Discovery of the Sudbury Nickel Deposits

Photo by contributor Blair Olsen - August 2009

Plaque Location

The City of Greater Sudbury
On the site of the former Murray Mine
at a pullout on the north side of Road 35
2.8 km west of Lasalle Blvd (Road 71)

Coordinates: N 46 31.254 W 81 03.226

Plaque Text

The significance of Sudbury's mineral deposits became apparent during construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway through the area in the 1880s. Blacksmith Tom Flanagan, and others, took samples from some reddish rock nearby in 1883. Analysis of the rock revealed copper-nickel sulphide and the Murray Mine was subsequently established at the site. Ore bodies were soon discovered in abundance throughout the Sudbury area. Entrepreneur Samuel J. Ritchie founded the Canadian Copper Company at Copper Cliff in 1886. Capitalizing on breakthroughs in metal-refining, Ritchie opened up an industrial and military market for nickel-steel alloys. With the establishment of corporations like International Nickel in 1902 and Falconbridge Nickel Mines in 1928, Sudbury became the nickel capital of the world.

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Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted December 4, 2009
It is not on Highway 144 but on Highway 35 (Thanks. It's now corrected.)

Posted November 10, 2009
I wait there with my geologie class this year and i thought it was very interesting. Its nice to know i little city history. P.S i think u should have some french translation.

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