List of mines in British Columbia explained

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] DatesComments References
Au, Ag, Pb, Cu, Zn49.9839°N -119.5194°WWestbank (West Kelowna)Okanagan1930s–1988 [3]
Boss Mountain MineMo, Cu, Zn, W, Ag, Bi52.0967°N -120.9075°W Hendrix Lake (43 km SE of Horsefly) NMC Resource Corp1917– Hendrix Lake Mine, Timothy Mountain Mine [4]
Bralorne Mine50.7778°N -122.8222°W Founders were Frank and Delina Noel of the Lorne Mine, major developer was David Sloan. One of Canada's deepest mines.[5]
Britannia Mine49.6111°N -123.1411°W Howe SoundBritannia Mining and Smelting Co. Ltd. (1904–1963) Anaconda (1963–1974) 1904–1974 Now the Britannia Mine Museum; often used as film set[6]
Bullion Mine52.6272°N -121.6392°WBullion (near Likely)1859–1942a.k.a. the Bullion Pit and China Pit, one of the largest placer gold mines in the world [7] [8] [9] [10]
Cariboo Amelia MineAu, Ag, Pb, Zn, Cu, Pyrophyllite, Silica49.1158°N -119.1839°W Camp McKinney/Bridesville(N of Rock CreekConsolidated Mining and Smelting Company1894–1962a.k.a. Cariboo Mine, Camp McKinney Mine, various; British Columbia's first dividend-paying gold mine[11] [12] [13]
Cariboo Gold Quartz MineAu, Ag, W, Bi, Pb, Zn53.0897°N -121.5614°WCariboo1870s onwards, peak years 1833–1987[14]
Cassiar Mine 59.325°N -129.8181°W Cassiar Country1950- asbestos mining ended in 1989, now in development for magnesium [15]
Coal Mountain MineCoal49.5103°N -114.6545°W Teck Resources1905–2018 care and maintenance status [16]
Copper Mountain Mine49.3311°N -120.5342°W Copper Mountain & AllenbySimilkameena.k.a. Similco, amalgamated with Ingerbelle 1977–78 [17] [18]
Craigmont MineCu, Fe, Ag, Au50.2075°N -120.9261°WMerrittNicola Country 1962–82 (copper), 1992–present (magnetite)[19] [20]
Elkview coal mineCoal49.7523°N -114.8773°WSparwoodElk ValleyTeck Resources
Estella Mine49.7694°N -115.6053°W WasaEast KootenayUnited Estella Mines, Giant Mascot Mines, Giant Soo Mines[21]
Galore Creek mineCu, Au, Ag57.1264°N -131.4539°W Regional District of Kitimat-StikineTeck Resources (50%) Newmont Corporation (50%)
Giant Mascot Mine49.4836°N -121.4847°WSouthern Lillooet Rangesa.k.a. Giant Nickel, Choate [22] [23] [24]
Golden Cache Mine50.6417°N -122.0819°W Cayoosh Creek, Lillooet1897–1901 Caused 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[25] [26] [27] [28]
Granisle Mine54.9444°N -126.1572°W Granisle (nr Smithers)Babine Lake/OminecaGranby Mining and Smelting
Noranda
1965–1982 [29]
coal (lignite) 50.7697°N -121.6042°W Lillooet Country1893– minor past producer; proposed for major coal-thermal power plant [30] [31]
Hedley Mascot MineSimilkameenHedley Mascot Gold Mines 1936–1949 Today a mining museum
Hidden Creek Mine55.4392°N -129.8242°W Observatory Inlet1914–1936a.k.a. Anyox Mine [32]
Highland Valley Copper50.4856°N -121.0483°WNW Thompson Plateau1962- various mines: Bethlehem, Lornex, Highmont, Highland Valley[33]
Island Copper50.5997°N -127.4756°WVancouver IslandUtah Mining1971–1995 Produced 1.3 million tonnes Cu, 31,000 tonnes Mo, 10.9 million ounces Ag, and 1.03 million ounces Au[34] [35]
Kemess MineCu, Au, Mo, Ag (Zn, Pb)57.0058°N -126.7508°W N/A Thutade Lake (Omineca Mountains) Northgate Resources1998–2011officially Kemess South is only producer; Kemess West and Rat 1 are Showings, Kemess North is a developed prospect[36] [37]
Kitsault MineMo, Ag, Pb, Zn, Cu, W55.4219°N -129.4194°W Kitsault/Alice Arm (near Anyox) Alice Arm, Observatory InletAmax1967–1972/1982[38]
Lenora MineVancouver IslandLenora, Mt. Sicker Copper Mining Co. 1898–1902
Minto MineAu, Cu, Ag, Pb, Zn50.8986°N -122.7514°W Bridge River CountryW.G. "Big Bill" Davidson1934–1940 [39]
Morrison MineCu, Au, Mo55.19°N -126.3186°W Granisle (nr. Smithers) Stikine CountryPacific Booker Minerals Inc.Advanced porphyry-style Cu-Au-Mo property and planned mine, denied Environmental Assessment Certificate on 1 October 2012.[40] [41]
Mount Polley mineCu, Au, Ag52.5134°N -121.5963°W Likely (nr. Williams Lake) Cariboo CountryImperial Metals Corp1997-Care and maintenance status
New Afton mineAu, Cu50.6761°N -120.3408°W Thompson ValleyNew Gold1960–1988, 2006–present
Nickel Plate MineSimilkameenMarcus Daly, Hedley Gold Mining Co., Kelowna Exploration 1900–1955
Northair MineAu, Ag, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd50.1144°N -123.1036°WCheakamus Valley1974–1982[42]
Phoenix MineCu, Au, Ag, Pb, Fe, Talc49.0908°N -118.5994°WPhoenix (Greenwood) Boundary CountryGranby Mining and Smelting (among others)various mines at this location, see second ref [43] [44]
Pioneer MineAu, Ag, Pb, Zn, Cu, Sb, W50.7611°N -122.7806°W Pioneer Mine (Bralorne) Bridge River Country1897–Later amalgamated with Bralorne Mine[45]
Premier MineAu, Ag, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd56.0517°N -130.0142°W Premier (nr. Stewart–Hyder AK) Portland Canal1918–1988 [46] [47] [48]
Quinsam Coal MineCoal, Fireclay, Clay49.9353°N -125.4875°WMid IslandHillsborough Resources[49]
Quintette Mine55.0278°N -121.1958°W Tumbler RidgeHart Ranges (Northern Rockies)[50] [51] [52] [53]
Snowfield mineGold [54]
Sullivan Mine49.7075°N -116.0053°W [55]
Surf Inlet MineAu, Cu, Ag, Mb53.0914°N -128.8822°WPort Belmont a.k.a. Surf Inlet Princess Royal Island1917–1926; 1935–1942[56]
Tasu Mine52.7567°N -132.0433°W Moresby Island1908–1987Magnetite lode discovered by Haida people in the late 18th century [57]
Tulsequah Chief Mine Zn, Cu, Pb, Ag, Au, Cd58.7358°N -133.6011°W N/A Taku River1925– [58] [59]
Tyee MineVancouver IslandTyee Copper Co. 1900–1907

See also

Notes and 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. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=082ENW002 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Blue Hawk Mine
  4. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=093A++001 MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  5. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092JNE001 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Bralorne Mine
  6. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092GNW003 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Britannia Mine
  7. http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcgn-bin/bcg10?name=49996 BCGNIS|49996|Bullion (mining camp)
  8. http://propertyfile.gov.bc.ca/searchresult.aspx?mn=&tt=&dn=&ar=&fd=&td=&kw=&cl=&nt=&pj=Bullion&dt=&aa= BC Govt Property File search
  9. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=093A++025 MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  10. http://www.infomine.com/index/properties/BULLION_PIT_CLAIMS.html Infomine listing
  11. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=082ESW020 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Cariboo-Amelia Mine
  12. http://www.infomine.com/index/properties/CAMP_MCKINNEY.html Infomine.com listing "Camp McKinney
  13. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=082ESW257 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, McKinney Creek Placer
  14. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=093H++019 MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  15. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=104P++005 MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  16. https://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=082GNE001 MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  17. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092HSE001 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Copper Mountain Mine
  18. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092HSE004 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Ingerbelle Mine
  19. Web site: Craigmont Mines . 2009-08-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090405080810/http://www.craigmontmines.com/history.html . 2009-04-05 . dead .
  20. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092ISE035 BC MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  21. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=082GNW008 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Estella Mine
  22. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092HSW125 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Giant Mascot
  23. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092HSW093 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Star of Emeory 3 (Giant Mascot)
  24. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092HSW004 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Pride of Emory (Giant Mascot)
  25. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092JNE094 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Golden Cache
  26. Short Portage to Lillooet, Irene Edwards, self-publ., Lillooet, 1976
  27. Halfway to the Goldfields: A History of Lillooet, Lorraine Harris, Sunfire Publications
  28. The Great Years: Gold Mining in the Bridge River Valley, Lewis Green, Tricouni Books, 2000
  29. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=093L++146 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Granisle
  30. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092INW047 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Hat Creek Coal, Hat Creek No. 1, Hat Creek No. 2
  31. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092INW084 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Pacific Bentonite/Hat Creek
  32. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=103P++021 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Hidden Creek Mine/Anyox Mine
  33. Various: see MINFILE Search "Highland Valley"
  34. Book: Pratt . Morton E. . Kennedy . Bruce A. . Surface Mining. Island Copper Mine . 1990 . Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration . Littleton, Colorado . 9780873351027 . 1163–1175 . 2 . https://books.google.com/books?id=qJJrYnpT2pYC&pg=PA1163 . 6 August 2019.
  35. Wilton . Mike J. . Lawrence . Gregory A. . The Evolution of the Island Copper Mine Pit Lake . Proceedings of the 22nd Annual British Columbia Mine Reclamation Symposium . 1998 . 6 August 2019 . The Technical and Research Committee on Reclamation . Penticton, BC.
  36. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=094E++094 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Kemess South
  37. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/searchresults.aspx?01=Kemess&t=0 MINFILE Search, "Kemess"
  38. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=103P++120 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Kitsault Mine
  39. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092JNE075 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Minto Mine
  40. News: Morton . Brian . 1 October 2012 . Morrison Lake mine rejected by B.C. government over concerns about salmon . . 3 October 2012 .
  41. Web site: Morrison Mine project denied Environmental Assessment Certificate . 1 October 2012 . British Columbia Information Bulletin 2012ENV0061-001446 . 3 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121006233158/http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2009-2013/2012ENV0061-001446.htm . 6 October 2012 . dead .
  42. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092JW+012 MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  43. MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Phoenix (Knob Hill)
  44. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/searchresults.aspx?01=Phoenix&t=0 MINFILE Search "Phoenix"
  45. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092JNE004 MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  46. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=104B++054 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Premier Mine/Premier Silbak
  47. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=104B++053 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Northern Lights/Premier Border
  48. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=104B++052 Vancouver Mine/Premier Extension
  49. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092F++319 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Quinsam Coal
  50. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=093P++019 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Quintette
  51. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=093I++010 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Quintette Shikano)
  52. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=093I++011 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Babcock (Quintette)
  53. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=093P++020 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Quintette (Frame)
  54. Web site: 2012 . World gold deposits . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130429122247/http://www.nrh.co.il/i/pdf/NRH_Research_2012%20World_Gold_Deposits.pdf . April 29, 2013 . 2013-07-18 . nrh.co.il.
  55. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=082FNE052 MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  56. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=103H++027 MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  57. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=103C++003 MINFILE Mineral Inventory
  58. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=104K++002 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Tulsequah Chief Mine
  59. http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=104K++008 MINFILE Mineral Inventory, Big Bull/Tulsequah Chief

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