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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...
789 stories
Green Mountain Jade is shining the spotlight on Canadian-produced jade
Green Mountain Jade Inc. plans to increase nephrite jade production by up to 50% this season by starting mining in May instead of June. The company produced 400 tonnes last season, with 90% exported to China, and operates four active mines in British Columbia.
Tree-top sampling program may help uncover new mineral deposits in B.C.
Geoscience BC completed an innovative helicopter-supported tree-top sampling program, collecting 421 samples from spruce trees across 1,000 square kilometres in central B.C.'s Chilcotin Plateau. The pilot program tested whether trace metals in trees could help identify new mineral deposits in areas that are difficult to access using traditional sampling methods.
Imperial recalls over half of their laid off employees—44 of 85 called back
Imperial Metals has recalled 44 of the 85 employees laid off at its Huckleberry copper mine in January 2016 due to weak copper prices. The recalled workers will focus on tailings dam construction and potential open pit mining, while the mine continues processing stockpiles until August 2016. The operation faces potential care and maintenance status if copper prices don't improve by Q3 2016.
Geoscience BC releases first data reports on groundwater aquifers in the Peace Region
Geoscience BC released the first data reports from its Peace Project, a comprehensive groundwater mapping initiative in northeast BC's Peace Region. The project included a 43-day airborne electromagnetic survey covering 8,000 square kilometers and analysis of 1,300 petroleum boreholes to map shallow aquifers. This research will help inform sustainable groundwater management decisions for communities, First Nations, government, and the resource sector.
KPU students get new trades training equipment
The British Columbia government announced $265,250 in funding for Kwantlen Polytechnic University to purchase new trades training equipment including cutting mills and programmable logic controllers. This supports preparation for projected demand of 5,400 electricians and 3,400 millwrights over the next decade in the province.
Government charging up electric vehicles
The Province of British Columbia announced $965,000 in funding to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including $688,500 for residential building chargers and $276,500 to upgrade public fast charging stations. The investment is part of the broader Clean Energy Vehicle Program which has committed over $31 million since 2011 to encourage EV adoption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
One step closer to development: permitting progresses at IDM Mining’s Red Mountain Gold project
IDM Mining received a Section 11 Order from the BC Environmental Assessment Office for its Red Mountain Underground Gold Project, marking a significant permitting milestone. The company is nearing completion of its two-year environmental baseline program and plans to submit Environmental Assessment Applications later this year. IDM has also selected a preferred location at Bromley Humps for mill and tailings facilities that would allow year-round processing.
Report says shrinking land base jeopardizes B.C. mineral exploration
The Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia released a report warning that shrinking land access for mineral exploration threatens the industry's future in B.C. The report identifies complex government policies and overlapping regulations as key barriers, with land off-limits to exploration increasing from 17.5% to 18.6% since 2014. AME BC is calling for streamlined regulations to protect the 30,000 jobs and economic benefits the sector provides.
New agreement brings mine training to Interior students
Six British Columbia educational institutions signed an MOU to launch the Collaborative Mining Technology Diploma Pilot, allowing students to complete the first year of BCIT's mining diploma at regional colleges. The pilot will begin in September 2016 with about 10 students and aims to train workers for northern BC's growing mining sector.
Horse Creek silica mine near Golden on the drawing board
Hi-Test Sand Inc. is proposing to develop a year-round silica mine near Golden, BC, expanding from their current seasonal quarry operations. The Horse Creek Silica mine could produce 50,000 tons annually primarily for solar panel production, potentially creating 150 direct jobs and 500 spin-off positions.
Gold panning is still alive and well on the Wild Horse River near Fort Steele, B.C.
Stephen Lathem operates the Nip & Tuck Gold Mine on the Wild Horse River near Fort Steele, B.C., where he has been successfully extracting gold for over 20 years. His operation includes both commercial mining and tourist gold panning experiences, with his largest find being a 2-ounce nugget in 2015. Lathem reports weighing his gold production in pounds rather than grams or ounces, challenging the belief that historic miners extracted all available gold from the area.
Land claims largest deterrent to mining investment in B.C.
A Fraser Institute survey reveals that uncertainty over disputed land claims is the biggest deterrent to mining investment in British Columbia, with 77% of respondents citing it as a concern compared to much lower rates in other provinces. Recent Supreme Court decisions have worsened the situation by opening private companies to aboriginal title litigation, putting both existing and future mining projects at risk.
BC Minister of Mines introduces new regulatory compliance, penalities and enforcement tools
BC Minister of Energy and Mines introduced amendments to the Mines Act that add administrative monetary penalties and increase maximum court penalties from $100,000 to $1 million. The changes implement recommendations from investigations into the Mount Polley tailings dam failure and align BC mining regulations with other provincial natural resource legislation.
Mining still strong
Pierre Gratton, CEO of the Mining Association of Canada, addressed a chamber of commerce luncheon in Cranbrook, B.C., acknowledging current economic challenges while expressing optimism about the medium and long-term prospects for Canadian mining. He highlighted that mining accounts for 20% of Canadian exports and directly employs over 375,000 people, emphasizing the need for Canada to prepare for the next upswing through infrastructure improvements and streamlined processes.
First Elk Valley water treatment facility begins full operations in Sparwood, B.C.
Teck Resources has successfully commissioned its first water treatment facility in the Elk Valley, achieving 100% of design targets for selenium removal. The $120 million West Line Creek facility reduces selenium by 96% and nitrate by 99% from mine-affected water at the Line Creek Operations.
Karina Brino recognized as one of BC’s top Influential Women
Karina Brino, President and CEO of the Mining Association of BC, was recognized as one of BC's top Influential Women in Business by Business in Vancouver newspaper. Marcia Smith from Teck Resources also received the award, with both women being honored for their leadership in promoting diversity and social responsibility in mining.
AME BC supports B.C. budget 2016
The Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC) endorsed B.C.'s 2016 budget which extended the BC Mining Exploration Tax Credit through January 2020 at rates of 20% (30% for mountain pine beetle areas) and renewed the BC Mining Flow-Through Share tax credit. These fiscal incentives are designed to sustain grassroots exploration during the industry downturn.
Walter Energy puts their Canadian mines up for sale and sells other assets to Seminole Coal Resource
Walter Energy placed its Canadian subsidiary Walter Canada under creditor protection in December 2015, putting three metallurgical coal mines in British Columbia up for sale. The company separately sold its remaining U.S. assets to Seminole Coal Resources while excluding the Canadian and UK operations from that transaction.
Hydraulic products distribution deal unites Bosch Rexroth and Norcan Fluid Power in Western Canada
Bosch Rexroth and Norcan Fluid Power announced a distribution partnership making Norcan the exclusive distributor for Bosch Rexroth industrial and mobile hydraulics products across Western Canada. The deal covers British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, with mining and energy sectors representing 60-70% of Norcan's business.
Site C’s main civil works contract will create thousands of jobs
BC Hydro awarded the main civil works contract for the Site C hydroelectric project to Peace River Hydro Partners, creating 1,500 jobs at peak construction. The contract includes building an earthfill dam, diversion tunnels, and concrete foundations, with construction expected to contribute $3.2 billion to the provincial economy.
Taseko files Supreme Court suit against Government Of Canada
Taseko Mines has filed a civil lawsuit in BC Supreme Court against the Canadian federal government seeking damages related to the 2014 rejection of their New Prosperity Project. The company claims the government failed to meet legal duties owed to Taseko, causing ongoing damages to the multi-billion dollar gold-copper deposit project in BC's Cariboo region.
Airborne survey unlocks resource potential - West-Central British Columbia
Geoscience BC completed a $2.415 million airborne magnetic survey covering 6,700 square kilometres in west-central British Columbia between Terrace, Kitimat and Smithers. The survey, the most detailed ever flown in the region, aims to unlock mineral potential in this under-explored area and guide future land use decisions.
Mining agreement builds training opportunities throughout British Columbia
The BC Centre of Training Excellence in Mining signed an MOU with five post-secondary institutions to offer distributed delivery of BCIT's mineral exploration and mining technology diploma program. The agreement creates a pilot project allowing students across BC to complete up to a full year of the program at local institutions, addressing the mining sector's demand for skilled workers.
Government takes action to keep mine workers on the job
The BC government announced a five-year program allowing metal and coal mining companies to defer up to 75% of their electricity costs over two years to help keep mines operational during low commodity prices. The program supports approximately 7,500 workers at eight metal mines and five coal mines in the province.