B.C. mining takes big strides in 2007

Mineral exploration activity in British Columbia climbed to an all-time high of nearly $416 million in 2007, up 57 percent from the previous record of $265 million in 2006.

B.C. officials reported 472 exploration stage projects across the province, with British Columbia steadily gaining a larger share of Canada's exploration activity.

Last year, 23 new mine development proposals were in the works for 13 metal mines, seven coal mines and three industrial mineral mines, the B.C. government said in a statement Jan. 22.

Exploration drilling and mine development potential also climbed more than 50 percent. Budgets for exploration projects soared, with more than 100 projects working with more than $1 million each.

British Columbia also posted solid mineral production at $5.9 billion, up 5 percent from $5.6 million in 2006. The province counted 10 coal, 11 metal and 36 major industrial minerals quarries and mines in operation during 2007.

Precious and base metal shows

The B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Jan. 28 announced discovery of four new mineralized areas in the Chezacut (Cariboo) and Terrace regions of the province that may attract new mineral exploration and encourage further investments in the mining sector, according to Minister of Mining Kevin Krueger.

"These four new finds demonstrate government's continued commitment to stimulate mining activity in the province, especially in areas experiencing difficult economic times," Krueger said in a statement. "These new discoveries will foster increased exploration throughout the northern areas of the province, further fuelling an already surging mining sector while providing more jobs for rural B.C."

Both the Chezacut and Terrace areas have been underexplored. The Chezacut area is located in the central region of the province, about 200 kilometers, or 124 miles, west of Williams Lake. It has been ignored as it was believed that mineral deposits there were hidden by young volcanic rocks and glacial debris.

The B.C. Geological Survey has determined that a lot more prospective older rocks are visible than geologists originally believed. One of the finds, "Vampire," has significant copper and gold that warrants further exploration, the ministry said. All of the Chezacut-area discoveries are available for mineral tenure acquisition.

In Terrace, another ministry survey team discovered a new lead, zinc and silver site on an existing mineral claim. This discovery highlights potential for copper, zinc, lead, silver and gold mineralization in a belt of rocks that extends to just north of Kitimat, about 200 kilometers, or 124 miles, southeast of the Alaska border. The mineralization is similar to that found at B.C.'s Myra Falls, Britannia, and Tulsequah Chief mines, geologists say. Like the Chezacut-area discoveries, more prospecting and exploration in this belt of rocks is needed.