Natural Resources Canada
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Mining Sites
Abstract
In Canada, mines are most heavily concentrated in the Mixedwood Plains, Boreal Shield, Prairie, and Montane Cordillera ecozones. Mines require accessibility, and are therefore strongly correlated with transportation routes. While most mines are designed as closed systems, occasionally water pollution results from problems in the mining, or milling processes, and aquatic ecosystems can be affected.
Mining has been an integral part of Canadian history. In 1995 there were 558 producing mines and quarrying operations across Canada (60% contain structural materials, primarily sand and gravel). Mining contributes to about 5% of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product. Mines are most heavily concentrated in the Mixedwood Plains, Boreal Shield, Prairie and Montane Cordillera ecozones. Active mines require accessibility, and are therefore strongly correlated with transportation routes. While most mines are designed as closed systems, occasionally water pollution results from problems in the mining, or milling processes and aquatic ecosystems can be affected.
There are many major mines across Canada found in each of the twelve ecozones. Some of these major mines are listed in Table 1.
