Sherritt-Gordon Mine

Sherritt-Gordon Mine is a defunct zinc and copper mine in Sherridon, Manitoba. It is located about 800 kilometres north west of the provincial capital city of Winnipeg.[1] The mine is near Flin Flon.[2]

The mine is located on the shore of Kississing Lake.[3]

Geological exploration of the area began in 1899, followed by prospectors from the Flin Flon area who were guided by local Métis. In 1923, deposits of copper-zinc sulphides were staked on the east shore of Kississing Lake, which were developed into the Sherritt-Gordon Mine.[3][4]

The mine operated from 1931 to 1951 producing zinc and copper with low amounts of gold and silver.[1]

On August 13, 1947, workers at the mine went on strike after pay negotiations with Sherritt International failed to make progress.[5] The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation political party objected to the influx of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police during the stroke[5] By November the strike was ongoing, with striking workers blocking non-striking workers on November 5.[5] Courts passed an injunction in the second week of November against the strike.[5]

The mine and produced 7.7 mega tons of ore[1] which were dumped over an area covering 47 hectares[6] including next to Camp Lake.[6] Water from the contaminated Camp Lake has since leached into Kississing Lake.[7] Weathering of the mine's tailings has released sulphate, metals and acid into surface and ground water for over 50 years since the mine has closed.[1] In 2009, The Winnipeg Free Press described the pollution around the mine as "one of the worst cases of acidic mine drainage in the world".[7]

The Government of Manitoba started remediation of the pollution from the mine in 2009.[6] In 2017, unhappy with the progress of the remediation, members of the local community briefly blockaded the local highway, preventing access.[6]

• List of mines in Manitoba