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Science, Technology, Energy and Mines Minister Jim Rondeau today recognized the importance of mining in this province by proclaiming May 20 to 26 as Mining Week in Manitoba.

 

“Mining is Manitoba’s second-largest primary resource industry,” said Rondeau. “Mining had a production value of $2.1 billion in 2006, employing more than 17,000 people in direct and indirect jobs and generating millions of dollars in spinoff business. Mining Week is an opportunity to celebrate the essential contributions that mining and its related industries make to the province’s economy and the people of Manitoba.”

 

Rondeau also noted that Manitoba was recently rated by the Fraser Institute as having the best policy environment in the world for mining investment.

 

The minister invited all Manitobans to The Forks to partake in the free activities today until Saturday. Participants can learn more about minerals and mining by panning for gold with champion gold panner, Yukon Dan, collecting their own mineral and fossil samples, talking to the Rock Doc, the expert on Manitoba’s geology, and spinning the wheel to test their mining IQ for a prize.

 

Manitoba’s mining industry dates back to the early 1800s when salt became the first commercially-developed mineral for use in the fur trade.  Today, the industry produces a variety of minerals and metals including nickel, copper, zinc, gold, tantalum and cesium.  Manitoba also mines industrial minerals such as aggregate, building stone, peat, dolomite, spodumene, silver, salt, lime and gypsum.