The Silver Queen Mine, one of several mines in the area, was a small operation producing mainly mica, but also apatite (also known as phosphate) often found alongside mica, and feldspar. At its peak of operations during the early 1900s, the mine employed less than 30 men, producing mostly small sheets of mica. Mica was used by the electrical industry as an insulator in items such as toasters, and as windows in items such as lanterns. The mined product, packed in barrels, was sent via the Rideau Canal to factories in eastern Ontario and western Quebec.
The Silver Queen Mine's other minerals also found a use: Apatite as a component in the manufacture of fertilizer; and a particular kind of feldspar, perthite, was used in making porcelain and earthenware. Due to its small size, the Silver Queen Mine's life was short - from about 1903 to 1920 - when larger and more economically produced deposits of the minerals were found elsewhere. Today, it is an interesting example of early mining life in our area. The mine is flooded each year from accumulating water and drained once a year during the summer months for tours. The site is littered with Mica rocks and ruins reminding us of a booming mining industry that was long-forgotten. This mine is a great place to bring the family. Location ID #CM0019
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