The Giant Mine in Yellowknife



Posted on 26. Aug, 2009 by in Buildings and Structures, Sightseeing, Yellowknife

VN:F [1.9.11_1134]
Rating: +3 (from 5 votes)

Here are some photos of the Giant Mine in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. You can locate the mine by driving along the Ingraham Trail just east of downtown Yellowknife (past the Yellowknife Garbage Dump and the NWT Mining Heritage Society). Just before reaching the mine you will pass by an outdoor mining museum on the right with various mining artifacts from the Giant Mine.

The Giant Mine has an interesting and controversial history, which had a significant impact on shaping Yellowknife and the local population throughout its 50+ year run. Gold was originally discovered at the site in 1935 by a prospector named Johnny Baker. However, production at the gold mine did not start until thirteen years later in 1948 and was shut down completely in 2004. Giant Mine went through four different owners (Falconbridge, Pamour of Australia, Royal Oak Mines and Miramar Mining Corporation) and produced approximately 220,000 kg (or 7,000,000 ounces) of gold. Currently, there is an effort underway by the NWT Mining Heritage Society to preserve the A-shaft, save mining artifacts and document the mine’s history with a goal to become a prominent NWT tourist attraction. Check out the Giant Mine photos below.

Giant Mine, Yellowknife, NWT

Giant Mine, Yellowknife, NWT

Giant Mine, Yellowknife, NWT

Giant Mine, Yellowknife, NWT

Giant Mine, Yellowknife, NWT

Giant Mine, Yellowknife, NWT

Giant Mine, Yellowknife, NWT

Giant Mine, Yellowknife, NWT

Photos taken August 3, 2008 by Shane Keller.

VN:F [1.9.11_1134]
Rating: 10.0/10 (4 votes cast)
The Giant Mine in Yellowknife, 10.0 out of 10 based on 4 ratings

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

4 Responses to “The Giant Mine in Yellowknife”

  1. Judith

    27. Aug, 2009

    Hi Shane,

    Thank you for sharing your stories on Yellowknife. As a (hopefully for a year staying) visitor of this beautiful city, I have been reading them with the greatest interest.

    And now I have to post a comment, as I think I just saw you biking by on 50th Avenue (Franklin) / 46th street on your mountainbike with your camera in your backpack. Or weren’t you? (at about 8.20 pm tonight) :) I realised just after you went by I should have shouted ‘Life in the Knife’ :) Hope to run in you again some other time. Keep me posted on life in Yellowknife!

    Greetings,
    Judith

    VA:F [1.9.11_1134]
    Rating: 5.0/5 (2 votes cast)
    VA:F [1.9.11_1134]
    Rating: +2 (from 2 votes)

  2. Shane

    27. Aug, 2009

    Thank you Judith! Yes that was me riding along on my Mountain Bike. Definitely shout out to me next time.

    VN:F [1.9.11_1134]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VN:F [1.9.11_1134]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

  3. Shane

    27. Aug, 2009

    You can also subscribe to the website and receive notifications when new posts are added: http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=LifeInTheKnife.

    Thank you again Judith!

    VN:F [1.9.11_1134]
    Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)
    VN:F [1.9.11_1134]
    Rating: +1 (from 1 vote)

  4. Lady McBeth

    06. Oct, 2010

    Lived on the lakeshore staff houses – beautiful 1970s

    VA:F [1.9.11_1134]
    Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
    VA:F [1.9.11_1134]
    Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

Leave a Reply

CAPTCHA Image
*