Field Trips
Field Trip 1 – Myra Falls VMS
Date: Thursday, January 31 - Friday, February 1
In-kind sponsor: Nyrstar
Capacity: 13 spots
SOLD OUT 3 tickets left!
The Myra Falls deposits consist of a number of mineralized zones such as the Marshall, Battle, HW and Lynx. The deposit is a complexly zoned volcanogenic massive sulphide contained within the Myra Formation of the Sicker Group volcanic rocks of Vancouver Island. The mineralization comprises poly-metallic massive sulphide, poly-metallic disseminated sulphide, zoned pyritic massive sulphide and stringer sulphide zones. The principal minerals are sphalerite, pyrite and chalcopyrite with minor galena, bornite, tennantite, and locally significant secondary copper. In 2011, Myra Falls produced approximately 15,000 tonnes of zinc in concentrate, 400 tonnes of lead in concentrate, 1,600 tonnes of copper in concentrate, 5,100 troy ounces of gold in concentrate, and 220,000 troy ounces of silver in concentrate, with grades of 7.2% zinc, 1.2% copper, 1.7 g/t gold and 55 g/t silver.
The field trip will depart by bus from the Westin Bayshore mid-afternoon on Thursday, January 31. Following a night in Campbell River, the morning at Myra Falls will be spent touring through the underground. A surface tour will follow if time and weather permits. The tour will return to the Westin Bayshore in the late evening of Friday, February 1. The field trip fee includes a guidebook, transportation and accommodation, but does not include food.
Field Trip 2 – Highland Valley Copper and New Afton Copper Porphyries
Date: Friday, February 1 - Saturday, February 2
In-kind sponsors: New Gold and Teck Resources Limited
Capacity: 20 spots
SOLD OUT
Delegates will depart from the Westin Bayshore the morning of Friday, February 1, and return the evening of Saturday, February 2. This trip features a tour of two of BC’s copper porphyry deposits – Teck Resources Limited’s Highland Valley Copper mine and New Gold’s New Afton mine.
On Friday, the first stop will be at the Highland Valley Copper mine, whose history dates back to the 1963 commissioning of the Bethlehem Copper Mine. It has since grown to become the largest open pit copper mine in Canada and with current Mineral Reserves expected to support a mine life until 2026. In 2011 mining production removed 42.3 million tonnes from their reserves to produce copper and molybdenum concentrates for shipment. Delegates will tour the mill facilities, and weather permitting, tour the open pit. Highland Valley staff will give a presentation of the geology and mining operations, and drillcore will be on display for delegates to view.
After staying overnight in Kamloops the tour will continue to the New Afton mine. Delegates will have the opportunity to go underground to view the block caving operation, scheduled to commence production in June of 2012 and is expected to produce an annual average of 35,000-45,000 ounces of gold and 30-35 million pounds of copper. Delegates will also tour the flotation concentrator, view drillcore, and listen to a presentation provided by New Gold staff. The bus will depart from the mine and return to the Westin Bayshore the evening of Saturday, February 2. The field trip fee includes a guidebook, transportation and accommodation, but does not include food.