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In the middle of the island of Newfoundland, a subterranean ore deposit lay, waiting for discovery. Some of the minerals could be seen as the the river had stripped away some of the ground covering the orebody. When the ore was exposed to water and oxygen it turned the grey metal sulphides into reddish brown and yellow oxides. At the turn of the century, England's paper supply was threatened by the worry of war in Europe. The Harmsworth bothers, owners of the The Daily Mail, looked to the colony of Newfoundland for an alternate supply of newsprint. Also, Promoter, Harry J. Crowe formed a partnership with William D. Reid, Manager of the Reid Newfoundland Company to acquire sawmill operations in central Newfoundland. An agreement between Reid and the Anglo Newfoundland Development Company (A.N.D) stated that a survey and inventory of the land would be conducted. The A.N.D. Company hired Michael S. Sullivan and William F. Canning to conduct the survey along with guide, Mattie Mitchell. The primary material that the A.N.D. Co. was interested in finding was sulphur, an important ingredient in the process of newsprint manufacture. In September, 1905, Canning and Mitchell travelled from Millertown to the mouth of Buchans River (Sandy River) as part of the survey party for the extensive land holdings. This survey would lead to the discovery and development of the Buchans mines.2
Mattie Mitchell, a Mi'kmaq Montagnais trapper and prospector for the AND company.1905
Buchans River, Buchans, Newfoundland, Canada
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The discovery of ore on the Buchans River is attributed to Mattie Mitchell, a Mi'kmaq Montagnais trapper and guide. The legend goes that Mitchell was having a 'mug up' on the river when the heat from his campfire melted a nearby rock. Mitchell thought this may be of importance and brought it to the attention of Canning. Mitchell's discovery would eventually bring about the development of one of the largest mining operations in Newfoundland and the community of Buchans.4
Ore mine in 'Old Buchans'.1905
Old Buchans, Buchans, Newfoundland, Canada
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From 1905 to 1926, the A.N.D Company made several attempts to identify a process of separating of the ore from the rock. In 1911, the mine was closed since a profitable method of separation could not be found.In 1915, Mr. H.A. Guess, vice-president in charge of mining of the American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO) became interested in the Buchans orebody. Finally, in 1925, at the ASARCO Metallurgical Laboratory at Flat River, Missouri, scientists perfected the floatation method of separation and used it on ore samples from Buchans. ASARCO and the A.N.D Company agreed to a fifty-fifty share of profits from the mine in a twenty-five year lease on March 18, 1928.
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The first geology team in Buchans and the crew who discovered the Lucky Strike mine site in 1926.1926
Buchans, Newfoundland, Canada
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Harry Guess selected J. Ward Williams as the superintendent for the Buchans River Mine. Guess also hired Hans T. Lundberg as a prospector in the Buchans area. Lundberg surveyed with a geophysical prospecting using the electro-magnetic method that required the layout of line squares. In July 1926, Lundberg's team discovered the Lucky Strike orebody which was in operation in Buchans until 1979.8
The 'Black Fly', the site of 'Lucky Strike' discovery in 1926.1926
Buchans, Newfoundland, Canada
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The area where Lundberg discovered the Lucky Strike orebody was very wet and boggy and the black flies were almost unbearable. The site then became known as the "Black Fly." On July 14, 1926, Lundberg's team discovered ore 300 feet off the Black Fly. Trenching revealed massive lead and zinc mineralization. One team member, H. Jortzberg Nordlund stated that it was a very lucky find. Williams overheard this and replied that it was not a lucky find but a lucky strike. The name stuck and the mine became known as Lucky Strike.10
The Lucky Strike Deckhead frame, mill and other structures.1928
Buchans, Newfoundland, Canada
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The Lucky Strike orebody measured approximately 800 feet by 500 feet and had a maximum thickness of 170 feet. In October, 1926, plans were made to design a mill with a 500 ton per day capacity near Lucky Strike Mine. The construction of the Buchans operation began in 1927, after ASARCO approved two million dollars to put the Buchans mine into production.12
With the completion of the mill and the ongoing building of worker homes and recreational facilities, the town of Buchans was up and growing, headed for the boom days of the 1950s and 1960s. From the romantic legend of Mattie's melting rock to millions of tons of ore later, Lucky Strike remains a symbol of prosperity of the Buchans orebodies and its people. |
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