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Similco

Producer in British Columbia, Canada with commodities Copper, Gold, Silver
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Commodities
  6. Materials information
  7. Nearby scientific data
  8. Ore body information
  9. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  10. Mining district
  11. Mineral rights holdings
  12. Ownership information
  13. Production statistics
  14. Reserves and resources
  15. Workings at the site
  16. Links to other databases
  17. Bibliographic references
  18. General comments
  19. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10133562
MAS/MILS ID 1220100004
Record type Site
Current site name Similco
Alternate or previous names Similkameen Mine, Copper Mountain, Similkameen Division, Ingerbelle East, Alabama Zone, Ingerbelle

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -120.51791, 49.33313 (WGS84)
Elevation 1170
Location accuracy 1000(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Alaska(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

USGS map quadrangles

Robinson Mountain OE N(quadrangle 1:100,000 scale)

Hope(quadrangle 1:250,000 scale)

Geographic areas

Country State
Canada British Columbia

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Gold Secondary
Silver Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Bornite Unknown
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Magnetite Unknown
Molybdenite Unknown
Pyrite Unknown
Pyrrhotite Unknown

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -120.51791, 49.33313
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Dip 80S
    Area 3700HA
    Depth to top 12M
    Field Value
    Type of Orebody #1 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #1 IRREGULAR
    Shape of Orebody #2 PIPELIKE
    Shape of Orebody #3 LENTICULAR
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Secondary mode of Origin CONT METASOMATIC
    Primary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Secondary Ore Control FAULTING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 BLEACHING
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 PROPYLITIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 POTASSIC
    Strike And Dip :80S
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 12
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Total Surface Area (HA) 3700
    Date of Last Modification 810309

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1884
Mining method Open Pit
Year of first production 1972
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Cordilleran

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Patented
Type of mineral rights Private Lease
Type of mineral rights Located Claim

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Similco Mines Ltd.
    Home office Canada
    Year 1990
  • Type Owner
    Owner Princeton Mining Corp.
    Interest 100
    Home office Canada
    Year 1990

Production statistics

  • Year 1972
    Description 0.44 Pct. Cu 2711000 Metric Tons Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 2711000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1973
    Description 0.45 Pct. Cu 4860000 Metric Tons Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 4860000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1974
    Description 0.48 Pct. Cu 4614000 Metric Tons Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 4614000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1975
    Description 0.46 Pct. Cu 3694000 Metric Tons Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 3694000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1976
    Description 0.42 Pct. Cu 6356000 Metric Tons Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 6356000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1977
    Description 0.37 Pct. Cu 7136000 Metric Tons Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 7136000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1978
    Description 0.41 Pct. Cu 6780000 Metric Tons Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 6780000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Description 0.43 Pct. Cu 6899000 Metric Tons Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 6899000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Description 0.46 Pct. Cu 6613000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 6613000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Description 0.40 Pct. Cu 6868000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 6868000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1982
    Description 0.38 Pct. Cu 6704000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 6704000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1983
    Description 0.36 Pct. Cu 6850000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 6850000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1984
    Description 0.39 Pct. Cu 6516000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 6216000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1985
    Description 0.42 Pct. Cu 6881000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 6881000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1986
    Description 0.42 Pct. Cu 6877000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 6877000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1987
    Description 0.44 Pct. Cu 6975000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 6975000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1988
    Description 0.44 Pct. Cu 7190000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 7190000mt 0wt-pct

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1992
    Indicated 22600000mt ore
    Demonstrated 22600000mt ore
    Total resources 22600000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.45 wt-pct Copper Major 1992
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1992
    Indicated 122400000mt ore
    Demonstrated 122400000mt ore
    Total resources 122400000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.39 wt-pct Copper Major 1992
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1993
    Demonstrated 103878000mt ore
    Total resources 103878000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.402 wt-pct Copper Major 1993
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1986
    Indicated 113227000mt ore
    Demonstrated 113227000mt ore
    Total resources 113227000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.391 wt-pct Copper Major 1986
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Demonstrated 93883000mt ore
    Total resources 93883000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.399 wt-pct Copper Major 1994
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1995
    Demonstrated 43500000mt ore
    Total resources 43500000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.24 g/mt Gold Minor 1995
    Copper Cu 0.36 wt-pct Copper Major 1995
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1995
    Demonstrated 19600000mt ore
    Total resources 19600000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Gold Au 0.18 g/mt Gold Minor 1995
    Copper Cu 0.312 wt-pct Copper Major 1995
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1995
    Demonstrated 135625000mt ore
    Total resources 135625000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.376 wt-pct Copper Major 1995
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1995
    Demonstrated 135625000mt ore
    Total resources 135625000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.376 wt-pct Copper Major 1995

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • SIMILKAMEEN DIVISION INCLUDES THE INGERBELLE AND COPPER MOUNTAIN DEPOSITS. PRINCETON MINING CORP., 1993 ANNUAL REPORT, P. 5. GOLD AND SILVER GRADES ARE RECOVERABLE IN 1993.
  • HIGH GRADE RESERVES AS OF 12/31/86 HIGH GRADE RESERVES AS OF 12/31/86 AVERAGE GRADE RESERVES AS OF 12/31/86 DEPOSIT OCCUPIES 2 LOCATIONS AND 3 PITS, BUT EVALUATION TREATS AS 1 DEPOSIT WITH HIGH AND LOW ZONES

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method BENCH (BERM)
    Percent Waste Rock 33.6
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 12
    Primary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 12
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 70
    Capacity 19640
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1986

Comments on the workings information

  • THE TOPOGRAPHY IN THE VICINITY OF THE MINES AND MILL VARIES FROM "FAIRLY STEEP" TO "NEARLY VERTICAL".

Comments on other economic factors

  • DUE TO THE TREMENDOUS VARIATION OF ASSAY GRADE WITHIN THE INGERBELLE OREBODY, THE INGERBELLE PIT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED, FOR THE PURPOSES OF MINING, TO BE COMPRISED OF THREE DISTINCT ORE ZONES (CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL, 6-78, P. 58), EACH OF WHICH HAS BEEN MINED SEPARATELY AND IS DISCUSSED BELOW: (1) THE "WEST" ZONE WAS THE FIRST TO BE MINED, AND ITS RESERVES WERE DEPLETED IN FEBRUARY 1977. THE PIT AREA WAS USED FOR DUMPING WASTE ROCK. (2) THE "SOUTHEAST" ZONE WAS DEPLETED IN 1979. (3) MINING IN THE THIRD, OR "NORTH" ZONE IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN DECEMBER 1981 (NORTHERN MINER, 3-27-80, P. 31). ORE PRODUCTION BEGAN IN 1978. PRODUCTION FROM THE COPPER MOUNTAIN OREBODY BEGAN IN SEPTEM- BER 1980. THE OREBODY IS BEING MINED VIA THREE, DISTINCT, OPEN PITS. DURING THE PERIOD FROM SEPTEMBER 1980 (COPPER MOUNTAIN START UP) TO DECEMBER 1981 (INGERBELLE SHUT DOWN), HALF CAPACITY IS FROM EACH OREBODY.
  • TOPOGRAPHY OVERLYING THE ORE DEPOSITS VARIES FROM FAIRLY STEEP ON THE UPPER SLOPES OF THE VALLEY TO NEARLY VERTICAL IN THE RIVER CANYON (REFER P.2, REF. 025-028). THE SIMILCO PROPERTY CONSISTS OF TWO MAIN ORE ZONES, THE "INGERBELLE" DEPOSIT ON THE WESTERN SLOPE OF THE SIMILKAMEEN VALLEY AND THE "COPPER MOUNTAIN" (FORMERLY REFERRED TO AS THE "SIMILKAMEEN") DEPOSITS ON THE EASTERN SLOPE. THE ORE ZONES ARE SEPARATED BY THE DEEP, SIMILKAMEEN RIVER CANYON. THE COPPER MOUNTAIN DEPOSIT CONTAINS THREE DISTINCT PITS HOWEVER, FOR THE 1987 EVALUATION, THE DEPOSIT IS LOOKED AT AS ONE SINGLE ORE BODY AND ONLY ONE MINE.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Production

    NICE, R.W., CONCENTRATOR START-UP AT SIMILKAMEEN; CIM BULL.,

  • Production

    SEPT., 1974, P.55-61.

  • Production

    BARRATT, DEREK J., SEMI-AUTOGENOUS GRINDING: A COMPARISON

  • Production

    WITH THE CONVENTIONAL ROUTE; CIM BULL., NOV., 1979,

  • Production

    P.74-80.

  • Geology

    MACAULEY, T.N., GEOLOGY OF THE INGERBELLE AND COPPER

  • Geology

    MOUNTAIN DEPOSITS AT PRINCETON, B.C., CIM BULL., APRIL,

  • Geology

    1973, P.105-112.

  • Geology

    FAHRNI, K.C., T.N. MACAULEY AND V.A.G. PRETO, COPPER

  • Geology

    MOUNTAIN AND INGERBELLE; A SUTHERLAND BROWN, ED.,

  • Geology

    PORPHYRY DEPOSITS OF THE CANADIAN CORDILLERA, CIM SPECIAL

  • Geology

    VOLUME NO. 15, 1976, P.368-375.

  • Geology

    PRETO, V.A., GEOLOGY OF COPPER MOUNTAIN. BRITISH COLUMBIA

  • Geology

    DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND PETROLEUM RESOURCES, BULLETIN 59,

  • Geology

    1972.

  • Reserve-Resource

    CANADIAN MINES HANDBOOK, 1980-81, P. 185.

  • Reserve-Resource

    CANADIAN MINES HANDBOOK - 1986-1987, P. 282.

  • Reserve-Resource

    ANNETT, WILLIAM, NEW IMPROVED CASSIAR MINING CORP.,

  • Reserve-Resource

    CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL, APR. 1989, P. 29-33.

  • Reserve-Resource

    CANADIAN MINES HANDBOOK - 1989-90, P. 101, 102.

  • Reserve-Resource

    NORTHERN MINER, 6/29/92, P. 17.

  • Reserve-Resource

    PRINCETON MINING CORP., 1992 ANNUAL REPORT, P. 7.

  • Reserve-Resource

    PRINCETON MINING CORP., 1993 ANNUAL REPORT, P. 5.

  • Reserve-Resource

    PRINCETON MINING CORP., PRESS RELEASE, 1/25/95, 1PP.

  • Reserve-Resource

    PRINCETON MINING CORP., 1994 ANNUAL REPORT, P.5.

  • Deposit

    ROBERTS, RICHARD, NEWMONT TO DEVELOP COPPER MOUNTAIN;

  • Deposit

    NORTHERN MINER, AUG. 31,1978, P.1,2.

  • Deposit

    CANADIAN MINES HANDBOOK 1978-79. P. 202.

  • Deposit

    CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL. BRITISH COLUMBIA--COPPER MOUNTAIN

  • Deposit

    EXPANSION. OCT. 78, P. 12.

  • Deposit

    HANNA, K.E., ET AL. SIMILKAMEEN MINING CO. LTD.--NEWMONT

  • Deposit

    MINING CORPORATION. MILLING PRACTICE IN CANADA, CIM

  • Deposit

    SPECIAL VOLUME 16, 1978, PP. 125-127.

  • Deposit

    MACAULEY, T.N. GEOLOGY OF THE INGERBELLE AND COPPER

  • Deposit

    MOUNTAIN DEPOSITS AT PRINCETON, B.C. CIM, APRIL 1973.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE. GO-AHEAD FOR COPPER MOUNTAIN, B.C., MINE.

  • Deposit

    OCT. 1978, P. 359.

  • Deposit

    PARLIAMENT, J.H., THE SIMILKAMEEN PROJECT, CIM BULL., APRIL,

  • Deposit

    1973, P.58-64.

  • Deposit

    RAYMOND, GARY, ORE ESTIMATION PROBLEMS IN AN ERRATICALLY

  • Deposit

    MINERALIZED OREBODY; CIM BULL., JUNE, 1979, P.90-98.

  • Deposit

    WESTERN MINER, THE SIMILKAMEEN PROJECTS; DEC., 1973,P.30-38.

  • Deposit

    DELAN, W.M., E.J. BALLANTYNE JR. AND T.N. MACAULEY,

  • Deposit

    GEOPHYSICS OF THE COPPER MOUNTAIN AND INGERBELLE ORE-

  • Deposit

    BODIES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA; CIM BULL., JULY,1975,P.90-97.

  • Deposit

    SCHABAS, WILLIAM, SIMILKAMEEN PREPARES FOR MOVE TO COPPER

  • Deposit

    MOUNTAIN; CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL, JUNE, 1978, P.58,61.

  • Deposit

    SIMILKAMEEN MINING CO. LTD. STAFF, SIMILKAMEEN MINING CO.

  • Deposit

    LTD.; IN MINERAL INDUSTRIES IN WESTERN CANADA, THE TENTH

  • Deposit

    COMMONWEALTH MINING AND METALLURGICAL CONGRESS- SEPT. 2-

  • Deposit

    28, 1974, SECTION VI, ARTICLE I, P.1-12.

  • Deposit

    NORTHERN MINER, NEWMONT'S SIMILKAMEEN DIVISION INCREASES

  • Deposit

    OUTPUT AND PROFIT, MARCH 27, 1980, P. 31.

  • Deposit

    DANIELSON, VIVIAN, PRINCETON SURVEYS POTENTIAL FOR SIMILCO

  • Deposit

    RESERVE EXPANSION, NORTHERN MINER, 8/13/90, P.1,19.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, SIMILCO MINE REPORT, 6/15/90, P.473,474.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, 11/90, P.37.

  • Deposit

    MINING ACTIVITY DIGEST, 12/31/90, P.8.

  • Deposit

    NORTHERN MINER, PRINCETON EXPECTS NEW ESTIMATE OF MINABLE

  • Deposit

    RESERVES BY YEAR-END, 11/19/90, P.6.

  • Deposit

    NORTHERN MINER, PRINCETON'S EARNINGS DROP AS COSTS RISE,

  • Deposit

    REVENUE FALLS, 4/1/91, P.6.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING J., 5/91, P.46.

  • Deposit

    THE NORTHERN MINER, 11/8/93, P. 14.

  • Deposit

    TECK CORP., 1993 ANNUAL REPORT, P. 4-7.

  • Deposit

    AMERICAN METAL MARKET, 4/15/94, P. 5.

  • Deposit

    AME MINING WEEKLY, 6/10/94, P. 3.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 5/6/94, P. 328.

  • Deposit

    PRINCETON MINING CORP., PRESS RELEASE, 6/6/94.

  • Deposit

    PRINCETON MINING CORP., PRESS RELEASE, 6/7/94.

  • Deposit

    PLATT'S METALS WEEK, 7/11/94, P. 1.

  • Deposit

    AMERICAN METAL MARKET, 7/14/94, P. 6.

  • Deposit

    AMERICAN METAL MARKET, 7/20/94, P. 6.

  • Deposit

    PRINCETON MINING CORP., PRESS RELEASE, 8/2/94.

  • Deposit

    PRINCETON MINING CORP., PRESS RELEASE, 8/30/94.

  • Deposit

    PRINCETON MINING CORP., PRESS RELEASE, 8/15/94.

  • Deposit

    PRINCETON MINING CORP., PRESS RELEASE, 8/22/94.

  • Deposit

    METAL BULLETIN, 11/4/93, P.8.

  • Deposit

    PRINCETON MINING CORP., PRESS RELEASE, 3/9/94, 1PP.

  • Deposit

    PRINCETON MINING CORP., PRESS RELEASE, 5/2/94, 2PP.

  • Deposit

    PRINCETON MINING CORP., PRESS RELEASE, 6/8/94, 2PP.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 9/2/94, P.164.

  • Deposit

    PRINCETON MINING COEP., PRESS RELEASE, 9/20/94, 1PP.

  • Deposit

    AMERICAN METAL MARKET, 9/23/94, P.6.

  • Deposit

    PRINCETON MINING CORP., PRESS RELEASE, 10/4/94, 1PP.

  • Deposit

    PRINCETON MINING CORP., PRESS RELEASE, 10/6/94, 1PP.

  • Deposit

    AMERICAN METAL MARKET, 10/11/93, P.5.

  • Deposit

    PRINCETON MINING CORP., PRESS RELEASE, 11/28/94, 1PP.

  • Deposit

    AMERICAN METAL MARKET, V 103/N 188, 9/29/95, P.12.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit THIS PROPERTY EVALUATION WAS DONE IN DECEMBER 1980 BY INTERMOUNTAIN FIELD OPERATIONS CENTER, DENVER, COLORADO, USING DATA COMPILED BY GOLDER ASSOCIATES, INC., 1658 COLE BOULEVARD, SUITE 180, GOLDEN, COLORADO 80401, UNDER CONTRACT J0295059 WITH THE BUREAU OF MINES.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 23-SEP-96 Porter, Kenneth E. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

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