Cornerstone of Ontario Communities

Blessed with rich mineral wealth, Ontario is home to about 50 mines and more than 100 quarries. We are Canada's leading producer of nickel, gold, cobalt, copper and salt as well as lesser known minerals such as cadmium, selenium, barite and nepheline syenite. In addition, Ontario quarries produce more building materials (sand, gravel, building stone and clay products) than any other province.

Most gold, base metals and gemstones are mined in Northern Ontario's Precambrian Shield, one of the world's oldest and richest geological regions. Thriving mining operations include nickel mining in Sudbury, the gold mines of Hemlo, Red Lake, Timmins and Wawa, and amethyst and platinum mining near Thunder Bay. The former silver mines of Cobalt and uranium mines of Elliot Lake are now historic mining camps.

Southern Ontario is home to a $1.5-billion-a-year mining industry of its own. Salt is mined in Goderich and Windsor; gypsum in Caledonia and Hagersville; talc in Madoc; and limestone in Guelph, Ingersoll and Dundas.

Scattered across Ontario are more than 100 quarries that supply building materials and decorative stone for our homes, buildings, monuments and roads. The Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, the Ontario Legislature in Toronto and the Canadian Embassy in Washington were all built using Ontario stone.

These companies are vital contributors to Ontario communities - playing a strong role in local economies and community life. Mining companies donate about $6 million a year to local charities, colleges and universities and hospitals.