History and Geology of the Labrador Trough

Focus Labrador Trough

Iron is one of the most abundant elements on Earth. Many types of mineral deposits contain iron associated with other elements and a wide range of minerals. For example, the iron oxide magnetite (Fe₃O₄) can contain vanadium (V), and it may also be associated with other minerals such as ilmenite (Ti), apatite (P) or chromite (Cr). However, in these combinations, iron is not the desired element from an economic point of view.

One might mistakenly believe that iron ore mining in Quebec began in the 1950s when the Labrador Trough and the Lac Tio mine near Havre-Saint-Pierre were developed. But bog iron, accumulations of iron hydroxides (limonite and goethite) at the bottom of peat bogs, was mined under the French regime in the 18^th century to provide the raw material for pig iron production in New France, particularly for the Forges of Saint-Maurice. [2] Iron sands (also known as ferruginous sands) have also been mined since 1867 at the mouth of Moisie River, east of the bay of Sept-Îles.