Lake Jeannine - Mine Pit

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The Lake Jeannine mining complex is no longer worked and the dewatering pumps have been removed; therefore, the open pits have filled with water. In the central portion you can view what is known in mining as benches; these are stair steps structures resulting from the blasting pattern and help maintain the integrity of the rock and thus the safety of the men and equipment. As it becomes deeper, the pit takes on the shape of a V and there comes a point when it becomes too narrow for further mining and a new pit would be started. Because of preliminary test work performed on each pit, by the time this V-shape is reached, most of the profitable ore has already been removed.

The view of the pit's depth while still being mined.

One of the many roads used for transferring ore from the mine site to the processing plant. In the distance you can see the waste material from digging the mine pit. Where huge trucks used to rumble, now all is quiet except for the occasional fishermen, hunters or porcupine.

Although the lake is frozen six months of the year, the coolness of the summer inhibits algae and other plants from turning the water green. We estimated we could see about 30 or 40 feet deep along the edge of the old mine pit.