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~Mining~ History New Brunswick's mining past was formed several hundred years ago. The natives gathered stones to make their tools, weapons and jewelry. European settlers quarried coal, gypsum, sandstone and limestone to build and heat their homes during the late 1600's and 1700's. Boats sailed often through the Bay of Fundy, loaded with New Brunswick gypsum and grindstones for the American market. Between 1850 and 1890, geologists explored hundreds of mineral deposits across the province. Their work started an increase in mining activity, as did an 1854 'free trade' agreement with the United States. The expansion of New Brunswick's railways also played a role in mineral production. Rail roads exposed land, brought explorers to remote areas and transported mine products to markets across eastern Canada. Many names of places in New Brunswick reflect their mining history such as Quarryville, Plaster Rock, Lower Salt Springs and Grindstone Island. Graphite, nickel, copper, iron, manganese, salt, gypsum, building stone, oil shale, natural gas, oil and albertite were just some of the many products mined in New Brunswick during the last half of the 19th century. New Brunswick's mineral industry did not gain international status until the early 1950's. In 1952, the discovery of massive sulphide deposits near Bathurst marked the start of New Brunswick's modern mining era. The deposits turned the Brunswick Mining and Smelting Corporation Ltd. into a world-class base metal producer. Other base metal mines began production in the Bathurst area. Gold was mined east of Saint John and west of Bathurst. Two huge potash mines opened near Sussex. Mining has always been a major component in New Brunswick's economy. Present Policies, Practices and Processes As of 1992, New Brunswick ranked 1st in the production of Bismuth and Zinc, second in Lead, Peat and Silver, 3rd in Sulphur and 4th in Cadmium. New Brunswick is the only producer of Marl, a type of clay used as fertilizer. New Brunswick was once Canada's only source of Antimony, which was used for flameproofing clothing as well as in medicines and matches, but now New Brunswick produces 85% of the nation's supply. New Brunswick mainly produces base metals including zinc, lead, copper and silver. Mining employs about 4,000 people in New Brunswick alone. Currently, there is a proposal in opening another copper mine in New Brunswick using bioleach technology as the foundation for mineral processing. Indium, a valuable commodity in the computer industry, is processed using bioleach technology. One particular operation is of interest for its mine reclamation work. The company piled the mine site's mineral waste, and worked the open pit for about two years. A water treatment plant neutralized all mine toxins regularly before release into the environment. After mining was completed, the company returned the wasted rock into the pit, and replaced the mineral waste, compressed the earth and planted grass seed. Today, the site looks like a small grassy valley with little to indicate there was once a mine. Recent changes in provincial legislation have caused a general increase in reclamation activities across the province. The Department of Natural Resources and Energy and the Department of Environment are working hard to ensure responsible mine development and management for the future of New Brunswick.