ODDS’N’SODS — A rewarding weekend

In the early 1950s, it was discovered that gold reserves were fast-declining at two of the chief operations in Ontario’s Geraldton camp, namely the Little Long Lac and MacLoed-Cockshott mines. People in the community were not alarmed, however, as they were too busy searching the surrounding Precambrian rocks for mineral possibilities.

Three men, in particular, were using their weekends to good advantage: Jack Forster, who owned an automobile agency and service garage; Roy Barker, an employee on MacLoed-Cockshott’s shaft-servicing program; and Bill Dawidowitch, a casual worker in the mining and forestry camps. Their main advantage was the availability of Forester’s float-equipped aircraft and his navigational familiarity with the district.

After spending many weekends prospecting among the million and one lakes that dot the area, the trio made a fateful decision that ultimately was to have a serious effect on the economy of Geraldton. An Indian trapper had long ago reported the presence of a mineralized outcrop in the remote Creek Valley, leading to Lake Manitouwadge, and Forster and company now decided to test the credibility of the story — and the merits of the alleged mineralization.

Forster’s float plane transported the group to the area. And after a quick reconnaissance of the lake shore, the three decided to prospect the Fox Creek Valley leading into the lake from the north.

A short sojourn up this narrow drainage system revealed the object of their search: a narrow but strongly mineralized zone that crossed the valley and ridge to the east. They followed the trace of the outcrop, clearly exposed, and were soon surprised to discover evidence of recent exploration trenches. Further reconnaissance revealed that claims had recently been staked over the mineralized outcrop. Disturbed but not undaunted, they prospected the zone in detail. The bright gleam of abundant chalcopyrite and sphalerite in the freshly broken samples greatly impressed them.

They then ventured east and west along a strong structure, seeing further evidence of widespread mineralization. They finally decided that, since the location was so remote, they would stake a block of claims to surround and include the original claims, and then trust to further good fortune. Feeling great satisfaction, they departed in Forster’s plane with a sackful of fresh samples.

Upon their return to Geraldton, they decided to send the samples to General Engineering Co. Laboratories in Toronto for assays in copper, zinc, lead, silver and gold. They also opted to withold recording their claims; there was a 30-day period of grace in the filings, so that they had lots of time both to await assay results and decide upon a course of action.

The sample assay results indicated that the structure possessed high-grade values in copper, zinc and silver. Moreover, the Port Arthur claims recording office informed them that the original staker had not recorded the claims within the specified time interval. Jubilantly, Forster, Barker and Dawidowitch proceeded to record their Manitouwadge claims and lay plans for follow-up work.

Enter the Hamilton Brothers of General Engineering with the capable Bill Hargraft as their field man, and soon diamond drills were delving deeply into the fertile rocks of the Precambrian structure. A huge copper-zinc-silver deposit was outlined and subsequent agreements with Noranda rewarded the weekend efforts of the three partners with remuneration and vested interests far beyond their wildest expectations.

The enterprising initiative of these prospectors served to awake a slumbering community — and country — to the potential for aggressive exploration in the underexplored hinterland. Today, much of Canada beckons in the same manner, to those who will seek and venture.

— S.J. Hunter, a retired mining engineer and regular contributor, resides in Vancouver, B.C.