History Mining began on a large scale some 50 years ago. A copper-zinc mine at Flin Flon began full production in 1930. Even though the townsite and refinery are located in Manitoba, the main amount of ore has originated in within the Saskatchewan border. The ore was first discovered 15 years before serious development work began. The Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Company was formed in 1927 and began development on the concentrator, zinc recovery plant and copper smelter. The mine began as an open pit; and since 1930, several extensive underground workings have been developed, in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba. In more recent years, copper and zinc have been produced from the Anglo-Rouyn mine near Lac la Ronge. Currently, there are no base metals mines in operation within Saskatchewan. Copper and zinc were discovered at the Flin Flon site around 1915 only because of the quest for gold by early prospectors. Zinc is used in die casting, galvanizing, and brass and bronze production. More than half of the copper produced in Canada is used in the transmission of electricity. To this day, gold and other precious and rare metals are important byproducts of the Flin Flon area mines.