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British Columbia.
British Columbia is a province with a rich mining history and a wealth of mining potential yet undiscovered. Early mining operations brought gold and coal to the surface; today, these and many other valuable minerals are bringing prosperit...
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Geoscience BC announces 2016 scholarship winners
Geoscience BC announced ten recipients of its 2016 scholarship awards, each worth $5,000, bringing the organization's total investment in student geoscience education to $435,000 since 2007. The scholarships support post-graduate students working on British Columbia-based mineral or energy exploration projects, with recipients studying copper, gold, oil and gas projects across the province.
MGX Minerals taking “significant step” in the transition from exploration to mining
MGX Minerals completed a 100-tonne bulk sample at its flagship Driftwood Creek magnesium project in BC and acquired a full-scale pilot plant mill on a trial basis. The company expects to complete its NI 43-101 resource estimate by end of July and aims for production within the year.
SunMine engineer thinks the future looks bright—and green
Michel de Spot, CEO of Ecosmart Foundation, received the National Award for an Engineering Project from Engineers Canada for his role as principal engineer of the SunMine, a 1.05-megawatt solar installation in Kimberley, B.C. The $5.4 million project, done in partnership with Teck Resources and the City of Kimberley, is the largest solar project in British Columbia and the first to sell power to BC Hydro.
Goldcorp’s McPherson joins MX Gold as President and COO
MX Gold Corp has appointed Hugh 'Bert' McPherson as President and COO to lead operations at their Willa and Max mining operations in BC's Kootenay region. McPherson brings 37 years of experience including recent leadership at Goldcorp's Peñasquito Mine in Mexico, one of the world's largest gold producers.
Canpotex nixes new Prince Rupert export terminal
Canpotex has decided not to proceed with construction of a new export terminal at the Port of Prince Rupert after determining it has sufficient capacity at existing terminals in Vancouver, Saint John and Portland. The decision was based on economic and commercial considerations regarding current and future capacity needs.
East Kootenay MLA and BC Mines & Energy Minister announces he won’t seek re-election
Bill Bennett, British Columbia's Minister of Energy and Mines and long-serving MLA for East Kootenay, announced he will not seek re-election in spring 2017 after 16 years in office. Bennett has held multiple cabinet positions including Tourism Minister and currently oversees the province's mining and energy portfolio. His departure represents a significant change in BC's mining and energy leadership ahead of the 2017 election.
Cummins Sparwood embarks on constructing new building
Cummins Western Canada has begun construction on a new expanded facility in Sparwood, BC to better serve the Elk Valley coal mining operations. The new building will relocate and expand their current 29-employee branch that services high-horsepower diesel engines for haul trucks at all five Teck coal mines in the region.
Despite challenging market conditions, some B.C. mining projects going ahead
The 2015 PwC BC Mining Industry Survey reveals continued challenges for B.C.'s mining sector with revenues falling from $8.2 billion to $7.7 billion, though some projects like Pretium's $700 million Brucejack Gold Project are advancing to construction. Despite commodity price pressures, particularly copper dropping from $3.12/lb to $2.50/lb, industry leaders see potential recovery signs with recent gold and silver price increases.
Margaux Resources announces 2016 drilling program at Jersey Emerald Tungsten-Zinc property
Margaux Resources announced a 2016 drilling program at the historic Jersey Emerald property in southeastern British Columbia, aiming to revitalize one of the Kootenay's oldest mine sites. The property includes Canada's second largest historic tungsten mine and British Columbia's second largest historic lead-zinc mine, both inactive since 1973.
SunMine wins National Engineering Project Award
Kimberley's SunMine solar facility won the National Award for an Engineering Project or Achievement from Engineers Canada. The project is BC's first grid-connected solar facility built on a reclaimed mine site, featuring 4,032 solar modules on 96 sun-tracking systems that generate 40% more energy than fixed installations.
PwC BC Mining Report 2015: The worst is behind us
PwC's 2015 BC Mining Survey shows gross mining revenues fell to $7.7 billion from $8.2 billion in 2014, with 2,000 direct jobs lost due to mine closures. Despite challenges, two new mines started production and $272 million was spent on exploration, with industry leaders expressing cautious optimism that the worst may be behind them.
Geoscience BC receives $5 million in new funding from BC government for earth science
Geoscience BC received $5 million in new funding from the BC government to support mineral, water and energy earth science programs. The organization announced it will launch its largest airborne magnetic survey to date this summer - the Search Phase II project covering 24,000 square kilometers in west-central BC. This survey will provide high-resolution magnetic data to identify hidden mineral potential in an area containing former copper-gold mines and the idled Endako molybdenum mine.
Ktunaxa and Teck sign historic Impact Management and Benefits Agreement
Teck Resources and the Ktunaxa Nation Council signed a comprehensive 40-year Impact Management and Benefits Agreement covering Teck's five steelmaking coal operations in BC's Elk Valley region. The agreement addresses consultation, environmental stewardship, employment opportunities for Ktunaxa citizens, and cultural resources management.
Lisa Dooling joins Neptune Bulk Terminals
Neptune Bulk Terminals announced the appointment of Lisa Dooling as director of community and stakeholder engagement. The company handles Canadian potash and steelmaking coal exports through its Vancouver terminal, which is expanding capacity to 30 million tonnes annually.
A prime networking opportunity
The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum hosted its 2016 convention in Vancouver from May 1-4, featuring educational workshops, a plenary session with industry CEOs, and an expo with mining and energy companies. Despite lower foot traffic, exhibitors reported quality networking opportunities and productive conversations.
Mining Association of B.C. announces Robert G. Scott as the 2015 Mining Person of the Year
The Mining Association of B.C. named Robert G. Scott, former Senior Vice President of Zinc at Teck Resources, as the 2015 Mining Person of the Year. Scott led Teck's Trail Operations to set production records in zinc, silver and indium during 2015 while reducing operating costs and improving safety. The award was presented during B.C. Mining Week in May 2016.
Teck donates $75K to Canadian Red Cross Fort McMurray wildfire relief efforts
Teck Resources announced a $75,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross for Fort McMurray wildfire relief efforts, with an additional $25,000 to match employee donations. The donation is being made through the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers' Energy Together relief initiative.
The Bunce family is giving the world Jade Fever
The Bunce family's jade mining operation in northern British Columbia has gained international attention through Discovery Channel's 'Jade Fever' reality TV show, now filming its third season. The show has significantly boosted tourism to their remote Jade City location, with visitors from around the world, while the family continues operating multiple jade mining companies including Dynasty, Dease Lake Jade Mining, and the newly formed Jade Fever company.
BC’s Auditor General issues scathing report on Mount Polley disaster
BC's Auditor General released a scathing report criticizing the province's mining regulatory oversight following the Mount Polley tailings dam failure. The report found major gaps in compliance and enforcement that failed to protect against environmental risks, with the disaster releasing 25 million cubic metres of wastewater into water systems.
Huckleberry Mines wins award for mine reclamation
Huckleberry Mines Limited won a British Columbia Technical and Research Committee on Reclamation award for successful fishway restoration at its copper mine near Houston, BC. The company restored fish ladders in a local creek and engaged First Nations communities in reclamation planning, marking a significant improvement in community relations.
UBC and industry partnership spurs metallurgical sector development in BC Interior
UBC has partnered with Teck Metals, Fenix Advanced Materials, and other companies in a $293,000 three-year research project to develop sustainable methods for extracting valuable metals from lead-zinc smelting byproducts. The initiative aims to create economic development opportunities in BC's Southern Interior by turning waste materials into value-added products for secondary industries in the Kootenay region.
Teck Reports 2015 Sustainability Performance
Teck Resources released its 2015 Sustainability Report showing the company achieved all sustainability goals for the year. Key highlights include a 25% reduction in high potential safety incidents, 200,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions reduction since 2011, and improved water recycling averaging 4.5 times at mining operations.
Celebrate BC Mining Week with Family Fun Day at Britannia Mine Museum
The Britannia Mine Museum is hosting a Family Fun Day on May 14th as part of BC Mining Week, featuring educational activities, exhibits, and entertainment to promote mining awareness. The museum also debuts its new summer exhibit 'Water: Beneath the Surface' exploring the role of water in mining and geology.
$94M profit declared by Teck Resources, sees change in direction in steelmaking coal and zinc prices
Teck Resources reported Q1 2016 profit of $94 million, up from $68 million year-over-year, while achieving significant cost reductions across operations. The company noted encouraging price direction changes in steelmaking coal and zinc markets despite ongoing commodity cycle challenges.