 |
Exploration expenditures were nearly $416 million, up 57 per cent from 2006 and 1,300% over the 2001 investment level of $29 million.
|
|
|
Total exploration drilling reached about 1.254 million metres during the year, up over 51% from the 830 000 metres drilled in 2006. |
|
|
Number of exploration projects with budgets in excess of $1 million was 102, up 42% from 2006. |
|
|
Number of major exploration projects with budgets in excess of $100,000 was 315, up 31% from 2006. |
|
|
There were 472 exploration projects for minerals, coal, industrial minerals and aggregates throughout B.C. |
|
|
Number of new mine proposals is 23: 13 metal mines, 7 coal mines and 3 industrial minerals operations. |
|
|
Number of mines in production is 57: 11 metal, 10 coal and 36 industrial minerals. |
|
|
Number of projects under environmental review is just over 20.
|
|
|
Four new mines commenced production: Swamp Point (northwest) and Orca (southwest), Brule and MAX molybdenum.
|
|
|
Eight new mines in the last three years.
|
|
|
B.C. is estimated to account for about 17% of Canadian mineral exploration investments during 2007, up from about 7% in 2000. |
|
|
Exploration expenditures by mining region:
- Northwest - $170.2 million, 144 projects
- Northeast - $10.5 million, 10 projects
- Central - $94.6 million, 88 projects
- South Central - $84.4 million, 119 projects
- Southeast - $43 million, 78 projects
- Southwest - $13 million, 33 projects
- B.C. total - $415.7 million, 472 projects
|
