Ontario Geological Survey
Permanent Link to this Record:
MDI52A06NE00010
| Record Name(s) | L.T.L. Diabase Quarry - 1984 |
|---|---|
| Related Record Type | Partial |
| Related Record(s) | |
| Record Status | Producing Mine |
| Date Created | 1997-Jan-03 |
| Date Last Modified | 2022-Aug-29 |
| Created By | |
| Revised By |
Primary Commodities: Gabbro
Township or Area: Macgregor
Latitude: 48° 29' 18.33" Longitude: -89° 8' 56.48"
UTM Zone: 16 Easting: 341216.07 Northing: 5372819.42 UTM Datum: NAD83
Resident Geologist District: Thunder Bay South
NTS Grid: 52A06NE
Point Location Description: Quarry
Location Method: Field Visit
Access Description: Via hwy 11-17, 4.5 km west of Hodder Ave, Thunder Bay. Quarry is immediately south of highway.
1880s: Various quarries were developed for their diabase. It was used for construction of the Thunder Bay Harbour breakwater and for rip rap. 1984: L.T.L. Contracting Ltd. began development of the quarry to produce material for rip rap, soil erosion protection and rock wool insulation. 1994: L.T.L. Contracting still owns the property and continues production. Although L.T.L. Contracting lost the contract for supplying Partek Insulation with diabase for the production of rock wool insulation, the operations have continued. The quarry now supplies mainly a local market with construction grade material. 2022: While it does not appear that the site has been in production in many years, there is still an active quarry permit (No. 624966) for the site.
Province: Southern
Subprovince: Nipigon Basin
Formation Group: Sibley Group
Geological Age: Paleoproterozoic
Dec 07, 2005 (A Mitchell) - Scott described the geology of the area: All rocks in MacGregor Township are of Precambrian age. Rocks of both the Superior and Southern Province of the Canadian Shield are exposed in the map area. As currently exhumed, the unconformity between the Superior and the overlying Southern Province rocks straddles the southern portion of MacGregor Township and subparallels the north shore of Thunder Bay, Lake Superior. The dominant structural element present is the Lake Superior Basin and its associated lithologies. Diabase dikes intrude all lithologies and are considered to be Late Precambrian in age.
| Rock Type | Rank | Composition | Texture | Relationship | Diabase | 1 | Diabase | Host |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mudstone | 2 | Argillite, Chert | Black, Fissile | Footwall |
Dec 07, 2005 (A Mitchell) - Scott (1990) describes the diabase as follows: The diabase is medium grey in colour, usually of fine grain size, and exhibits an orange-brown weathered surface. In sills, well-developed columnar jointing is common. Granophyric phases exist in a series of small quarries north of the Terry Fox Lookout. Peculiar inclusions of banded agate-like chert and partially assimilated shales can be found in the diabase. These xenoliths are of Gunflint and Rove Formation rocks that have been incorporated in the diabase during its emplacement.
Dec 07, 2005 (A Mitchell) - The diabase is being used for the following: bank stabilization along the Neebing, McIntyre and Kaministiquia rivers; in the production of rock wool insulation; for the construction of a rock island at the mouth of McVicars Creek; driveway surface material; and in the stabilization of Kakabeka Falls. CHEMICAL ANALYSIS: Sample No. 87MCK-0006: 49.85 SiO2, 0.83 TiO2, 15.43 Al2O3, 2.36 Fe2O3, 9.64 FeO, 0.19 MnO, 8.36 MgO, 11.03 CaO, 1.87 Na2O, 0.36 K2O, 0.06 P2O5. Analyses by Geoscience Laboratory, Ontario Geological Survey, Toronto.
Date: Aug 03, 1992
Geologist: P Hinz
Notes: Visited in August 1992, by P. Hinz and R. M. Landry (OGS OFR 5889, 1994). The diabase is being used for the following: bank stabilization along the Neebing, McIntyre and Kaministiquia rivers; in the production of rock wool insulation; for the construction of a rock island at the mouth of McVicars Creek; driveway surface material; and in the stabilization of Kakabeka Falls. COMMENTS/RECOMMENDATIONS: Although L.T.L. Contracting lost the contract for supplying Partek Insulation with diabase for the production of rock wool insulation, the operations have continued. The quarry now supplies mainly a local market with construction grade material. However, L.T.L. is still looking for other contracts and uses for their material.
Book - Fort William and Port Arthur, and Thunder Cape Map-area, Thunder Bay District, Ontario; Geological Survey of Canada, Memoir 167
Publication Number: GSC Memoir 167 Date: 1931
Author: Tanton, T.L.
Publisher Name: Geological Survey of Canada
Location: https://doi.org/10.4095/100799
Map - Geological series, Precambrian geology, MacGregor Township, west half, District of Thunder Bay
Publication Number: P2984 Scale: 1:15,840 Date: 1986
Author: Scott J.F., Sequin J.M.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
Mono - Industrial Mineral Occurrences and Deposits in Northwest Ontario
Publication Number: OFR5889 Page: 44-46 Date: 1994
Author: Hinz P., Landry R.M.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
File - Thunder Bay Resident Geologist Mineral Deposit Files
Publication Number: Min Dep Date:
Author:
Publisher Name:
Location: Thunder Bay RGP
MonoMap - Geology of MacGregor Township
Publication Number: OFR5719 Page: 68 Date: 1990
Author: Scott J.F.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
File - Industrial minerals geologist files
Publication Number: IMF Date:
Author:
Publisher Name:
Location: Thunder Bay RGP
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