1913 - Sharon Mines, Ltd.
It was in 1913, when the Wasapika Property was purchase by Sharon Mines, Ltd. Most of the trenching that was establish became put down by this company.
1916 - G. R. Rogers
The property was later examined by G. R. Roger who sunk a small pit across from the Ronda Gold Mine, and Hwy 560. The Small pit is partly flooded by water, and was once used for examination purposes, and assaying.
1918 - Staked by Wasapika Gold Mines, Limited of Toronto
Gold was first discovered on the Wasapika Gold Property 1918, when the gold rush of West Shining Tree was official. By this time, the property was also staked by the Wasapika Gold Mines, Limited. who had operated on claim T.R.S 2529 and 2530, within the Township of MacMurchy, Ontario, Canada. Prior to explorations it was rather stated that the Riddle Vein had been outlined for a distance of 1,000 feet in a north-south direction, and dips at 60 degrees to the west. The company at the time was also incorporated by George R. Rogers who was also the president, and the manager.
Development within this time period would result in the sinking of a shaft that was now reaching a depth of 100 feet below the surface. With development proceeding the company had also establish a level on the 100 foot section by opening it up with a crosscut. Much of the crosscut section at the time was stated to have been extended in 25 feet in quartz and schist, which carried gold in some places. Shaft sinking during this time period was also being continued to the 200 foot level of the Wasapika Gold Mine. Power at the time was also taken from a plant that consisted of a 6 drill compressor, smithy, portable saw mill, and camp buildings.
1919 - Wasapika Gold Mines, Limited
By this time the company had officially completed its camp buildings followed by the much need steam plant. For the most part this newly installed steam plant had consisted of two locomotive type boilers of 35 and 45 H.P. , a 650 cubic foot Rand Compressor, and an 8 inch by 10 inch Jenckes Hoisting Engine. It was also at this time when the Two Compartment Vertical Shaft had also reach a depth of 150 feet below the surface. The first level at 100 feet was opened up by 56 feet of crosscutting to the east, and 15 feet to the west. For the most part it was also stated by the company that the East Crosscut had passed through 27 feet of ore.
1920 - Wasapika Gold Mines, Ltd. Succeeded by Wasapika Consolidated Gold Mines, Limited
It was in 1920, when the Wasapika Gold Mines, Limited became succeeded by the Wasapika Consolidated Mines, Limited. Prior to this the company had also incorporated it self with a capitalization of $6,000,000 at $1 par value of dividend shares. A tot of 4,282,535 share were issued that year, in which 4,000,000 share were issued in consideration of the transfers of the assets. With this change being made there was no additional work done on the Wasapika Gold Property as it had lied idle. By the beginning of the year it was also stated that the shaft had officially reach the 200 foot level. This resulted in opening it up by 29 feet of crosscutting which was done. A small amount of crosscutting had also resulted on the 100 foot level which was extended by 71 feet of crosscutting.
1921 - Wasapika Consolidated Gold Mines, Ltd. Acquired by Riddle Mines, Limited
The Wasapika Gold Property had remained idle throughout 1921, when the property was acquired by the Riddle Mines, Limited. It was rather reported that the company became incorporated within this time period after it had taken control of the Wasapika Consolidated Gold Mines, Limited. Mining operation were also being planned to commence within the spring season of 1922.
1922 – Ribble Gold Mines, Ltd.
In 1922, the property was overtaken by the Ribble Gold Mines, Ltd, who was a company that Amalgamated with Wasapika Gold Mines, Ltd. A minor amount of development was done during this time period and the shaft had reach a depth of 300 feet below the surface.
1934 – Neville Canadian Gold Mines, Ltd.
It was within the 1934, when new ownership of the Wasapika Lake Gold Mine was taken over by E. H. Dickenson. The part time prospector would later establish his own company that became known as the Neville Canadian Gold Mines, Limited. For the most part, the company at the time had a total capitilization of $3,000,000 in shares at $1 par value. This whole entire acquisition had included 9 claims in Churchill, and MacMurchy Townships, within the West Shining Tree area of the Sudbury District. It was at this point in time when the property was commonly known as the Wasapika-Ribble Claim group as it wasn’t rename to the Ronda Gold Mine just yet. Mining operations were shortly resumed, and a two compartment shaft was dewatered to the depth of 100 feet before operations became suspended. There was additionally three levels that became establish at 100, 200, and 300 feet below the surface. Work at the historical Wasapika-Ribble Claims was shortly started on August, 4th, and suspended on December, 15th, 1934. By this time the company reported that a total of 700 feet of lateral development was completed by the previous operators.
Following this qcquistion the company had erected a new head-frame, and the old buildings on the property became repaired. Most of these building that were located on the Wasapika-Ribble Claim Group had included a Power House, Blacksmith Shop, Assay Office, Bunk House, Dry House, cook house, and office. At the time, it was reported that the old steam plant which included two boiler totalling 81 horsepower, an 8 by 10 inch Jenckes hoist, and a 350 cubic foot Ingersoll Rand Compressor became overall hauled any put into operation. A total of 14 miners became employed under the direction of G. F. Milne within this time period of operating.
1935 – Neville Canadian Mines, Ltd
Within 1935, the Neville Canadian Gold Mines, Ltd, had resumed mining operations on March, 14th. 1935. Most of this had led to another suspension that took place at the end of March due to difficulties. Before this closure had occurred, it was rather reported that the main shaft had been dewatered to the second level at 200 feet below the surface. It was during this dewatering phase when the company had contracted the Reward Mining Company to conduct sampling of the two levels. Mining operations at the historical Wasapika-Ribble claims became idle until a contract was made with Bramor Mining, Ltd, on August, 14, 1935. Agreements at the time were made in regards to a stock deal, which would result in the erection of a 30-ton mill. It was at this point in time when the mine was once again dewatered as the mill was being constructed. Another suspension had taken place on October, 17, 1935, before any mill equipment had been installed.
1936 – Agreements became establish between Neville Canadian Gold Mines, Ltd, and the Bramor Mining Ltd, to form Ronda Gold Mines, Ltd.
Change within 1936, were made when agreements became establish to form a company known as the Ronda Gold Mines, Ltd. Work on the historical property was once again resumed in May, 1936, and underground development was started in August of that year. Lateral development which was done had consisted of 326 feet of drifting on the 200-foot level, and 337 feet of drifting, and 155 feet of crosscutting on the 300-foot level. No changes had also became made to much need buildings at the time, and the mine was kept on care, and maintained.
1937 – Ronda Gold Mines, Ltd
By 1937, the company was well off with this project when underground development continued till July, and had resumed for the balance of the year. Prior to this, the company had sunk a 3-compartment vertical winze that became collared on the 300-foot level to the depth of 556 feet. New levels also had shortly after became developed on the mines 425, and 550-foot levels. Lateral development had totaled 55 feet of drifting on the 200-foot level, and 230 feet of drifting, and 35 feet of crosscutting on the 300-foot level. This also resulted in 40 feet of crosscutting on the 425-foot level, and 65 feet of crosscutting on the 550-foot level. Replacements also became made when a 500-cubic foot Ingersoll rand compressor, driven by 150 horsepower Dominion Crossley Diesel engine had replace the boilers, and steam driven compressor. It was also at this point in time when a 7 by 12-inch single drum air hoist was also installed on the 300-foot level to service the winze.
1938 – Ronda Gold Mines, Ltd.
Mining operations at the newly establish Ronda Gold Mine had continued to operate throughout 1938. It was during this time period when changes were made towards developing a new shaft from the Internal Winze Shaft. Prior to this, it was mainly raised to the surface, and had provide the much need development in order to make it the Main Shaft operation. Compared to most shafts, it was stated that the No. 1, and 2 Shafts became covered by a concrete head-frame instead of using wood. Sinking of newly establish No. 2 Shaft had also taken place when it now had reach a depth of 700 feet below the surface. Further level development was also followed by the stationing, and cutting of 300, 425, 550, and 675-foot levels. Development work at the time was chiefly confined to opening up the 200-foot level by 48 feet drifting, and 150 feet of crosscutting of the No. 1 Shaft. Prior to this development the company had also completed 430 feet of drifting on the 425-foot level. A total of 720 feet of drifting, and 180 feet of crosscutting was done on the 550-foot level, and 40 feet of crosscutting became accomplish on the 675-foot level. Surface drilling amounted to 3 holes, totalling 535 feet, and 5 underground holes, totalling 1,124 feet in length. Development was also followed by constructing shrinkage stopes on the mines 200, 300, and 425-foot levels.
Surface construction during 1938, had resulted in the construction of a 74 by 54 foot mill, crusher house, conveyor between the mill, and crusher house, , machine shop, blacksmith Shop, office, change house, bunk house, 60-foot headframe, shaft house, refinery, and assay office, along with the power house. Installation were also made when a new Canadian Ingersoll Rand PE1 double drum hoist, and a 1,500-cubic foot XVHE-2 electric compressor was place in the Shaft House.
Much of the whole entire milling facility was accommodated by its own cyanide unit, with a rated capacity of 150-tons per day. Equipment at the time had included 24 by 10 inch Allis Chalmers Crusher, 6 by 8-foot Allis Chalmers ball mill, a 54 inch akins classifier, 8 by 8 foot Northern Filter, a 8 by 7 inch Canadian Ingersoll Rand Compressor, a 15 by 5 inch vacuum pump, a three compartment 28 by 19 foot Dorr Thickener, two 16 by 24-foot Dorr Agitators, and a Merrill-Crowe precipitation system. Milling within 1938, was ready to officially commence operation by the end of 1938, and into 1939. There was also a substation with two 300 K.V.A Bepco Transformers added, and a 14-mile-long power line was built with the Ontario Hydro Electric Power Commission’s Abitibi Canyon Line. A considerable amount of waste rock, and ore was hoisted within this time period of operating the Ronda Gold Mine.
1939 – Ronda Gold Mines, Ltd.
For the most part, the Ronda Mine had operated until October, 15, and the Mill was in full operation till August, 10, 1939. It was rather at this point in time when the company had shortly after declared bankruptcy in December, 1939. Milling equipment at the time was officially sold, and the Ronda Gold Property was lost through the foreclosures of the mortgage agreement. The No. 1 Shaft at this point in time had reach a depth of 325 feet, and had levels establish at 100, 200, and 300 feet below the surface. Compared to the No. 1 Shaft the No. 2 Shaft was a vertical three compartment shaft operation that reach a depth of 700 feet below the surface. Levels within the No. 2 Shaft operation became establish at 300, 425, 550, and 675-foot sections of the Ronda Gold Property. Diamond drilling within 1939, had amounted to 17 underground holes, totalling 4,277 feet in length. From all development, there was a total of 31, 325 tonnes of ore which became hoisted, and a total of 24,592 tonnes was milled. From all ore treated the Rond Gold Mine had produce a total of 2,727 ounces of gold, and 4,830 ounces of silver at a grade of 0.11 ounce of Au per ton.
1971 - Staked by J.J. Moore
The property became known as the J.J. Moore Claim Group which comprised TRS. 3544. TRS. 3545, TRS. 4726, TRS. 3773, and TRS. 4075. Much of these claim groups were commonly known to have originally formed the Foisey Group, which were located to the extreme southwest part of MacMurchy Township. A geologist by the of Hopkins had examined the showing in 1919 who stated the following on this vein.
There was a vein similar in appearance as to the Riddle Vein on the Wasapika, and the vein which is probably similar has been exposed by trenching for a quarter of a mile. These trenches are strongly found on Claims TRS 3544, and 3772 within MacMurchy Township. A part of the vein was stated to have been seen on the westerly edge of a rocky bluff, which cuts across the general schistosity of the Altered Pillowed Lavas. The vein within this area was reported to have also been greatly folded with a dip of a high angle to the west. Examinations of this area had also indicated that a considerable amount of gold could be seen in the lager lenses, and certain sections across the vein contained no gold. Much of the geological structure of the vein is known to be made up of sedimentary rocks which consist of white quartz that occurs on the eastern edge of the low-lying ground. For the most part there is also a stream that connects Michiwakenda Lake, and Foisey Lake. The geology consists of Keewatin type Mafic to intermediate meta volcanics which are cut by north trending diabase dikes. Gold is also known to occur within the Ribble Vein, and strike north with a dip of 060 degrees west. Much the vein it self is commonly known to be intensively folded, and some drag folds are known to pass into small fault structures. For the most part, the average width of the vein is 4 feet, although a 23 foot width of quartz and schist had been reported. In addition to this, the wall rock is commonly known to consist of chloritic Schist.
Moil Samples that were taken by J. J. Moore had yield values of 0.50 ounces of gold (Au) per ton over an average of 4.2 feet, and 0.39 ounces of gold (Au) over an average width of 4.1 feet.