List of mines in British Columbia

Last updated

This is an incomplete list of mines in British Columbia , Canada and includes operating and closed mines, as well as proposed mines at an advanced stage of development (e.g. mining permits applied for). Mines that are in operation are in bold. Past producers which are under re-exploitation, re-development and/or re-promotion are in italics. Also in italics are major projects under development or subject to controversy.

MineCommodities [1] CoordinatesAssociated townRegion/localityOwner(s) [2] DatesCommentsReferences
Blue Hawk Mine Au, Ag, Pb, Cu, Zn 49°59′02″N119°31′10″W / 49.98389°N 119.51944°W / 49.98389; -119.51944 (Blue Hawk) Westbank (West Kelowna) Okanagan 1930s–1988 [3]
Boss Mountain Mine Mo, Cu, Zn, W, Ag, Bi 52°05′48″N120°54′27″W / 52.09667°N 120.90750°W / 52.09667; -120.90750 (Boss Mountain) Hendrix Lake (43 km SE of Horsefly) Cariboo NMC Resource Corp 1917–a.k.a. Hendrix Lake Mine, Timothy Mountain Mine [4]
Bralorne Mine Au, Ag, Pb, Zn, Cu, W 50°46′40″N122°49′20″W / 50.77778°N 122.82222°W / 50.77778; -122.82222 (Bralorne) Bralorne Bridge River Country Founders were Frank and Delina Noel of the Lorne Mine, major developer was David Sloan. One of Canada's deepest mines. [5]
Britannia Mine Cu, Zn, Pb, Ag, Au, Cd 49°36′40″N123°08′28″W / 49.61111°N 123.14111°W / 49.61111; -123.14111 (Britannia) Britannia Beach Howe Sound Britannia Mining and Smelting Co. Ltd. (1904–1963) Anaconda (1963–1974)1904–1974Now the Britannia Mine Museum; often used as film set [6]
Brucejack mine Au, Ag 56°28′03″N130°11′29″W / 56.46750°N 130.19139°W / 56.46750; -130.19139 (Brucejack) Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine Newmont2017– [7]
Bullion Mine Au 52°37′38″N121°38′21″W / 52.62722°N 121.63917°W / 52.62722; -121.63917 (Bullion) Bullion (near Likely) Cariboo Placer Dome 1859–1942a.k.a. the Bullion Pit and China Pit, one of the largest placer gold mines in the world [8] [9] [10] [11]
Cariboo Amelia Mine Au, Ag, Pb, Zn, Cu, Pyrophyllite, Silica 49°6′57″N119°11′02″W / 49.11583°N 119.18389°W / 49.11583; -119.18389 (Cariboo Amelia) Camp McKinney/Bridesville(N of Rock Creek Okanagan Highland/Boundary Country Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company 1894–1962a.k.a. Cariboo Mine, Camp McKinney Mine, various; British Columbia's first dividend-paying gold mine [12] [13] [14]
Cariboo Gold Quartz Mine Au, Ag, W, Bi, Pb, Zn 53°05′23″N121°33′41″W / 53.08972°N 121.56139°W / 53.08972; -121.56139 (Cariboo Gold Quartz) Wells Cariboo 1870s onwards, peak years 1833–1987 [15]
Cassiar Mine Asbestos, Chrysotile, Jade/Nephrite, Gemstones, Mg 59°19′30″N129°49′05″W / 59.32500°N 129.81806°W / 59.32500; -129.81806 (Cassiar) Cassiar Cassiar Country 1950-asbestos mining ended in 1989, now in development for magnesium [16]
Coal Mountain Mine Coal 49°30′37″N114°39′16″W / 49.510316°N 114.654458°W / 49.510316; -114.654458 (Coal Mountain Mine) Corbin

Teck Resources

1905–2018care and maintenance status [17]
Copper Mountain Mine Cu, Au, Ag 49°19′52″N120°32′03″W / 49.33111°N 120.53417°W / 49.33111; -120.53417 (Copper Mountain) Copper Mountain & Allenby Similkameen a.k.a. Similco, amalgamated with Ingerbelle 1977–78 [18] [19]
Craigmont Mine Cu, Fe, Ag, Au 50°12′27″N120°55′34″W / 50.20750°N 120.92611°W / 50.20750; -120.92611 (Craigmont) Merritt Nicola Country 1962–82 (copper), 1992–present (magnetite) [20] [21]
Elkview coal mine Coal

49°45′08″N114°52′38″W / 49.752273°N 114.877327°W / 49.752273; -114.877327 (Elkview coal mine)

Sparwood Elk Valley

Elk Valley Resources

Estella Mine Ag, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu, Au 49°46′10″N115°36′19″W / 49.76944°N 115.60528°W / 49.76944; -115.60528 (Estella) Wasa East Kootenay United Estella Mines, Giant Mascot Mines, Giant Soo Mines [22]
Fording River coal mine Coal 50°13′15″N114°51′34″W / 50.22083°N 114.85944°W / 50.22083; -114.85944 (Fording River) Elkford East Kootenay Elk Valley Resources [23]
Galore Creek mine Cu, Au, Ag 57°07′35″N131°27′14″W / 57.12639°N 131.45389°W / 57.12639; -131.45389 (Galore Creek Mine) Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine Teck Resources (50%) Newmont Corporation (50%)
Giant Mascot Mine Ni, Cu, Cr, Co, Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Zn 49°29′01″N121°29′05″W / 49.48361°N 121.48472°W / 49.48361; -121.48472 (Giant Mascot) Hope Southern Lillooet Ranges a.k.a. Giant Nickel, Choate [24] [25] [26]
Gibraltar Mine Cu 52°31′47.31″N122°17′11.53″W / 52.5298083°N 122.2865361°W / 52.5298083; -122.2865361 (Giant Mascot) McLeese Lake Cariboo Taseko Mines 1972–1998; 2004– [27]
Golden Cache Mine Au 50°38′30″N122°04′55″W / 50.64167°N 122.08194°W / 50.64167; -122.08194 (Golden Cache) Lillooet Cayoosh Creek, Lillooet 1897–1901Caused a local gold rush and helped launch discoveries in the nearby Bridge River Valley; later seen to have been a speculatory scam based on salted prospects [28] [29] [30] [31]
Granisle Mine 54°56′40″N126°09′26″W / 54.94444°N 126.15722°W / 54.94444; -126.15722 (Granisle) Granisle (nr Smithers) Babine Lake/Omineca Granby Mining and Smelting; Noranda 1965–1982 [32]
Hat Creek Coal Mine coal (lignite) 50°46′11″N121°36′15″W / 50.76972°N 121.60417°W / 50.76972; -121.60417 (Hat Creek Coal) PavilionUpper Hat Creek Lillooet Country 1893–minor past producer; proposed for major coal-thermal power plant [33] [34]
Hedley Mascot Mine Hedley Similkameen Hedley Mascot Gold Mines1936–1949Today a mining museum
Hidden Creek Mine Copper, Gold, Silver, Cobalt, Zinc 55°26′21″N129°49′27″W / 55.43917°N 129.82417°W / 55.43917; -129.82417 (Hidden Creek) Anyox Observatory Inlet 1914–1936a.k.a. Anyox Mine [35]
Highland Valley Copper Cu, Mo, Ag, Au, Pb, Zn 50°29′08″N121°02′54″W / 50.48556°N 121.04833°W / 50.48556; -121.04833 (Highland Valley Copper) Logan Lake NW Thompson Plateau Teck Resources 1962-various mines: Bethlehem, Lornex, Highmont, Highland Valley [36]
Island Copper Cu, Au, Ag, Mo, Rhenium 50°35′59″N127°28′32″W / 50.59972°N 127.47556°W / 50.59972; -127.47556 (Island Copper) Port Hardy Vancouver Island Utah Mining 1971–1995Produced 1.3 million tonnes Cu, 31,000 tonnes Mo, 10.9 million ounces Ag, and 1.03 million ounces Au [37] [38]
Kemess Mine Cu, Au, Mo, Ag (Zn, Pb) 57°00′21″N126°45′03″W / 57.00583°N 126.75083°W / 57.00583; -126.75083 (Kemess) N/A Thutade Lake (Omineca Mountains) Northgate Resources 1998–2011officially Kemess South is only producer; Kemess West and Rat 1 are Showings, Kemess North is a developed prospect [39] [40]
Kitsault Mine Mo, Ag, Pb, Zn, Cu, W 55°25′19″N129°25′10″W / 55.42194°N 129.41944°W / 55.42194; -129.41944 (Kitsault) Kitsault/Alice Arm (near Anyox) Alice Arm, Observatory Inlet Amax1967–1972/1982 [41]
Lenora Mine North Cowichan Vancouver Island Lenora, Mt. Sicker Copper Mining Co.1898–1902
Minto Mine Au, Cu, Ag, Pb, Zn 50°53′55″N122°45′05″W / 50.89861°N 122.75139°W / 50.89861; -122.75139 (Minto) Minto City Bridge River Country W.G. "Big Bill" Davidson 1934–1940 [42]
Mount Polley mine Cu, Au, Ag 52°30′48″N121°35′47″W / 52.513437°N 121.596309°W / 52.513437; -121.596309 (Mount Polley mine) Likely (nr. Williams Lake) Cariboo Country Imperial Metals Corp 1997–
New Afton mine Au, Cu 50°40′34″N120°20′27″W / 50.67611°N 120.34083°W / 50.67611; -120.34083 (Kamloops) Kamloops, BC Thompson Valley New Gold 1960–1988, 2006–present
Nickel Plate Mine Hedley Similkameen Marcus Daly, Hedley Gold Mining Co., Kelowna Exploration1900–1955
Northair Mine Au, Ag, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd 50°06′52″N123°06′13″W / 50.11444°N 123.10361°W / 50.11444; -123.10361 (Northair) Whistler Cheakamus Valley 1974–1982 [43]
Phoenix Mine Cu, Au, Ag, Pb, Fe, Talc 49°05′27″N118°35′58″W / 49.09083°N 118.59944°W / 49.09083; -118.59944 (Phoenix) Phoenix (Greenwood) Boundary Country Granby Mining and Smelting (among others)various mines at this location, see second ref [44] [45]
Pioneer Mine Au, Ag, Pb, Zn, Cu, Sb, W 50°45′40″N122°46′50″W / 50.76111°N 122.78056°W / 50.76111; -122.78056 (Pioneer) Pioneer Mine (Bralorne) Bridge River Country 1897–Later amalgamated with Bralorne Mine [46]
Premier Mine Au, Ag, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd 56°03′06″N130°00′51″W / 56.05167°N 130.01417°W / 56.05167; -130.01417 (Premier) Premier (nr. StewartHyder AK) Portland Canal 1918–1988 [47] [48] [49]
Quinsam Coal Mine Coal, Fireclay, Clay 49°56′07″N125°29′15″W / 49.93528°N 125.48750°W / 49.93528; -125.48750 (Quinsam) Campbell River Mid Island Hillsborough Resources Care and maintenance status [50]
Quintette Mine Coal 55°01′40″N121°11′45″W / 55.02778°N 121.19583°W / 55.02778; -121.19583 (Quintette) Tumbler Ridge Hart Ranges (Northern Rockies) Conuma Resources 1982–2000; 2024– [51] [52] [53] [54]
Snowfield mine Gold [55]
Sullivan Mine Pb, Zn, Ag, Sn, Cu, Au, Fe, S, Sb, Cd, Bi, In, W 49°42′27″N116°00′19″W / 49.70750°N 116.00528°W / 49.70750; -116.00528 (Sullivan) Kimberley East Kootenay [56]
Surf Inlet Mine Au, Cu, Ag, Mb 53°05′29″N128°52′56″W / 53.09139°N 128.88222°W / 53.09139; -128.88222 (Surf Inlet) Port Belmont a.k.a. Surf Inlet Princess Royal Island 1917–1926; 1935–1942 [57]
Tasu Mine Fe, Cu, Ag, Au 52°45′24″N132°02′36″W / 52.75667°N 132.04333°W / 52.75667; -132.04333 (Tasu) Tasu Moresby Island 1908–1987Magnetite lode discovered by Haida people in the late 18th century [58]
Tulsequah Chief Mine Zn, Cu, Pb, Ag, Au, Cd 58°44′09″N133°36′04″W / 58.73583°N 133.60111°W / 58.73583; -133.60111 (Tulsequah Chief) N/A Taku River Redfern Resources Ltd. 1925– [59] [60]
Tyee Mine North Cowichan Vancouver Island Tyee Copper Co.1900–1907

See also

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References

  1. By order of importance in showing/production. Commodities shown in brackets are from showings and prospects associated with the producing mine, but are not under production
  2. In the case of sequential or multiple owners, only the last owner, or the largest shareholder, will be named, or the company best known for association with the mine, either by stature or longevity. For more details see the references in each case. Founders/discoverers or notable individual promoters/investors may be named in the "Comments" column.
  3. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Blue Hawk Mine
  4. MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  5. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Bralorne Mine
  6. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Britannia Mine
  7. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Brucejack Mine
  8. BCGNIS|49996|Bullion (mining camp) [ permanent dead link ]
  9. BC Govt Property File search
  10. MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  11. Infomine listing
  12. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Cariboo-Amelia Mine
  13. Infomine.com listing "Camp McKinney
  14. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, McKinney Creek Placer
  15. MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  16. MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  17. MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  18. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Copper Mountain Mine
  19. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Ingerbelle Mine
  20. "Craigmont Mines". Archived from the original on 2009-04-05. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
  21. BC MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  22. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Estella Mine
  23. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Fording River Coal Mine
  24. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Giant Mascot
  25. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Star of Emeory 3 (Giant Mascot)
  26. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Pride of Emory (Giant Mascot)
  27. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Gibraltar East
  28. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Golden Cache
  29. Short Portage to Lillooet, Irene Edwards, self-publ., Lillooet, 1976
  30. Halfway to the Goldfields: A History of Lillooet, Lorraine Harris, Sunfire Publications
  31. The Great Years: Gold Mining in the Bridge River Valley, Lewis Green, Tricouni Books, 2000
  32. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Granisle
  33. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Hat Creek Coal, Hat Creek No. 1, Hat Creek No. 2
  34. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Pacific Bentonite/Hat Creek
  35. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Hidden Creek Mine/Anyox Mine
  36. Various: see MINFILE Search "Highland Valley"
  37. Pratt, Morton E. (1990). "Island Copper Mine". In Kennedy, Bruce A. (ed.). Surface Mining (2 ed.). Littleton, Colorado: Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration. pp. 1163–1175. ISBN   9780873351027 . Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  38. Wilton, Mike J.; Lawrence, Gregory A. (1998). "The Evolution of the Island Copper Mine Pit Lake" (PDF). Proceedings of the 22nd Annual British Columbia Mine Reclamation Symposium. Penticton, BC: The Technical and Research Committee on Reclamation. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  39. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Kemess South
  40. MINFILE Search, "Kemess"
  41. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Kitsault Mine
  42. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Minto Mine
  43. MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  44. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Phoenix (Knob Hill)
  45. MINFILE Search "Phoenix"
  46. MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  47. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Premier Mine/Premier Silbak
  48. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Northern Lights/Premier Border
  49. Vancouver Mine/Premier Extension
  50. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Quinsam Coal
  51. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Quintette
  52. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Quintette Shikano)
  53. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Babcock (Quintette)
  54. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Quintette (Frame)
  55. "World gold deposits" (PDF). nrh.co.il. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 29, 2013. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
  56. MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  57. MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  58. MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  59. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Tulsequah Chief Mine
  60. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Big Bull/Tulsequah Chief