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The story of the three Frobisher expeditions to the eastern Arctic, 1576-78, remains deeply fascinating for many of us. This is partly because despite much research, both archaeological and historical, many questions remain answered. The most notable of these is why, with the relatively advanced technology of the late 16th century, could so much effort have been expended in mining worthless rock? How could the assays have given such erroneous and diverse results? What are the geology and mineralogy of the ore that was mined, and how was a gold content first linked with this ore? What is the actual gold content of this ore? This book addresses these technological questions using a modern scientific and analytical approach.
Originally planned as a voyage of exploration in search of a Northwest Passage to the Orient, the first Frobisher expedition (two barks plus a pinnace, with a total of 37 men), reached what is now known as Frobisher Bay in 1576. It brought back to England a black rock, which initial assays showed to contain appreciable quantities of gold. Although almost all of the many subsequent check assays showed that the rock was in fact worthless, the organizers of the expedition chose to pursue the issue and to undertake another expedition the following year (with three ships and 146 men) as a prospecting and mining venture. This expedition succeeded in recovering 158 tons of "black ore." The assays, although mixed, were sufficiently positive that the sponsors, the Cathay Company, and the court backed a third expedition the following year (1578). This final venture employed 15 ships and at least 397 men. In addition to mining ore, the third Frobisher expedition planned to leave 100...