50 YEARS AGO (April 02, 1990)

NICKEL POTENTIAL IN LANGMUIR TWP.

In the central part of Langmuir township and in the southern part of Carman township, there are several bands of iron formation containing massive pyrrhotite. Assays of this material gave no trace of nickel, although nickel values have been reported in the past.

SMELTER SEEKING POWER IN N.W.T.

That Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co. of Canada is planning the development of hydro-electric power in the Yellowknife area of the Northwest Territories is indicated by a notice appearing in a recent issue of the Canada Gazette.

Consolidated proposes to develop at its proposed site (at the north end of Prosperous Lake) power of a maximum of 9,300 hp., to be used in conducting its mining and milling operation in the region of its properties at Ptarmigan and Con mines.

DOMINION GEOLOGICAL SURVEY APPROACHES 100 YEARS

The Geological Survey was created in 1842 to aid the development of Canada’s mineral resources. Although the institution has been in existence for nearly 100 years and has accomplished an immense amount of work, the need for its services remains as great as ever. It is difficult to imagine a time when the country would no longer require a Geological Survey.

INCO OFFERS AID TO FALCONBRIDGE’S NORWAY REFINERY

Falconbridge Nickel Mines has an insurance policy against the possibility of losing its Norwegian refining facilities in the form of an offer from The International Nickel Co. to provide accommodation for Falconbridge matte on a toll basis for the duration of the war.

International Nickel’s vice-president, Thayer Lindsley, seized the opportunity of warmly complimenting Falconbridge President J.G. Hardy.

PRESIDENT ESCAPED NAZIS BY HOURS

Apparently J. Gordon Hardy, president of Falconbridge Nickel Mines Limited, and Anton Gronningsater, consulting metallurgist, escaped from Norway by the skin of their teeth. They had been visiting the company’s nickel refinery at Kristiansand, one of the points of heavy fighting. They had arranged to sail on Friday, April 5th, but their ship was delayed and did not clear from Fergin until 3 a.m. Sunday, the 7th. On Monday morning the fighting broke out and very obviously the most active of the German preparations were proceeding all about them during the time they were delayed and while they were sailing away from the Norwegian coast. If they had delayed a day or so later, they’d probably have been caught by the Nazi troops.

GRANBY TO INCREASE COPPER OUTPUT

With the expected completion of power plant enlargement this summer, Granby Consolidated will proceed to raise its mill tonnage, The Northern Miner can announce. At present treating 4,000 tons a day, the intention is that the mine shall handle 4,500 to 4,600 tons a day. Copper output and earnings should be increased accordingly.

On January 1st, the ore reserves were 14.5 million tons — 10 years’ supply — with average content of 1.38% copper.

Reprinted from The Northern Miner, April, 1940