Penstock for the Ore Chimney Mine

The penstock shown here was used to funnel water that was held behind dams at Slave Lake, to turbines in the generator house. Electricity was then supplied to the Ore Chimney Mine. The several cement dams at Slave Lake (created by damming up the Skootamatta River) varied in height and width. The largest was 18 metres long and 9 metres high [the smallest being about 0.5 metres high]. Remains of all the dams still exist today [including the control dam which diverted excess water to flow down the river bed rather than through the turbine]...[The penstock was about 1.7 metres in diameter and fed a twin turbine arrangement in the powerhouse. The head of water was around 10 metres. The large vertical tank shown here is called a surge tank into which water in the penstock flowed when the gates to the turbines were closed due to maintenance. The tank filled, slowing the water in the penstock thus preventing a water-hammer affect which could tear the whole structure apart of allowed.]..The Bey Mine, later called the Ore Chimney Mine, was located between what is now Highway 41 and Harlowe on the Harlowe Road (near where the tower lines cross the Harlowe Road). It was the largest mining operation in the area with John Bey being accredited to the gold discovery...The mine operated intermittently from 1909 to 1936 with the level of activity depending upon the price of gold. While the main shaft was excavated to a depth of 150 metres the mine also had shafts extending at four levels all approximately the same depth. Employing over 80 men at the peak of its production, the mine site contained a number of buildings including an office, bunk house, a mill with 20 stamping machines where were used to grind the ore. ..Much of the above information is from 'The Mazinaw Experience' by John Campbell and presented here by Carl Kaestner. Added bracketed comments by Ian Brumell