Marmoraton Mine

The Marmoraton Mine is located in Marmora Township, Hastings County, Ontario, Canada, in the southeastern part of the province. Ontario is in eastern Canada, and Marmora is about halfway between Ottawa and Toronto, making it accessible yet secluded. Nearby, Cordova Mines is known for gold and silver, and the Bancroft area is famous for mineral collecting, enhancing the region's appeal for enthusiasts.

The mine primarily extracted iron ore but also yielded a diverse range of minerals from its Precambrian meta-sediments. Notable finds include Actinolite, Albite, Almandine, Andradite, Ankerite, Axinite-(Fe), Baryte, Biotite, Calcite, Chalcopyrite, Chlorite Group, Dolomite, Epidote, Goethite, Grossular, Gypsum, Hedenbergite, Hematite, Hornblende Root Name Group, Magnesite, Magnetite, Malachite, Marcasite, Palygorskite, Pyrite, Pyroxene Group, Pyrrhotite, Quartz, Serpentine Subgroup, Sphalerite, and Titanite. Axinite-(Fe) and Palygorskite are particularly rare, attracting mineral collectors.

The mine's geological setting is Precambrian meta-sediments, ancient rocks transformed by heat and pressure, rich in minerals. Mining began in the 1940s due to World War II demands, with official opening in 1952 marked by a dynamite blast heard 30 miles away. At its peak, it produced half a million tons of pelletized iron annually, with the pit reaching 750 feet deep. It closed in 1978, impacting 300 jobs, and later parts were used for limestone crushing and talc processing until 2010.

Marmora's culture is deeply tied to its mining past, with the community adapting post-closure through initiatives like the Miners’ Loop tour and The Miners Restaurant, which displays mining artifacts. A "Buy Locally Owned" movement supports local artisans. The area has a humid continental climate, with warm summers and cold winters, featuring pristine waterways and parks, ideal for outdoor activities. The mine site, now a water-filled pit, is a historical and ecological landmark.