THE STORY
Today in 2022 the New Brunswick Government has proposed an amendment to the law surrounding mineral rights in New Brunswick which could see mining companies allowed to enter privately owned land – including agricultural land – for prospecting without seeking landowner permission.
See details at: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/private-property-prospecting-minerals-1.6377066
Times are changing for sure. Back in 1939 at Basswood Ridge in Charlotte County NB, writer Eleanor Cook wrote:
‘One day when Walker Blakely was examining the land he had lately purchased … he discovered a rock projecting from the ground with crystals on it. It occurred to him at the time that it might be gold. This thought remained with him and when prospectors came to Scotch Ridge, he had them come and look his land over.
They believed the rocks had gold in them so they started blasting July 10, 1929. They worked it considerably during the year. Specimens were sent to Milton Hershey, (an analyst} in Montreal. He found a small percentage of gold and a trace of silver. He would allow $2.40 a ton, which is very good for top material.
(Imagine!!! Today a ton of gold is worth just over $46.5 million US dollars!)
The men who worked in the mine were Walker Blakely, Herbert Linton, Stillman Matheson, Harvey Caldwell, Colin Smith, and Ernest Matheson. The mine wasn’t worked to any extent because they hadn’t the proper instruments to work with. They could borrow a diamond drill but they would have been responsible for any damage done to it. It hasn’t been opened again for three years because of the lack of capital.”
This pit which was ten by eight feet at the top and fifteen feet deep was dug in solid rock at the base of a ten foot ledge outcrop
According to the St. Croix Courier in 1908
“Some men look far afield for gold and silver and others dig for it on their own land. One of the latter is Stillman Matheson of Scotch Ridge who has found mineral bearing stone on his farm and has been encouraged by returns received from analysis in Montreal and Ottawa to prosecute his exploration further. Traces of both gold and silver were found in the specimens sent away, and as these were taken merely from the surface outcropping, Mr. Matheson believes there may be something worth digging for.”
I visited this site many years ago, but was unable to find anything of major interest. There is a record of a cemetery located in that area and I found an interesting old stone basement that was worth exploring. Anna Sabina in her geological tour publication mentions the gold prospect and records it as follows:
Blakeney Mine
PYRITE, QUARTZ (crystals) In quartz veins cutting graphitic schist and arkose. The quartz crystals, about 1/2 inch across and an inch long, grade from milky to transparent at the tips. The property is a former gold prospect. The pits are now mostly overgrown. Road log continuing from turn-off to St. Stephen nickel mine: Mile 2.2 – Fork; take right fork proceeding north toward Basswood Ridge. 9.6 Junction; turn right (east) 9.7 Junction; turn left (north) and proceed about 200 yards to the junction of a trail on the right. Follow the trail for 700 yards along the side of a ridge to the pits on the south east side.
IS IT WORTH A VISIT?
Yes it is worth a visit. If you are interested in geology, this is only one of a series of great sites in this general location, many of which were documented by Anna Sabina.
LOCATION:
The mine is located about 16 minutes from St. Stephen. There appeared to be no restrictions to visiting the site.
Interactive map is online here: https://goo.gl/maps/vR7W3HYCjzk
From Anna Sabina – Blakeney Mine PYRITE, QUARTZ (crystals)
In quartz veins cutting graphitic schist and arkose. The quartz crystals, about 1/2 inch across and an inch long, grade from milky to transparent at the tips. The property is a former gold prospect. The pits are now mostly overgrown. Road log continuing from turn-off to St. Stephen nickel mine: Mile 2.2 – Fork; take right fork proceeding north toward Basswood Ridge. 9.6 Junction; turn right (east) 9.7 Junction; turn left (north) and proceed about 200 yards to the junction of a trail on the right. Follow the trail for 700 yards along the side of a ridge to the pits on the south east side.
Download Blakeney Gold Mine PDF here.
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