, after establishing the size of the find, a contract for the sale of the uranium to the value of $55 million was signed and Pronto Uranium Mines Limited was formed as a subsidiary company to operate the mine.
A shaft 650 feet deep shaft with four levels at 100 feet apart was sunk.
Production started in September 1955.
There was an ore treatment plant that could process 1,250 tons per day.
bought Hirshhorn's share of the mine in 1956.
1958 the shaft was dug deeper to a seventh level and the treatment plant was upgraded to be able to process 1,500 tons per day.
In 1958, Pronto Uranium Mines Limited declared dividends of $0.75 per a share.
1960 four companies, including Pronto Uranium Mines Limited, merged to form Rio Algom Mines Limited. Pronto Mine closed in April 1960, although the mill continued operating.
Other mines in the area
*
Stanleigh Mine
The Stanleigh Mine is an abandoned uranium mine located approximately 3 km northeast of Elliot Lake, Ontario, owned and operated by Rio Algom, Rio Algom Ltd. The site has been rehabilitated and is currently undergoing environmental monitoring ...
*
Spanish American Mine
*
Can-Met Mine
*
Milliken Mine
The Milliken Mine is an abandoned uranium mine located approximately 2.5 km northeast of Elliot Lake, Ontario, owned and operated by Rio Algom Ltd. The site has been rehabilitated and its tailings facility is currently undergoing environment ...
*
Panel Mine
*
Denison Mine
*
Stanrock Mine
*
Quirke Mine(s)
*
Buckles Mine
*
Lacnor Mine
*
Nordic Mine
See also
*
Quartz-pebble conglomerate deposits
*
Uranium mining
*
List of uranium mines
*
List of mines in Ontario
References
External links
*
Uranium mines in Ontario
Mines in Elliot Lake
Underground mines in Canada
Former mines in Ontario
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