General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Antimony and paper

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

23.5 cm

Width

23.5 cm

Height

5.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Mining and Metallurgy

Category

Mineral exploration

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Unknown

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

New Brunswick

Period

Unknown

Canada

Taken from acquisition proposal; ref 1: New Brunswick. Prince William, York County. Antimony metal ingot. Antimony ingot from Prince William York Co. This is a very early example, dating to mid-1800s, one of the earliest picked up by GSC. Geological Survey of Canada is a department within the Earth Sciences at NRCan. It was established in 1842, and is one of the oldest scientific agencies in Canada and one of the first government departments. GSC was created to assist in developing viable mineral industry in Canada. Since its foundation, it has been the most important public institution in the history of Canadian natural resources. The GSC collection has been assembled since 1856. It formed a basis for the Victoria Memorial Museum (1907), the National Museum of Canada (Jan. 5, 1927) and National Museums of Canada Corporation (April 1, 1968). When the Victoria Memorial Museum was created, the collection was split between the Systematic Collection of Minerals, and Collection of Economic Minerals and Rocks. The ‘Economic’ collection remained at GSC. At the time, Robert Bell, who took over the agency in 1901, stressed the pragmatic goals of GSC – assessing Canada’s mineral potential – and its commitment to applied research and assisting resource industries. He stated that geologists devoted their attention “entirely to practical work, looking to the development of our various mineral resources” (Summary Report, 1902). GSC collected specimens to evaluate resources, assess operations of wells and mines, examine efficiencies of extraction and processing technologies, support development of regulations, and for educational and promotional purposes. Artifacts were used mostly by scientists, who prepared reports for industries and for the government, and were exhibited at national and international exhibitions. After 1907, many artifacts were physically transferred from the GSC to the Victoria and then National Museum. However, GSC retained parts of the collection deemed essential to its operations. NRCan is moving out of the Booth Street campus, and the buildings will be demolished in the next couple of years. GSC’s management made a decision to dismantle the collection. Rock samples that are still used by scientist will be retained and moved to a new location. The 2013-2018 NRCan’s strategic plan calls for all these samples to be properly catalogued. Pieces that are on display in the lobby museum at 601 Booth St. already belong to the Canadian Museum of Nature. CMN will also acquire rock samples that are significant to Canadian history. These fall under the “natural history” category, and fit the CMN’s mandate. CSTMC is offered the collection of products of various mineral processing methods, and examples of end products that have historical value. The decision to dismantle the collection does affect its integrity; at the same time, since its footprint is several thousand square feet, no one institution can take all the material. With no way to preserve the integrity of the collection, I recommend that we make a selection from all offered artifacts to only acquire those that fill a gap in our collection and meet our mandate.

Function

Antimony casting in the shape of a bar.

Technical

Unknown

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Handwriting reads "Antimony/ Prince Wm [William], York, Co.". Brownish paper label affixed to ingot, handwritten print reads "Antimony [illegible]/ Prince William,/ York county, [Illegible]". Handwritten print on top "3701".

Missing

Appears complete.

Finish

Silver metal with black handwritten print and a brownish paper label affixed to top. Label has black handwritten print.

Decoration

N/A