SUDBURY,BORNFROM FIRE.BUILT FORMINING.
Long before the Ring of Fire was discovered in Northern Ontario, Sudbury was formed by one of the most powerful meteorite impacts in Earth's history — creating one of the richest mineral basins on the planet.
Sudbury never competes with the Ring of Fire. Sudbury created the expertise that will build it.
CANADA'S
ORIGINAL
RING OF FIRE
Approximately 1.849 billion years ago, a colossal asteroid or comet — estimated at 10 to 15 kilometres in diameter — struck what is now Northern Ontario with a force that melted the Earth's crust and scattered debris across 1.6 million square kilometres.
The impact created one of the largest known impact craters on Earth — a 130-kilometre basin that filled with mineral-rich magma. As the magma cooled over millions of years, it concentrated extraordinary deposits of nickel, copper, platinum, palladium, gold, and silver along the crater's rim.
The result: one of the richest mineral basins ever created on Earth. A geological accident that would, nearly two billion years later, give birth to Canada's mining industry.
Greater Sudbury, Ontario — the city sits within the ancient Sudbury Basin, the eroded remnant of a 1.849-billion-year-old meteorite impact crater. Mine headframes and processing facilities are visible throughout the basin rim.
"Sudbury is the geological foundation of Canadian mining. The Ring of Fire is the next chapter."
"A railway worker spots a patch of rusty rocks. Blasting reveals one of the greatest mineral deposits in human history. The world would never be the same."
FROM METEORITE
TO RING OF FIRE
1.849 billion years of geological history. 143 years of mining excellence. 1.7 billion tons extracted. 1 billion tons still in the ground. One unbroken story.
A comet or asteroid 10–15 km in diameter strikes the Canadian Shield. The impact melts the crust, creating a 130 km crater filled with mineral-rich magma. Ejecta is scattered over 1.6 million km² — as far as Minnesota.
Provincial land surveyor Albert Salter detects magnetic anomalies in the Sudbury area while surveying a baseline westward from Lake Nipissing. The Geological Survey of Canada confirms 'an immense mass of magnetic trap.'
During construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, a railway worker spots a patch of rusty rocks. Blasting reveals a massive concentration of nickel-copper ore at what becomes the Murray Mine site. Canada's mining story begins.
International Nickel Company (INCO) is established, consolidating Sudbury's position as the world's dominant nickel producer. Sudbury supplies the nickel that armours warships in both World Wars.
Falconbridge Nickel Mines is established, further cementing Sudbury's status as the global nickel capital. The basin now hosts dozens of mines producing nickel, copper, platinum, palladium, and gold.
NASA uses the Sudbury Basin to train Apollo astronauts — including crews of Apollo 15, 16, and 17 — in recognizing impact-created rock formations. The geology that built Canada's mining industry also prepared humans for the Moon.
Vale and Glencore operate world-class mining complexes in Sudbury. In 2025, Vale and Glencore announce a joint US$2 billion copper venture. Since 1883, 1.7 billion tons of ore have been extracted from the basin — with 253 million confirmed tons and an estimated 1 billion tons total still in the ground. Sudbury has 140+ years of mining life remaining.
The Ring of Fire holds an estimated $60 billion in critical minerals. The answer is not Sudbury or the Ring of Fire — it is both. Sudbury's 140+ years of expertise, 5–6 active mines, and 2.5× jobs multiplier make it the natural hub for developing Canada's next mineral frontier. Invest in both.
SUDBURY IS THE
BIRTHPLACE.
THE RING OF FIRE
IS THE NEXT FRONTIER.
The trick is the tone: Sudbury never competes with the Ring of Fire. Sudbury created the expertise that will build it.
For over a century, Sudbury has been the global centre of mining expertise. As the Ring of Fire emerges as Canada's next major mineral frontier — holding an estimated $60 billion in critical minerals including chromite, nickel, copper, and platinum — Sudbury is the natural hub supporting exploration, development, and innovation across the North.
The world-class mining companies, engineers, geologists, equipment manufacturers, and research institutions based in Sudbury today are the same forces that will unlock the Ring of Fire tomorrow.
Sudbury is the birthplace of Canada's mining expertise.
The Ring of Fire is the next frontier.
World-class underground mining operations in the Sudbury Basin — the same expertise and technology that will develop the Ring of Fire.
FROM SUDBURY
TO THE RING OF FIRE
Drag the timeline slider to trace the arc of Canadian mining history — from the 1883 CPR discovery in Sudbury to the $60B Ring of Fire frontier. Click any waypoint for details.
THE SCALE OF
SUDBURY'S LEGACY
These are not projections. These are verified figures drawn from the resource and reserve books of every major operator in the Sudbury Basin — Magna, KGHM, Nickel Rim, Glencore, and Vale — as independently analyzed by mining industry expert Gary Poxleitner.
"1.7 billion. B with a B. Tons."
Since the Canadian Pacific Railway worker first spotted rusty rocks in 1883, Sudbury has produced one of the largest cumulative ore extraction totals of any mining district on Earth.
"A meteorite impact 1.849 billion years ago created one of the richest mineral basins on Earth. Today, that legacy of discovery and expertise positions Sudbury as the gateway to the next frontier — the Ring of Fire."
Sudbury has been the global centre of nickel and copper mining for over a century, home to Vale, Glencore, and dozens of world-class mining companies.
NASA trained Apollo 15, 16, and 17 astronauts in Sudbury to recognize impact-created rock formations — the same geology that built Canada's mining industry.
Laurentian University, MIRARCO, and the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNOLAB) make Sudbury a global centre for mining research and deep Earth science.
STRAIGHT FROM
THE EXPERT
When asked which project is more important to invest in: Sudbury or the Ring of Fire up north, Gary replied:
"We should invest in both. Because you're investing in people, jobs — there's a big future in Sudbury."
Key findings from Gary Poxleitner's analysis of the Sudbury Basin
"1.7 billion. B with a B. Tons."
"I went through the books — Magna, KGHM, Nickel Rim, Glencore, Vale. 253 million tons, to be exact."
"There's likely double. Extended from that — half a billion, and likely another half a billion. So another billion tons of ore left in Sudbury, at least."
"So another 140 years, ish? We continue to have a future for the next hundred years."
"For every mining job, you multiply it by two and a half times for other support in Sudbury. That's how many jobs."
"There's usually five to six mines operating at any time — 4,000 to 6,000 tons per day, that's about 400 people per mine, plus jobs associated with the mill and processing."
All figures sourced from Gary Poxleitner's independent analysis of publicly available resource and reserve disclosures from operators in the Sudbury Basin, including Magna, KGHM, Nickel Rim, Glencore, and Vale.
NINE MINERALS.
ONE ANCIENT IMPACT.
The Sudbury Basin contains one of the most diverse concentrations of valuable metals on Earth — all created by a single meteorite impact 1.849 billion years ago.
Hover over each element to see its modern applications.Highlighted elements are critical to the green energy transition.
SUDBURY'S MINERALS
POWER THE FUTURE
The nickel, copper, cobalt, and platinum group metals mined in Sudbury are the essential ingredients of the green energy transition — electric vehicle batteries, wind turbines, solar panels, and hydrogen fuel cells all depend on the minerals born from Sudbury's ancient impact.
With 1 billion tons of ore still in the ground and 140+ years of mining life remaining, the origin story is far from over. Sudbury stands at the intersection of geological history and technological necessity.
THREE WAYS TO TELL
SUDBURY'S STORY
Long before the Ring of Fire was discovered in Northern Ontario, Sudbury was formed by one of the most powerful meteorite impacts in Earth's history — creating one of the richest mineral basins on the planet and earning its place as the Mining Capital of the World.
Sudbury's 1.849-billion-year-old meteorite impact created one of the world's greatest mineral deposits and built a global mining industry. Today, as development begins in the Ring of Fire, Sudbury remains the centre of expertise, technology, and talent driving Canada's mining future.
For over a century, Sudbury has been the global centre of mining expertise. As the Ring of Fire emerges as Canada's next major mineral frontier, Sudbury is the natural hub supporting exploration, development, and innovation across the North.
That framing makes Sudbury essential to the story rather than competing with it. The two concepts reinforce each other. Sudbury is the origin. The Ring of Fire is the continuation. Together, they form the Northern Ontario Mining Arc — Canada's unbroken chain of geological discovery and mining excellence.
The proven track record of the Sudbury Basin — one of the largest cumulative ore extraction totals of any mining district in Canadian history.
253 million confirmed + estimated extensions. At current rates, Sudbury has 140+ years of mining life remaining. The basin is not depleted — it is barely half done.
Every direct mining job creates 2.5 additional support jobs in Sudbury. 5–6 active mines × 400 workers × 2.5 = ~6,000 total jobs sustained by active mining.
OF CANADA'S MINING EXPERTISE.
THE RING OF FIRE IS THE NEXT FRONTIER.
"Why wouldn't we invest in Sudbury and make that a reality, as opposed to going up there? We should invest in both."