Ontario Geological Survey
Permanent Link to this Record:
MDI42I11SW00002
| Record Name(s) | Onakawana Lignite - 1931, Blacksmith Rapids - 1899 |
|---|---|
| Related Record Type | Simple |
| Related Record(s) | |
| Record Status | Developed Prospect With Reported Reserves or Resources |
| Date Created | 1981-May-07 |
| Date Last Modified | 2022-Sep-27 |
| Created By | |
| Revised By |
Primary Commodities: Lignite, Clay
Township or Area: Dyer, Sutcliffe, Morrow
Latitude: 50° 36' 44.41" Longitude: -81° 25' 38.91"
UTM Zone: 17 Easting: 469754.95 Northing: 5606803.81 UTM Datum: NAD83
Resident Geologist District: Timmins
NTS Grid: 42I11SW, 42I12SE
Point Location Description: Lignite beds on the west bank of the Onakawana River
Location Method: Data Compilation
Access Description: The site is accessible by train by Cochrane. The Onakawana siding is located approximately 200 km north of Cochrane.
Known as early as 1672, the Onakawana lignite deposits were first identified by Hudson Bay Company fur traders and used for local blacksmithing purposes in Moose Factory. 1928, Dyer (Ontario Bureau of Mines) examined and reported on the lignite. 5 ton sample shipped to Toronto for testing. 1931: Shaft sunk to a depth of 150 feet on the deposit and 1200 feet of drifts were developed. The deposit was estimated to contain over 100 million tons of lignite; 105 tons of lignite had been extracted from the underground workings when the operation ceased in 1932. 1939: The operations restarted by Temiskaming and Northern Railroad. 1944: A 100 horsepower boiler was installed on site for further testing of the lignite and 3000 tons of material was stockpiled for the boiler. The operation closed the following year. 1965: Alberta Coal Limited reopened the project. 1968: Battle River Coal Company excavated 200 tons for testing (AF T-4701) 1972: An exploratory license covering 375 square miles was granted to the company and Onakawana Development Limited was formed to develop the lignite resource. 1977: Feasibility study was commissioned. The project designated under the Environmental Assessment Act. 1979: Ontario Hydro began a $7 million study to examine the possibilities of an on site thermal generating station and transmission facilities. Engineering studies carried out; burn testing was completed in Germany on a 1500 ton bulk sample derived from a small open pit. The lignite was determined to be amenable to thermal generation of electricity, but the project terminated without further development. 1981-82: Algoma Steel Corporation investigated using Onakawana lignite to replace coke as a blast furnace fuel, but the ash content was determined to be too high for the purpose. (AF T-4701) 1985: Ontario Geological Survey drilled 3 test holes to obtain complete stratigraphic information of the lignite and underlying geology. No further work done.
| Office File Number | Online Assessment File Identifier | Online Assessment File Directory |
|---|---|---|
| T-1414 / 83.1-56 | 42I12NE0302 | 42I12NE0302 |
| T-2745 / 63.4121 | 42I11NW0002 | 42I11NW0002 |
| T-1414 / 83.1-32 | 42I11SW0002 | 42I11SW0002 |
Province: Paleozoic and Mesozoic Basins
Subprovince: Moose River Basin
Geological Age: Mesozoic Geochronological Age: Cretaceous Geochron. Age Ref.: J. Keele, 1920
| Rock Type | Rank | Composition | Texture | Relationship | Lignite | 1 | Is |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay | 2 | Adjacent | ||
| Sand | 3 | Silica | Adjacent |
Mar 19, 2014 (A Wilson) - The lignite deposit covers about 8 square miles and is contained within the Mattagami Formation of the Cretaceous Basin. The deposit extends about 4 miles west of the Abitibi River and the Ontario Northland Railway. The lignite, which has a shallow regional westerly dip, is interbedded with fireclay beds from 1' to 26' thick and beds of silica sand dividing the lignite into 2 and sometimes 3 seams which are known as the top, upper and lower lignite seams. The lignite is of 3 types 1) earthy, a low grade crumbly type, 2) peaty, an intermediate grade which is compact but weak and 3) woody, a higher grade which is compact and strong. The Upper Lignite Seam has a mean thickness of 17.6 ft. Only 28% of the seam is made up of the economically more important lignite. The Lower Lignite has a mean thickness of 18 feet with the woody and peaty lignite making up 76% of the seam.
| Rank | Mineral Name | Class | Economic Mineral Type | Alteration Mineral Type | Alteration Ranking | Alteration Intensity | Alteration Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lignite | Economic | Ore | ||||
| 2 | Clay | Economic | Ore |
Mar 19, 2014 (A Wilson) - Analysis of the lignite in 1973 returned the following values: 46% moisture, 8.83% ash, 21.92% volatiles, 23.25% fixed carbon. The calorific value is 5246 BTU/lb. The average calorific value is 4900 BTU/lb (wet) is considered low by North American standards but high grade by European standards. Clay from the spoils from the shaft excavation was tested for its suitability as fire brick. The clay made average first-quality fire brick and careful selection of clay from this deposit may yield a somewhat better brick.
| Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fossil Fuel |
| Shape | Length | Thickness | Depth | Strike | Dip | Plunge | Trend | Age | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 6400 | 5.4 |
| Shape | Length | Thickness | Depth | Strike | Dip | Plunge | Trend | Age | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 6400 | 5.3 |
| Zone | Year | Category | Tonnes | Reference | Comments | Commodities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main, East, Portage | 1975 | Unclassified | 160000000 | OFR5157 | reserves don't include northern extension of the deposit outlined in 1972. | Lignite 0 BTU per Pound |
| Onakawana Lignite | 1974 | Unclassified | 21215833 | OFR5111 p. 1 | includes (NI43-101 non-compliant) proven, possible and probable classifications | Lignite 5246 BTU per Pound |
| Onakawana Fireclay | 1974 | Unclassified | 22442888 | OFR5111, p. 1 | no analytical reults for fireclay as of 1974, includes all classes | Clay 0 Kilograms |
File - Resident Geologist files T-2745, T-4701
Publication Number: Date:
Author:
Publisher Name:
Location: Timmins RGP office
Journal - The Lignite Deposit at Onakawana, Moose River Basin, Ontario, p. 450
Publication Number: CIM TRANS1 Date: 1930
Author: W.S. Dyer
Publisher Name: CIMM
Location: Timmins RGO
Map - Map of northern parts of the districts of Algoma and Nipissing, Province of Ontario
Publication Number: ARM13B Scale: 1:506,880 Date: 1998
Author: Bell J.M.
Publisher Name: Ontario Bureau of Mines
Location:
Part - The Nipissing-Algoma boundary
Publication Number: ARV08-02.002 Page: 188-189 Date: 1998
Author: Parks W.A.
Publisher Name: Ontario Bureau of Mines
Location:
Journal - Refractory Clays of Northern Ontario, p. 242-247
Publication Number: CIM TRANS2 Date: 1933
Author: W.S. Dyer and A.R. Crozier
Publisher Name: CIMM
Location: Timmins RRGO Tech Paper File
Map - Moose River Basin, District of Cochrane, Ontario
Publication Number: ARM37P Scale: 1:506,880 Date: 1997
Author: Dyer W.S.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Part - Economic resources of Moose River Basin
Publication Number: ARV13-01.009 Page: 159, 169-174 Date: 1998
Author: Bell J.M.
Publisher Name: Ontario Bureau of Mines
Location:
Journal - A Technical Investigation of Northern Ontario Lignite, p. 169
Publication Number: CIM TRANS3 Date: 1933
Author: C. Tasker
Publisher Name: CIM
Location: Timmins RRGO Tech Paper File
Map - Onakawana sheet, geological compilation series
Publication Number: P0375 Scale: 1:126,720 Date: 1997
Author: Bennett G., Brown D.D., George P.T.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Part - Clay and shale deposits of the Abitibi and Mattagami rivers
Publication Number: ARV29-02.003 Page: 36, 39, 53 Date: 1998
Author: Keele J.
Publisher Name: Ontario Bureau of Mines
Location:
Map - Geology, Hudson Bay Lowlands, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and District of Keewatin
Publication Number: Map 17-1967 Scale: 1:1,013,760 Date: 1967
Author: Norris, A W; Sanford, B V; Bostock, H H
Publisher Name: Geological Survey of Canada
Location: https://doi.org/10.4095/107628
Part - Geology and economic deposits of the Moose River basin
Publication Number: ARV37-06.001 Page: 47-49, 65-66 Date: 1998
Author: Dyer W.S.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Part - General review of non-metallic mineral resources, 1928
Publication Number: ARV38-04.001 Page: 10-11 Date: 1997
Author: Dyer W.S.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Part - Semi-commercial tests on northern Ontario fire clays
Publication Number: ARV38-04.002 Page: 19-26 Date: 1997
Author: Dyer W.S., Montgomery R.J.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Part - Lignite coal from Blacksmith Rapids, Abitibi River
Publication Number: ARV38-04.007 Page: 34-40 Date: 1997
Author: Gilmore R.E.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Part - The Onakawana lignite deposit, Moose River basin (progress report to May 31, 1930)
Publication Number: ARV39-06.001 Page: 1-14 Date: 1998
Author: Dyer W.S.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Part - A technical and economic investigation of northern Ontario lignite
Publication Number: ARV42-03.001 Page: 1-45 Date: 1997
Author: Ontario Research Foundation
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Part - Lignite and refractory clay deposits of the Onakawana lignite field
Publication Number: ARV42-03.002 Page: 46-78 Date: 1997
Author: Dyer W.S., Crozier A.R.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Part - Appendix, laboratory classification of refractory clays
Publication Number: ARV42-03.003 Page: 79-87 Date: 1997
Author: Montgomery R.J.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Part - Petroleum possibilities of the James Bay Lowland area
Publication Number: ARV61-06.001 Page: 82-86 Date: 1997
Author: Martison N.W.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Part - Petroleum possibilities of the James Bay Lowland area
Publication Number: ARV61-06.001 Page: 87-95 Date: 1997
Author: Martison N.W.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Mono - Operation Kapuskasing
Publication Number: MP010 Page: 78, 80-82 Date: 1967
Author: Bennett G., Brown D.D., George P.T., Leahy E.J., Guillet G.R.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Publication - Geology and bibliography of the Hudson Bay Lowlands, Operation Winisk; Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 67-60
Publication Number: Paper 67-60 Page: 43-44 Date: 1968
Author: Sanford, B V; Norris, A W; Bostock, H H; Bell, R T
Publisher Name: Geological Survey of Canada
Location: https://doi.org/10.4095/100932
Mono - Onakawana lignite area, District of Cochrane
Publication Number: OFR5111 Date: 1997
Author: Trusler J.R., Fuel Commission of Ontario, Sinclair D.G.
Publisher Name: Ontario Division of Mines
Location:
Vol - Part 1, preliminary report on the geology and lignite deposits, part 2, report on refraction seismic and resistivity surveys
Publication Number: OFR5148 Page: 78-82 Date: 1975
Author:
Publisher Name: Ontario Division of Mines
Location:
Mono - Economic geology of the Cretaceous deposits, Moose River Basin, Ontario, general appraisal
Publication Number: OFR5157 Page: 55-65 Date: 1975
Author: Vos M.A.
Publisher Name: Ontario Division of Mines
Location:
Mono - Geology and mineral deposits of the Moose River Basin, James Bay Lowlands, preliminary report
Publication Number: OFR5158 Page: 21-22 Date: 1975
Author: Telford P.G., Vos M.A., Norris G.
Publisher Name: Ontario Division of Mines
Location:
Mono - Geophysical studies of Onakawana lignite fields, District of Cochrane
Publication Number: OFR5196 Date: 1976
Author: Scintrex Surveys Ltd.
Publisher Name: Ontario Division of Mines
Location:
Article - Lignite deposit survey in the Onakawana area, District of Cochrane
Publication Number: MP075.025 Date: 1997
Author: Verma H.M., Ford M.J., Telford P.G.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
Publication - Mesozoic Deposits of Hudson Bay and Coal Deposits of Onakawana Area; Geological Survey of Canada, Paper no. 75-13
Publication Number: Paper 75-13 Page: Locality 46 Date: 1978
Author: Price, L.L.
Publisher Name: Geological Survey of Canada
Location: https://doi.org/10.4095/103384
Vol - Geological studies east of the Abitibi River, in the vicinity of Onakawana, District of Cochrane, part 1, geology and drilling results, part 2, palynological analysis of OGS drill holes 77-01, 77-02, and 77-03
Publication Number: OFR5253 Date: 1978
Author:
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
Compend - Mesozoic geology and mineral potential of the Moose River Basin
Publication Number: S021 Page: 140-145 Date: 1982
Author: Telford P.G., Verma H.M.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
Article - Stratigraphy and geochemistry of northern Ontario carbonaceous deposits: Onakawana lignites
Publication Number: MP113.134 Date: 1997
Author: Fyfe W.S., Kronberg B.I., Long D.G.F., Murray F., Powell M., Try C., van der Flier E., Winder C.G., Brown J.R.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
Article - Stratigraphy and geochemistry of northern Ontario carbonaceous deposits: Onakawana lignites
Publication Number: MP121.134 Date: 1997
Author: Murray F., van der Flier E., Fyfe W.S., Kronberg B.I., Long D.G.F., Try C., Winder C.G.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
Book - Kaolin clays and lignite of the Moose River Basin in Geology of Industrial Minerals in Canada, p 115
Publication Number: CIM Spec Vol 29 Date: 1984
Author: G.R. Guillet
Publisher Name: CIMM
Location: Timmins RGO
Mono - Mesozoic geology and lignite potential of the Moose River Basin
Publication Number: OFR5777 Page: 13-22, 72-75, 127-12 Date: 1991
Author: Telford P.G., Long D.G.F., Norris G., Zippi P., Griffis R.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
Article - The Onakawana B drillhole, District of Cochrane
Publication Number: MP126.034 Date: 1997
Author: Sanderson J.W., Telford P.G.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
Mono - Palynostratigraphy of lignites near Adam Creek and Onakawana, Moose River Basin
Publication Number: OFR5545 Date: 1985
Author: Norris G.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
Mono - Geochemistry and petrography of the Mattagami Formation lignites (northern Ontario)
Publication Number: OFR5617 Date: 1986
Author: Brown J.R., Fyfe W.S., Kronberg B.I., Long D.G.F., Murray F., Powell M., Try C., van der Flier E., Winder C.G.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
Mono - The Onakawana B drillhole (OGS 85D), District of Cochrane: report on drilling operations and preliminary geological findings
Publication Number: OFR5708 Date: 1989
Author: Bezys R.K.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
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