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MINERAL PRODUCTION OF CANADA AND OF THE PRINCIPAL PROVINCES FROM 1886 TO 1910

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in Canada since 1886, is best shown in Plate II. The upper line of the diagram represents the mineral production of Canada, which has increased from $10,000,000 in 1886 to over $105,000,000 in 1910". The shaded areas represent the production of the various provinces.

Gold

PRODUCTION OF CANADA.-From 1896 to 1900 the gold production of Canada increased at a very rapid rate, owing to the discovery of the rich gold placers of the Klondike. From 1900 to 1907 the gold production fell off from over $27,000,000 to $8,000,000, owing to the smaller production of gold in Yukon. Placer gold mining, while probably the most fascinating form of mining, since a prospector can attempt it without the aid of capital, is subject to the greatest fluctuations, even after it passes out of the range of individual methods into the hands of large companies. At present, the gold production of Yukon is increasing, and it is reasonable to suppose that it will continue to increase, owing to the extensive operations that are being made for dredging and hydraulic mining. The production of gold in British Columbia shows a slight increase over 1909; a decrease in Cariboo due to a shortage of water was offset by increased production in Similkameen and Atlin districts and in Yukon. The gold production of Canada is shown in the accompanying diagram. (See Plate III.)

PRODUCTION OF THE WORLD.-The rapid increase in the world's production of gold may best be seen in the diagram. (See Plate IV.) In 1886, the production was about $100,000,000. From that period to the present time, with the exception of the temporary decline due to the Boer war in 1899-1902, there has been an enormous annual increase, and in 1910 the production was about $469,000,000. The increase is due to the numerous discoveries in South Africa, Western Australia and Colorado in the period 1885 to 1890; the introduction of the cyanide process, and the discoveries made in Alaska, Nevada, Yukon, Mexico, Rhodesia and West Africa.

Africa produced about $172,000,000 in 1910, or about thirty-seven per cent. of the world's production. Of the African output, $155,000,000 comes from the Transvaal alone.

RESOURCES OF CANADA.-The diagram (Plate III) shows that the gold production of Canada can, for present purposes, be divided into three parts. In 1910, British Columbia and Yukon, in the order named, contributed $5,432,000 and $4,550,000 to the total output. The remaining third part, approximately $400,000, came from Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec, the amount from the remaining provinces being negligible. The western or Cordilleran belt, extending from South America to Alaska, is recognized as one of the greatest mining regions of the world-noted principally for its wealth in gold, silver, copper and lead.

a NOTE-Statistics for 1910 are subject to revision.

Mexico, having 1,750 miles of this belt, has had a production of $5,500,000,000 worth of precious metals, or about $3,000,000 per mile in length; and the United States, with 1,100 miles of this range, has had about the same relative production. In Canada this belt has a length of 1,300 miles and a width of 400 miles, and only the southern fringe has been developed. Although developed along the international boundary, and while some of the main streams have been prospected for placer gold, the greater part of the belt is untouched. Probably not one-fifth may be said to have been prospected at all; not one-twentieth prospected in detail, and not one area completely tested.

YUKON TERRITORY.-Since the discovery of the rich placers in 1897, Yukon has produced over $136,500,000 worth of gold. The production increased from $300,000 in 1896 to $22,275,000 in 1900; from that date to 1907, the production decreased to $3,150,000, owing to the exhaustion of the richer gravels. The production in 1910 was $4,550,000, showing an increase over 1909 of about fifteen per cent. The future production will increase annually, owing to the mining being put on a more stable basis, due to the reduction of costs and the advent of large companies. Large companies are carrying on extensive operations for dredging and hydraulic mining for the purpose of working over the old tailings and the large deposits of low-grade gravel.

BRITISH COLUMBIA.-The gold production of British Columbia is increasing, being $713,738 in 1885, and $5,432,000 in 1910. The present production is made up of gold recovered from placer workings (8.8 per cent.) and gold recovered from lode mining (91.2 per cent.). The placer gold mining is subject to fluctuations, while the gold recovered from lode. mining is more constant, and increased 13.3 per cent. in 1910. The production of lode gold in 1910 was $4,950,000, 86.5 per cent. of the lode gold of the province being recovered from copper-bearing ores. The remaining 13.5 per cent. was recovered by stamp milling.

From these facts it can be seen that the gold production of British Columbia is dependent, to a great extent, upon the copper output. The present outlook is that the gold production of British Columbia will increase, as there is a revival of hydraulic mining in the Cariboo district; and as the country generally is being more fully developed.

ONTARIO.-Gold in considerable quantity has been discovered over an extensive area in the Porcupine district, and it is expected that, upon the development of this district, Ontario will become a large producer.

CONCLUSIONS.-In the preceding paragraphs it has been shown that the gold production of Canada comes largely from the Yukon territory and British Columbia; that there is an enormous unprospected area in Canada, and that, even without any new discoveries, the present gold output will increase, or at least be maintained.

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