Earth science information organisation Geoscience BC has released a new geological map and data, which is the latest in a series of research projects to encourage mineral exploration in the regional district of Kootenay Boundary in southern British Columbia.

The 1:50 000 scale “Geology of the Greenwood” map provides an updated understanding of the relationships between different rock types and their ages around Greenwood, where there has been significant gold/silver/copper/lead/zinc mining since late 1880.

Geoscience minerals and mining VP Bruce Madu said on Friday that the new research should bolster the recent revival of mineral exploration activity in the Greenwood area.

The research found Highway 3 runs along the southern edge of the 800 km² area covered by the Greenwood map, passing through towns founded on mining, such as Grand Forks, Greenwood, Midway and Rock Creek.

“With 26 ‘past producing’ mines in the Greenwood area, and more than 38 t (1.2-million ounces) of gold and more than 270 000 t of copper mined in the area to date, the new map will improve understandings of the geology that hosts deposits, and where development might be appropriate in the future,” stated Madu.

Project lead Trygve Höy said Greenwood was one of Geoscience BC’s larger mining areas for research. “The [Greenwood] map provides data and information about new opportunities, as well as existing deposits, knowing that new approaches could make them viable targets again.”

The new research combines field mapping by Höy and rock dating by the University of British Columbia to untangle the complex relationships between rock types and when mineral deposits were formed in the project area.

It is hoped that the research will also provide clues to how and when other deposits formed across British Columbia. “This area could hold the key to a better understanding of mineral deposits that formed during key geological events that span almost 200-million years,” added Madu.

Prior Geoscience BC research in the series includes mapping of Almond Mountain, Christian Valley, Deer Park, Burrell Creek and Grand Forks.

A new compilation map for the east-half of the Penticton map sheet will be published in early 2019.