Lost Lemon Mine

Fortune seekers have been searching out the legendary Lost Lemon Mine for ages. Driven on by dreams of untold riches and fame, it’s said a curse will befall those who make the discovery. Many have tried, none have succeeded (that we know of*) and a few were never heard from again (validity to the curse?). Said to be the in the Southern Alberta Rockies, a search online shows it’s hot topic and for disciples something real and without question.

This is not that mine.

Oh, we found one with that name, and it wasn’t even all that hard but instead of gold, precipitous peaks and possible death, it’s coal, the lone prairie and a leisurely hike in. The only danger present our visit was the merciless sun beating down. And maybe bugs…and those poking cacti. No Starbucks either. It was HELL! We’re in the damn middle of nowhere and in search of a pit. You heard it right, a pit. Isn’t it odd what passes for fun here at BIGDoer.com?

Named in honour of the storied Lost Lemon, this lowly coal mine dates from the first half of the 1930s. It’s situated by a typical prairie lake – meaning one probably no deeper than your waist, often a mud flat late in the season and a mosquito factory come spring. The workings are right beside and likewise full of water.

Anyway, you can see bottom of the pit and the one thing this mine had going for it is that the coal was very near the surface making extraction cheap and easy. Here they only had to dig down a few metres. By the numbers it’s an early surface mine in the province whereas most of the era were underground. But then again, most coal is far deeper than found at the Lost Lemon.

Warning: boring statistical stuff ahead!

The seam mined here was less than a metre thick, so not really of economical value if not for the ease of which it could be dug. Of a Sub-bituminous rank, it’s suitable as domestic coal, for heating homes and cooking (once commonly done in rural areas). The material got distributed to local farmers and ranchers but otherwise not commercially sold.

Small fly-under-the-radar mines like this were common across the prairies in areas where coal occurred.

In the few years it operated, some two thousand tonnes were extracted, a modest quantity about equal to what a huge mega mine of today might easily do that in the time it takes you to read this post. But then, it’s an apple to oranges comparison. Still, to put it in perspective the Lost Lemon output would fill 15-20 rail cars of today and in that sense, it’s still a lot of material.

Work was done using simple horse pulled scrapers with delivery by wagon team. Given the economic times (middle of the depression) doing on the cheap was essential. If not for this mine, coal for locals would have had to have been brought in some distance from the nearest town or railhead at much cost. The operator of the mine went under the name Larson.

Later the same decade the Lost Lemon operated, there was another (small) pit mine the south and these workings are for the most part now underwater. The lake is man made and post-dates the diggings and before a shallow valley home to a meandering stream.

It’s a lonesome place, standing there with the nearest farm many, many kilometres away (and out of sight). There’s nothing much happening in the area, as it’s always been, and even the surrounding prairie has remained unbroken and used only for pasture. Still, there’s the odd signs of human activity, a couple gas wells, the remains of a old canal never finished (we’ll post pics down the road) and some power lines off in the distance. And if you know what to look for, there’s the Lost Lemon pit. Those overburden piles are a dead giveaway that humans had a hand in it.

Connie’s seen standing on the old road in but appears a million miles away. That’s how the prairie works and while we could chat without shouting, she looks to be in another time zone. You feel tiny out this way.

Interestingly, we saw a couple vehicles pass in the distance on the cart track we parked along. Another was seen on way out and love that we get such quizzical looks driving our cheap econo-box down roads more suited for a Jeep. The way in was basically a cattle path. Our assessment: had it been wet, we’d still be there.

The lemon? Come one, it’s a great idea! A lemon lost by the Lost Lemon? It’s cleaver…right? Okay, it’s stupid and lame.

The Lost Lemon Mine of legend, CliffNotes version.

Back in the 1870s a couple prospectors, one named Lemon, were said to have found a rich placer deposit in the Alberta front ranges. Gold will make you crazy and as a result Lemon killed the other, left the area and was never able to find the discovery again on returning. That only furthered his descent into madness.

Some native fellows were said to be witness to the murder, later telling their chief who legend says cursed the area so it could never be found. While the exact location remains mystery, it’s generally agreed to be somewhere between the Highwood River in the north and Crowsnest Pass in the south. We’ve incidentally been up many of the valleys in the area. Of all the rivers, the headwaters of the Oldman seems to be the most likely candidate as there’s a mineral occurrence up that way (rare in the area). Yes, we’ve been there too: Having a gas on Mt Gass.

The legend of Lost Lemon grew over time, especially after a number of publications widely shared it starting in the 1940s. Ever since those who have caught the fever have scoured the hills and that’s in spite of nothing more than anecdotal evidence that it even exists.

Our own take: The front ranges, due to their geological makeup, are an unlikely source of gold, so we remains skeptics. There are occasional anomalous mineral occurrences (of minerals oftentimes associated with gold) but nothing of note. With at said, the odds are heavily against it. Over in BC and not that far away there’s mineral wealth, but on this side of the border, little to see.

Further, most of the river valleys have been well explored (by us too) and easily accessible, meaning if it’s there why has no one found it? All that traffic and nothing? It all makes no sense, but then legends often have you scratching your head. I guess therein lies the appeal and it’s the romance, mystery and intrigue that captivates. If there’s money to be had, it’s only a sidebar.

Did Lemon even find gold? How about the murder story? The native angle? So many questions.

Still, maybe there’s something here…now where’s my gold pan? We’re Oldman River bound!

*Unless they’ve succeeded at finding it and kept it secret. If you know someone who’s Lost Lemon obsessed that suddenly and without explanation went from living humbly to driving a shiny new King Ranch, you know the reason.

Learn more about the legend (a deep rabbit hole): Lost Lemon Mine.

Stayed tuned for more exciting content.

They’re saying…

”I only know Chris, great guy (ed: shucks). I sure enjoy reading about their travels.” James Churchill.

Coal mine related…
Monsters of Metal: Diplomat Mine – Some BIG ones!
The Humble Miner’s Cottage – Home for those who worked underground.
Stirling Mine – Commander Mine – Nacmine Alberta – Old coal cars are all that remains.

If you feel like chatting or want more information on what you see here feel free to contact us!

Date of Adventure: May, 2021.
Location(s): The expansive Alberta prairies.
Article references and thanks: Alberta Energy Regulator.

At the Lost Lemon Mine – Connie looks so distant.

But it’s not the one of legend – lake is seen behind pit.

Instead of gold, here it was coal.

And instead of mountains, it’s prairie.

Irrefutable proof! Piles mark overburden.