MINERAL DEPOSITS OF VANCOUVER ISLAND

By Jacques Houle, P.Eng.May 2014

Data Sources

BC MINFILEhttp://www.empr.gov.bc.ca/Mining/Geoscience/MINFILE/Pages/default.aspx

BC Mineral Deposit Profileshttp://www.empr.gov.bc.ca/Mining/Geoscience/MineralDepositProfiles/Pages/default.aspx

BC MapPlacehttp://www.empr.gov.bc.ca/Mining/Geoscience/MapPlace/Pages/default.aspx

Highly Varied Deposit Types

Few Long Life Producers

Highly Varied Deposit Types

+95% Wrangellia

50% Volcanic:• 1% Miocene (Alert Bay)• 3% Eocene (Metchosin)• 10% Jurassic (Bonanza)• 30% Triassic (Karmutsen)• 6% Devonian (Sicker)

20% Sedimentary:• 9% Cretaceous (Nanaimo)• 9% Triassic (Quatsino / Parson Bay)• 2% Permian (Buttle Lake)

25% Intrusive:• 1% Miocene (Klaskish)• 5% Eocene (Mt. Washington)• 15% Jurassic (Island)• 3% Triassic (Mt. Hall)• 1% Devonian (Saltspring)

5 % Metamorphic• 3% Post-Jurassic (Leech River)• 2% Pre-Jurassic (West Coast Complex)

10% Quaternary Sediment

Cover

MINFILE TotalsCategory (Number) Tonnes Gold (g) Silver (g) Copper (kg) Lead (kg) Zinc (kg) Mo (kg) Fe (kg)

Industrial Mineral / Dimension Stone (95) 1,086,518,295Coal (37) 535,571,108Metallic Minerals (185) 1,040,841,158 226,177,486 2,734,169,439 3,929,208,866 192,221,458 2,609,970,923 53,781,188 36,414,504,906Totals (317) 2,662,930,561 226,177,486 2,734,169,439 3,929,208,866 192,221,458 2,609,970,923 53,781,188 36,414,504,906C$ Metal Prices per unit (g/kg) $50.00 $0.75 $7.50 $2.50 $2.50 $15.00 $0.15C$ Value Totals by Metal $56,102,942,391 $11,308,874,309 $2,050,627,080 $29,469,066,495 $480,553,644 $6,524,927,308 $806,717,820 $5,462,175,736

Vancouver Island Mineral Occurrence Tonnes by Category Vancouver Island Metallic Mineral Occurrences

Industrial Mineral /

Dimension Stone (95)

41%

Coal (37)20%

Metallic Minerals

(185)39%

MINFILE Total % Tonnes by Category

20%

4%

52%

1%

12%

1% 10%

MINFILE Total Metallic Minerals % Value by Metals Gold (g) Silver (g) Copper (kg) Lead (kg) Zinc (kg) Mo (kg) Fe (kg)

MINFILE Totals• Dimension Stone deposit data incomplete to absent• Coal deposit data limited but tonnage is significant• Metallic deposit data extensive and interesting• Copper, Gold, Zinc and Iron most significant metals• >C$55 Billion in 185 metal deposits at todays prices

Producers & Past ProducersCategory (Number) Tonnes Gold (g) Silver (g) Copper (kg) Lead (kg) Zinc (kg) Mo (kg) Fe (kg)

Industrial Mineral / Dimension Stone (88) 139,289,705Coal (33) 76,667,849Metallic Minerals (123) 433,667,784 87,907,443 1,416,154,423 1,756,750,360 67,145,078 1,358,908,599 32,009,858 19,166,449,710Totals (244) 649,625,338 87,907,443 1,416,154,423 1,756,750,360 67,145,078 1,358,908,599 32,009,858 19,166,449,710C$ Metal Prices per unit (g/kg) $50.00 $0.75 $7.50 $2.50 $2.50 $15.00 $0.15C$ Value Totals by Metal $25,553,365,196 $4,395,372,160 $1,062,115,817 $13,175,627,700 $167,862,695 $3,397,271,498 $480,147,870 $2,874,967,457

V.I. Producer & Past Producer Tonnes by Category Vancouver Island Metallic Mineral Producers & Past Producers

Industrial Mineral /

Dimension Stone (88)

21%

Coal (33)12%

Metallic Minerals

(123)67%

MINFILE Producer & Past Producer % Tonnes by Category

17%

4%

52%

1%

13%

2% 11%

Metallic Producer/Past Producer % Value by MetalsGold (g) Silver (g) Copper (kg) Lead (kg) Zinc (kg) Mo (kg) Fe (kg)

Producers & Past Producers• Dimension stone deposit data largely absent• Coal deposit data historically very significant• Metallic mineral deposit data dominates• Copper, Gold, Zinc and Iron most significant metals• >C$25 Billion in 123 metal deposits at todays prices

Developed ProspectsCategory (Number) Tonnes Gold (g) Silver (g) Copper (kg) Lead (kg) Zinc (kg) Mo (kg) Fe (kg)

Industrial Mineral / Dimension Stone (8) 947,228,590Coal (4) 458,903,259Metallic Minerals (64) 607,173,374 138,270,043 1,318,015,016 2,172,458,506 125,076,380 1,251,062,324 21,771,330 17,248,055,196Totals (76) 2,013,305,223 138,270,043 1,318,015,016 2,172,458,506 125,076,380 1,251,062,324 21,771,330 17,248,055,196C$ Metal Prices per unit (g/kg) $50.00 $0.75 $7.50 $2.50 $2.50 $15.00 $0.15C$ Value Totals by Metal $30,549,577,194 $6,913,502,149 $988,511,262 $16,293,438,795 $312,690,949 $3,127,655,810 $326,569,950 $2,587,208,279

V.I. Developed Prospect Tonnes by Category Vancouver Island Metallic Mineral Developed Prospects

Industrial Mineral /

Dimension Stone (8)

47%

Coal (4)23%

Metallic Minerals

(64)30%

MINFILE Developed Prospect % Tonnes by Category

23%

3%

53%

1%

10%

1%9%

Metallic Developed Prospect % Value by MetalsGold (g) Silver (g) Copper (kg) Lead (kg) Zinc (kg) Mo (kg) Fe (kg)

Developed Prospects

• Limestone deposits on Texada Island & Northern Vancouver Island dominate industrial minerals data

• Coal data dominated by Comox area deposits• Copper and Gold most significant metals • >C$30 Billion in 64 metal deposits at todays prices

MINFILE Metallic Mineral TotalsType Code (Number) Mineral Deposit Type Tonnes Gold (g) Silver (g) Copper (kg) Lead (kg) Zinc (kg) Mo (kg) Fe (kg)

B09 (1) Karst-hosted Fe, Al, Pb-Zn 22,677 93,202 0 0 0 0 0 7,936,950C01 (5) Surficial placers 0 265,310 0 0 0 0 0 0D03 (11) Volcanic redbed Cu 882,974 140,035 2,413,644 411,354 0 0 0 0Subtotal B,C,D (17) Secondary Deposits (17) 905,651 498,548 2,413,644 411,354 0 0 0 7,936,950G01 (2) Algoma-type iron-formation 2,516,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 478,500,000G06 (11) Noranda/Kuroko massive sulphide Cu-Pb-Zn 48,190,683 73,217,943 2,212,978,067 644,118,541 188,558,280 2,585,898,036 0 0Subtotal G (13) Exhalative Deposits (13) 50,706,683 73,217,943 2,212,978,067 644,118,541 188,558,280 2,585,898,036 0 478,500,000H04 (3) Epithermal Au-Ag-Cu: high sulphidation 1,237,791 3,845,300 24,971,285 6,819,395 0 0 0 0I01 (11) Au-quartz veins 1,448,441 19,588,694 3,668,185 26,396 102,405 19 0 0I05 (7) Polymetallic veins Ag-Pb-Zn+/-Au 3,391,551 245,771 75,954 964 8,570 0 0 1,676,060,554I06 (48) Cu+/-Ag quartz veins 603,766 7,799,568 680,484 72,819 39,681 2,543 0 0Subtotal H,I (70) Vein Deposits (70) 6,681,549 31,479,333 29,395,908 6,919,574 150,656 2,562 0 1,676,060,554K01 (43) Cu skarn 35,563,079 10,633,760 103,842,953 150,811,062 0 0 0 9,795,894,823K02 (4) Pb-Zn skarn 248,116 25,625 56,435,000 5,568,226 3,512,522 24,070,325 0 0K03 (27) Fe skarn 39,419,627 404 1,400 1,276,573 0 0 0 21,779,056,379K04 (1) Au Skarn 21 3,297 1,400 33 0 0 0 0Subtotal K (75) Skarn Deposits (75) 75,230,843 10,663,086 160,280,753 157,655,894 3,512,522 24,070,325 0 31,574,951,202L04 (8) Porphyry Cu +/- Mo +/- Au 904,535,444 110,115,010 326,826,815 3,085,485,776 0 0 53,781,188 0Subtotal L (7) Porphyry Deposits (7) 904,535,444 110,115,010 326,826,815 3,085,485,776 0 0 53,781,188 0M02 (3) Tholeiitic intrusion-hosted Ni-Cu 2,785,070 203,567 2,274,253 34,618,971 0 0 0 0Subtotal M (3) Magmatic Deposits (3) 2,785,070 203,567 2,274,253 34,618,971 0 0 0 0Total Metallic Mineral Occurrences (185) 1,040,845,240 226,177,486 2,734,169,439 3,929,210,111 192,221,458 2,609,970,923 53,781,188 33,737,448,706

0%

32%

14%

5%

49%

0%

Total MINFILE Gold Distribution by Mineral Deposit Type

Secondary Deposits(17)

Exhalative Deposits(13)

Vein Deposits (70)

Skarn Deposits (75)

Porphyry Deposits (7)

Magmatic Deposits (3)

0%

16%0%

4%

79%

1%

Total MINFILE Copper Distribution by Deposit Type

Secondary Deposits(17)

Exhalative Deposits(13)

Vein Deposits (70)

Skarn Deposits (75)

Porphyry Deposits (7)

Magmatic Deposits (3)

0%1%

5%

94%

0%0%

Total MINFILE Iron Distribution by Deposit Type

Secondary Deposits(17)

Exhalative Deposits(13)

Vein Deposits (70)

Skarn Deposits (75)

Porphyry Deposits (7)

Magmatic Deposits (3)

MINFILE Metallic Mineral Totals• Copper primarily in Porphyry Deposits• Gold mainly in Porphyry Deposits, but Exhalative (VMS)

Deposits contribute significantly as well• Zinc entirely in Exhalative (VMS) Deposits• Iron almost entirely in Skarn Deposits

Metallic Producers & Past ProducersType Code (Number) Mineral Deposit Type Tonnes Gold (g) Silver (g) Copper (kg) Lead (kg) Zinc (kg) Mo (kg) Fe (kg)

B09 (0) Karst-hosted Fe, Al, Pb-Zn 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0C01 (5) Surficial placers 0 265,310 0 0 0 0 0 0D03 (5) Volcanic redbed Cu 14,311 716 122,731 286,217 0 0 0 0Subtotal B,C,D (10) Secondary Deposits (10) 14,311 266,026 122,731 286,217 0 0 0 0G01 (0) Algoma-type iron-formation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0G06 (9) Noranda/Kuroko massive sulphide Cu-Pb-Zn 28,601,707 35,532,856 1,048,305,458 423,117,596 66,994,422 1,358,901,256 0 0Subtotal G (9) Exhalative Deposits (9) 28,601,707 35,532,856 1,048,305,458 423,117,596 66,994,422 1,358,901,256 0 0H04 (2) Epithermal Au-Ag-Cu: high sulphidation 381,773 130,788 7,235,180 3,548,191 0 0 0 0I01 (9) Au-quartz veins 602,201 8,602,866 3,668,185 26,396 102,405 19 0 0I05 (5) Polymetallic veins Ag-Pb-Zn+/-Au 3,379,301 161,736 75,954 964 8,570 0 0 1,676,060,554I06 (40) Cu+/-Ag quartz veins 40,726 794,357 590,551 72,819 39,681 2,543 0 0Subtotal H,I (56) Vein Deposits (56) 4,404,001 9,689,747 11,569,870 3,648,370 150,656 2,562 0 1,676,060,554K01 (31) Cu skarn 23,675,190 6,941,042 59,762,953 88,530,419 0 0 0 9,795,894,823K02 (1) Pb-Zn skarn 48 0 6,688 2,215 0 4,781 0 0K03 (9) Fe skarn 12,220,532 404 1,400 153 0 0 0 7,694,494,333K04 (1) Au Skarn 21 3,297 1,400 33 0 0 0 0Subtotal K (42) Skarn Deposits (42) 35,895,791 6,944,743 59,772,441 88,532,820 0 4,781 0 17,490,389,156L04 (2) Porphyry Cu +/- Mo +/- Au 363,421,151 35,270,504 294,109,670 1,227,330,522 0 0 32,009,858 0Subtotal L (2) Porphyry Deposits (2) 363,421,151 35,270,504 294,109,670 1,227,330,522 0 0 32,009,858 0M02 (3) Tholeiitic intrusion-hosted Ni-Cu 1,330,823 203,567 2,274,253 13,834,835 0 0 0 0Subtotal M (3) Magmatic Deposits (3) 1,330,823 203,567 2,274,253 13,834,835 0 0 0 0Total Metallic Mineral Producers & Past Producers (122) 433,667,784 87,907,443 1,416,154,423 1,756,750,360 67,145,078 1,358,908,599 32,009,858 19,166,449,710

0%

41%

11%8%

40%

0%

MINFILE Producer & Past Producer Gold Distribution by

Mineral Deposit Type

Secondary Deposits(10)

Exhalative Deposits (9)

Vein Deposits (56)

Skarn Deposits (42)

Porphyry Deposits (2)

Magmatic Deposits (3)

0%

24%

0%5%

70%

1%

MINFILE Producer & Past Producer Copper Distribution by

Mineral Deposit Type

Secondary Deposits(10)

Exhalative Deposits (9)

Vein Deposits (56)

Skarn Deposits (42)

Porphyry Deposits (2)

Magmatic Deposits (3)

0% 0%

9%

91%

0%

0%

MINFILE Producer & Past Producer Iron Distribution by

Mineral Deposit Type

Secondary Deposits(10)

Exhalative Deposits (9)

Vein Deposits (56)

Skarn Deposits (42)

Porphyry Deposits (2)

Magmatic Deposits (3)

Metallic Producers & Past Producers

• Copper mainly from Porphyry and VMS deposits• Gold mainly as by-product from VMS Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag-

Au and Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposits, with some from Au Quartz Veins

• Zinc entirely from VMS deposits• Iron mainly from Fe-Cu Skarn deposits

Metallic Developed ProspectsType Code (Number) Mineral Deposit Type Tonnes Gold (g) Silver (g) Copper (kg) Lead (kg) Zinc (kg) Mo (kg) Fe (kg)

B09 (1) Karst-hosted Fe, Al, Pb-Zn 22,677 93,202 0 0 0 0 0 7,936,950C01 (0) Surficial placers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0D03 (6) Volcanic redbed Cu 868,663 139,319 2,290,913 125,137 0 0 0 0Subtotal B,C,D (7) Secondary Deposits (7) 891,340 232,521 2,290,913 125,137 0 0 0 7,936,950G01 (2) Algoma-type iron-formation 2,516,000 0 0 0 0 0 0 478,500,000G06 (2) Noranda/Kuroko massive sulphide Cu-Pb-Zn 19,588,976 37,685,087 1,164,672,609 221,000,945 121,563,858 1,226,996,780 0 0Subtotal G (4) Exhalative Deposits (4) 22,104,976 37,685,087 1,164,672,609 221,000,945 121,563,858 1,226,996,780 0 478,500,000H04 (1) Epithermal Au-Ag-Cu: high sulphidation 856,018 3,714,512 17,736,105 3,271,204 0 0 0 0I01 (2) Au-quartz veins 846,240 10,985,828 0 0 0 0 0 0I05 (2) Polymetallic veins Ag-Pb-Zn+/-Au 12,250 84,035 0 0 0 0 0 0I06 (8) Cu+/-Ag quartz veins 563,040 7,005,211 89,933 0 0 0 0 0Subtotal H,I (14) Vein Deposits (14) 2,277,548 21,789,586 17,826,038 3,271,204 0 0 0 0K01(12) Cu skarn 11,887,889 3,692,718 44,080,000 62,280,643 0 0 0 0K02 (3) Pb-Zn skarn 248,068 25,625 56,428,312 5,566,011 3,512,522 24,065,544 0 0K03 (18) Fe skarn 27,199,095 0 0 1,276,420 0 0 0 14,084,562,046K04 (0) Au Skarn 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Subtotal K (33) Skarn Deposits (33) 39,335,052 3,718,343 100,508,312 69,123,074 3,512,522 24,065,544 0 14,084,562,046L04 (6) Porphyry Cu +/- Mo +/- Au 541,114,293 74,844,506 32,717,145 1,858,155,254 0 0 21,771,330 0Subtotal L (5) Porphyry Deposits (5) 541,114,293 74,844,506 32,717,145 1,858,155,254 0 0 21,771,330 0M02 (0) Tholeiitic intrusion-hosted Ni-Cu 1,454,247 0 0 20,784,136 0 0 0 0Subtotal M (0) Magmatic Deposits (0) 1,454,247 0 0 20,784,136 0 0 0 0Total Metallic Mineral Developed Prospects (63) 607,177,456 138,270,043 1,318,015,016 2,172,459,751 125,076,380 1,251,062,324 21,771,330 14,570,998,996

0%

27%

16%

3%

54%

0%

MINFILE Developed Prospect Gold Distribution by Mineral

Deposit Type

Secondary Deposits(7)

Exhalative Deposits (4)

Vein Deposits (14)

Skarn Deposits (33)

Porphyry Deposits (5)

Magmatic Deposits (0)

0%

10%0%

3%

86%

1%

MINFILE Developed Prospect Copper Distribution by Mineral

Deposit Type

Secondary Deposits (7)

Exhalative Deposits (4)

Vein Deposits (14)

Skarn Deposits (33)

Porphyry Deposits (5)

Magmatic Deposits (0)

0%

3%

0%

97%

0%0%

MINFILE Developed Prospect Iron Distribution by Mineral Deposit

Type

Secondary Deposits (7)

Exhalative Deposits (4)

Vein Deposits (14)

Skarn Deposits (33)

Porphyry Deposits (5)

Magmatic Deposits (0)

Metallic Developed Prospects

• Copper mainly in Porphyry deposits, with some in VMS deposits

• Gold mainly in Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposits, with significant amounts in both VMS Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag-Au and Au Quartz Vein deposits

• Zinc almost exclusively in VMS deposits• Iron almost exclusively in Fe-Cu Skarn deposits

Mineral Deposit Settings

1. Convergent Plate Boundary – Island Arc: Porphyry, Epithermal, Skarn, Veins2. Divergent Plate Boundary – Spreading Centre: VMS (Exhalative)

Mineral Deposit Models

Porphyry/Skarn/Vein Deposit Settings

Clustered Together!

Porphyry/Skarn/Vein Deposit Models/Profiles

Co-genetic and Co-spatial

Relationships!

Current Erosional Level determines

Deposit Depth!

Skarn Deposit Settings

Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) Deposit Settings

Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) Deposit Models/Profiles

Key Points

Widely varied commodities and deposit types Copper, Gold, Zinc, Iron are metals of greatest value Metallic production >C$25 Billion at todays prices Metallic developed prospects >C$30 Billion! Metallic deposit types to target:

1. Porphyry Cu-Mo-Au (Jurassic, Eocene, Miocene)2. VMS Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag-Au (Devonian)3. Fe-Cu Skarn (Jurassic, Eocene, Miocene)