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NUGGET OF TRUTH Focus on mining Placer miner Micky McIntosh shows some of the gold nuggets he has pulled out of his claim in the Yank’s Peak area near Barkerville/Wells. Read his story on Pages 3-4.
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Construction of tailings impoundment facility now in operation at Red Chris mine south of Dease Lake in northwestern B.C.
Imperial Metals
Mine inspections beefed up in B.C. Tom Fletcher Black Press The B.C. government is moving to restore confidence in its mine inspection system with a $6 million budget increase and a new office dedicated to overseeing major mines. Premier Christy Clark announced the changes recently at the annual B.C. Association for Mineral Exploration conference in Vancouver. The money comes from contingency funds in the current budget, and will be added to the base budget of the Ministry of Energy and Mines for future years. Mine inspections have been under scrutiny since the collapse of the tailings dam at Mount Polley copper-gold mine near Williams Lake last summer. Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett at first insisted that geotechnical inspections of large B.C. mines were unaffected by budget cuts that reduced inspections of gravel mining and other operations, but Monday’s announcement tells a different story.
“Since 2011, we’ve made significant improvements to increase geotechnical inspections, hire additional staff and reduce the turnaround time for notice of work permits,” Bennett said in a statement after the premier’s announcement. NDP leader John Horgan said the premier’s announcement appears to be in preparation for what he expects will be “a very damning report” on the Mount Polley situation, which is subject to multiple investigations after the earth dam around its tailings pond abruptly breached and released millions of tonnes of water and mine tailings. Horgan said it’s unusual for any government to fund essential work like mine inspections out of contingency funds, and he’s not convinced that it really has been happening. The government refused opposition calls to release all provincial mine inspection records, instead appointing an independent expert panel to review the Mount Polley events. Bennett visited Alaska in November to reassure state officials and fishermen about B.C. mining oversight, after the province issued an environmental certificate to develop a major metal ore deposit near the Alaska border. The ministry expects to collect an extra $3 million a year from additional fees collected from working mines.
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Timing good for gold mining Placer operation set to begin work in the summer Teresa Mallam Northern Report Fortunately, miner Micky McIntosh does not suffer from claustrophobia. Fortunes may play a big part in his future if a planned tunnel venture yields the amount of gold he’s expecting. McIntosh has been working at the base of Yank’s Peak near the Barkerville-Wells area for some years. He believes the current economic climate is perfect for gold mining. If all goes well, the northern B.C. placer and hard rock miner will break ground in July and possibly see the fruits of his labour as early as August. He plans to dig a tunnel using mostly hand tools – picture the Great Escape movie but with pesky mosquitoes, not prison guards, to impede his progress. Indeed, McIntosh invites the reporter to come out and check on his progress in late September “when all the mosquitoes are gone.� Meanwhile he has a claim – and a plan. “My plan is to build a tunnel six or seven feet high, going straight down to make a 50-foot shaft,� he said. “The first 25 to 30 feet or so will be done by excavator. The remaining 20 or so feet by hand, using a pick and shovel. I’m too close to the creek to do it any other way (he has to avoid silt going into the creek). The tunnel will be six to seven feet high, just high enough for me to stand up in. Then I’ll use an electric drill to auger it loose – so it will look like Swiss cheese.� Once the necessary permits are approved, his work is expected to start in July. “I think I’ve got a pretty good plan. I’ll be cutting timber from the property to support the walls of the tunnel – it has to be done according to environment (friendly) standards and there’s not many precedents for that, so that part will take some time. But I’ll be using old growth, worm-killed spruce trees so there is no economic waste.� Why start this project now? “Right now it is ideal conditions for mining. The price of gold is up – today (April 15) it is worth about $1,195
The first phase of the operation involves using an excavator to start digging a tunnel for his placer operation.
Google Earth image of Micky McIntosh’s placer site near Yank’s Peak in the Barkerville-Wells area. He plans to start mining this summer.
U.S. – and the price of fuel is down,� says McIntosh, who is encouraged by the cyclic nature of the industry and by old drill results. “The world revolves in cycles. The last gold rush was in the 1970s and there was a bigger one in the 1930s. So we’re overdue for one. At one time, the world’s money supply was based on gold – now they keep printing money, but that can’t last. In 2011, gold was worth $1,900.� He’s expecting to learn from miners of yesteryear. “People mined this area a long time ago in the 30s. They tunnelled at Little Snowshoe Creek one kilometre north of me and produced seven ounces of gold per yard. It hasn’t been mined much since then, so I think I should be able to get out two yards per day – at $600 to $1,200 per yard.� His tunnel plan is very labour intensive but McIntosh is sure it will be worth it. When he started out, McIntosh was mostly interested in recreational placer mining. He planned to buy and sell claims but then got “hooked� on doing work himself. It all started with world events. McIntosh has a background in farming, growing specialty grains. One day in 1999, sitting on his grain tractor, he was musing about the near collapse of the Russian economy and he took a long, hard look at the value of gold versus printable money. “Gold seemed to be the answer to the world’s problems then. And I think the economic climate right now is good
for gold mining, with the Canadian dollar where it is and the price of fuel down. These are ideal conditions for mining. In the 1930s, costs got cut in half for things like labour and steel – and the price of gold went up 50 per cent.� In 2002, McIntosh got his first mining claim. He had no difficulty persuading his wife, Valerie Jean, to try her hand at mining, too. “My wife is a big city girl. She’d never even been in the country but she came out and decided we should spend our summers placer mining, using a sluice box to do a little prospecting near the creeks (in the Barkerville area). Everyone thinks this is a get rich quick scheme but it isn’t.� The couple eventually bought a claim which had been an old mining camp and had a 1,300 square foot cabin on it. The building was collapsing but they did the repairs and restored it. They enjoyed the outdoors, the peace and the tranquility – then the visitors started arriving and they got company, lots of it. “All of a sudden people started showing up in cars and motor homes. Some had maps with them that still showed the old camp, others were looking for roads that didn’t exist any more. They thought they could just drive over the mountain to visit Barkerville. We ended up inviting them in for coffee and we made a lot of friends that way. With
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
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Barkerville on the other side of us, we soon became the unofficial tourism bureau in the area.� In 2010 McIntosh got into mining a little more seriously. “I got my mining permit and bought some equipment, a wash plant, an excavator, an older gravel truck and a small trommel and went to work on an old glacial deposit. “I did that for two years – it didn’t go very well. The nature of my claim is such that I can’t be like the Yukon miners you see on TV shows with all their equipment.� In time, McIntosh mused about doing something more adventurous.
While ground sluice boxing in his first year, he’d discovered some sizeable gold nuggets but now he wanted to try his hand – literally – at digging a big tunnel to reach the motherlode. Now he is waiting for permit approval before moving on with his project but he remains hopeful there’s ‘gold in them thar hills’ (no mining story is complete without that time-worn phrase). “I should have some answers in August as to what deposits are there. The plan I have to ‘get rich’ will still happen when the American dollar gives out. Then gold will be the answer. It’s a unique situation in history where governments can just keep printing money. That can’t last forever.�
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Moly miners make inroads during information session in northwestern B.C. The company which wants to build a molybdenum mine at Kitsault on the north coast and its subsidiary which would handle the project, Avanti Kitsault, introduced themselves to the business community and others recently by hosting a reception at its new Terrace offices on the second floor of the Dairy Queen building. Officials from the two companies mingled with guests as refreshments were served by students of Northwest Community College’s culinary arts department. Those present included representatives from the Nisga’a Lisims Government, which has signed a benefits agreement with the company; members of Terrace city council; Terrace and District Chamber of Commerce president Janice Shaben; Skeena NDP MLA Robin Austin; and Francoise Godet, Skeena-Bulkley Valley NDP MP’s Terrace constituency assistant. ‘We’re delighted to see the overwhelming support of the community,� said Alloycorp Mining president Gordon Bogden in making brief remarks to the gathering. The project to mine molybdenum, a strengthening agent in steel, has a forecast life of 14 years and would employ 300 people. Avanti Kitsault has already built a road to its location, rebuilt a provincial government bridge to enable it to haul in heavy equipment, and has completed a 150-bed construction camp. The company has been borrowing money for the work so far and is now working on completing final financing for the project which could cost as much as $1 billion. “We’re not quite done yet,� said Bogden of raising financing. “We’re moving through it.� To date, the company has raised (US) $435 million through equity and debt financing. An expected (US) $612 million from six international lenders through a commitment negotiated last year, has since been reduced to (US) $225 million from two of the
Acting Terrace mayor Lynne Christiansen, left, with Nisga’a Lisims Government executive chairman Kevin McKay and Alloycorp Mining president Gordon Bogden at an April 9 reception hosted by the company in the offices of its Terrace subsidiary, Avanti Kitsault Mine Ltd.
lenders and one of the six has since dropped out but the company says it is now talking to other lenders. “We’re looking at this as a mine of the future. It’s not just talk. It’s actually happening,� said Bogden.
“We’re looking forward to working with all of you to build this mine,� added Avanti Kitsault president Peter Mah. - Terrace Standard
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Red Chris Mine uses temporary permit The Red Chris mine north of Terrace up Highway 37 North is making the most of a temporary environmental permit and has begun both processing and shipping copper concentrate out the Port of Stewart. “The mill processed just over 193,000 tonnes in February producing approximately 2,400 tonnes of copper concentrate,” says a release on mine owner Imperial Metals’ website last week. The provincial environment ministry had granted Imperial an effluent discharge permit in early February, a three-month permit expiring in May that allows the mine to operate its oregrinding mill while testing the tailings facility. The company is required to show that the tailings facility is holding up before getting the final permit. The company release says it is processing the ore slowly to begin with but did not mention testing the tailings facility. “The commissioning team continues
to focus on achieving continuous operations and a consistent final concentrate grade. “Once the team is satisfied with the progress in these areas, more emphasis will be placed on metal recoveries and throughput,” says the statement. In light of the rupture of a huge Imperial-owned tailings facility at the Mount Polley mine near Williams Lake, all mining companies in the province have been required to review their tailings safety. In the case of Red Chris, Imperial paid for a review by a company chosen by the Tahltan Central Council, which has been negotiating an economic benefits agreement with the company. The mine is located on Tahltan traditional territory. The review of the Red Chris facility raised questions about whether it might have similar flaws as the one that failed at Mount Polley in the Cariboo last year, however, mines minister Bill Bennett has since stated that the two facilities are vastly different.
The mill processed 193,000 tonnes in February, producing 2,400 tonnes of copper
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Thompson Creek mine results Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. last week announced its first quarter production and sales results. Total concentrate production for Mount Milligan for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 was 30.3 thousand dry tonnes, with 15.4 million pounds of payable copper and 46.1 thousand ounces of payable gold, which represented increases of approximately eight per cent and 18 per cent, respectively, from payable copper and gold production during the first quarter of 2014. For the quarter ended March 31, 2015, molybdenum sales from inventory at the company’s Thompson Creek Mine and its 75 per cent-owned Endako Mine, together with third-party sourced material that was converted at the company’s Langeloth Metallurgical Facility (Langeloth), totaled 4.3 million pounds. In December 2014, the Thompson Creek Mine was placed on care and maintenance, and effective December 31, 2014, operations at the Endako Mine were temporarily suspended due to recent and expected ongoing weakness in the molybdenum price.
COPPER AND GOLD Since the beginning of 2015, throughput and production at Mount Milligan Mine have been impacted by frozen and plugged feeders and unscheduled mechanical issues in other
areas of the grinding and flotation circuits. Action plans to address these issues are being implemented. Average mill throughput for the first quarter of 2015 was 39,569 tonnes per day (“tpd”) compared to 33,278 tpd for the first quarter of 2014. Throughput improved during the last half of March, achieving 50,000 to 54,000 tpd for a majority of the days during that period. “Production at Mount Milligan during the first quarter of this year was challenging due to a number of operational and mechanical issues in the mill, but we have gained valuable knowledge and are making operational improvements to increase throughput going forward,” said Jacques Perron, President and Chief Executive Officer of Thompson Creek. “As a result of the issues we experienced in the mill, we minimized our use of the temporary secondary crushing circuit during the first quarter of 2015. With the recent improvements in the mill, we expect to increase secondary crushing for the remainder of 2015, which we believe will allow us to achieve throughput of approximately 60,000 tpd by year-end.” During the first quarter of 2015, the company had four shipments of copper and gold concentrate under its sales agreements and recognized three sales, compared to three shipments of concentrate and two sales in the first quarter of 2014.
MOLYBDENUM The current business strategy is to transition Langeloth into one of the largest third party molybdenum conversion plants in the world, which is expected to contribute to positive cash flow from the molybdenum business in 2015 and to maintain the optionality of the molybdenum business. Thompson Creek Metals Company Inc. is a North American mining company. The company’s principal operating property is its 100 per cent-owned Mount Milligan mine, an open-pit copper and gold mine and concentrator in British Columbia. The company’s molybdenum assets consist of its 100 per cent-owned Thompson Creek Mine, an open-pit molybdenum mine and concentrator in Idaho; its 75 per cent joint venture interest in the Endako Mine, an open-pit molybdenum mine, concentrator and roaster in British Columbia; and its Langeloth Metallurgical Facility in Pennsylvania. The company’s development projects include the Berg property, a copper, molybdenum, and silver exploration property located in British Columbia; and the Maze Lake property, a gold exploration project located in the Kivalliq District of Nunavut, Canada. The company’s principal executive office is located in Denver, Colorado.
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Mount Polley design and steep addition led to tailings pond failure Tom Fletcher Black Press The Mount Polley mine dam failed because of an overlooked glacial material layer in the foundation and a series of steep additions that eventually overcame it, an independent engineering review has concluded. “Basically the weight of the dam was too much for the weak materials in the foundation to bear,” said U.S. consulting engineer Steven Vick, one of three experts called in to examine the failure that caused the dam to breach and fail in August 2014. The report concludes that the concrete-like glacial till material in the base of the dam wasn’t understood in enough detail when the dam was designed and built in 1997. Later raising of the dam to hold more water and tailings weakened the base layer and led to the failure. Vick said the additions to the dam were built at a steeper slope than the original dam, and plans to buttress the area were delayed until it was too late. Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett said the report shows there were no warning signs, and no surface inspections could have detected the problem that was overlooked in the design and original construction. Two more investigations of the mine failure are pending. Bennett said the Chief Inspector of Mines is likely to release his report by this summer, and the Conservation Officers’ Service will also report when its investigation is complete. Bennett said the government is willing to see the Mount Polley mine reopen, but the other investigations must be complete first. The parent company Imperial Metals has applied to use an existing pit to store tailings and resume operations without using the original tailings pond again. Photo illustration courtesy of the Ministry of Environment “This was a horrible accident,” Bennett said. “We now Tailings dam at Mount Polley mine has been modified since the Aug. 4 breach to contain further flow of tailknow how it happened.” ings into Quesnel Lake. Advertorial
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Engineers and geoscientists working to improve dam safety in the province The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of B.C. (APEGBC) says work is progressing on a significant element of its action plan to help improve dam safety in B.C. Following the release of the Report on Mount Polley Tailings Storage Facility Breach on January 30, APEGBC initiated work on a key recommendation in the report to develop professional practice guidelines for dam site characterization assessments. The guidelines will outline the standard of care and professional obligations professional engineers and geoscientists must uphold when conducting these assessments, and will define the roles and responsibilities of the various participants and stakeholders involved in this process. “APEGBC’s first priority is public safety,” said Ann English, P.Eng., CEO and Registrar. “These guidelines are a significant step towards improving dam safety in B.C. This is just one of the ways APEGBC is taking action to help prevent an accident like this from happening again.” The four senior technical experts leading this work include Dirk van Zyl, P.Eng., who participated on the independent expert engineering investigation and review panel that authored the Mount Polley report. The guidelines will undergo review by a group comprising expert engineers and geoscientists, staff from the Ministries of Energy and Mines and Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, and representatives from the Canadian Dam Association. “Our government is committed to ensuring that all of the independent panel’s recommendations are implemented and we support the action that APEGBC is taking,” said Minister of Energy and Mines Bill Bennett. “Developing new guidelines for professional engineers and geoscientists to follow when conducting dam site characterizations is an important part of learning from this serious incident and making sure it never happens again.” The guidelines will complement existing practice stan-
Angie MINDUS/Special to the Free Press A boat makes its way through the debris in Quesnel Lake following the tailings pond breach at Mount Polley mine last summer.
dards APEGBC has defined for professional engineers and geoscientists involved in dam-related work, including APEGBC’s Guidelines for Legislated Dam Safety Reviews in B.C. “Engineers and geoscientists in B.C. are committed to meeting the highest standards of professional practice possible,” said English. “And APEGBC is fully committed to understanding the factors that led to the Mount Polley Mine dam breach.”
The guidelines are scheduled to be released in March 2016. Founded in 1920, APEGBC is the regulatory and licensing body for the professions of engineering and geoscience and is charged with protecting the public interest. With over 32,000 members, APEGBC is one of the largest professional associations in B.C. and maintains high academic, experience and professional practice standards.
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will advise which radio channels to use and provide the communication protocols, including the road name and required calling intervals. Vehicle operators using mobile radios to communicate their location and direction of travel must use the posted radio channels and call protocols. All resource road users in the affected areas should exercise additional caution during the transition period. Drivers are reminded that forest service roads are radio-assisted, not radiocontrolled, and to drive safely according to road and weather conditions. Local resource road safety committees have worked with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Industry Canada to implement these changes. Learn more about resource road radio communications protocols and view maps online at: www.for.gov.bc.ca/hth/engineering/Road_Radio_Project.htm or by contacting the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations district office in your area or Industry Canada at 1-800667-3780.
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Shell takes over BG Group Stacy Thomas Northeast News DAWSON CREEK – Multi-national oil and gas company Royal Dutch Shell announced on April 8 that it would take over the struggling BG Group for USD $70 billion, the largest energy industry merger in over 15 years. The acquisition will likely mean one less LNG project for northeastern B.C., as both Shell and BG had projects planned for the region. Shell’s LNG Canada project and BG’s Prince Rupert LNG project are now both on the chopping block, it seems, as analysts say it is unlikely that after the merger Shell will go forward with both projects. “There is clearly scope for review for those two projects in Canada,” Shell chief executive Ben van Beurden was quoted as saying in a conference call on April 9. Shell was expected to make a decision on its Shell LNG Canada project in 2016, but has not confirmed if that timeline remains. “Our understanding is that both of the projects, the one from Shell, the one from BG, would have used at least some of the gas sourced from Dawson Creek,” said Jim Chute, City of Dawson Creek Chief Admin-
istrative Officer. Analysts are speculating that the purchase could signal an increased interest in LNG and a move away from oil, and could mean more mergers to come as weaker companies are bought up. Peter Tertzakian, energy economist and veteran industry analyst based in Calgary, told the Financial Post that what he called “structural” changes in the Canadian fossil fuel industry could result in more mergers and acquisitions. The effects this may have on the Peace is unclear. “When it comes to what that means for our region or for British Columbia, to the best of my knowledge there hasn’t been any discussion around how that is going to be positive or negative for us,” said Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier. “From what I see there’s still a lot of investment, there’s still a lot of involvement in British Columbia, so obviously we hope that continues.” There are some clues as to which LNG project will be discontinued. Noel Tomnay, head of global energy, mining and metals research and consultancy group Wood Mackenzie’s LNG research team, predicts that the Shell LNG Canada project near Kitimat will go forward.
Mining industry gathers for Mining Day in Victoria On March 24 more than 65 representatives from the B.C. mining industry, including representatives from the Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC), the Mining Suppliers Association of B.C. and the Association of Mineral Exploration of B.C., coalesced in Victoria to meet with government officials as part of Mining Day at the Legislature 2015. Organized by MABC, Mining Day at the Legislature is an opportunity for industry and government representatives to come together to discuss the challenges facing the sector and identify responsible opportunities for growth. “This is an important opportunity to bring together operators, industry partners and legislators to discuss a path towards prosperity for all British Columbians”, commented Karina Briño, President and CEO of the Mining Association of B.C. “The B.C. mining industry is comprised of global leaders in responsible resource development. We are here to share our story and
our commitment to safety, sustainability and continuous improvement”. Minister Bill Bennett stated, “a thriving mining sector is essential for building a strong and diverse economy in our province and a successful mining sector relies on successful partnerships – partnerships between industry, government, communities and First Nations. It is through these partnerships that we will continue to make B.C. a mining success story and I’m happy that today our government is celebrating and supporting our partnership with this important industry.” The MABC delegation is comprised of senior executives from B.C.’s mining and supplier operations, representing most of B.C.’s operating mines and an industry worth more than $8.5 billion in gross revenue and approximately 10,000 jobs, across every region of the province. Together, the delegation represents a critical economic driver and job creator for B.C.
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Toronto energy conference. “As a matter of fact, Shell has come out publicly and said North American LNG projects are some of their priorities globally.” Increased international interest in LNG would only mean good things for Northeast B.C., says Bernier. “It’s really important for our region, for the jobs and the economic growth, to have LNG go forward, so that’s something we want to keep working towards, for sure,” said Bernier. “If an LNG plant goes through, it doesn’t matter which one goes through, that will be good news for the industry in our area.”
“The Shell project has got buyers in the partnership, it’s developing the pipeline, it’s well ahead with the engineering – so the Shell project is well advanced,” he was quoted in the Financial Post. Meanwhile, all of the senior personnel in the Canadian branch of BG have left the organization in the last six months, Tomnay said. Karl Johannson, president of natural gas pipelines of TransCanada Corp. which is contracted to build the pipeline connecting the Northeast natural gas fields with the Shell LNG Canada project, also has confidence in the Kitimat project. “We see no signs of Shell putting down the tools at all on that project,” he said at a
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Facts about mining
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• Gross mining revenues for the B.C. mining industry were $8.5 billion in 2013. • In 2013, the B.C. mining industry made total payments to the government and government agencies of $511 million, an increase from $504 million in 2012. • British Columbia’s mining industry pre-tax net earnings for 2013 was $1.387 billion. • Hiring requirements for all mining sectors in B.C., over the next 10 years, are projected to be 16,770 workers under a baseline scenario • The number of people working in B.C.’s mining industry in 2013 increased to 10,720, up from 10,419 in 2012. • Average salary and benefits were $114,600 in 2013, down from $121,900 in 2012. • Capital expenditures fell to $1.8 billion in 2013, a decrease of 35 per cent from 2012. • Vancouver is the world’s leading centre of expertise for mineral exploration. Some 1,200 exploration companies are located in British Columbia, most in the greater Vancouver area • Exploration and development expenditures by survey participants was $476 million in 2013 compared with $680 million in 2012. • Lead revenue totalled $189 million in 2013 compared to $194 million in 2012. • Shipments of metallurgical coal rose to 28.1 million tonnes in 2013, compared to 24.2 million tonnes in 2012. • Coal accounted for 41 per cent of the total volume handled at the Port of Vancouver in 2013, which moves shipments to China, Japan and other Asian markets. • Metallurgical coal continued to dominate B.C.’s mining sector in 2013, representing 43 per cent of revenues, followed by copper concentrates at 23 per cent, silver at nine per cent, zinc and zinc concentrates at nine per cent, gold at four per cent, lead at three per cent and molybdenum at two per cent. • Copper revenue increased to $1.7 billion in 2013 and copper shipments rose to 884,000 tonnes. • Gold: net mining revenues increased in 2013 to $304 million, up from $275 million in 2012. • Molybdenum: net mining revenues in 2013 were $150 million compared to $248 million in 2012. • Zinc and zinc concentrates revenue in 2013 fell slightly to $628 million from $685 million in 2012. • Silver: net mining revenue for 2013 was $626 million compared to $760 million in 2012. • Cash flow from B.C. operations in 2013 was $2.6 billion, an increase of 15% over 2012. • Mine reclamation is a fundamental part of the mining life cycle in British Columbia. The Technical & Research Committee on Reclamation (TRCR) has been dedicated to excellence in mine reclamation in B.C. since 1977.
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Gibraltar Mine focus on safety Dave Rouleau Taseko Mines The year 2014 and the early part of 2015 have been challenging for the mining industry. Commodity prices are down, some like oil, silver, nickel and molybdenum are down significantly. Copper too is down; declining since 2011, copper hit a five-year low this past year. If these low levels persist for a prolonged period it will add further economic uncertainty to the mining industry, not just here in B.C. but around the world. While Taseko, and the Gibraltar Mine we operate, are not immune to these market challenges, we have been preparing for the possibility of lower prices for some time. Gibraltar was restarted in 2004 and beginning in 2006 Taseko invested $700 million in a multi-phase modernization project. The main goal was to lower costs, increase production and be in the best possible position to ensure the company could weather the storm associated with copper price declines. By increasing production and lowering costs-per-pound produced, the operation becomes more efficient, more resilient, and possesses greater potential to remain profitable, and thus remains operating while other higher cost mines around the world will have to either curtail production or cease operations altogether. The success at Gibraltar is in large measure a reflection of the skill and dedication of our employees to not only operational excellence but also to the well-being of their fellow workers. Safety remains the top priority and great care is taken to ensure safety is the first consideration in all decisions and actions taken. At midnight on Dec. 31, 2014 a significant safety milestone was reached when employees and contractors completed the entire 2014 calendar year without a single loss time incident. A total of 1,711,467 person hours worked without an accident. The Taseko-Gibraltar operation remains a vital contribu-
Taseko-Gibraltar present the Thompson Nicola Cariboo United Way with a cheque for $108,295 at the Annual United Way Touchdown closing celebration. Pictured are, from left, Dr. Todd Ring, 2014 Campaign Cabinet Chair, and Geralyn Alain, Community Campaign Manager for United Way Thompson Nicola Cariboo; Chad Beadman, Liz Crosina, Zack Nerbas, and Krista Murray from Taseko-Gibraltar.
tor to local communities and the people living in the region. With approximately 650 working at Gibraltar, we have a total payroll of $70.1 million per annum, with 94 per cent of employees concentrated in Williams Lake, Quesnel and 100 Mile House. And although spending is down in comparison to recent years, we remain committed to our local purchasing policy. Gibraltar spent more than $76 million buying goods and services locally in 2014, which continues to help local businesses and generate additional employment opportunities in local communities. Additionally, in 2014 Taseko-Gibraltar employees raised a total of $108,295 for the United Way in the Cariboo, demonstrating our employees’ personal generosity and determination to give back to the community. Over the past seven
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years, Taseko-Gibraltar employees are responsible for having donated approximately $630,000 to the United Way as a means to contribute to the local well-being of the Cariboo communities. This fundraising initiative, which is driven by employees, provides meaningful support for local charities and a chance for all of us to say thanks for the work they do and the contribution they make to the quality of life here in the Cariboo. Through the challenging year, we remain proud of our workforce’s many accomplishments; it is their hard-work and unwavering commitment to the region that sets and inspiring example as we work our way through these times of economic uncertainty. - Dave Rouleau is the vice-president of mining operations with Taseko Mines Ltd.
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Rohan Golden Eagle Silvertip
Ministry of Energy and Mines
Fireside
Engineer Atlin
Haskins Reed Cassiar Jade Contr. Cassiar Mtn. Jade Storie Tulsequah Chief Pyramid
Metal Mines Huckleberry Yellow Giant Mt. Milligan Bonanza Ledge Copper Mountain Gibraltar New Afton HVC Myra Falls
copper, gold, silver, molybdenum gold, silver copper, gold, silver gold copper, gold, silver copper, molybdenum copper, gold copper, molybdenum zinc, copper, lead, silver, gold
Industrial Mineral Mines Cassiar Jade Contr. jade Cassiar Mtn. Jade jade Kutcho Jade jade Ogden Mountain jade, nephrite Fireside barite Mount Brussilof magnesite Moberly Silica silica, frac sand Elkhorn gypsum Kootenay West gypsum Winner gabbro, basalt Ashcroft basalt Bromley Creek zeolite Bud bentonite Decor landscape rock Falkland gypsum Harper Ranch limestone Kettle Valley stone Klinker opal Lady King stone Pavilion limestone Red Lake diatomaceous earth Apple Bay silica, alumina, clay Benson lake carbonate, marble Texada Island limestone, dolostone, aggregate DeCosmos Lagoon clay Garibaldi pumice K2 stone Sumas Mountain silica, shale, alumina, sandstone
Thorn Metla
Fort Nelson
Eaglehead Turnagain Tanzilla Kutcho Jade Sheslay RCN Hat Kutcho Creek Summit A Castle North ROK Tatogga Spectrum Eldorado DOK Red Chris GJ ROK Schaft Creek Arctos Kemess E Galore Creek
Operating Mines and Selected Exploration Projects in British Columbia, 2014 British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines, British Columbia Geological Survey Open File 2015 - 1
Grizzly
Mt. Alcock Yuen North Yuen Cirque East Cirque Pie Fluke UDS Akie Elf Kemess UG
Gordon Clarke, Jim Britton, Paul Jago, Fiona Katay, Jeff Kyba and Bruce Northcote Compilation and digital cartography by Kirk Hancock and Deanna Miller
Newmont Lake Groundhog Treaty Ck Metal Bronson Coal Industrial Mineral Snowfield Inel Thor Mine Mine Mine KSP Fort KSM Aley Croy-Bloom Proposed Mine Snippaker Proposed Mine St. John Mine Development Brucejack Project Project High Dunlevy King Corey Proposed Mine Mine: care and Mine: care and Granduc Bow / Tide North Project Cat Mountain maintenance 2014 maintenance 2014 Del Norte S2 Silver Coin OGK Mine: care and Red Mountain Brule Premier maintenance 2014 Ogden Sukunka Takla Rainbow Homestake Ridge Dolly Varden EB Mtn Kwanika East-Smoke Perry Creek Redton Suskwa Rottacker Murray River Kitsault Chuchi Col-Later Hermann Fireweed Babine Waterfall Mt Milligan Quintette (Babcock) Decar Big Onion Smithers Lennac Lake Roman Northwest Columario Davidson Dome Mountain Wapiti E Trend-Roman Prince Rupert Wapiti River Boer CR Hanson Lake Masset Huguenot Giscome Fenton Kitimat Endako Silver Silver Queen 2 x Fred Prince George Hope Emerald Glacier Fox Green Gold Ootsa Trout Huckleberry Ches Cariboo Gold Quartz Fawn Yellow Giant Deer Horn Capoose Blackwater Bonanza Ledge Van Tine Key 3Ts QR British Columbia Geological Survey field projects in 2014 Spanish Mtn Ben Blue River Gibraltar Mount Polley Woodjam Boss Mountain Williams Lake Fox Ruddock Creek DeCosmos Canim Lake W Canim Lake E Lagoon Harper Creek J&L Moberly Mount New Prosperity Blackdome Revelstoke Brussilof Bonaparte Harper Ranch Bingay Creek Driftwood Elizabeth Red Lk Maggie Ike Thor New Afton Falkland Greenhills Ptarmigan Elkhorn Pavilion Kamloops Lady King Fording River North Island Bralorne Max Decor Klinker Project Orca Kootenay W Ashcroft Garibaldi Ajax Lavington 4J Line Creek Apple Bay Findlay Donna Gold Crown Mountain HVC Rabbit Brett Iron Ross Benson Lk North Slocan Silver Sully Willa Jumbo Elkview Aspen GroveKelowna Campbell River Ashlu Cranbrook LH Shovelnose Michel Creek Quinsam Black Crystal Elk Zinger Kenville Mount Conuma Man-Prime Dillard Texada Is Earle Ck Marten Coal Mountain Nelson Heimdal Lawless Ck Vine Axe Argonaut Head Bay Coal Creek Burnco Kettle Valley Daylight Jumping Josephine Bul River Basin Bud Coal Mtn Ph2 Myra Falls Gold Drop Pipeline Rd Sechelt Swift Katie Raven Bromley Copper Mtn Vancouver Pitt R Jersey Emerald Ck Winner Cox Stn Nanaimo Treasure Mtn Sumas Mtn Huu-ay-aht Sarita
Regional Geologist and Mineral Development Office contacts
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Victoria
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200 Kilometres
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Prince George - NORTHERN
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REPORT- Free Press
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Advertorial
Mines celebrated for health and safety achievements over past year The province recognized mining operations in B.C. for their health and safety accomplishments last month during the 53rd annual Mine Safety Awards banquet in Victoria. The awards were presented to mines and quarries operating in British Columbia that had the lowest injury-frequency-rate during the previous calendar year. The companies acknowledged are leaders in workplace safety in an industry that is critical to B.C.’s diverse, strong and growing economy. “These awards underscore the progress made in health and safety practices in B.C.’s mining sector, while recognizing those companies that are setting an example of how to be successful while upholding health and safety standards,” said Bill Bennett, minister of energy and mines. “I want to thank these companies for the important work they do and for their commitment to keeping our workers safe.” New Gold Inc.’s New Afton mine and Copper Mountain Mining Corporations’ Copper Mountain mine, two of the five new mines that have opened in B.C. in the last few years, both received awards for the lowest injury-frequency-rate. This past year saw a decrease in the total estimated injury rate at mines in B.C. as well as a decrease in the number of days lost to injury. “Worker safety is always top of our minds and the ministry health and safety team strives for high safety standards at all B.C. mines,” said Al Hoffman, B.C.’s chief inspector of mines. “I’d like to thank all of the inspectors, mine management workers and
unions for their commitment to ensuring mining remains one of B.C.’s safest heavy industries.” B.C.’s mining industry remains one of the safest heavy industries in the province, a direct reflection of the co-operative effort of mine employees, mine management and unions, and the sector’s commitment to maintaining high health and safety standards, according to Bennett.
Industry Leading Trail King Trailers Arrive At James Western Star James Western Star Truck & Trailer Ltd, family owned and operated by the “James Gang”, is proud to have taken a successful roll in the BC business community for over 26 years. With three Branches and two associate outlets, they cover a territory from Bella Coola to Prince Rupert and the Northern Interior of British Columbia. Along with Western Star trucks, James Western Star holds the franchise for Superior Trailers, carries Tremcar brand tankers, and is the newest BC dealer for Trail King Trailers. Trail King Trailers is the newest addition to this business and are available at all three branches. They have a huge variety of applications in so many markets, such as waste and recycling, agriculture, construction, transportation, mining and specialized James Western Star supplies mines and other industries hauling. They feature load capacities from 6,000lbs to 1,000,000lbs. “Our belief is that you deserve the best. Our goal is to give you an optimal experience and that means we need to be more than just trucks and trailers,” says owner Bryan James, “We are a one-stop convenience center that offers everything you need to keep your truck running its best. Our staff is eager and willing to go that extra mile to provide exceptional personal service to the customer.” James Western Star dedicated to maintaining their position as a leader in the trucking industry by continuing to combine high quality service with trustworthy customer relations. They are also active community members, supporting events, teams and fundraisers in the communities that they work and live in.
Quick Facts: • Mining is one of the safest heavy industries in B.C. • Currently there are six operating coal mines and 10 operating metal mines in B.C., as well as hundreds of aggregate pits and quarries, and more than 30 industrial minerals mines throughout the province. • The Mine Safety Awards were established in 1961 by the B.C. government to recognize the safety record of mines in B.C. • The Mine Safety Awards consist of three categories and seven different awards. • Provincial health and safety inspectors are involved in all aspects of the mining cycle, to ensure the health and safety of workers, environmental protection and compliance with the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in B.C.
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Advertorial
Mobile service increases production time and saves companies money Inland Prince George is the new name of a familiar long time face in the forestry, construction crane and mining sector. Formerly Inland Kenworth Parker Pacific, Inland Prince George features a newer fleet of mobile service trucks. These trucks go right to our customers area of operation and their team of well trained technicians can fix any problem. The entire Inland team of technicians, parts personnel, sales and support staff are all highly skilled, well trained, very passionate about their quality workmanship and always go the extra mile to keep customers up and running. Inland Prince George services a very large territory covering territory north to Mackenzie, west to Houston including Vanderhoof and Fort St James. Out in the field, our large mobile service fleet allows us to respond to customers’ needs in a timely manner. This reduces downtime and increases your company’s productivity, by carrying-out breakdown, and preventative maintenance repairs at your location. The time it takes to get a piece of equipment or heavy truck to the shop and back takes time and can be very costly. Back at the store in PG, Inland features a large volume of parts inventory. From the smallest to the largest part, it is usually in stock. Their highly skilled and talented parts personnel focus on getting customers back in business quickly and efficiently. Customers come from all over the north to source their heavy duty trucks and equipment parts needs. Keeping equipment or a heavy truck well maintained, also extends the life of the asset, and controls costs by finding issues before they become costly repairs. If you require service in the field or at their shop in PG, all of Inland’s technicians are among the best in the business at identifying and completing necessary repairs, so you know you are getting it done right in a timely manner. Inland Prince George is committed to building long term successful relationships with all their customers by delivering timely and reliable product support solutions at a fair price.
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