New Research to Boost Interest in Historical Kootenay-Boundary District Mining Region
Vancouver, BC - September 27, 2018- A new geological map and data released by Geoscience BC today is the latest in a series of research projects to encourage mineral exploration in the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary in southern British Columbia.
The 1:50,000 scale Geology of the Greenwood Map Area (NTS 082E/02), Boundary District, Southern British Columbia map provides an updated understanding of the relationships between different rock types and their ages around Greenwood, where there has been significant gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc mining since the late 1880s.
Geoscience BC Vice-President of Minerals and Mining Bruce Madu said: "This new research funded by Geoscience BC should bolster the recent revival of mineral exploration activity in the Greenwood area."
Highway 3 runs along the southern edge of the 800 km2 area covered by the Greenwood map, passing through towns founded on mining such as Grand Forks, Greenwood, Midway and Rock Creek. With 26 'past producing' mines in the Greenwood area, and more than 38 tonnes (1.2 million ounces) of gold and over 270,000 tonnes of copper mined in the area to date*, the new map will improve understandings of the geology that hosts deposits, and where development might be appropriate in the future.
Project lead Trygve Höy said: "Greenwood is one of BC's larger mining areas. This map provides data and information about new opportunities as well as existing deposits, knowing that new approaches could make them viable targets again."
The new research combines field mapping by Trygve Höy and rock dating by the University of British Columbia to untangle the complex relationships between rock types and when mineral deposits were formed in the project area.
It is hoped that the research will also provide clues to how and when other deposits have formed across British Columbia. "This area could hold the key to a better understanding of mineral deposits that formed during key geological events that span almost 200 million years," said Madu.
All data and maps from the new research are publicly available, with the aim of encouraging exploration, economic activity and informed land use decisions.
The research is the latest in a series of new mapping in the area funded by Geoscience BC. This has included:
- Almond Mountain Map Sheet NTS 082E/07
- Christian Valley map sheet NTS 082E/10
- Deer Park Map Sheet NTS 082E/08
- Burrell Creek map sheet NTS 082E/09
- Grand Forks Map Sheet NTS 082E/01
A new compilation map for the east-half of the Penticton map sheet (NTS sheet 082E) will be published in early 2019.
Accessing Information
To view reports and maps for this project, visit the project page below or use our Earth Science Viewer online mapping application.
View 2016-004 project page View Project 2016-004 in Earth Science Viewer
About Geoscience BC
Geoscience BC is an independent, non-profit organization that generates earth science information in collaboration with First Nations, local communities, governments, academia and the resource sector. Our independent earth science enables informed resource management decisions. You can view a copy of the Geoscience BC Strategic Plan 2018-2022 here. Geoscience BC gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia.