Morice Land and Resource Management Plan
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- Location Analysis
Opportunity AnalysisThe Morice region has limited "historical" mining heritage. This area was a region of prospecting shortly after the turn of the century but may contain little evidence of that era. The temperate forest climate of the region is not favourable for preserving early mining infrastructure. Any non-geological evidence from the 1910s would be difficult to find. The attraction to tourists of this remaining infrastructure would be limited. However, significant potential may exist for mining tours of past producers in the area as a new generation of mining and discovery. A significant gap exists in BC of recent exploration and mining methods from BC extensive mid-century industry efforts. From the 1960's to present, little public exposure has been given to the many success stories in exploration and mining. Most of the remaining operating metal mines today in BC source their discovery and technical feasibility to discoveries of the generation of exploration typical of the Morice region. Unlike the mining heritage of the turn of the century preserved largely by government intervention, BC has and is undergoing a purge of our post-mid-century mining history. Through mandates of law by government authorities (i.e. burning of the Hedley stamp mill in 1972, attempted demolition of the 1930s era Mascot buildings above the town, partial demolition of Ocean Falls town site in the early 1980s), there may be no preservation of mid/late century mining heritage. Depending on the condition and extent of the buildings and development of the sites in the Morice region, there may be tremendous potential to preserve the 1960 - 1990s era mining technology, exploration evidence and worker lifestyle. Not to say that the sites need to be tinselled up for mass tourism, but to leave the sites accessible for a select profile of adventure/nature-based travelers seeking to learn historical details of authentic Canadian culture. No abandoned site in BC has an intact mill preserving the complete processing of raw ore to concentrate. And the few operating mines left in the province have limited resources or incentive to open their doors to the public. A number of abandoned mines with plants are gradually selling off the equipment to a glutted global market or selling the material for scrap or simply burning and burying all materials. There is interest in the machinery, buildings, processes and infrastructure of post-1950s mining. Turn of the century sites contain little raw evidence of the era as natural evolution of degradation or scavenging generally occurs. Open pit mines have the best potential for finding rock and mineral specimens. Besides the impressive aesthetic of standing in a big man-made hole, fresh rock exposures tell the tale of mineralizing processes and specimens abound. Generally, water standing in the pit is crystal clear and very photogenic. The pits themselves are not subject to reclamation as the task is simply too enormous. Potential to provide an experience of modern exploration history could be conducted in the region for a niche-tourism market. BC Geological Survey geologists have been active in the area for over a decade. Prospecting, mapping and sampling activities would give an opportunity for tourists to understand modern exploration methodologies. Such learning tours could include overnight stays at a number of camps equipped as relatively modern exploration camps complete with wall tents, woodstoves, cook tent, radiotel communications. A number of exploration companies no long active in BC have surplus equipment to donate to such a program. Location AnalysisThe ultimate fate of the past producers in the Morice Land and Resource Management Planning area will be the eradication of any evidence of its mining history. Records show that ownership of a number of the sites as being major mining companies. Provincial authorities with the perception that corporations are capable of full compliance will strictly enforce the responsibility mandated by law for reclaiming the sites. Any buildings from the 1960's will in the future be as historically significant as have been sites currently under preservation such as Barkerville, the Le Roi Mine in Rossland and Dawson City in the Yukon. The benefit such sites have had is that a population lived at the towns and maintained the structures as residences. The sites in the Morice region are isolated and supported only by the resources of the current tenure or permit holders. There are no community or resident champions seeing themselves as responsible for preserving these sites. The over-riding issues when accessing mine sites is liability and safety. Despite no litigation risk to the government, it has been unwilling to let operators assume the risk of their own activities with their clients. Mining companies are also aware of government regulation driven by perceived liability issues and are bound by strict public access parameters. Governments and mining companies insisting on, or forced to have Third-party Liability Insurance coupled with the run-from-risk position in all sectors of the insurance industry makes the potential for public visitation unlikely to many sites. The Morice area has a vast network of back roads built and maintained by forestry companies based in Houston, Telkwa and Smithers. Non-maintained roads are quickly reclaimed by nature as many of the low flatlands are subject to flooding and rapid encroachment of alder and other brush into the roadways. There is an extensive waterway network, bridges and culverts, if not removed via the decommissioning of the roads as demanded by the Ministry of Forests, are subject to rapid deterioration. Public entry into abandoned underground openings is illegal in BC, based on some very sound logic. To restore an underground drift to a level deemed, as safe for the public is an extensive and costly process. Sites are under the same building and safety regulations as any public place. The conditions for public access reduce the site to an accessible level based on the least mobile visitor (ramps, railings, walkways, etc). Guided tours onto the properties by qualified; non-company staff requires a progressive attitude by both the government and mining companies. Perceived risk versus actual risk in adventure/nature-based tourism routinely has irreconcilable differences within interpretation, as to how corporations and government views “adventure”, often the larger the mining company, the more difficult it is to gain access. Independently owned properties and small companies are seldom problematic. In this cursory review of the region with information sourced from Minfile records belonging to the BC Geological Survey, a number of sites may have attractive potential for mining and prospecting tours. Huckleberry Mine: a current modern production facility. Open pit operations are always popular and far less problematic than public access to underground operations. Operating mill tours are currently rare in the province. Tours must be designed to minimize interference with the operation of staff time. Current exploration efforts may include a separate camp that could be developed as a showcase to travelers exposing them to the lifestyle of modern explorationists. Equity Silver: Gold has always been the draw for BC historical mining tours. Visitors are often disappointed to see that gold is seldom, if ever, visible in true gold ores. Other minerals associated with other metals can be far more spectacular. The ores of the Equity Silver Camp are hosted in visually stunning pyrite (fool's gold), chalcopyrite (copper), pyrrhotite (a magnetic iron mineral) and galena (lead). As these minerals occur both with and without economical grades of metal, specimens can be found in waste piles and are popular souvenirs at no cost. Equity Silver is in close proximity to Houston with an excellent road. Granisle/Bell Copper: Distance is an issue as the route to these sites is over 140 kilometres with most of it gravel. Significant discoveries, these mines demonstrate the modern era of discovery and mining. The picturesque setting on Babine Lake gives great potential for overnight trips. These trips may be coordinated with a number of resorts on Babine Lake and could include boat access to the sites. Topley Richfield: Potential prospecting history potential as this mine's discovery dates back to the 1920s. Reasonably close to Houston, this site may qualify for self-guided driving tours. There are a number of additional heritage mine sites in the Morice area that have good interpretive value which can be combined with a nature-based experience, however they would need a closer examination with regards to site issues and access:
There are generally local people in mining communities with enough expertise both to interpret the site to a reasonable level as well as to add local colour. Past employees are a wealth of accurate and interesting knowledge. However, to expect significant employment from these tours would be unrealistic. To be able to be called upon when needed is disrupting to any other employment they may have. Despite this, potential as a sideline occupation would require the person to be freed of a myriad of other government regulation required of this type of business. The current requirements for someone to do tours part-time are the same as full-time protocols, from Motor Carrier Commission; the Mines Act; liability insurance; and Land Use permitting. The individual is best left under the category of "consultant" in order to minimize the web of bureaucracy. Download 1.06 Mb. Share with your friends:
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