Bronze bust honours barber who struck gold

In what might be a parting gift, Newmont (TSX: NGT; NYSE: NEM) has unveiled a new statue commemorating prospector Benny Hollinger who struck gold in 1909 at what became the Porcupine complex in northern Ontario.

The world’s biggest gold miner has said it plans to sell Porcupine as it assesses holdings after its acquisition last year of Newcrest Mining. It’s one of six properties on the block.

The bust stands at the visitor’s outlook over the Hollinger pit at Porcupine near Timmins. Sudbury-based artist Tyler Fauvelle sculpted the bronze showing Hollinger in a hat and vest and featuring a relief of the Hollinger mine. It produced 19.3 million oz. gold from 1910 to 1968.

“This relief pays tribute not only to the development that came of Benny's discovery, but to all the prospectors, miners and industry workers that followed,” Fauvelle said at the unveiling on May 30, according to a release. “Their spirit of hard work and dedication lives on to this day.”

Gold rush

Hollinger, a barber from about 200 km southeast of Timmins, joined the area’s gold rush after prospectors in June 1909 discovered what would become the Dome mine, also in Newmont’s portfolio today. The young man hit paydirt that October.