The
Mining Scene
Introduction
by the Editor:
“Having worked underground on Keno Hill near Mayo,
Yukon and as a diamond driller, (with Boyles Bros.) I
gained an appreciation of the mining industry early in
life. Being born in Dawson City of Klondike Gold Rush
fame, I became famliar with many aspects of gold mining.
Realizing the mining industry's importance to the BC
Scene, I am proud to provide our readers with background
information on the key players in this important arena.
Since the name 'Cominco' has been almost a household word
for many decades, we've included a brief introduction to
the company.” (scroll
or click)
Canadian Mining
Hall of Fame
This facility is a tribute the the history of an industry
we have enjoyed being a part of. Itemized on this page
(scroll
or
click) are
a few details about the mining indfustry; there is more
on the Hall
of Fame web site
BC Mining
Museum at Brittania Beach
by Jerry W. Bird
Those who marvel at history and
man's ingenuity will discover a real treasure at
Britannia
Beach, a few scenic miles
along the cliff-hugging route of the Sea to Sky Highway
between Vancouver and Whistler, BC. Here on the shores of
Howe Sound, British Columbia's mining heritage is
preserved intact at the Britannia Copper Mine, which
served world markets from 1888 to the 1970s.
Survivor of fire, flood and
avalanche, this hardy community harbors a national
treasure, and has become a favorite location for major
motion pictures. In a word - awesome! Little wonder most
motorists make an abrupt stop for a close encounter, many
staying for several hours of fun and exploration. For
history buffs like me, the BC. Museum of Mining and
adjacent area is a destination all by itself.
In the boom days of the 1920s and
'30s, Britannia was the largest producer of copper ore in
the British Empire- a jewel in her imperial crown. Today,
it's a National Historic Site destined to become a
world-class venue for mining, geology and social history,
thanks to a recent restoration program.'
Looming like a centurion at the
entrance is a mammoth 235-ton Wabco "Super Truck" - part
of a fleet which revolutionized low-grade mining
worldwide. Guided tours begin with "The Britannia Story,"
featured in rock displays, ore samples, realistic models,
maps, drawings, documents and artifacts.
Along with the dramatic portrayal of
hard-rock mining and other methods used in the province,
you get a feeling for the human side of the industry,
reflected in the life and times of workers and families.
Displays on two other levels present an overview of
British Columbia's rich mining heritage, plus a showcase
on Craigmont, a copper mine in central BC. near
Smithers.
While the dominant physical
feature at Britannia Beach is the mine's enormous
concentrator building, which sprawls for eight levels up
the cliff side, the true highlight is your journey
underground . The mine train (which once toted its own
privy) takes your group into the mountainside where
you'll witness the "tried and true," as well as more
current methods of drilling, blasting, mucking, sluicing
and rock stabilization.
Emerging from the mine, you'll
have a close-up look inside the immense gravity-fed
concentrator - a spectacular sight, and a regional
landmark for more than 75 years. During peak operations,
this monstrous complex processed more than 7,000 tons of
ore daily, and is the only facility of its kind in North
America still accessible to the public.
At the "Mining House", where all
tours begin and end, you'll be treated to a "magic
lantern" show - a slide presentation which traces
Britannia's colorful history, recapping your experience
inside the heart of Mt. Sheer.
A walking tour includes the Assay
Office, containing a variety of rock creations donated
for auction this fall. Across the way stands the "Ritz
Hotel" and assorted mine buildings under restoration. As
a token of your visit, the museum offers complimentary
drill core samples, many of which date prior to the first
world war. Later you can try gold panning.
The BC Museum of Mining is open
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. , Wednesdays through Sundays and
legal holidays - from May until October. Britannia Beach
is 45 minutes from Vancouver, and is served by Maverick
Coach Lines (5 times daily) and by BC Rail.
During tourist season, there's a
likely chance you'llspot BC's most famous locomotive -
The Royal
Hudson, an elegant steam
train, which connects with the tour ship Britannia for an
exciting day trip from Vancouver to nearby
Squamish.
Another reminder of an earlier era
at Britannia's dockside was the SS Prince George, once a
proud member of Canadian National's Alaska fleet. Part of
the "Britannia Opportunity" plan, is a pocket cruise
dock, public pier and marina, along with an integrated
transportation depot. The community features craft shops,
an impressive live-action display of native Indian stone
sculpture and several dining spots. We enjoyed a grand
home-cooked meal recently, topped by a miner's sized slab
of lemon meringue pie at the Tea Shop, a cozy corner of
Canadiana.
BC. Museum of Mining, Box 188,
Britannia Beach, BC VON 1JO. phone(604) 688-8735., fax
(604) 892-9152
Teck
Cominco is
a Canadian-based integrated natural resource group whose
principal activities are mining, smelting and refining.
The group mines zinc, copper, molybdenum, gold and
metallurgical coal in the U.S.A., Canada, Peru and
Australia. The group's production of refined metals
includes zinc, lead, gold, and silver. In addition, the
group produces specialized metal products, including
indium, germanium and low-alpha powders of lead, tin and
special alloys used in the high technology sector. Other
products include cadmium, copper sulphate, copper
arsenate, sulphur, sulphuric acid, sulphur dioxide and
ammonium sulphate fertilizer.
Strategy &
Direction
Teck Cominco will build on its strengths, which are
its leadership position in zinc and its commodity
diversification. The merged company will possess strong
exploration, mining and processing skills which arise
from its broad spread of activities. It will focus on
continued financial strength and discipline. It will
maintain a strong balance sheet. Above all, Teck Cominco
will strictly adhere to achieving its cost of capital at
low metal prices in order to achieve an adequate return
to its shareholders. Teck Cominco will strive to earn the
reputation of being a good employer and an
environmentally and socially responsible mining
company.
Registered and
Head Office
Teck Cominco Limited
600 - 200 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3L9
Tel.: (604) 687-1117, Fax: (604) 687-6100
info@teckcominco.com
Corporate
Communications
Phone: (604) 844-26, Fax: (604) 685-3019
info@teckcominco.com
Investor
Relations
Phone: (604) 687-1117, Fax: (604) 687-6100
info@teckcominco.com
Operating
Mines/ Canada
Sullivan Mine, Kimberley, BC
Highland Valley Copper, Logan Lake, BC
Bullmoose Mine, Tumbler Ridge, B.C.
Elkview Mine, Sparwood, B.C. Louvicourt Mine, Val d'Or,
Quebec
Williams Mine/ David Bell Mine Marathon, Ontario
Polaris Mine, Little Cornwallis Island, Polaris, Nunavut
Metal
Production
Trail Operations, Trail, BC
Research
Centres
Cominco Research, Trail, BC
Web site:
http://www.teckcominco.com
History
of Mining in Canada
Records of Samuel de Champlain's early explorations of
the New World about 1604 refer to copper minerals in the
area now called the Gaspé. The site eventuallywas
developed into the giant Mines Gaspé, owned by
Noranda Mining and Exploration Inc.
The first coal
mine in Canada was started in 1720 on Cape Breton
Island.
The first iron was
smelted at the Forges St. Maurice just north of Trois
Rivieres, Quebec, in 1737. The production of items such
as stoves and pots was important to life in Canada, and
the mines and processing plant became an important
employer in the area, until the plant closed in 1883. The
site has been restored as a museum and is well worth
visiting.
Gold was
discovered in Quebec in 1823, British Columbia in 1852,
Nova Scotia in 1860, Ontario in 1866, the Yukon in 1896.
Prospectors looking for favourable rock formations in the
bush made the early discoveries; now people skilled in
geology and geophysics use complex technology to find
these formations deepbeneath the surface.
Asbestos has been
mined in the Eastern Townships of Quebec since
1878.
An exceptionally
rich lead-zinc orebody was discovered in 1893 in the East
Kootenays, British Columbia. The Sullivan Mine is still
in production. A copper-zinc orebody of similar value was
discovered near Timmins, Ontario, in 1964.
Copper-nickel ore
was discovered near Sudbury in 1883 by a doctor who was
looking for a man lost in the bush. The ore also contains
gold, silver, platinum, cobalt and other valuable
minerals, contributing immensely both to the economy and
the quality of life in Canada.
Two railway tie
contractors discovered veins of almost pure silver at
Cobalt, Ontario in 1903. Eventually more than 100 mines
came into production, and much of the wealth generated
was used to find and develop mines in other parts of
Canada.
Major deposits of
iron were found in Northern Ontario around 1900 but this
was wilderness area and it wasn't until the 1950s that
significant development took place. At about the same
time vast discoveries of iron were being made on the
Quebec-Labrador border and the Iron Ore Company of Canada
started a major construction project, including
railroads, townsites, production and processing
facilities.
Also about 1950
uranium deposits were found in Saskatchewan and Ontario.
At the height of the Cold War, uranium was a strategic
material for the UnitedStates and the mines were rushed
into production. Now uranium is used to produce
electricity in many countries around the
world.
Canada now
produces 60 kinds of metals and minerals, classified for
statistical purposes as metals, non-metallics, structural
materials and fuels. In terms of value, the most
important metals are gold, copper, iron ore, zinc and
nickel. Cement, sand and gravel, which are combined to
make concrete, are valuable structural materials, while
salt, asbestos and peat are the most valuable
non-metallics. Fuel minerals - oil, gas and coal - now
make up 63 percent of the value of mineralsproduced in
Canada. The search for valuable minerals led to the
population of the more remote areas of Canada.
A geological map
showing the principal mineral areas is available from
Natural Resources Canada. The role of the Canadian
government in the development of Canada's mining industry
has been very important, beginning with the establishment
of the Geological Survey (in 1841, under Sir William
Logan), then the Department of Mines (in 1907), the
Geodetic Survey (in 1909), and continuing today with
Natural Resources Canada. Provincial governments have had
their own resources ministries also making significant
contributions.
