MEMBER TRIBUTE BRUCE MURRAY
A Tribute to Bruce Murray By Stephen Masson Photo at left: Bruce Murray (right) and Warren Heidman (centre) flying out to stake claims.
B
ruce Murray was one of the last old time prospectors of northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan. He was well respected by his colleagues in the industry where he had a long history of prospecting and diamond drilling both underground and surface. Bruce came from a family of prospectors which included his brothers Brian and Richard (Ray-Dor Resources), as well as his father Jack Murray, and on his mother’s side his grandfather Billy Baker. From this legacy Bruce gained his experience. Bruce’s father Jack Murray, who was a strong, tough, fiercely independent man, was famous in his own right having discovered numerous copper and gold deposits such as Vamp Lake and others. From him, Bruce learned his prospecting skill, as well as his tough independent, but honest character. Even in his later
(Left) Brian and Richard Murray, and Bruce looking at Wildnest Core from Saskatchewan with Peter Dasler and Stephen Masson.
Photo above: Bruce at the Manitoba Mining Convention displaying a copper nickel prospect.
years, working underground at the Trout Lake, Callinan, and Triple Seven mines of Hudbay Minerals, Bruce’s knowledge and experience made him invaluable in recognizing alteration and ore minerals which aided company geologists in chasing down ore lenses underground. Bruce had a reputation of being able to visually estimate the grade of copper or zinc in drill core within a ½ to one per cent of its assay value. Bruce’s grandfather, Billy Baker, along with his prospecting partner John Patton, were renown prospectors in the mining camps of Flin Flon, Snow Lake, Sherridon and Lynn Lake as well the more remote wilderness areas. Through his prospecting family and their friends, Bruce heard the stories of prospectors and their discoveries, lost showings of gold, and old workings. Much of what was handed down to Bruce sitting by the light of a kerosene lamp in a tent or around a camp fire on the mining claims. During freeze-up, and especially break-up when travel was difficult in the bush, it was time to pour over old maps and reports, planning the summer prospecting or winters geophysical surveys and drilling. It was here that enthusiasm ran high and hope was truly eternal. Looking for any clue others had missed or checking out new geological maps of the area for just a few more pieces of the puzzle to build a better treasure map. Many a pot of coffee was set to perk as theories and old recollections were knitted together in the plan of a new adventure. There were no shortage of stories and most had some truth. These stories Bruce would retell and retell and in so doing re-infect the story teller himself with his own enthusiasm, as well as the listener until yet another excursion was in the planning or a grubstake provided. 2012-2013 Northern Prospector 11