Salter's Meridian 1856

Photo by contributor Mona Albano - October, 2005

Plaque Location

The City of Greater Sudbury
In Naughton, on Road 55, near the site of the meridian line
about 17 km southwest of Sudbury
N 46 24.252 W 81 10.926

Plaque Text

While laying out a meridian line (a north-south survey line) in 1856, provincial land surveyor Albert Salter observed severe compass needle deflections some five kilometres north of here. Alexander Murray, assistant provincial geologist, examined the area and reported "the presence of an immense mass of magnetic trap". Analysis of rock samples revealed nickel, copper and iron. This was the first indications of the Sudbury region's mineral wealth, but it aroused no interest at the time because the site was so remote. In 1886 prospector Henry Ranger rediscovered the deposit and in 1900 the Canadian Copper Company (later International Nickel) began working the claim. It became the Creighton Mine, one of the world's leading nickel producers.

Related Ontario plaque pages
Sudbury Basin
Discovery of the Sudbury Nickel Deposits

More
Information

More
Mining

Related Ontario plaque page
Niven's Meridian

---

Here are the comments for this page.

(none yet)

Here's where you can write a comment for this page.

Note: If you wish to ask me a question, please use the email link in the menu.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours
(usually much sooner).