Britannia Mine Earthcache EarthCache
Britannia Mine Earthcache
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The site of the former Britannia Mine is located, adjacent to the fjord of Howe Sound. The mine was operated from 1902 to 1963 by the Britannia Mining and Smelting Company Ltd. And from 1963 to 1974 by Anaconda Mining Company.
Altitude of the mines was 4600 feet (1400 m) from Howe Sound. During the life of the mine, ore was extracted from underground workings and five open pits.
47 million tonne of ore was extracted from the mine during its 72 years of operation.
All ore was concentrated by milling in Britannia Beach, with concentrate shipped to smelters and refiners in the United States. Most mill tailings, in excess of 44 million tonne, were deposited into the Howe Sound from an intertidal discharge at Britannia Beach.
Mine water flows from the 2200 Level and 4100 Level portals and has the elevated metal content, particularly copper and zinc, and low pH characteristic of ARD. The 2200 Level portal discharge is no longer treated by the cementation plant at Mount Sheer, but flows directly into Jane Creek which is a tributary of Britannia Creek.
The site is currently subject to a Pollution Abatement Order (established in the early 70s and revised in 1981) under the B.C. Waste Management Act (Price et al., 1995). This order directs that:
All mine drainage water be directed to the 4100 Level portal
The flow rate and copper concentration of mine drainage discharged from the 4100 Level is to measured weekly. The discharge is to be measured monthly for pH, Zn, Pb, Fe, SO4, Cd, TSS and acidity.
When dissolved copper levels in mine drainage exceed 15 mg/l, water is to be treated in the copper recovery (cementation) plant.
Present day there is a museum at the base of the mountain in the township of Brittanica Beach. Recently there was a 5 million dollar upgrade to give the museum a facelift.
To log this Earthcache please do the following:
1. Identify 2 minerals that are in the polluted creek that runs to Howe Sound
2. What type of items can be made from copper
3. Estimate the height of the visible mountain where the mines are located.
**You can log this cache right away, you do not need consent from owner of earthcache.
**If the answer is wrong I will email you..
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