Mineral Exploration

Directional signage that will soon become familiar along the Highway 16 corridor. W inte r 20 1 8 17 PHOTO: COURTESY COMMUNITY ENERGY ASSOCIATION to build a clean transportation network." The network contains Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFC) as well as Level 2 charging stations along highways 1, 3, 6, 93 and 95 throughout the Kootenays. Appropriately enough, along the Highway 3 corridor, this network connects the historic gold-mining town of Greenwood in the west with the metallurgical coal mining centre of Sparwood in the east – both towns that are continuing to see exploration to outline the deposits that will continue to power the development of clean energy materials into the future. The EV network expansion along highways 16, 97 and 5 involves 43 regional governments working together toward a network stretching from the Thompson- Nicola region, through Kamloops and Prince George, all the way to Haida Gwaii – a web of infrastructure for electric vehicle support and charging stations spanning 2,780 kilometres. The expansion entitled Highway 16/97 Electric Vehicle (EV) Network Feasibility Study includes a network of charging stations (both DCFCs and Level 2 stations) as well as public education and car dealer outreach. "It's a chicken-and-egg thing. We need the infrastructure in place to reduce the HIGHWAY 3 AND MINERALS FOR ELECTRIC CARS ¡ BENEFITS FOR RURAL B.C. The term "electric car" covers three types of vehicle: Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs). BEVs are wholly electric and are powered only by batteries that are recharged at a plug-in station. HEVs are powered by a combination of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor; the battery is recharged either by the petrol engine or the kinetic energy of the car. PHEVs operate in the same way as HEVs, but their batteries can also be recharged at a plug-in station. The battery chemistry of BEVs, HEVs and PHEVs varies but is dominated by lithium compounds; lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC), lithium nickel cobalt aluminium oxide (NCA) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP). Batteries with greater nickel content have higher energy density and so are projected to capture more market share going forward. Other metals expected to increase in demand include copper, lead, titanium and silicon, which are used in the wiring and construction of batteries. Copper is also used to connect modules and cells in battery packs and in charging infrastructure. Petrol cars use up to 23 kg of copper, whilst an HEV requires 40 kg and a PHEV, up to 60 kg. Car bodies will remain predominately made of steel alloys to satisfy safety requirements. Driving along Highway 3 eastwards gives a snapshot of how British Columbian communities may profit from increased demand for these minerals: • Princeton benefits from copper mining and exploration with one active mine, Copper Mountain (Copper Mountain Mining Corp.) and Miner Mountain (Sego Resources Inc.) which is prospecting for polymetallic deposits of copper and gold. The Copper Mountain Mine produced 75,800 lbs. of Cu in 2017, with an additional 23,600 oz. of Au, and 277,000 of Ag. The mine has a projected life of 16 years, which could be extended by 10 years with ongoing exploration at its New Ingerbelle prospect. It employs about 425 people, and an additional 10 companies provide goods and services totalling a spend of $1.35 million to the mining companies operating in this area. • Greenwood and Grand Forks are reaping rewards from higher commodity prices, which have seen increased exploration activity as copper and lead are subsidiary minerals in the region's gold seams. Prospecting around Gold Drop (GGX Gold Corp.) has confirmed a positive correlation of Au with elevated amounts Ag, Pb and Cu. Sampling on the historic mining areas of May Mac, Golden Crown, Lexington and the Phoenix (Golden Dawn Minerals Inc.) highlight several Au-Ag and Au-Cu targets for future drilling. • Castlegar and Salmo historically had several small mines producing lead, zinc, silver and tungsten. Present-day exploration around Jackpot and Jersey-Emerald (Margaux Resources Ltd.) and Swift-Katie (Valterra Resource Corp.) have outlined various potential polymetallic deposits of Zn, Pb, Ag, Au, Cd, as well as W (with minor Mo and Cu). • The Trail smelter (Teck Resources Limited) produces approximately 305,000 tonnes of refined zinc, 99,000 tonnes of refined lead and up to 25 M oz. of silver annually. Trail operations employ about 1,400 people and locally procure around $124 million a year in goods and services, which in turn generates approximately $11 million in municipal revenue. • Around Sparwood, Teck Coal Ltd.'s five operating coal mines in the Elk Valley account for 70 per cent of Canada's coal production and exports. Metallurgical coal predominates (85 per cent) and this is used to produce the coke necessary for iron and steel-making. In 2017, 28 Mt of metallurgical coal was mined. Sparwood has the highest concentration of suppliers, with approximately 55 companies serving this region, resulting in a $270-million spend on procurement. – Natasha Gibson 10:42 AM

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