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 Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

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 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. Rio Tino 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 The Spanish American Mine is a historical uranium mine located approximately northeast of Elliot Lake, Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of ...

* 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 The Panel Mine is an abandoned uranium mine located approximately 14.5 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. ...

Denison Mine Consolidated Denison Mine, or the Denison Mine is an abandoned uranium mine located approximately 12.5 km north of Elliot Lake, Ontario. The site is bordered north by Pronto Mine, Quirke Mine and Nordic Mine; on the east by Panel Mine and Ca ...

* Stanrock Mine *

Quirke Mine The Quirke Mine is an abandoned uranium mine located approximately 13.5 km north of Elliot Lake, Ontario, owned and operated by Rio Algom Ltd. The site has been rehabilitated and is currently undergoing environmental monitoring. The mine w ...

(s) *

Buckles Mine The Buckles Mine is an historical uranium mine located approximately 4.5 km southeast of Elliot Lake, Ontario, owned and operated by Rio Algom Ltd. The site has been rehabilitated. Environmental monitoring is ongoing as part of the monitori ...

Lacnor Mine The Lacnor Mine, is an abandoned uranium mine in the Elliot Lake area of Ontario, owned by Rio Algom Ltd. The site has been rehabilitated and its tailings facility is currently undergoing environmental monitoring by Denison Environmental Service ...

Nordic Mine The Nordic Mine, is an abandoned uranium mine in the Elliot Lake area of Ontario, owned by Rio Algom Ltd. The site has been rehabilitated and its tailings facility is currently undergoing environmental monitoring by Denison Environmental Service ...

References

External links

* Uranium mines in Ontario Mines in Elliot Lake Underground mines in Canada Former mines in Ontario {{mining-stub

History

Other mines in the area

See also

References

External links