Where are minerals found in BC?

Gneiss and Schist formations in B.C. are known to exist at Kinbasket Lake, Kootenay Lake ,Vernon, and Prince Rupert areas. Gem quality sapphire pebbles of light green colour have been found in the Pend Oreille River. Rubies of minute grains have been found in some of the tributary creeks of the Tulameen River.

Can you use a sluice box in BC?

No Water Into a Watercourse The most important rule is that no water from placer mining (other than hand panning) may flow or visibly seep into a watercourse. This includes any natural stream, pond, lake or wetlands. It is not legal to use a sluice box in a stream.

How long do mining claims last?

The maximum period is 90 days from the staking of a claim or site on the ground. However, some states require earlier filings, such as 30 or 60 days from the date of location.

Where can I dig for crystals in BC?

Good sites are Englishman River Falls near Parksville; Petroglyph Park and the Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park near Nanaimo; the Gulf Islands of Saltspring, Saturna and Hornby Islands; near old mines on Vancouver Island.

Can I take rocks from a river BC?

To begin, in British Columbia no one owns the land below the high water mark. This is different than other provinces. This means that you can access rocks along most beaches and river gravel bars. The expectation is that most rock hunters will only take small quantities for personal use.

Can I camp on a mining claim?

Virtually all unpatented federal mining claims are in multi-use areas, this means that anyone can camp on the area. The claim owner only has rights to the minerals which means the campers are not allowed to access minerals, they also can not stop the miners from mining.

How are mineral titles maintained in British Columbia?

Mineral Titles Online (MTO) is an Internet-based mineral titles administration system that allows the acquisition and maintenance of mineral titles through selection of an area on a seamless digital GIS map of British Columbia.

Is there an online map viewer for British Columbia?

MTO is an excellent resource available to the public which also allows you to search for title information through the use of keywords or maps. MTO Map Viewers – MTO is a system that includes online map viewers for Mineral, Placer and Coal Tenure for the province.

How big are the claims in British Columbia?

Cells range in size from approximately 21 hectares (457m x 463m) in the south to approximately 16 hectares at the north of the province. This is due to the longitude lines that gradually converge toward the North Pole. Clients are limited to 100 selected cells per submission for acquisition as one claim.

How big is a map of British Columbia?

8.5″ x 11″ map identifying the placer claim and placer lease designated areas for the Province 8.5″ x 11″ map showing the UTM zones across the Province. Provincial map showing the Mining and Minerals Division regional offices. Document is 8.5″ x 11″ in size.