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Ministry of Energy, Mines and Pertoleum Resources

Mineral Exploration in British Columbia

 

2011 Exploration Highlights

  • Mineral exploration expenditures in British Columbia were $463 million in 2011, which was considerably more than the previous year's expenditures.
  • Mines in production at the end of 2011:  10 metal mines, 11 coal mines, 32 industrial mineral mines, hundreds of sand and gravel quarries.
  • Solid mineral production of $8.6 billion.
  • Two mine openings and two new mines under construction.
  • 26 mine projects in process with Environmental Assessment Office.
  • More than half of the Canadian exploration and mining companies are based in British Columbia, which has the world's largest concentration of exploration companies and mining professionals.
  • Billions of dollars of equity capital was raised by more than 800 publicly listed B.C. companies.

 

Region (new boundaries) # of Projects Mineral Exploration Expenditures
 Omineca         33

 $ 71.5 million

 Skeena         89  $ 220 million
 Northeast         12  $ 41 million
 Thompson-Okanagan-Cariboo         33  $ 76 million
 Coast         16  $ 16 million
 Kootenay-Boundary         28  $ 38.5 million
           TOTAL        211  $ 463 million

 

 

2010 Exploration Highlights

  • Mineral exploration expenditures in British Columbia were $320 million in 2010, which was more than double the previous year's expenditures. 
  • Mines in production at the end of 2010: 9 metal mines, 10 coal mines, 31 industrial mineral mines, hundreds of sand and gravel quarries.
  • Number of mine development proposals in progress with the Environmental Assessment Office was 23; 3 under review, 20 in pre-application stage.
  • Solid mineral production in B.C. was $7 billion with coal ($4 billion), copper ($1.5 billion) and molybdenum ($0.3 billion) being the three most important solid mineral products by value.
  • Total exploration drilling was more than 634,000 metres.
  • More than half of the Canadian exploration and mining companies are based in British Columbia, which has the world's largest concentration of exploration companies and mining professionals.
  • Billions of dollars of equity capital was raised by more than 800 publicly listed B.C. companies.

 Region (new boundaries) # of Projects Mineral Exploration Expenditures
 Omineca         24

 $ 37 million

 Skeena         73  $ 172 million
 Northeast         11  $ 18 million
 Thompson-Okanagan-Cariboo         34  $ 50 million
 Coast         50  $ 15 million
 Kootenay-Boundary         19  $ 28 million
           TOTAL        211  $ 320 million

 

 

Values from Communities Benefiting Maps:

2009 Exploration Highlights

  • Mineral exploration expenditures in British Columbia were nearly $154 million in 2009, the sixth-highest level in 20 years.
  • There were more than 350 exploration projects for minerals, coal, industrial minerals and aggregate throughout B.C.
  • More than 80 exploration projects with budgets in excess of $250,000.
  • Total exploration drilling was more than 350,000 metres.
  • Mineral tenure aquistions: 3.2 million hectares
  • Mines in production at the end of 2009: 8 metal, 9 coal, over 30 industrial minerals, and hundreds of sand and gravel quarries 
  • Number of new mine development proposals was 36: 21 metal mines, 10 coal mines, 2 industrial minerals operations and 3 large aggregate operations. At the end of 2009,
    • 23 were under environmental review (with the Environmental Assessment Office);
    • 7 were in the Mines Act Permitting Process; and
    • 6 were in development.
  • 28 new mineral deposit discoveries were reported.
  • 60% of Canadian exploration companies are based in B.C., raising $2.9 billion in equity capital (about 40% of the total equity capital for Canadian-listed companies).
  • B.C. is estimated to have accounted for about 10% of Canadian mineral exploration investments during 2009.
  • Equity capital was raised by 770 publicly listed B.C. companies which account for 54% of the national total.
  • Exploration figures are generated annually by the British Columbia Geological Survey's regional geologists, who visit many of the exploration sites and survey the industry for additional information.

 Region # of Projects Mineral Exploration Expenditures
 Northwest BC         80

 $ 64.7 million

 Northeast BC         20  $ 20.1 million
 North-Central BC         80  $ 22.9 million
 South-Central BC        103  $ 20.5 million
 Southeast BC         63  $ 14.4 million
 Southwest BC         30  $ 11.1 million
           TOTAL         380  $ 153.7 million

 

  

2008 Exploration Highlights

  • Mineral exploration expenditures in British Columbia were $367 million in 2008.
  • During 2008, one new metal mine, Lexinigton-Grenoble, commenced operation and the rich gold and silver producer known as Eskay Creek closed. 
  • The operating metal mines remained at 10 and there were no changes in the number of operating coal mines in the province which remained at nine.
  • Mineral exploration spending in 2008 marked the second highest year on record.

 Region # of Projects Mineral Exploration Expenditures
 Northwest BC        110

 $ 139.9 million

 Northeast BC         10   $ 22.4 million
 North-Central BC         64  $ 79.9 million
 South-Central BC        108  $ 68.1 million
 Southeast BC         63  $ 41.6 million
 Southwest BC         33  $ 15.2 million
           TOTAL       388   $ 367.1 million

 

 

2007 Exploration Highlights

  • Mineral exploration expenditures in British Columbia soared to over $416 million in 2007, reflecting B.C.'s outstanding position as a leading international jurisdiction for mineral exploration activity and new mine developments.
  • Exploration drilling, a strong indicator of activity and success, reached about 1.254 million metres during the year, up over 50% from 2006. 
  • There were 10 coal, 11 metal, 36 major industrial mienrals quarries and mines, a number of placer mines, and more than 1100 aggregate pits in operation during 2007.

 Region # of Projects Mineral Exploration Expenditures
 Northwest BC        114

 $ 170 million

 Northeast BC         10  $ 10.5 million
 North-Central BC         88    $ 94.6 million
 South-Central BC        119  $ 84.4 million
 Southeast BC         78  $ 43 million
 Southwest BC         33  $ 13 million
           TOTAL        472  $ 415.7 million

 

 

2006 Exploration Highlights

  • Mineral exploration expenditures in British Columbia were $264 million in 2006.
  • There were 9 metal, 11 coal and approximately 40 major industrial minerals quarries and mines, numerous placer mines, and more than 1100 aggregate pits in operation during 2006.
  • Three mines opened during the year:  the Trend and Wolverwine - Perry Creek coal mines in the northeast, and the Table Mountain gold mine in the northwest.
  • Sixty percent of Canadian exploration and mining companies are based in British Columbia, which has the world's largest concentration of exploration companies and mining professionals.
  • Commodity prices for nearly all metals rose over the year, including gold, copper, molybdenum and zinc.

 Region # of Projects Mineral Exploration Expenditures
 Northwest BC         171

 $ 128 million

 Northeast BC           25  $ 20 million
 North-Central BC         117  $ 46.5 million
 South-Central BC         138  $ 46 million
 Southeast BC         116  $ 15.5 million
 Southwest BC          50  $ 8.5 million
           TOTAL        207  $ 264.5 million

 

 

2005 Exploration Highlights

  • Mineral exploration expenditures in British Columbia reached $220 million in 2005.  This is an increase of nearly 70% from 2004, when a total of $130 million was spent on exploration.
  • Canada currently ranks number one in world mineral exploration spending and accounted for 19% of the worldwide total in 2004.  B.C. accounts for roughly 15% of the Canadian total.
  • 650 exploration projects went on in British Columbia in 2005, up from 500 in 2004.  Regionally, the projects break down like this:

 Region # of Projects Mineral Exploration Expenditures
 Northwest BC         191

 $100 million

 Northeast BC           36  $ 30 million
 North-Central BC         122  $ 30 million
 South-Central BC         140  $ 36 million
 Southeast BC         106  $ 13 million
 Southwest BC           52  $ 11 million
 Province wide             3  (incorporated into above figures)
           TOTAL         650  $220 million

 

 

CLICK HERE for historical information on mineral exploration expenditures in British Columbia.