{"id":5327,"date":"2020-07-22T16:28:27","date_gmt":"2020-07-22T20:28:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=5327"},"modified":"2020-07-22T16:32:57","modified_gmt":"2020-07-22T20:32:57","slug":"episode-84-what-were-we-doing-at-the-bottom-of-an-abandoned-uranium-mine-at-elliot-lake-in-may-1960","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=5327","title":{"rendered":"EPISODE 84 WHAT WERE WE DOING AT THE BOTTOM OF AN ABANDONED URANIUM MINE AT ELLIOT LAKE IN MAY, 1960?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Begin forwarded message:<\/div>\n


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From: <\/b><\/span>ALAN SKEOCH <alan.skeoch@rogers.com<\/a><\/a>>
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Subject: <\/b><\/span>Re: EPISODE 84 WHAT WERE WE DOING AT THE BOTTOM OF AN ABANDONED URANIUM MINE AT ELLIOTT LAKE (MAY 1960)?<\/b>
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Date: <\/b><\/span>July 22, 2020 at 11:41:45 AM EDT
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To: <\/b><\/span>Marjorie Skeoch <marjorieskeoch@gmail.com<\/a><\/a>>, Alan Skeoch <alan.skeoch@rogers.com<\/a><\/a>>
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EPISODE 84    WHAT WERE WE DOING AT THE BOTTOM OF AN ABANDONED  URANIUM MINE AT ELLIOT LAKE (MAY, 1960)?<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
alan skeoch<\/div>\n
July 2020<\/div>\n

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Note:  For those of you who read  my Episodes dealing with Bunmahon and mining experiences in Southern Ireland you<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

might find the days prior to my arrival in Ireland  interesting.  Underground at an abandoned  uranium mine near Elliot Lake<\/p><\/div>\n

in Northern Ontario.  One of the largest source of uranium for atomic bombs in 1960.  CAN. MET. mine.. A modern mine with electricity <\/div>\n
and  \u201ccages\u201d to drop a whole shift of miners from the surface of the earth down 2000 feet.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
I decided to write this Episode and several others after I received  a startling and very welcome email from Dan Dwan whose uncle<\/div>\n
Barney Dwan was my right hand man in Ireland.  Dan Dwan  lives  in Knockmahon, County Waterford,  Ireland,  today as do several of the men we  employed.<\/div>\n
 Sixty years has  passed yet that summer of  1960 remains alive.<\/div>\n

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The mine in Ireland  would  be totally  different\u2026see pic below.<\/div>\n

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For those of you who may find  my language a  little rough in places, all I  can  say is that I am trying<\/div>\n
to record the Way  We Were.
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I JUST found this picture taken by Barney Dwan as we crawled through the old adits of the Knockmahon<\/div>\n
copper mine on the south coast of Ireland.   The picture is not relevant to the story below but should be included<\/div>\n
in the Bunmahon  stories.   The contrast between Knockmahon mine (1840 – 1875) and the Can  Met mine<\/div>\n
in Elliot Lake (1955 –  1960, below) will be apparent.  In  Elliot Lake the passageways  were big enough to drive large mine<\/div>\n
trucks.  In Ireland, the miners had to squeeze through tight places.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
MY JOURNAL<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
MONDAY  MAY 9, 1960<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
University exams  over on Friday  May 7.  Job started on Monday  May 9.  Each summer  I<\/div>\n
hoped  to be re-employed by  Hunting Technical and Explorations Servies  because the jobs<\/div>\n
were so exciting even he work was  always exhausting and living conditions far from luxurious  since<\/div>\n
most jobs were in some god forsake corner of the world like last summer on the barren lands<\/div>\n
of western Alaska about 100 miles inland from the Bering Sea.  From  some points on that treeless<\/div>\n
Arctic and sub Arctic shore.  Desolate and infested with every blood sucking fly imaginable.<\/div>\n
So remote  that we were armed  with 30 – 06 rifles lest a Kodiak bear felt we were choice bits <\/div>\n
of flesh.   That never happened.  Kodiak bears had lots and dead and dying  salmon to gorge <\/div>\n
upon and, anyway, I was told the bears thought we smelled bad which was believable since<\/div>\n
bathing was  not high on our agenda.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Barrie Nichols met me at the office door on 1450 (?) Oconnor Road in East Toronto.<\/div>\n

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\u201cAlan, you will be going to Arizona on a job near the Mexican border\u2026leaving this week.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cSnakes in Arizona?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cI suppose  so\u2026check  out what to do if bitten if you wish.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cRight\u2026says here that should a rattle snake bite you or a fellow crew member to make<\/div>\n
sure the wound is bleeding then suck out the blood  and the venom\u2026spit it out. Do not swallow.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWhat if  I am alone and the snake bites my leg?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cCould be  tough problem.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cMight be best to hire Plastic Man (a comic book superhero  in 1960) for the job, Mr. Nichols.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cVery funny.\u201d<\/div>\n

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Phoned home at lunch<\/div>\n

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\u201cHi Mom, I will be going to Arizona this week\u2026need bush clothes for hot weather.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cThere are snakes in Arizona, Alan\u2026bad snakes.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cAlready prepared for that mom.\u201d   (Did  not mention… blood, snake venom and sucking as a first<\/div>\n
aid solution.)<\/div>\n
\u201cThey have hospitals down  there.\u201d  <\/div>\n

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Then Barrie Nicholls called me to his office in the afternoon.<\/div>\n

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\u201cChange  of plans, Alan, you are not going to Arizona\u2026sending  Hilkar and Faulkner.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWhere am I going then?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cSouthern Ireland.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cThere are no snakes in Ireland\u2026some religious guy drove them out\u2026\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cVery funny, Alan\u2026but your are correct.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNo need practice blood sucking.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWhat did you say\u2026sorry I was not listening.<\/div>\n
\u201cNoting important \u2026 When do I leave?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNot sure yet\u2026it will take a while to fill out the documents and crate<\/div>\n
up the equipment.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWhat instrument will I be using?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cThe Turam with a back up Ronka.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cTuram\u2026same one we used  in Alaska?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cSame one.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWhy me?  Bill Morrison was the Turam expert.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t know where he is.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cAnd Don Van Every, Ian Rutherford, Mike Chinnery\u2026all the Alaska crew.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNone of them around\u2026just you.  Do your remember how to use the Turam?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cSure.\u201d  (said with a  slight pause)<\/div>\n
\u201cDr. Paterson and  I are counting on  you Alan.  It would be a good  idea<\/div>\n
not to mention to our contractor that you are a University student.  Act like<\/div>\n
a permanent employee.\u201d<\/div>\n
(Under my breath\u2026\u201dIn other words be confident\u201d\u2026my interpretation.)<\/div>\n
\u201cNo worries.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cDr. John Stam will be  working with you\u2026Phd. in Geophysics.  Dutchman. He will<\/div>\n
do the interpretation.  All  you have to do  is get the raw material\u2026the data\u2026<\/div>\n
to him.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cDo I read you correctly Mr. Nichols\u2026I will be in charge of the instruments<\/div>\n
and the field work.\u201d  (Wow, what a responsibility)<\/div>\n
\u201cRight.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWho will be working with me?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNobody\u2026you will hire and train an Irish crew at Bunmahon\u2026a village<\/div>\n
on the south coast of Ireland..  We are counting on you , Alan.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cI know that\u2026won\u2019t let you down\u2026do not worry.\u201d   (spoken with a  confidence <\/div>\n
I did not really feel.)<\/div>\n
\u201cNow start carting up the gear\u2026looks like 11 crates of equipment\u2026get the crates made<\/div>\n
somewhere\u2026good strong crates  for the ocean voyage.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cDo  you mean I am going to Ireland by ship.?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNo you will fly\u2026but the crates will travel by sea.\u201d<\/div>\n

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Later in the Afternoon of June 9, 1960<\/div>\n

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\u201cHello Mom,  I will not be going to Arizona.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a relief.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cBecause, Alan, there are no snakes in Ireland\u201d<\/div>\n

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Spent  the rest of the afternoon signing documents<\/div>\n
and arranging  for my passport.<\/div>\n

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TUESDAY MAY  10, 1960<\/div>\n

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By chance I was sent on the Alaska job in 1959. My partner Bill Morrison was an expert who showed  me how to set up the Turam  E. M. unit.  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

I never expected to be the sole operator in 1960.  Bill had gone on to other things.  Lucky I made notes.  Suddenly\u2026those notes were crucial.<\/p><\/div>\n


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The Turam method<\/b> is one of the oldest geophysical<\/a> electro-magnetic<\/a> methods used for mineral exploration<\/a>, devised by Erik Helmer Lars Hedstrom in 1937.[1]<\/a><\/sup> Its name is derived from Swedish “TU” (two) and “RAM” (frame), referring to the two receiving coils.<\/div>\n

Method<\/span>[<\/span>edit<\/a>]<\/span><\/span><\/font><\/h2>\n
An insulated cable<\/a> a few hundred meters to several kilometers long is laid parallel to the geological strike direction<\/a>. The cable is either grounded at both ends or laid out in a large loop, and energized at low frequencies<\/a> (less than 1 kHz<\/a>). Two receiving coils are moved on lines outside of and perpendicular to the long side of the loop or grounded cable<\/a> and two components of the resultant field are measured. The primary field generated by the large loop or cable interacts with the soil and subsoil<\/a> and with a conductive body if present which could be a mineral and creates a resultant electromagnetic field<\/a>. The electromagnetic field is measured according to two values: the Field Strength Ratio and the Phase Difference<\/a> occurring between the two receiving coils . It is a fixed source horizontal loop method. Separation of the two moving coils is usually from 10 to 30 metres. Using an AC bridge (also called compensator bridge), Field Strength Ratio is measured in percent and Phase Difference in degrees. In-phase (Real) and quadrature (Imaginary) values can be calculated from these data. Observed field strength ratio readings are used to calculate reduced ratios using a formula determined by the loop size and shape or the grounded wire length and the position of the receiving coils relative to the loop or grounded wire. The Turam method is a frequency domain method and in a way is the precursor of the time domain fixed loop methods. It is claimed to have detected large flat lying conductors to a depth of 400 metres.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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I will be expected to operate and  set up both the Turam E.M. (electro magnetic) unit<\/div>\n
and the Ronka Electricial  resistivity units.   All  the equipment must be ready for shipment<\/div>\n
by boat to Ireland tomorrow\u2026.must with, measure, label, itemize everything and  pack<\/div>\n
in 8 crates.  Crates no good though\u2026need to get new crates built.<\/div>\n

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Eric (brother) and  I went to a movie in evening after getting Rev. Currie to authenticate<\/div>\n
my passport application.<\/div>\n

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I find  it hard to believe that I will be going to Ireland.  Others in the company<\/div>\n
must be more qualified.   Why me?  Only explanation is that I am  the only person<\/div>\n
left who knows how to operate the Turam system.<\/div>\n

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IRELAND\u2026not so many flies to chew at our flesh\u2026but there were lots of  other difficulties.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

All the same my job in Ireland in1960 was unforgettable\u2026lots of  good memories
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WEDNESDAY MAY 11, 1960<\/div>\n

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Picked up the Turam from Charley Houston and and new crates made.<\/div>\n
Two problems  solved.  <\/div>\n

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Then Dr. Paterson called  me over.<\/div>\n

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\u201cAlan, you will leave tomorrow for Blind River then on to Elliot Lake.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cTomorrow?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cyes, a job at the bottom  of a recently abandoned uranium mine called<\/div>\n
Can Met.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cAbandoned?  Uranium\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cAre you are thinking of Atom Bombs,\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cI  suppose that is the end use of  the uranium\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cEnd use?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cSounds sinister, \u201c<\/div>\n
\u201cRather.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cHave you ever been deep in a mine before?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWell,  put this job  down as a first.\u201d<\/div>\n

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Later I phoned Marjorie in North Bay.  What a great girl.  Then packed my<\/div>\n
bag for Elliot Lake after typing out list for Irish customs.   Events are moving<\/div>\n
very fast. <\/div>\n

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(So on May  12, 1960, the same year I was sent to Ireland I was sent on a short job  at Elliot Lake.<\/div>\n
The uranium mined  at Can Met was enriched  and inserted in metal casings<\/div>\n
to become the atomic bombs that terrified so  many of us during the long Cold<\/div>\n
War between the Soviet Union and the Western World.    By 1960, however,<\/div>\n
the need to stockpile atomic nuclear weapons had come to an end.   There were<\/div>\n
enough nuclear bombs on both sides by 1960,  enough to destroy human and<\/div>\n
animal life on the whole planet.)<\/div>\n

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A great adventure was unfolding \u2026 with the speed  of summer lightning.  In a few weeks I would find  myself  underground crawling on my<\/div>\n
stomach through an ancient adit on the south coast of Ireland.  What a  contrast between the two mines.  Elliot Lake Uraniium mine<\/div>\n
was big  enough for huge  machines to drive down  the passageways.   Knockmahon was so small that sometimes the hole was<\/div>\n
barely big enough to squeeze through.  Was  I scared?   Strangely, I never gave that much thought except when I asked  Barney Dwan<\/div>\n
to take my picture (above) at Knockmahon later in the summer of 1960.<\/div>\n

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THURSDAY MAY  12, 1960<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
I nailed the last crate closed today and then began reading the Ronka manual.    Must know what I am doing when we<\/div>\n
get to Ireland and  best place to do  that is the Manual\u2026if I can understand it all.   Sass Casper left for a survey job <\/div>\n
at Niagara.  Eric  and dad drove  me today. This is the third day that I have had no time for lunch or even a  coffee\u2026and I<\/div>\n
have  only been working for three  days.<\/div>\n

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In the evening I went to Scouts and Scouter presented  me with my Ramblers Badge.   The guys in the Rover Crew<\/div>\n
presented me with a  rosary for protection in Ireland then mom and  dad  drove me down to Union Staton<\/div>\n
to catch the train to Blind River.<\/div>\n

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FRIDAY MAY 13, 1960<\/div>\n

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Passed  a wonderful night in my birth on the train just looking out the window watching the world by.  Really exciting\u2026always<\/div>\n
an adventure.  Awakened at 8 a.m. for a sumptuous breakfast in the dining car.  In other words bacon, eggs, toast, marmalade<\/div>\n
and coffee.   Stopped for a few minutes in Sudbury\u2026city looks depressing.  Just bare stretches rock wiht little vegetation.  Could be <\/div>\n
the face of the moon.  Continued  to read the Ronka manual.  Then we  arrived at Spragge where I got off the train and took<\/div>\n
a bus to Elliot Lake.   <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Uranium mining has fallen on tough times.  I guess the American have made enough atomic bombs now which means<\/div>\n
our uranium market has collapsed.  Very depressing city.   Once it was a  boom town of 10,000 people\u2026the place to be\u2026the place  where<\/div>\n
jobs were easy to find  and the money good.  Housing was so hard to get that some miners slept in their cars.   Most were single<\/div>\n
men, many of them recent immigrants.  Others were  familiar with the nomadic  life of miners.  At least one man lived<\/div>\n
in a tent with his wife and five kids.   Boom town in 1958.  Bust town in 1960. On  May 13,1960, all I could see was abandoned trailer camps,  cars stripped<\/div>\n
of anything valuable like tires, and fields here and  there of repossessed vehicles.   Strange how modern buildings with glass<\/div>\n
and aluminum fittings looks  so depressing when empty.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Proceeded  with geologist John  Hogan to Can. Met. Uranium mine three miles outside Elliot Lake.   Originally Can Met<\/div>\n
employed 1,000 men but today it just has a skeleton staff of 70 to keep the place open.   Maybe even those men are<\/div>\n
just here until we complete our underground  survey.   We have our meals  in  a  huge mess hall \u2026big enough for<\/div>\n
the huge work force that once ate here with meals cooked and served by Crawley and  McKraken food services as<\/div>\n
the sign said..  Not anymore   <\/div>\n

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Tested  the Ronka and did some map  work.<\/div>\n

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Take the time  to read the sign.  Stopes in Eliot Lake were huge\u2026300 feet long, 65 feet wide and 8 feet high.<\/div>\n
The underground workshop at Can Met looked  the size of football field.  The passageways were high enough<\/div>\n
for trucks and wide enough for those trucks to pass each other.<\/div>\n

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