Northwestern Ontario is the next Mining Powerhouse!
As a regional exploration hub, mining is big business in Thunder Bay. Approximately 850 Thunder Bay residents work in the mining sector, and 500 Thunder Bay mine service and supply companies support mining. In recent years, new discoveries and a strong metals market, have driven interest in exploration and mining in Northwestern Ontario.
Visit the Thunder Bay Mining Sector Supply & Services Directory for information on companies based in the Thunder Bay census metropolitan area (CMA) that supplies goods and services to the sector. The directory provides comprehensive contact information for the companies, interactive maps and is web linked (where available) to corporate websites.
Shining a Spotlight on Thunder Bay's Mining Sector Service Providers
Our primary goal with the Mine Service and Supply Spotlight is to showcase local service and supply businesses and their expertise within the Natural Resources industry.
If your company provides local services or supplies to the mining industry, we want to put your business in the spotlight.
The process is simple – just complete a brief form, and we will proudly showcase your business.
Mining and Exploration Summary for Northern Ontario
Mineral exploration, development and production remain intense in Northwestern Ontario, led by gold, palladium and lithium mainly. One example is Red Lake District, as one of the most active exploration/mining districts in Canada.
Below is a list of some of the exploration & mining companies operating in the region:
Auteco Minerals
AuTECO Minerals (ASX:AUT) is a gold exploration company advancing the high-grade Pickle Crow Project in the world-class Uchi sub-province of Ontario, Canada.
The project hosts a JORC Resource of 2.23 Moz at 7.8 g/t gold as at February 2022. This 30% increase over just six months coincides with the successful completion of a 50,000m drilling campaign in March 2022. AuTECO currently has an additional 50,000m two-rig drill program underway to expedite Resource growth. Mineralisation remains open in every direction.
Avalon Advanced Materials – Rock Tech Lithium signed a collaboration agreement to develop a lithium chemical facility (convertor) in Thunder Bay. Rock Tech is raising over $8M to conduct a pre-feasibility study (PFS) for such a facility, as well as mine site (Georgia Lake) work including permitting. Plan would be to concentrate lithium ore at the Georgia Lake and Separation Rapids deposits prior to shipment of the con to Thunder Bay.
Barrick Gold- Hemlo has produced more than 21 million ounces of gold, and has been operating continuously for more than 30 years. Located just north of Lake Superior on the Trans-Canada Highway, about 35 kilometres east of Marathon, Ontario, it’s currently an underground operation.
Battery Age Minerals is a battery mineral focused company targeting increased shareholder value through the rapid growth of our primary Falcon Lake Lithium Project located in Ontario, Canada
Clean Air Metals – is a palladium-platinum exploration company developing the Thunder Bay North Deposits Projects (Current Lake and Escape Lake Deposits) that is situated northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
The Mavis Lake Lithium Project is located approximately 19km east-northeast of the township of Dryden in North-Western Ontario. Dryden provide a ligsitcs and support base for the exploration and development efforts at Mavis Lake, making for a low cost operation. The Project has immediate road accessibility to Trans-Canada Highway 17 as well as the Canadian national rail line, both of which provide established inbound and outbound logistics routes for major equipment, mining fleet and in due course, product logistics.
Greenstone is a multi-million-ounce gold project located in the top-tier mining jurisdiction of Ontario, Canada. With 400,000 ounces of gold to be produced annually for the first five years (60% attributable to Equinox Gold), Greenstone will be a cornerstone asset in the Company’s portfolio.
Greenstone is located in Geraldton, Ontario, approximately 275 km northeast of Thunder Bay.
The Red Lake operation is an underground gold mine in north western Ontario, situated in one of the highest grade Archean gold camps in Canada. Acquired in April 2020, an operational transformation plan is underway to restore Red Lake to a premier Canadian gold mine with the goal of producing 300,000+ ounces per annum from FY27.
First Mining Gold hold the 4.67 M ounce Springpole Lake Gold Deposit, located northeast of Red Lake. First Majestic Silver Corp. signed a silver streaming deal; PFS studies, diamond drilling and access planning , are all underway.
Frontier Lithium is an emerging lithium mineral and salts company focused on the development of its 100%-owned PAK Lithium Project in Ontario.
The PAK-SPARK Project that is situated approximately north of Red Lake, Ontario, Canada.
Generation Mining Generation Mining is developing the 100%-owned Marathon Palladium-Copper project in Northwestern Ontario. A 2023 updated Feasibility Study shows a a $1.16 billion net present value (6%), a 25.8% internal rate of return, and a 2.3-year payback at a US$1800 palladium and US$3.70 copper price.
The Seymour Project is located near the township of Armstrong and approximately 250km north of the city and port of Thunder Bay which has a long mining history and a base for geological and mining contractors.
Impala Canada’s Lac des Iles Mine, a palladium operation with more than 25 years of production in a low-risk jurisdiction northwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario, employs over 700 employees and features a unique, world-class ore body and modern infrastructure, including both an underground mine and surface operations. The mine is also noted for its advanced underground technologies and significant exploration portfolio.
Kinross Gold Corp. is a gold exploration company that is developing the Dixie Lake Project situated south of Red Lake, Ontario, Canada.
Landore Resources – The Junior Lake Property consists of 30,507 hectares and is located in the province of Ontario, Canada, approximately 235 kilometres north-northeast of Thunder Bay. It is host to: The BAM Gold Deposit; the B4-7 Nickel-Copper-Cobalt-Platinum-Palladium-Gold Deposit; the VW Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Deposit; Lamaune Gold Prospect; the Lamaune Iron Prospect and numerous other precious and base metal occurrences.
LICAN Minerals is a lithium exploration company developing the Falcon Lake Project that is situated north of Armstrong, Ontario, Canada
The Rainy River mine is located approximately 65 kilometres northwest of Fort Frances, Ontario. The site is situated on the traditional lands of Treaty #3 Anishinaabe Communities in Northwestern Ontario.
Musselwhite is a fly-in, fly-out operation located approximately 500 kilometers north of Thunder Bay, Canada.
Musselwhite’s ore is mined from two main zones below Lake Opapimiskan. Ore is processed onsite using a circuit that includes crushing, grinding, leaching by cyanidation, carbon in pulp recovery and electrowinning. Gold recoveries are 96%.
Is a gold exploration company that is developing the Donna Lake Gold Project situated south east of Armstrong, Ontario, Canada.
Ring of Fire Metals is a nickel, copper, cobalt, chrome, platinum and palladium exploration company that is developing the Ring of Fire Project situated in the James Bay lowlands, Ontario, Canada
Rock Tech Lithium is a lithium exploration company developing the Georgia Lake Project that is situated north east of Thunder bay, Ontario, Canada.
Silver Lake Resources is a gold mining company that operates the Sugar Zone Mine located north of White River, Ontario, Canada.
Ultra Lithium is a lithium exploration company developing the Georgia Lake Project that is situated west of Thunder bay, Ontario, Canada.
