Friends of Murphys Point Park

Minerals of the Silver Queen Mine: Apatite

Posted on August 17, 2024 by Friends of Murphys Point

Did you know that several minerals were mined at Murphys Point over 100 years ago? Apatite, a green mineral rich in phosphorus, was used for making fertilizer since phosphorus is conducive to plant growth. It was ground and treated with sulphuric acid, making a fertilizer that was much more effective than barnyard manure. The mine produced around 1000 tones of apatite between 1903 and 1920, valued at around $7000!

Hungry to learn more? Take a guided tour of the Silver Queen Mine to see where apatite and other minerals were extracted over 100 years ago! ⛏️

Guided tours run on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for the remainder of August. These tours begin at 10am in the Lally Homestead Parking Lot and require pre-registration with our gatehouse. Starting September 1 we have guided tours every Sunday at 10 am for the rest of the season, and these tours do not require pre-registration. Hope to see you there!

A vein of apatite in the Silver Queen Mine

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Perseid Meteor Shower

Posted on August 10, 2024 by Friends of Murphys Point

Have you ever watched a meteor shower before? Murphys Point is an excellent place to view the Perseid meteor shower which happens every year from mid-July to late August. The shower is predicted to peak the night of August 12, so grab your camp chair, peer into the dark sky, and make your wish upon a shooting star! 💫

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Minerals of the Silver Queen Mine: Mica

Posted on August 4, 2024 by Friends of Murphys Point

When hiking around Murphys Point, especially near the Silver Queen Mine, you might notice sparkly silver flakes on the ground. These are pieces of mica, one of the minerals that were mined here in the early 1900s. The mica mined here was excavated in its crystal form, packaged up, and transported to loading docks at Hogg Bay. There, it was loaded onto barges and shipped down the Rideau Canal to trimming factories in Ottawa to be processed. Mica does not conduct electricity and can withstand extremely high temperatures, so once split into thin sheets it was used as an insulator in electrical equipment, as well as for windows of stoves and lanterns.

During the months of July and August, Murphys Point offers guided hikes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10 AM where you can see the Silver Queen Mine for yourself! Preregistration at the gatehouse (either in person or by phone) is required as we have limited capacity. Unable to visit during the week? We also have our weekly open house every Sunday from 10AM-12PM where you can travel back in time to 1908 and explore our mine and bunkhouse with the help of our costumed interpreters!