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Bentonite
2003
Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre, Morden, Manitoba, Canada

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This image shows bentonite in its raw form. When wet, the mineral is a peach or light brown colour and has a waxy texture.

The bentonite from the Manitoba Escarpment has more calcium giving it its texture and making it a high commodity in comparison to other sources of bentonite with higher concentrations of sodium.

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A bentonite mine
1972
Morden-Miami area, Manitoba, Canada

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The first discovery of bentonite by E. H. Spencer in 1937 resulted in nineteen quarries mined by the mining company Pembina Mountain Clays over a span of 50 years.

The overburden was removed to reveal the layers of bentonite. In some instances the overburden was 12-15 feet thick.

The pits or quarries were approximately 100 square feet and level. This picture shows a quarry being exposed.

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Excavating fossils
1979
Morden-Miami area, Manitoba, Canada

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The bentonite is found between layers of shale and alternates as such in the Pembina Member (rock group of the Pierre Shale Formation). The shale is the rock layer where the fossils at the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre (formerly the Morden and District Museum) are found.

It wasn't until 1972 that a local farmer told Henry Isaak, then a university student, that fossil teeth were found up in the Pembina Hills.

They went to investigate and discovered fossils all over the place.

The miners indicated that the fossils were common and were found all the time.

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Mining bentonite
1970
Morden-Miami area, Manitoba, Canada

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In the late 1930's mining for bentonite began and operation techniques consisted of wheel barrows and old fashioned manual labour. By the 1970's the introduction of heavy machinery to the quarries increased production by 300%, says bulldozer operator Roy Friesen.

Basic techniques to mine the bentonite included a bulldozer, a scraper and then a crew behind the scraper.

Roy Friesen is seen in the picture. He was the only bulldozer operator.

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Mr. Roy Friesen
21 January 2004
Morden-Miami area, Manitoba, Canada

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Mr. Roy Friesen, bulldozer operator for the Pembina Mountain Clays mining company. Mr. Friesen helped to discover 95% of the fossil remains from the bentonite quarries.

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Mining bentonite
1970
Morden-Miami area, Manitoba, Canada

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The quarries were mined at depths of about 1,250-1,000 feet above sea level, clearing about 15 acres a year. The scraper removes the layers of bentonite without incorporating any shale. Roy Friesen indicated that processing plants were very fussy about the shale within the bentonite, especially in Manitoba.

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Mining bentonite
1970
Morden-Miami area, Manitoba, Canada

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The collected bentonite from the scraper was emptied into a large pile on the side of the site awaiting the loader to fill the trucks. One loader could fill a truck in 2 and half minutes. The load was transported to the processing plant and made available for processing and shipment.