The Hollinger Gold Mine is a historically significant mining site located in Timmins, Ontario, Canada. Discovered in 1909 by Benny Hollinger, it became one of the largest gold producers in the British Empire. The mine operated primarily as an underground facility until its closure in 1968 but has since been reactivated as an open-pit operation.
The mine is owned by Newmont Corporation, which acquired Goldcorp in 2019. Goldcorp had purchased the mine in 2016 and initiated the open-pit operations. The site has changed hands several times, initially being developed by a syndicate led by Noah Timmins and later acquired by Kinross Gold in 1999 before Goldcorp’s acquisition.
The Hollinger mine is located above a sequence of Archean basaltic volcanic rocks. Historically, the mining involved various techniques including shrinkage stoping and cut-and-fill methods. The geological setting has allowed for significant gold extraction, with historical production figures indicating around 20 million ounces of gold from both underground and surface operations.
Production Data (2020-2024)
- 2020: The mine was operational with ongoing production, contributing to Newmont’s overall output.
- 2021-2023: Exact annual production figures are not specified, but it is part of Newmont’s broader operations in the Porcupine district, which produced approximately 223,000 ounces of gold annually across its sites.
- 2024: The Hollinger open pit is expected to close at the end of this year. Plans for reclamation are being discussed, focusing on transforming the site into a recreational area rather than flooding it to create a lake as originally envisioned.
As mining operations at Hollinger wind down, Newmont plans to reallocate staff to other projects, such as the newly approved Pamour open pit project. This transition aims to maintain employment levels while ensuring that mining activities continue within the region.
Sources:
https://northernontario.travel/timmins/hollinger-open-pit-lookout
https://www.srk.com/en/publications/hollinger-open-pit-operational-support
