Inventory and Outlook Saskatchewan's Mineral

REPORT No. 83 Fourth Edition

. . .

I INVENTORY

; B 2 0 1957 AND RECEIVED OUTLOOK

DEPARTMENT OF OF Ml NERAL RESOURCES

GOVERNMENT OF SASKATCHEWAN SASKATCHEWAN'S

MINERAL

RESOURCES

Hon. A. C. CAMERON J. T. CAWLEY NOVEMBER , 1966 Minister Deputy Minister i. TABLE OF CONTENTS

• , SUBJECT PAGE A. GEOLOGY 1 - 13 • Palaeogeologic Map of Lower Palaeozoic Strata 7 Palaeogeologic Map of Palaeozoic Strata 8 Palaeogeologic Map of Mesozoic Strata 9 East-West Geologic Cross Section 12 North-South Geologic Croes Section 13 B. METALLIC MINERALS 14

1. Base Metals 14 & 15 2. Precious Metals 17 3. Uranium 19 &: 20 4. Miscellaneous Metallic Minerals 21 & 22

5. Iron 22 & 23 C. FOSSIL FUELS 24

1. Oil (Light-gravity) 24 2. Oil (Medium-gravity) 25 3. Oil (Heavy-gravity) 26 & 27 4. Oil (General) 27 - 29 5. Coal 30 - 32 6. Natural Gas 33 - 35 D. INDUSTRIAL MINERALS 36 1. Potash 36 - 39 2. Salt 40 3. Sodium Sulphate 41 & 42 4. Sand and Gravel 43 5. Cement 44 6. Clays 45 ii SUBJECT PAGE 7. Helium & Nitrogen 46 & 47

8. Sulphur 48 .. 9. Pumicite 49

E. SUMMARY 50 & 51 Table No. SUBJECT

1 Base Metal Production 1955-66 16

2 Gold Production 1955-66 18

3 Silver Production 1955-66 18 4 Uranium Production 1955-66 21

5 Cadmium, Selenium & Tellurium Production 1955~66 22 6 Light Gravity Crude Production 1955-66 24

7 Medium Gravity Crude Production 1955-66 26 8 Heavy Gravity Crude Production 1955-66 27

9 Crude Oil Production and Demand 1955-66 29 10 Coal Reserves of Saskatchewan 31

11 Coal Production 1955-66 32 12 Natural Gas Production and Demand 1962-65 - 35 13 Potash 1963-66 39 14 Salt Production 1955-66 40 15 Sodium Sulphate Production 1955-66 42 16 Sand and Gravel Production 1955-65 43 17 Cement Production 1956-65 44 18 Clay Production 1955-65 45 19 Mineral Production 1886-1966 50 20 Per Capita Value by Provinces 51 - 1 - A. GEOLOGY

1. INTRODUCTION

This presentation is intended to introduce you to the mineral

• resources of Saskatchewan, their occurrence, production and economic worth. An understanding of the distribution and occurrence of minerals

and their relationship to the physiographic features of the province may

be simplified by a cursory examination of the geology.

Geology, by definition, is the science of the earth's crust, its

strata and their relations and changes. Saskatchewan can be divided

into two physiographic areas which coincide with the two main geologic

divisions in the province. The plains area occupying the southern half

of the province is the sedimentary division while the northern half is

part of the Canadian Shield and is the Precambrian division. But per

haps we are getting ahead of our story •

• Geology can be compared to the study of anatomy. The body is composed

of a framework or skeleton upon which muscles are laid in an irregular

but systematic manner and the whole covered by skin. The distribution

of muscles is not uniform over the skeleton and the appearance of the

body is an expression of the skeleton as modified by various layers of

muscles. The flexing of a muscle changes the relationship of adjacent

parts and the appearance of the body. In some cases the change in

appearance is barely discernible while the flexing of many muscles

creates a major change in attitude.

Similarly the anatomy of the earth is based upon a skeleton upon

which strata or muscles have been laid in an irregular but systematic

manner. Movements of the skeleton occurred from time to time (and

continue to occur) and each such movement changed the relationship

of the adjacent parts, and the ultimate appearance of the earthly sphere. - 2 -

Like the body, the earth is cloaked by a skin, and what lies below

is not always obvious or discernible but the geologists, with know

ledge derived from surface exposures and from probes below the surface,

formulate the hypotheses concerning the anatomy of the earth.

The anatomist identifies each muscle by location and by name and

the geologist similarly identifies each component by type of material

and by name. The geologist is concerned with time because each move

ment of the earth's skeleton created a sequence of events affecting

the geologic anatomy. The story we are going to tell is not concerned

with individual muscles, but is concernred with groups of muscles and

more particularly with time and the movement of the skeleton.

Geological time is divided into four major units called eras.

Eras are further subdivided into periods and epochs. The four ~ras

from oldest to youngest are Precambrian, Palaeozoic, Mesozoic, and

• Cenozoic . Division of time and the identification of rocks to a

specific time division is based on the type of animal and vegetable

life recorded in the rocks and on changed structural features and

mineral content where no life is recorded.

2. PRECAMBRIAN ERA

The Precambrian era, representing the earliest of the major

time units, is estimated to have been at least five times as long

as the combined time interval represented by the other three eras.

The Precambrian ~s the time unit in which the skeleton of the earth

was formed by consolidation of molten material.

The majority of scientists agree that in the early stages of its

formation the earth passed through a molten period and that a sorting

action occurred whereby the heavier materials collected in the centre

and the lighter materials moved to the surface. Water and gases - 3 - escaped to form the atmosphere and the planet slowly began to cool.

As it cooled the surface consolidated, contracted and cracked allowing the further escape of water, gases and molten material. As the cooling progressed the water vapours condensed and the first oceans were formed in the depressions of the irregular surface. Weathering of the igneous rocks during this time produced sediments devoid of evidence of life. Cooling, contraction and weathering of the surface continued, accompanied by the escape of molten material from the interior to the surface, to create a complex of igneous, sedimentary and meta morphic rocks. This complex is the earth's skeleton.

The southern limit of the Precambrian Shield in Saskatchewan stretches across the province diagonally southeast from about 57°

N. Lat. on the western boundary to about 54° N. Lat. on the eastern boundary; thus about one-third of the province lies in the Canadian

Shield where Precambrian rocks are exposed. Vast stretches of the west-central part of this Precambrian Shield (to use another of its names) are overlain by sandstones of the Athabasca Formation, barren of mineralization in themselves and of unknown thicknesses, which mask the potential of the igneous rocks belowo All of northern

Saskatchewan must be considered potential mineral land, but, because of the complexity of the rock structure and physical limitations imposed

by the terrain 9 discovery of mineral deposits will require many years of prospecting.

The complex of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic Precambrian rocks of northern Saskatchewan are the host rocks for the province's metallic mineral industry. Sites of commercial production of metallic minerals and the areas considered most favourable for further finds are in belts extending west from Flin Flon to Lac La Ronge and north to - 4 -

Reindeer Lake and in the region north of Lake Athabasca.

Precambrian rocks underlie all of Saskatchewan but in the southern

half of the province t hey are covered by sedimentary rocks of later eras.

Mineralization in these deeply buried Precambrian rocks is likely but

finding commercial deposits will be expensive unless new geophysical or

other scientific techniques are discoveredo The iron deposits at Choice

land at a depth of 2,000 feet and estimated to contain 150 million tons of

approximately 30 per cent iron were indicated by geophysical methods and

by drilling.

The presence of helium in southern Saskatchewan in rocks immediately

above the Precambrian is believed by some to indicate the presence of

uranium in the Precambrian of that areao

The earth's skeleton was formed during Precambrian times, and,

as previously indicated, movements of the skeleton continued t hrough ' out the later eras. In limiting our study to the geology of Sask

atchewan, generalizations are in order. The Precambrian Shield of

northern Saskatchewan remained stable throughout post- Precambrian

ages while the southern part of the province was subject to movements

from time to time. The balance of the story concerns these movements

and their effects on the geology of southern Saskatchewan.

3. PALAEOZOIC ERA

The Palaeozoic era, the next major time unit following the Pre

cambrian, is divided into seven periods. The predominant forms of

life during this era were marine invertebrates, fishes~ amphibia and

spore bearing plants. During this era movements of the earth's crust,

' previously compared to muscle movement, resulted in the advance, or transgression, of seas into the low- lying areas, the erosion of the

exposed land surfaces and the reworking and deposition of the eroded - 5 -

material in the seas. Each of the seven periods represents a major

marine transgression, or series of transgressions, each with distinct

ive life forms the fossil evidence of life assists in identifying the

rocks of each period. The seven periods of the Palaeozoi~ from oldest

to youngest, are Cambrian, Ordovician and Silurian (comprising Lower

Palaeozoic strata), Devonian and Mississippian (comprising Middle

Palaeozoic strata), and Pennsylvanian and Permian (comprising Upper

Palaeozoicstrata which are absent from Saskatchewan).

In Saskatchewan the Precambrian surface was stable during the

early part of the Cambrian period, remaining above water level and

therefore subject to erosiono The first marine transgression into

southern Saskatchewan occurred late in the Cambrian period and, from

this time until the close of Mississippian times, a series of move

ments of the earth's crust occurred causing a succession of marine \ invasions and retreats in southern Saskatchewan. Marine deposits,

containing some sands and silts but primarily carbonate rocks, which

are rocks including the chemical combination co3 with such elements as calcium or magnesium, were deposited during this time in southern

Saskatchewan. In the plains area of Saskatchewan up to 4,000 feet of

sediments are credited to the first five periods of Palaeozoic time.

During the last two periods, Pennsylvanian and Permian, Saskatchewan

remained emergent and the exposed Precambrian and early Palaeozoic rocks

were subject to a long period of weathering and erosion.

The Palaeozoic rocks of Saskatchewan are of particular significance

to the mineral industry. In southwest Saskatchewan rocks of the Cambro

Ordovician periods carry the largest known helium reserves, outside the

United States, available to the free worlde Many geologists believe

that the type of material and method of deposition are such that - 6 -

accumulations of oil and gas may be found elsewhere in the Cambro

Ordovician rocks. Exploration by drilling into the Ordovician and

Silurian rocks has been limited, but wells near Lake Alma and Gladmar

together with actual production in Montana nearby, give encouragement

to the expectation that these rocks will be productive of oil and gas.

Of major importance are the deposits of Devonian age known as the

Prairie Evaporites. These evaporites consisting of rock salt, potash

and anhydrite underlie much of the province south of a diagonal line

extending from Lloydminster on the west to Esterhazy on t he east and

have t hicknesses in the order of 500 feet. The evaporites are the

source material for Saskatchewan's. rapidly expanding potash industry,

with reserves estimated in billions of tons adequate to meet the

world's requirements for centuries to cameo

The original Mississippian rocks were subject to erosion during

late Palaeozoic times and considerable material was removed but thick

deposits still underlie the southern quarter of the province. Carbonate

rocks of Mississippian age are the main sources of oil and gas in south

east Saskatchewan.

4. MESOZOIC ERA

The Mesozoic era represents a period of major movements of the

earth's crust. The principal mount ain ranges to the west of Sask

atchewan had t heir beginning in Mesozoic times. Sediments of this

era in southern Saskatchewan represent both marine and continental

deposits. This era is divided into three periods; Triassic, Jurassic

and Cretaceous, but only the latter two periods are of economic

importance in Saskatchewan.

The Jurassic sediments, comprising limestone, shales and sand

stones of marine origin, were deposited during a major down-warping N

,' ,/ ,' ( • •I

I I I 'I I I I .I

REGINA ~ • •• \ • E '• w • ' ' ' s

PALAEOGEOLOGIC MAP OF LOWER PALAEOZOIC ·STRATA N

.... :;;.:,:.:·;..----" < e_oGE. oF oROOIIICIAN STRAT4 - e-., •••• G'"' •••• ········· ...... o,, p •·····~:·• S\LURIA ALAEozo,c ...... STRATA

PALAEOGEOLOGIC MAP OF PALAEOZOIC STRATA N

\ ,, \ '• ( ·.. \ C' "eI,. ·. •. ~ • _,- • -- • -- • 01,1 ···•• LA RONG£ OF 1,1ESOZOIC -S '.;.!fj4 • J.-, •- •, FLIN. TR4r"' -(BU>.IR"'oR~, .--....._rcON \ ORDOv1c • /4,v \ .~5\LIJRIIIN --···-·

I - - / ' \

. . ,,. ... - .. • ...... _.#

REGINA ®

w s

PALAEOGEOLOGIC MAP OF MESOZOIC STRATA - 10 -

of the crust and invasion of the seas. Oil and gas occurs in formations

of this age in southwest Saskatchewan.

The sedimentary deposits of Cretaceous age are partly marine and

partly continental in origin, reflecting the major land movements to

the west. Rocks of this age provide the reservoirs for oil and gas

accumulations in the Coleville to Lloydminster area of west central

Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan's first commercial oil and gas production

was obtained from Cretaceous rocks at Lloydminster.

5. CENOZOIC ERA

The Cenozoic is the last of the eras. Major mountain-building

movements occurred early in the era to the west of Saskatchewan.

These major movements of the earth's crust resulted in the rapid

accumulation of relatively coarse fresh-water sediments in Sask

atchewan. Gentle uplift continued throughout the era and much of

the early Cenozoic sediments were removed by erosion, until today

only a small part of the province, adjacent to the international

border, has deposits in this era. The coal deposits of southern

Saskatchewan occur in strata of this age, as do some of the industrial

minerals.

The muscles on the Precambrian skeleton were all in place by early

Cenozoic time. Towards the end of the era in the Pleistocene epoch

a major event occurred placing the skin and completing the geological

anatomy of Saskatchewan.

In Pleistocene time a great accumulation of ice and snow covered

much of North America. The sheer weight of the accumulation caused

the fluid flow of the ice. Surface material was embedded in the ice

and the whole acted as a giant rasp to grind and reshape the pre-glacial

land surface. When the continental glacier melted away the solids in the - 11 -

ice were deposited and, in part, the deposits were reworked by the melt waters. The effect of glaciation was to modify and camouflage the bed rock surface under different thicknesses of glacial till. Saskatchewan owes its position as a major wheat producing area to this rich glacial skin covering the plains area. •4000 +4000 WEST EAST

•2000 QUATERNARY, TERTIARY +2000 AND UPPER CRETACEOUS SEDIMENTS

0-1~~~~~;~;~~~;;;;;;;~:::~~~-~~======~=------MEAN SEA LEVEL Bl.AlRlfOJII.E -2000 ---,....-2000

·4000 -4000

·6000 -6000

·8000 -8000 DIAGRAMMATIC CROSS SECTIONS OF SOUTHERN SASKATCHEWAN ·•ooo • • 000 NORTH SOUTH

•2000 ------:------....-:QUAT(RN.utY , T[R1"1A1'Y, •2000 AHO IJH[R CMTAC£04.IS

DIAGRAMMATIC CROSS - SECTION -•ooo OF · 0000 SASKATCHEWAN

·0000 - 14 -

B. METALLIC MINERALS

1. BASE METALS

Base metal mining in Saskatchewan is carried out in the Flin Flon

area, where copper and zinc are recovered. The ores at Flin Flon also

contain gold, silver, cadmium, selenium, and tellurium, all of which are

recovered as by-products. The Flin Flon mineralization was discovered by prospectors in 1915, but it was not until 1930 that mining operations

commenced. The first metal was recovered from the Saskatchewan orebody

in 1933 and since that time the development of this, and satellite ore bodies, has provided the greatest part of this province's metallic

mineral production.

The belt of Precambrian rocks extending west from Flin Flon to La

Range and again north to Reindeer Lake is known to contain base metal

deposits, including copper, nickel, lead, and zinc and two of the known

orebodies have been exploited since 1965. Rottenstone Mining Ltd. commenced operations on September 2, 1965 on a small but high-grade

nickel-copper deposit with some platinum-gold-silver values, at

Rottenstone Lake. The ore is won from an open pit, concentrated,

and trucked to railhead at Prince Albert for shipment to Copper Cliff,

Ontario, for refining. Further south, at Waden Bay on Lac La Ronge,

Anglo-Rouyn Mines Ltd. is producing copper from ore which includes some

gold and silver values. On February 6, 1966 the first load of copper

concentrate was trucked to Flin Flon for treatment at the smelter there.

The giant base metal mine at Flin Flon continues to produce copper and

zinc in quantity (with lesser amounts of gold, silver, selenium, cadmium

and tellurium) for Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co. Ltd.

There have been some developments of note: Western Nuclear Inc.

is sinking a shaft at Hanson Lake which' is expected to go into production

early 1967, producing copper, zinc and lead and the same company is - 15 -

evaluating a smaller deposit nearby; at Flin Flon the Hudson Bay

Mining and Smelting Co. Ltd. is nearing completion of its new Flexar

Mine which will yield copper and zinc; Falconbridge Nickel Mines Ltd. has hopes for copper and zinc on its prospect south of Wollaston Lake;

Brabant Lake has zinc and copper which is engaging Rio Tinto Canadian

Explorations Ltd.; Scurry-Rainbow Oil Ltd. has reported the discovery of copper and nickel values in drilling near Otter Lake.

About sixty companies and individuals signed up in 1966 with the

Government of Saskatchewan incentive program under which each could recover one-half the cost of exploration up to $50,000.

The Saskatchewan Government does much of the preliminary work of exploration as a public service. It had six geological survey teams at work during the summer of 1966, to add another thousand square miles to the thirteen thousand square miles already mapped in geological detail. The Government also participates an airborne magnetometer survey of the Precambrian area of Saskatchewan. Sharing the cost with the Federal Government equally, a large part of the north,

900,000 square miles, has been flown and mappedo This year another

1001 000 square miles were added. By 1968 it is expected that the entire job will be done, down to Latitude 53° North. - 16 -

TABLE #1

BASE METAL PRODUCTION

COPPER ZINC NICKEL VALUE IN MILLIONS YEAR TONS TONS TONS OF DOLLARS 1966 (estimated) 22,500 30,000 115 27.200 1965 18,732 27,983 22.631 1964 20,442 28,437 21.714 1963 29,772 33,320 27.272 1962 32,017 30,900 27,328 1961 33,479 28,359 24.261 1960 31,786 42,702 26.412 1959 35,536 46,877 28.573 1958 37,510 48,328 25.585 1957 30,597 45,070 22.900 1956 33,116 45,380 36.394 1955 32,945 48,960 36.925 - 17 -

2. PRECIOUS MEI'ALS

Gold and silver are the two of the precious metals recovered in

Saskatchewan. Gold was recovered by placer mining along the North

Saskatchewan River from the time of the first settlers to the late

thirties. Recoveries of gold by placer-mining methods, between 1860

and 1940, are estimated at three-quarters of a million dollars.

Conventional mining of gold ores commenced in the early thirties

when world-wide economic conditions favoured this type of operation.

The advent of World War II and wartime restrictions forced the closure

of many of the producing properties. The recovery of gold and silver

has continued to the present at Flin Flon, where these metals are found

associated with base metal ores. Three general areas of the Precambrian

region of Saskatchewan; Flin Flon-Amisk Lake, Lac La Ronge and the north

shore of Lake Athabasca have known mineralization which may be developed

should the price of gold improve.

Rottenstone Mining Ltd. recovers both platinum and palladium from

its mine at Rottenstone Lake for the first recorded production of either

of these precious metals in the Province.

The annual value of gold recovered in Saskatchewan exceeded one

million dollars for the first time in 1936 with peak recovery of nearly

seven million dollars in 1942e In recent years gold production has been

in the 2.5-3 million dollar range annually.

Most of the silver produced in Saskatchewan is a by-product of the

base metal industry at Flin Flan. Both the Rottenstone Lake and Waden

Bay mines produce silver as well as some gold, and the mine at Hanson

Lake will also yield silver. - 18 -

TABLE #2 GOLD PRODUCTION

VALUE IN MILLIONS TROY OUNCES OF DOLLARS ~ • 1966 (estimated) 50,000 1.887 1965 46,173 1.742 1964 46,168 1.743 1963 64,813 2.447 1962 66,034 2.470 1961 70,784 2.573 1960 84,775 2.945 1959 78,588 2.634 1958 86,590 2.919 1957 75,236 2,533 1956 82,687 2 .. 800 1955 83,567 2.905

TABLE #3 SILVER PRODUCTION VALUE IN MILLIONS YEAR TROY OUNCES OF DOLLARS 1966 (estimated) 600,000 .840 1965 640,995 .897 1964 593,320 .830 1963 746,688 1.033 1962 762,215 o.888 1961 876,450 0.862 1960 1,163,845 1.038 1959 1,187,439 1.037 1958 1,299,077 1.121 1957 1,145,571 1.001 1956 1,179,110 1.049 1955 1,230,179 1.106 - 19 -

3. URANIUM

Pitchblende, the richest of the uranium ores, was discovered on

the north shore of Lake Athabasca in the thirties. The discovery

remained dormant until the development of atomic energy in the next

decade. Exploration and development was initially restricted to

Eldorado Mining and Refining Limited, a Crown Corporation, as an

expedient to produce the strategic mineral under tight security

measures. In 1948 security measures were relaxed and private part

icipation in mining and milling was allowed with Eldorado as the sole

purchaser of ores and concentrates. By 1957 this policy had resulted

in the development of a number of mines and 3 mills in the Uranium

City area. In 1959 the United States Atomic Energy Commission, which

purchased approximately 90 per cent of Canadian uranium under firm

contract, announced that the option to purchase future production

after 1962-63 would not be exercised. Existing contracts were re

negotiated stretching the production commitments so that one mill

(Eldorado) would remain in production until 1967.

From a short-term point of view uranium was a glut on the market,

and without markets incentive is lacking to search for and develop

new mines. There is no doubt that uranium has a great future in the

non-military applications of nuclear energy, particularly in the field

of electrical power generation. Authorities in both the U.S.A. and

Europe confidently expect a heavy increase in uranium consumption

beginning about 1970 and peaking sharply about 1980 1 and this largely on electrical power requirements.

There has recently been announced in both Britain and the United

States breakthroughs in nuclear power generating costs. Capital costs

have dropped from $300 per kilowatt hour in 1958 to $115 per kilowatt - 20 - hour today. A considerable number of nuclear power plants are now under construction or are planned. The result of these announcements has been an upsurge in prospecting activity in those areas known to be favourable for uranium deposits, including northern Saskatchewan.

The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission has estimated that by 1980 demand by non-Communist nations will have almost used up today's known free world reserves which stood at 474,000 short tons of u o 3 8 available at $8 per pound:

(As at January 1, 1964)

U .S .A • ••.•.••••....•••••...•••••• 96,000 short tons Canada •••••••••••••••••••• ••••••• 188,000 short tons Republic of South Africa ••••••••• 134,ooo short tons Other free world . •.•...... • 56,000 short tons 474,ooo short tons A convincing demonstration of the fact that nuclear power is now cheaper than that from conventional plants is provided by recent decisions to build three nuclear power plants in areas where cheap coal is now being mined.

New reserves of this mineral must be sought and mines developed now to ensure ample supplies in the future since several years are required to prepare a mine for efficient production after an orebody has been discovered and proved. Because of this northern Saskatchewan is now one of Canada's busiest prospecting areas.

Non-military uses of uranium include nuclear generation of electricity, power for ships, desalinization of sea water, and the production of radioisotopes for use by agriculture, industry and medicine. - 21 -

TABLE #4

MILLIONS VALUE IN MILLIONS YEAR OF POUNDS OF DOLLARS 1966 (estimated) 1.800 15.000 1965 1.800 14.980 1964 2.765 19.902 1963 3.949 37.223 1962 4.054 39.901 1961 4.305 43.357 1960 4.615 45.636 1959 5.373 57,600 1958 5.924 59.511 1957 4.463 44.562 1956 2. 7.'81 27.204 1955 N.A. 14.294

N.A. - Not Available

4. MISCELLANEOUS METALLIC MINERALS

Cadmium, selenium and tellurium are produced as by-products of

the base metal industry at Flin Flan. The cadmium is obtained from

precipitates produced in purifying the .zinc-bearing solutions prior to

electrolysis. Cadmium is used extensively as a resistant rust proof

coating on iron, steel and to a lesser extent on copper alloys and

other metal alloys.

Selenium and tellurium are obtained as a by-product of the

electrolytic refining of copper. Selenium is employed in the glass,

rubber and the alloy-steel industries with an increasing demand in

the manufacture of dry-plate rectifiers. Its conductivity increases

with illumination, i.e. it is sensitive to light and so is used in

photoelectric tubes. - 22 -

Tellurium has wide use in the manufacture of thermoelectric

units because of the oxidization resistant properties it imparts

to metallic alloys.

TABLE 5 CADMIUM, SELENIUM AND TELLURIUM PRODUCTION

CADMIUM SELENIUM & TELLURIUM VALUE IN THOUSANDS ~ POUNDS POUNDS OF DOLLARS 1966 (estimated) 156,000 44,ooo 600.0 1965 133,078 39,078 564.4 1964 122,734 48,049 670.0 1963 132,940 75,945 749.7 1962 128,223 61,248 573.4 1961 125,135 45,866 443.0 1960 256,498 78,503 765.3 1959 253,697 61,229 588.4 1958 302,593 31,941 576.4 1957 187,439 41,258 762.2 1956 116,960 62,739 950.0 1955 144,344 70,590 581.7

At the present time no iron ore is mined in Saskatchewan, but

a number of potentially economic deposits are known to exist in the

Precambrian rocks. Some of these deposits have initially been located

as a result of the airborne geophysical surveys carried out by the

provincial government, and on a cost-sharing basis by the federal

and provincial governments. These surveys, based on the principle

that magnetic rocks will produce changes in strength of the earth's

magnetic field, enable the geologist or geophysicist to prepare maps

showing "anomalies" that may indicate concentrations of such rocks. - 23 -

One large area where many such anomalies exist covers some 600 square miles in the vicinity of Black Birch Lake, north of the Churchill

River, and some 50 miles east of the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. Ground investigation has revealed the presence of iron-formation, containing the minerals magnetite and hematite. Although no single deposit has yet been proven to be of a size for economic development, it is clear that the area is one in which more intensified ground surveys would be justified.

Another notable iron deposit occurs northwest of Black Lake, less than 20 miles from the set tlement of Stony Rapids. This deposit is believed to contain as much as 20 million tons of almost 30 per cent iron. Anomalies on geophysical maps of the area indicate the possibility of other similar deposits.

The largest known deposit of iron ore in Saskatchewan occurs near

Choiceland, in the settled area of the province. Although this deposit is also in Precambrian rocks, it is buried beneath some 2,000 feet of younger sedimentary rocks. Drilling has revealed the presence of iron ore, very free of impurities, grading 30 per cent iron, and estimates suggest reserves of 150 million tons. The mining of this ore body should not be any more difficult than that encountered by the con ventional mining methods used by the potash industry. Optimism is the keynote - a basic i ron industry by 1975? - 24 - C. FOSSIL FUELS

1. OIL (LIGHT GRAVITY)

Light gravity oil (30° AoP.I. and over) is produced in two areas

of Saskatchewan - in the southeast and west-central parts. In general

the light-gravity area of southeast Saskatchewan is triangular in shape,

bounded by the International Boundary and the Manitoba-Saskatchewan

Boundary and extending from due south of Weyburn to east of Moosomin.

In southeast Saskatchewan light-gravity oil is found in carbonate

rocks of Mississippian age. Remaining recoverable reserves are estimated

to be 284.2 million barrels after allowing for cumulative production of

218.1 million barrels to December 31, 1965. On September 28, 1966 it

was announced that the well "Miami-RB Hummingbird 10-26-2-19" at Gladmar

had discovered Devonian light oil in commercial quantities, a second well

nearby is also producing.

The Viking sand of Cretaceous age in parts of the Kindersley-Kerrobert

area is productive of light-gravity crude. Remaining recoverable reserves

are estimated at over 43 million barrels after allowing for cumulative

production of 23.6 million barrels to December 31, 1965.

TABLE 6

YEAR BARRELS 1966 (estimated) 33,000,000 1965 33,567,027 1964 33,892,714 1963 28,846,370 1962 28,137,871 1961 25,386,169 1960 23,719,527 1959 25,971,933 1958 23,029,484 1957 20,630,403 1956 7,318,178 1955 2,893,151 - 25 - 2. on (MEDIUM GRAVITY)

Medium-gravity oil (20° - 29.9° A.P.I.) is produced in two areas

in Saskatchewan, in the southeast near Weyburn and in the southwest in

the vicinity of Swift Current. Approximately 58% of all the oil produced

in the province is classed as medium-gravity.

Medium-gravity crude oil in the southeast part of the province is

produced from reservoirs of the same age and characteristics as the light

gravity production from the same region. In general the medium-gravity

producing area lies to the north and west of the light gravity area. The

Weyburn-Midale fields, encompassing about 350 square miles of Mississippian

reservoir rock, represent the principal medium-gravity producing area in

the southeast. Remaining recoverable reserves are estimated at 358.9

million barrels after allowing for cumulative production of 153.3 million

barrels to December 31, 1965.

A series of sand reservoirs of Jurassic and Cretaceous ages in the

southwest part of the province are productive of medium-gravity crude.

The reservoirs are not as extensive as those of the southeast but are,

in general, quite prolific for their size. One of them, the Battrum

Roseray Sand Pool, is the scene of a pilot in~ combustion project

or "fire flood" where the reservoir has been ignited under contr olled

conditions in an experiment designed to improve oil recovery.

Remaining recoverable reserves are estimated at 212.4 million

barrels after allowing for cumulative production of 154.9 million

barrels to December 31, 1965. - 26 -

TABLE 7

MEDIUM GRAVITY CRUDE PRODUCTION

YEAR BARRELS l9bb (estimated) 55,000,000 1965 51,087,638 1964 44,870,089 1963 40,476,005 1962 34,608,570 1961 28,762,603 1960 26,247,613 1959 19,011,075 1958 19,402,827 1957 13,171,648 1956 10,071,111 1955 4,884,162

3. OIL (HEAVY GRAVITY)

Heavy-gravity oil (under 20° A.P.I.) is produced in the west

central part of the province in the vicinity of Lloydminster and

Kindersley. Production is obtained from sand reservoirs of Cretaceous

age.

Saskatchewan's first commercial oil production commenced in 1945

in the Lloydminster field, although limited production had been obtained

as early as 1940. Heavy-gravity crude reservoirs are extensive in the

two areas but in general the viscosity of the oil and unconsolidated

nature of the sand reservoirs results in low recoveries. Until recently

markets of this type of crude have been limited and distress prices for

the oil have discouraged improved production techniques and secondary

recovery attempts. Recently the blending or upgrading the heavy crude

for pipeline transmission has been undertaken and this crude now reaches

eastern markets. With an expanding market new production methods are

being tested, such as water flooding and, most recentlyt steam flooding. - 27 -

Preliminary results indieate that the latter will prove the better

and will substantially increase the yield of heavy crude. The next

decade is expected to show a much improved position for recoverable

reserves, production and markets, a great deal of effort has been

expended lately in the search for heavy crude supplies.

Remaining recoverable reserves of heavy crudes at December 31, 1965 9 were estimated at 3607 million barrels after allowing for cumulative

production of 39o4 million barrels to December 31, 1965.

TABLE 8 HEAVY GRAVITY CRUDE PRODUCTION

YEAR BARRELS 1966 (estimated) ?4,ooo,ooo 1965 3,134,170 1964 2,641,627 1963 1,9811518 1962 1,685,970 1961 1,711,332 1960 1,941,288 1959 2,459,490 1958 2,193,837 1957 3,059,038 1956 3,688,082 1955 3,539,855

4. OIL (GENERAL)

Saskatchewan recoverable crude oil reserves at the end of 1965

exceeded 935 million barrels. Approximately 7CJ% of these reserves

are located in the southeast part of the province in reservoirs of

Mississippian age. Not more than one-third of the Mississippian rocks

have been adequately explored and there is a high probability of discovery

of additional reserveso - 28 - The remaining reserves in the western part of the province are found in strata of younger age than the Mississippian. The wide dis tribution and thickness of post-Palaeozoic rocks suggests that continued exploration in the province will prove up further comparatively shallow reserves. These potential productive reservoirs are not likely to be extensive but, trends similar to the Battrum-Rapdan chain of reservoirs in the southwest, are highly probable elsewhere in the provinceo

The great expectation for major oil discoveries lies in the early

Palaeozoic rocks which underlie the plains area. These pre-Mississippi~ sedimentary rocks have been penetrated by only a few hundred wells and two or three wells have encountered oil accumulations which, to say the least, offer encouragement for further exploration in search of the expected deep reserves. A well at Lake Alma, Sask., is now producing from Ordovician rocks, and a few miles away, over the border in Montana there are several others. Saskatchewan's first Devonian oil (discovery announced September

28, 1966) is now being produced from wells at Gladmar.

Progressive conservation legislation and a strong industry have contributed to make Saskatchewan a major oil producing province. Pipelineo grid the oil producing areas with connections to the major refining centres in the province and to interprovincial and international pipeline systems to allow ready transportation of the crude oil to market centres in eastern

Canada and the mid-west United Stateso

Of major significance from an economic, as well as conservation, viewpoint is the extent to which the crude oil production has been unit ized. Unitization is the operation of a pool by a single operator for the benefit of all interested parties. Through unitization both Statutory and Voluntary, pressure maintenance programs have been initiated which will materially increase the ultimate recoveries of oilo Of significance is the fact that annual production from non-unit operations has remained nearly - 29 -

constant during the past six years while the annual production has

climbed from 44.6 million bbls. in 1958 to 87.8 million bbls. in 1965.

Unit production in 1958 was 7.2 million bbls. and in 1965 it was 6o.4

million bbls. more than 68% of the provincial total.

Saskatchewan's crude oil production has continued to increase in

recent years at a greater rate than the Canadian demand. Preliminary

estimates for the yea.r 1965 indicate that Saskatchewan production will

be about 22% of the total Canadian demand for petroleum.

Since the initial production in 1940 of 331 bblso of crude oil,

Saskatchewan has produced more than one-half billion bbls.; at the end

of 1965 the cumulative total stood at 588,517,285 bbls.

TABLE #9

CRUDE OIL PRODUCTION AND DEMAND

Production in Canadian Demand Sask. Production Millions of Barrels Millions of Barrels as :eer cent of: Year Canada Sask. Can. Prod. Can. Demand l9bb (estimate) 350.0 92.0 445.7 26 21 1965 291.7 87.8 408.0 30 22 1964 274.6 81.4 377.2 30 22 1963 257.6 71.3 358.5 28 20 1962 244.1 64.4 333.6 27 19 1961 220.8 55.9 318.3 25 16 1960 189.5 51.9 275.2 27 19 1959 183.6 47.4 266.7 26 18 1958 164.7 44.6 237.9 27 19 1957 181.1 3609 238.1 20 15 1956 171.2 21.1 235.5 12 9 1955 129.3 11.3 201.3 9 6 - 30 - 5. COAL

Large areas of land in a strip 60 miles in width adjacent to the

International boundary are underlain by coal seams of variable thickness.

The coal is a brown lignite found in the Ravenscrag formation laid down

in the Tertiary period of the Cenozoic era. There are also considerable

reserves of Cretaceous age lignite in Western Saskatchewan. Total known

reserves are of the order of 36 billion tons.

Three lignite areas are of importance; Estevan, Wood Mountain

W~llowbunch and Shaunavon. Production first occurred in 1887 when

approximately ' 400 ' tons was mined. · Initial production in all three areas

was by underground mining methods using adits and drifts from the exposed

face in cutbanks. Mechanical strip-mining commenced around 1930 and by the

mid-fifties underground mining methods were no longer employed. Saskatchewan

today produces about one-fifth of the nation's coal, chiefly for power gen

eration in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

The Estevan area, the only currently producing area, has proven

deposits of approximately 150 square miles in extent centred on township

2, range 7, west of the second meridian. Recoverable reserves are estimated

at 453 million tons with additional potential reserves of 50 million tons.

Cumulative production from the area is of the order of 60 million tons.

Production in the Wood Mountain-Willowbunch area ceased i n 1957.

Rising labour costs and transportation were factors in closing the operation

in this area. The potential productive area is in excess of 1,000 square

miles centred on township 4, range 27, west of the second meridian. Re

coverable reserves are estimated at 548 million tons with an additional

500 million tons considered to be probable.

Fifteen hundred square miles in the Shaunavon area are considered

potential lignite land. Last commercial production was in 1955. Because - 31 -

of the spotty information and great variation in overburden thickness no

estimate of recoverable reserves by strip mining methods has been made.

The province's reserves considered by larger blocks is set out in Table 10. TABLE 10

MINEABLE AND RECOVERABLE COAL RIBERVES OF SASKATCHEWAN (Adapted from "Royal Commission on Coal 1946" (in Thousands of Short Tons) TABLE "A" MINEABLE COAL RECOVERABLE COAL Probable Possible Total Probable Possible Total 13,126,880 11,004,ooo 24,130,880 6,563,44o 5~.702,000 12,065,440 TABLE "B" SASKATCHEWAN RESERVES BASED ON SEAMS NOT LESS THAN 3 FEET THICK TO A MAXIMUM DEPTH OF 500 FEET MINEABLE COAL RECOVERABLE COAL Block Probable Possible Probable Possible Estevan 1,338,400 487,200 669,200 243,600 Lampman 1,680,000 1,512,000 840,000 756,000 Oxbow 2,016,000 1,545,600 1,008,000 772,800 Wey burn 2,016,000 2,856,000 1,008,000 1 1428,000 Total 7,050,400 6,400,800 3,525,200 3,200,4oo

Rad ville 2,352,000 1,008,000 1,176,000 504,ooo Willow Bunch 2,408,000 2,184,ooo 1,204,ooo 1,092,000 Wood Mountain 616,000 672,000 308,000 336,000 Pinto Butte 44,800 33,600 22,4oo 16,800 Total 5,420,800 3,897,600 2,710,400 1,948,800

East end 570,000 268,800 285,000 134~'t00 Cypress Lake 23,600 33,600 16,800 16,800 Total 603,600 302,400 301,800 151,200

Total South 13,074,800 10,600,800 6,537,400 5,300,400 Sask. (Tertiary) West Sask. (Cretaceous) 52,080 403,200 26,04o 201,600

GRAND TOTAL 13,126,880 11,004,ooo 6,563,440 5,502,000

TOTAL MINEABLE AND RECOVERABLE COAL= 36,196,320 TOTAL MINEABLE COAL (24,130,880) is 24% of Canadian total mineable reserves of 99,000,000 - 32 -

TABLE 11 COAL PRODUCTION DOLLAR YEAR TONS VALUE 1966 (estimate) 2,000,000 s 3,600,000 1965 2,063,933 3,729,675 1964 1,994,039 3,905,202 1963 1,873,556 3,713,988 1962 2,256,306 4,553,904 1961 2,208,851 3,769,357 1960 2,170,797 3,833,629 1959 1,947,380 3,746,044 1958 2,253,176 4,379,481 1957 2,248,812 4,398,031 1956 2,341,641 4,320,167 1955 2,293,816 4,309,163

COAL PRODUCTION IN CANADA

YEAR COAL PRODUCTION (MILLIONS OF TONS) SASK. PROD. AS . PER CENT OF CANADA SASKATCHEWAN CANADIAN PROD. 1965 11.589 20063 18 1964 11,319 1.994 18 1963 10.576 1.874 18 1962 10.285 2.256 22 1961 10.398 2.209 21 1960 11.011 2.171 20 1959 10.627 1.947 18 1958 11.687 2.253 19 1957 13.189 2.249 17 1956 14.916 2.342 16 1955 14.818 2.294 15 - 33 - 6. NATURAL GAS Natural gas in Saskatchewan is classed as associated or non-

associated gaso Non-associated gas occurs alone in a reservoir at

relatively high pressure and may be produced on demand. Associated

gas occurs in solution in oil or is associated with the crude oil in

a common reservoir and is produced with the oil whether or not a demand

for the gas exists. To utilize fully the associated gas it is generally

necessary to collect, process and compress the gas for pipeline trans

mission and during off-peak market periods to store it for future use in

caverns mined for the purpose or in suitable depleted gas reservoirs.

The first gas produced in Saskatchewan was from the Lloydminster

field in 1934. Although gas was found at Unity in the same year, none

was produced until 1945. In the meantime gas had been encountered at

very shallow depths (about 200 feet to 300 feet for the most part) at

Kamsack and this field produced from the Second White Specks Zone from

1941 until closed down in 1953. All these early fields were classed as

non-ass ociated gas fields.

Non-associated gas reserves, sometimes called "gas cap" or "high

pressure" gas, are located in the western part of the province generally

in the same vicinity as the oil production. These gas reserves are

confi ned to sand reservoirs of the Mesozoic era. Recoverable reserves

as of December 31, 1964, were estimated at 905 billion cubic feet. Most

of these reserves are tied into the Saskatchewan Power Corporation trans

mission and distribution system and are available when required. (Note

that "billion" as used here is one thousand million.)

Not all oil produced in Saskatchewan carries gas to the surface in

quantities large enough to warrant collection. Where sufficient volumes

of gas are produced with the oil, it is collected and processed and the

residue gas after processing is made available to the Saskatchewan Power - 34 -

Corporation. Recoverable reserves of 126 billion cubic feet are estimated for associated gas tied to conservation plants at Steelman, Nottingham,

Dollard, Smiley and Coleville.

To utilize fully the associated gas, the Saskatchewan Power Corp oration has created by solution mining techniques gas storage caverns in the salt section of the Prairie Evaporites at Melville, Prud'homme and

Regina, which are unique to Saskatchewan. The saturated salt brine waste used in washing out the caverns are pumped into another horizon for safe disposal. These caverns provide storage for gas produced during the summer, or off-peak demand months, for use in the winter when the demand is high. The two caverns at Prud'homme have a capacity of 120 MMcf, the two at Regina will hold 360 MMcf, and that at Melville 360 MMcf, for a total storage capacity of 840 MMcf. Eventually this capacity will be increased to 3,000 MMcf.

The processing of associated gas results in the recovery of liquefied petroleum gases (often referred to as L.P.G.) natural gasolines and other by-products. The market for L.P.G.'s reaches its peak in winter months and to meet the demand, storage during summer months is necessary. Cavern storage, similar to that for natural gas, has been created for L.P.G. at

Melville, Richardson and Regina by private industry. The salt brine used to wash out L.P.G. caverns is stored and re-used by pumping it back into the caverns to force out the L.P.G. when needed.

The outlook for natural gas reserves and production in Saskatchewan is not as bright as that for oil, despite an ever increasing market demand both provincially and continent wide. A number of factors contribute to this position:

(a) the reserves of non-associated gas available today, because of geological conditions, are in reservoirs restricted in size and at shallow depths; - 35 -

(b) most of the non-ass ociated gas reserves have been found as a

result of the search for oil and therefore have been found above or at

the same depth as knovm oil reservoirs in any specific area;

the last few years when provincial and interprovincial transmission lines

were completed.

The distribution and thickness of t he pre-Palaeozoic rocks suggests

t hat additional reserves of non-associated gas may be expected at depth.

The provincial demand has increased rapidly in recent years with the

constructi on of a provincial transmission and distribution system by the

Saskatchewan Power Corporation. The provincial demand in 1965 was 58.6

billion cubic feet, pf which 24.7 billion cubic feet was obtained from non-

associated gas sources, 7.7 billion from conservation of ass ociated gas and

33.4 billion cubic feet from outside the province; 7.2 billion cubic feet

was exported from the province so we were net importers of 26.2 billion

cubic feet.

TABLE 12 NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION AND DEMAND

Demand (Mmscf) Year Production (Mscf) Demand (Mscf) Non-associated Associated ImEorted 1965 60,089,400 58,576,636 24.7 7.7 26.2 1964 63,725,713 54,756,244 22.4 8.1 24.2 1963 60,352,607 48,827,360 19.3 8.3 21.2 1962 61,993,601 43,204,901 16.7 10.4 16.1 - 36 - D. INDUSTRIAL MINERALS

1. POTASH

Potash is a general term applied to minerals containing the element

potassium. The quality, or grade, of the mineral is expressed in terms

of potassium oxide regardless of actual chemical composition.

Potash mineralization was first recognized in 1942 in a core from

an exploratory well drilled near Radville. The potash-bearing beds

occurred at depths too great to be of interest for commercial production,

but in 1946 a well, near Unity, penetrated 11 feet of mineralization,

assaying at 21 per cent potassium oxide, at mineable depth.

In 1950 a new tool, the radioactive log, became available to the

oil industry. This tool provided another means of indicating the presence

of potash-rich beds. Radioactivity logs of exploratory wells drilled dur

ing the next ten years established the extent of the potash mineralization

in the province. Since 1951 over 250 exploratory potash wells have been

drilled.

The potash deposits occur in the upper 150 to 200 feet of the Prairie

Evaporites of Middle Devonian age. The northern edge of the potash deposits

extend from Lloydminster on the west in a south easterly direction to east

of Esterhazy on the Manitoba boundary. At the northern edge the deposits

are found at depths of approximately 2,500 feet. The beds dip to the south

and at the International boundary are found at depths of seven to eight

thousand feet.

Two methods of mining potash have been undertaken in Saskatchewan, i.e.,

conventional shaft with room-and-pillar, and solution mining. There are

two of the former type in operation and, in spite of the magnitude of the

task involved in sinking shafts to the potash beds, six more of this type

are projected; both now operating have second shafts going down, and one - 37 - a second mill. There is one of the latter type in operation, none planned.

Shaft sinking to the potash beds is a slow and costly undertaking because of the difficulties encountered in penetrating the Blairmore formation, which consists of unconsolidated to poorly-consolidated water- bearing sands and silts, mudstone and shale, the water being under pressures ranging to 400 up to 800 pounds per square inch. Also in the interval below the Blairmore and the top of the Prairie Evaporites there may be as many as ten water-bearing horizons with pressures up to 1100 pounds per square inch or more.

The shaft mines operating now and projected, with their locations and capacities (in KCl), are:

OPERATING

Potash Co. of America Patience Lake near Saskatoon 600,000 t.p.y. (2nd shaft proposed) International Minerals & Chemical Corp. (Canada) Ltd. Esterhazy 2,000,000 t.p.y. · (2nd shaft completed)

PROJECTED International Minerals & Chemicals

Corp. (Canada) Ltd. 2nd Plant - Cutarm, Sask. 1,500 1 000 t.p.y.

Allan Potash Company Allan, Sask. 1,500,000 t.p.y.

Alwinsal Potash of Canada Ltd. Lanigan, Sask. 1,000,000 t.p.y.

Cominco Potash Division Delisle, Sask. 1,000,000 t.p.y. Noranda Mines Ltd. Viscount, Sask. 1,200,000 t.p.y. Duval Corporation Grand ora, Sask. 1,000,000 t.p.y.

The sole solution mine in operation, with its location and capacity

(in KCl) is:

Kalium Chemicals Ltd. Belle Plaine, Sask. 600,000 t.p.y.

Note: (t.p.y. = tons per year) It is estimated that the capital involved in these nine mines is of the order of $541 millions. - 38 -

The major potash ores found in Saskatchewan are sylvite and

carnallite. Sylvite is the ore sought and mined in preference to

carnallite since it contains 46.3% more K equivalent and is not 2o contaminated with undesirable magnesium. Associated with the potash

ores is halite (the technical name for common salt in place as a

mineral) and where halite and sylvite are found intermixed the ore

is called sylvinite.

The conventional room-and-pillar potash mine uses cutting

machinery at the ore face plus modern haulage methods to keep a

continuous flow of ore going to the skips (mining term for "elevator"),

which lift the ore to the surface. In solution mining fluid is pumped

down a series of bores to the potash beds and, when saturated with the

soluble salts, is pumped up again and treated to precipitate the salt

from which the potash is won.

A recent survey indicates that 95% of the world production of

potash is used for fertilizers. Most potash used for fertilizer is

in the form of muriate of potash (KCl = potassium chloride; Latin

for potash is 11 kalium".) The potassium content of soluble potash

salts is expressed as potassium oxide (K 0) equivalent. Pure KCl is 2 equivalent to K Standard muriate is or better, K 0 63.3% 2o. 60%, 2

equivalent.

It has been estimated that world demand for potash (K o) will be 2 17 million tons by 1970, 24 million tons by 1975 and 31 million tons by 1980.

By 1970 Saskatchewan capacity will be million tons K 0 equivalent, per 6.3 2 year.

The high grade of Saskatchewan ore, the large capacity and efficiency

of plants being built provides a product with a low unit cost. The low unit cost, despite high transportation charges to seaports, should make - 39 - Saskatchewan potash competitive with other large producing nations.

It is expected that Saskatchewan can obtain much of the 4 million ton

K2o deficiency forecast for 1975. While the prospects are promising ten years hence a period of excess world productive capacity may occur in the meantime.

The reserves within reach of the conventional shaft mine, that is at depths of less than 3,500 feet, and grading 25% or better, with bed thicknesses limited to five to ten feet have been estimated at 6.4 billion tons. The solution mining method makes available vast reserves at much greater depths.

TABLE 13 POTASH (K 0 Equivalent) 2

Year Tons Value

1963 626,860 $ 22,500,000 1964 862,440 30,660,000 1965 1,599,055 60,764,101 1966 (estimate) 2,000,000 80,500,000 - 40 - 2. SALT

Solution mining of salt from the Prairie Evaporites at Unity

commenced in 1949. The extent of the Prairie Evaporites has been

set out elsewhere and the reserves of salt therein are almost beyond

comprehension.

Salt is perhaps a prosaic mineral lacking the glamour found

elsewhere in the mining industry but it is a million dollar business

capable of ready expansion to meet increased demands. At the potash

mines, however, it is an almost useless byproduct, being sent to the

tailing dumps in enormous quantities, about 1 ton for each ton of

potash mined, although some has been used on roads during winter.

TABLE 14

SALT PRODUCTION

YEAR TONS DOLLAR VALUE 1966 (estimate) 90,000 $ ,2,0Q0,000 1965 82,325 1,632,505 1964 74,128 1,800,000 1963 56,064 1,358,431 1962 54,931 1,337,470 1961 51,704 1,313,230 1960 49,065 1,337,096 1959 48,786 1,214,771 1958 46,511 1,157,729 1957 43,683 1,069,201 1956 42,816 884,150 1955 41,593 976,298 - 41 - 3. SODIUM SULPHATE

Saskatchewan's sodium sulphate operations are unique in Canada in

the type of deposit, method of mining, and the fact that it is not obtained

commercially elsewhere in Canada.

Concentrations of the mineral occur in undrained basins under semi-

arid conditions. Run-off of precipitation from lands adjacent to the

basins leaches the mineral from the soils and carries it in solution to

the basin. Evaporation in the summer concentrates the solution and

chilling of the water in late fall and winter below the saturation point

results in deposition of the mineral crystals on the lake bottom. Repetit-

ion of this process over many years has built up considerable thickness of

the mineral in some basins. In this state the ore is known as mirabilite.

Mining is usually conducted during winter months when the crystalline

material can be gathered and stock piled by bulldozer or dragline from

reservoirs into which the brine has been pumped, for later beneficiation.

The processed or dehydrated salts are used almost exclusively by the paper

industry of Canada and United States.

There are five plants now operating in Saskatchewan, with at least

three planned; they are:-

OPERATING Company • Location Midwest Chemicals Ltd. Whiteshore Lake Ormiston Mining & Smelting Co. Horseshoe Lake Saskatchewan Minerals (Sodium Sulphate ( Chaplin Lake Division) a Sask. Crown Corporation (Frederick Lake Sybouts Sodium Sulphate Company Sybouts East Lake

PROJECTED Company Location Sodium Sulphate Saskatchewan Limited Alsask Saskatchewan Minerals (Sodium Sulphate Ingebright Lake Div.) Tombill Mines Ltd. Snakehole Lake - 42 - There are 21 major deposits of Sodium Sulphate in the province with reserves of about 60 million tons of salt cake; there are eleven smaller deposits with reserves ranging from 100,000 to 500,000 tons, and 13 deposits with less than 100,000 tons. The most promising are Muskiki,

Lydden, Vincent, Verla East and Ceylon Lakes where development is feasible.

Little Manitou Lake at Watrous is perhaps the best known deposit in the province since its waters have alleged curative powers. Quite a sizeable spa has grown up on its banks. The waters are rich in magnesium sulphate. The concentrations of brine shrimp there are the basis of a small industry supplying the shrimp eggs to aquaria.

TABLE 15

SODIUM SULPHATE PRODUCTION

YEAR TONS DOLLAR VALUE

1966 (estimate) 360,000 $ 5,750,000 1965 348,498 5,631,737 1964 333,203 5,039,458 1963 256,420 3,848,505 1962 246,672 3,954,270 1961 250,922 3,935,130 1960 . 214,208 3,299,640 1959 179,538 2,749,795 1958 173,198 2,736,274 1957 157,800 2,568,728 1956 182,658 2,837,949 1955 178,888 2,799,715 .- 43 -

4. SAND AND GRAVEL Sand and gravel are widespread in Saskatchewan and are used

principally in the construction and road building industries. Re-

coverable sand and gravel are generally surface deposits readily worked

by bulldozer or dragline. The construction industry has established

specifications or job requirements for the product requiring that the

material be screened, washed or crushed or a combination of these processes

to produce the desired material.

TABLE 16 SAND AND GRAVEL PRODUCTION

YEAR TONS DOLLAR VALUE 1965 8,980,463 $ 5,583,477 1964 9,266,648 5,885,697 1963 6,518,262 3,490,280 1962 6,518,262 3,490,280 1961 8,906,772 5,104,460 1960 9,122,442 4,824,310 1959 6,086,651 3,018,480 1958 5,567,511 2,961,144 1957 6,565,563 3,116,291 1956 6,466,810 3,233,760 1955 5,215,322 2,4o8,o8o -. 44 -

5. CEMENT One plant in the province produces cement primarily to meet local

or provincial requirements. Situated at Regina its production has been

steadily increasing. A second plant, at Floral near Saskatoon, is operat-

ing as a finishing plant for cement made elsewhere, but work is progressing

towards completion of a manufacturing section which will produce cement

there. The local clays replace the shales used elsewhere and supply the

alumina and silica constituents of the finished cement.

The rotary kilns, an essential component in the manufacturing of

cements, use natural gas or oil as fuel. This is but one example where

the development of one phase of the mineral industry has allowed and

fostered the development of another phase. Without these fuels the

manufacturing problems would likely have prevented the establishment

of a cement industry in Saskatchewan while the oil industry in exploring

for oil and natural gas, has been a major consumer of cement. Thus the

oil industry has supplied both a market and an essential fuel to the

Saskatchewan cement industry.

TABLE 17

CEMENT PRODUCTION

YEAR TONS DOLLAR VALUE I965 245,000 s 5,556,600 1964 247,600 5,612,241 1963 217,545 5,672,084 1962 230,072 5,830,280 1961 202,125 5,161,000 1960 169,282 3,997,809 1959 161,057 3,954,737 1958 194,734 4,506,803 1957 150,664 2,861,615 1956 2,509 59,762 - 45 - 6. CLAYS

Industrial clays are found in commercial deposits at several

localities in Saskatchewan. While brick clays of various grades are

common and widespread in the province, there are now only two plants

still functioning, that of the Saskatchewan Crown Corporation (Clay

Products Division) at Estevan and that of the Dominion Firebrick and

Clay Products Ltd. at Claybank.

Ball clays, which are high quality refractory clays used extensively

in whit ewares, china and porcelain products, are found in important

deposits at Willows, Flintoft, Readlyn and Willowbunch. More than a

million tons of proved reserves are known at these places, with as much