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Geology


Copper Nugget

"Photographed for O'Neill the 40-lb native copper lump, purchased from natives. Mupfa said he got it when he was a very young man, on the west side of Coppermine River, somewhere on the road to Dismal Lake. It had been then hauled across to Victoria Island, and kept in reserve, chunks being chopped off when needed" (R.M.Anderson diary, June 8, 1916)

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CMC CD95-938-005

Copper nugget weighing about 40 pounds, found in the hills on the west side of Coppermine River between Bloody Fall and Dismal Lake; taken to the coast by Mupfa years ago, sitting on top of barrel, Bernard Harbour, Nunavut. June 8, 1916. RMA 38798. Source: Canadian Museum of Civilization

Collecting Rocks

"Clear a.m. -31 deg at 8 a.m. Very light air stirring from the east. -30 deg at 5 p.m. Light S.W. wind. On trail 9:25 a.m. and reached north end of Bloody Fall at 11 a.m. Took specimens of rock from west bank at about middle of gorge. Small layers of white quartz here and there in the black diabase, and occasional patches of shiny small yellow crystals" (R.M.Anderson diary, February 22, 1916, Bloody Fall).

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Image

Geological Survey of Canada memo from O'Neill to Anderson about copper deposits. Source: Canadian Museum of Nature