THE NORTH VIEW THE NUCLEAR AGE

One hour north of Sault Ste. Marie on the shore of Lake Superior, lies Alona Bay, protected by an immense point of granite named Theano Point. The impressive geography consists of high cliffs rising over 200 meters directly from the lake, with hostile gorges and inlets. This muscular setting set the stage for Canada's first uranium discovery. A plaque commemorating this discovery used to be found at the scenic lookout at Alona Bay. Although it is now lost, the following is the text of the sign.

"In 1847 John L. le Conte, physician and distinguished scientist, examined and described a specimen of uranium-bearing ore reportedly taken by B.A. Stanard from a vein of the mineral on the north shore of Lake Superior about 70 miles from Sault Ste. Marie. In 1948, after learning of Stanard's find a century before, Robert Campbell sought the ore body with a Geiger counter, discovering a uranium-bearing deposit (pitchblende) at Theano Point. This occurrence, situated in the locality mentioned by Le Conte, may have been a rediscovery of Stanard's find. The rush of prospectors into the general region led to the discovery east and northeast of Blind River of the great Elliot Lake uranium deposits."