A Strong History of Successful Mining

Foran’s projects and properties are based in the Hanson Lake District of Saskatchewan along the deposit rich Flin Flon Greenstone Belt.

It’s a place where people have been mining for over a century and that’s led to a highly skilled and experienced mining workforce in the region.

In 1913, prospectors identified sulphide outcrops which led to the discovery of gold on the west side of Amisk Lake. The find created an initial rush and an influx of more than 1000 men and women moved into the area.

By 1914 a camp consisting of many tents, log cabins, and cookhouses capable of feeding over 200 people at a time had been established. It was a short-lived beginning as most men soon left to fight in the great war, but some prospectors kept up the search for base metals, eventually finding a rich vein of almost pure copper near what is now called the town of Flin Flon.

By 1920 a serious mining camp had been established on the site. It is still in operation today, over 100 years later. In this time an incredible 115Mt of copper and zinc ore have been mined from 16 deposits in the area, including the 62Mt from the world-class Flin Flon mine. Along with it came a lot of infrastructure. Roads were established by the province’s department of natural resources, a copper smelter was built (and operated for over 70 years), as was a zinc plant capable of processing 115,000 tonnes of cast zinc per year which operates to this day.

Today mining is still central to the region’s economy and mining businesses are the major employer. The jobs they provide offer above average compensation, contributing to prosperity that helps sustain local economies.


Moreover, the people of this area know and understand mining. It’s a part of their history and identity and they are fiercely loyal to the industry. They’re also really good at it.