Kerr-Addison Mine

Kerr-Addison Mine
Mine buildings, 1947
Location
Kerr-Addison Mine is located in Ontario
Kerr-Addison Mine
Kerr-Addison Mine
Location near McGarry, Ontario
LocationMcGarry
ProvinceOntario
CountryCanada
Coordinates48°08′19″N 79°34′39″W / 48.13861°N 79.57750°W / 48.13861; -79.57750
Production
ProductsGold
Production12 million ounces
Greatest depth1,829 metres
History
ActiveEarly 1900s: marginally active
1920-1923: exploration
1936-1963: operational
1990-1996: operational
Owner
CompanyGolden Candle Ltd
Local impacts
PollutionCyanide
ImpactedLarder Lake

The Kerr–Addison Mine (also known as the Kerr Mine) is an abandoned Canadian gold mine in the Kearns area of McGarry, Ontario. In 1960, the mine was the largest producer of gold in North America. The mine produced the second most gold overall in North America, with the Homestake Mine being the leader.

The mine is located in basalt of the Abitibi gold belt area in what became the Timiskaming District.

Gold ore was initially discovered at the mine's location around 1900 by Teme-Augama Anishnabai chief Ignace Tonené. European settlers stole Tonené's claim to the ore and started small-scale mining. Production was initially low, but increased from 1936 until its peak in 1960. Employees unionised in 1943. Ore extraction ended in 1960 and production completely stopped in 1963. The increase in global gold prices caused the mine to reopen from 1990 until 1996, by which time over 12 million ounces had been produced. Tailings from the operation were dumped in Larder Lake.

Ownership of the mine changed several times, owners included Golden Shield Resources, a subsidiary of Deak Resources, AJ Perron, and Armistice Resources Corporation, which changed its name to Kerr Mine Ltd. Kerr Mine became Arizona Gold and sold its assets to Golden Candle Limited. Throughout the transfers surface and mining rights did not always stay with the same corporation, although the latest owner, Golden Candle, now holds both.