Everything about Cobalt Ontario totally explained
Cobalt is a
town in the
district of
Timiskaming,
province of
Ontario,
Canada, with a
population of 1,229 (as per the
Canada 2006 Census.)
In 2001 Cobalt was named "Ontario's Most Historic Town" by a panel of judges on the
TV Ontario program
Studio 2, and in 2002 the area was designated a
National Historic Site.
History
Silver was discovered in the area in the summer of 1903, during the construction of the
Temiskaming & Northern Ontario Railway from
North Bay to the communities of
Haileybury and
New Liskeard, north of Cobalt. Within a few years the area was one of the largest silver producing areas in the world. Speculation over mining stocks led to riots on
Wall Street in
New York City. In 1911 silver production exceeded 30,000,000 ounces (937.5 tons). Mining continued until the 1930s, then slowed to a trickle. Activity renewed in the 1950s then slowly dropped off, and there are no longer any operating mines in the area. However, one mill still operates in the area, and there continues to be
exploration, including exploration for
diamonds.
The silver mines of Cobalt, and the prospectors and miners that discovered them and worked the mines, have left an indelible mark on Canadian history, and the town is known as the birthplace of
hard rock mining in Canada. The
ore in Cobalt was close to surface, which meant that men with limited experience could prospect and begin mining, and then hone their skills as the mines went deeper. Those who learned their trade in Cobalt moved north, discovering gold in
Kirkland Lake and
Timmins and further afield in Canada and around the world.
The
Cobalt Silver Kings played in the inaugural
1910 NHA season.
Cobalt, Haileybury, and New Liskeard were formerly known as the Tri-Towns. When Haileybury and New Liskeard were amalgamated into the city of
Temiskaming Shores in 2004, Cobalt decided to remain a separate town. However, the two municipalities continue to have a close relationship, including the operation of a shared
public transit system.
Also noteworthy is that in 2001 the town voted overwhelmingly to stop adding
fluoride to the drinking water.
Environmental issues
The mining activities in Cobalt have left a significant environmental legacy. Millions of tons of mine waste rock and mill
tailings were dumped on the land and in local lakes. In Cobalt ores, silver was associated with
arsenic minerals. Little of this arsenic was ever recovered - most of it ended up in the tailings and waste rock. Today this arsenic contaminates surface water in the area and poses risks to the environment.
The Cobalt area is also laced with many miles of underground mine workings, as well as surface trenches, pits and shaft openings. As a result, there are risks of collapse, or
subsidence of underground mine workings, and many areas that have been fenced off to prevent entry.
Tourism and attractions
Visitors to Cobalt can visit the Cobalt Mining Museum, which boasts the world’s largest display of silver, as well as "The Bunker" which is a military museum, and a firefighter's museum. The Heritage Silver Trail is a self-guided driving tour of several mine and mill sites in the area. The trail is well marked, guiding visitors around the backroads of Cobalt. At each site, signs are posted, identifying the site, and providing a brief description of the site. The trail guides visitors to many of the remaining mine
headframes in the Cobalt area, some of which are quite picturesque, and stand as an important reminder of Cobalt's past.
Visitors can also take a tour of an old underground mine. Tours start at the Mining Museum, and are guided by museum staff. The narrow damp tunnels of the mine give a real appreciation for the conditions under which miners worked, and tour guides sprinkle the tour with many stories to help bring the past to life.
On February 14, 2008, plans were announced to convert the vacant Fraser Hotel building into a complex which will include The Bunker museum, housing units, tourist accommodations, and a proposed culinary school.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Cobalt Ontario'.
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