MOAK LAKE DEVELOPMENT
"Surveying the scene where the production shaft and surface plant of Inco 's new Moak Lake mine in northern Manitoba will be located are, left to right, E. Smith, project superintendent; F. F. Todd, assistant manager, Manitoba division; G. W. Thrall, geologist in charge of Canadian Nickel Company operations in Manitoba; Dr. John F. Thompson, chairman of Inco; Ralph D. Parker, vice-president and general manager of Canadian operations; James C. Parlee, manager of the Manitoba division.” (Inco Triangle, Volume 17, Copper Cliff, Ontario, July, 1957, No. 4, p. 7.)
INCO seriously considered the development of a full mining operation at Moak Lake. It was decided, however, that only the much richer Thompson orebody would be developed, and the Moak plans were scrubbed. "During 1953 and 1954, assays from the drilling at the Mystery/Moak Lake zone looked promising. INCO seriously considered the development of an open pit and underground mine, mill, refinery, railroad, power plant and town for 1,900 employees. A road system was built through the Belt between the two areas and plans were made to go underground at Moak. Over seven hundred tonnes of supplies and equipment were hauled into the area between January and April 1953." (Text courtesy Thompson, A City and its People by Graham Buckingham.)