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Highland Valley Copper Mine, Logan Lake, Kamloops Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada

Ref.: Fleet, M.E., Seller, M.H., and Pan, Y. (1997) rare earth elements, protoliths and alteration at the Hemlo gold deposit, Ontario, Canada, and comparison with argillic and sericitic alteration in the Highland Valley porphyry district, British Columbia, Canada. Economic Geology: 92: 551-568.

The Highland Valley Copper mine is the largest copper mine in Canada. “Operations at Highland Valley began over 20 years ago by predecessor companies. The present operation is a combination of the Lornex mine and mill, the Valley Copper orebody and the Highmont mill” (Teckcominco).

The operation is located about 17 kilometers west of the Town of Logan Lake and about 75 kilometers SW of Kamloops, BC (Min Res).
The mine exploits a low-grade copper molybdenum porphyry, with a granitic host rock and widely scattered chalcopyrite, bornite, and molybdenite as the primary ore minerals (Min Res). The large strip open pit mine is operated chiefly using P&H shovels and Caterpillar trucks (Min Tech). “Sulphides occur chiefly as disseminations in quartz veinlets, and in phyllic (bornite) and potassic (chalcopyrite) alteration zones. Mineralization includes bornite and chalcopyrite, with minor digenite, covellite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, molybdenite, sphalerite, and galena. The oxide zone averages 4.5 metres in thickness, and contains limonite, malachite, pyrolusite, digenite, native copper, and tenorite(?)” (Govt. of BC).



References:
- Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006.
- Mineral Resources Education Program of British Columbia. “Highland Valley Copper.” June 2006. 3 Sept. 2006.
- Mining Technology. “Teckcominco: Highland Valley Copper Mine, British Columbia, Canada.” 2006. SPG Media Group PLC. 3 Sept. 2006.
- Teckcominco. “Highland Valley Copper Mine, B.C., Canada.” 17 March 2006. Teck Cominco Ltd. 3 Sept. 2006.
- Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C. (2008): Porphyry copper deposits of the world: Database and grade and tonnage models, 2008. US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155.

- http://www.teckcominco.com/operations/hvc/
- http://www.mining-technology.com/projects/highland/
- http://www.bcminerals.ca/files/bc_mine_information/000078.php
- http://www.em.gov.bc.ca/Mining/Geolsurv/MINFILE/App/Summary.aspx?minfilno=092ISW012





Map Reference: 50°29'8"N , 121°2'54"W

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Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities


Mineral List:
  • 'Albite-Anorthite Series'
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Anhydrite
    CaSO
     
    4
    Reference: [Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C. (2008): US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155.]
  • 'Apatite'
    Reference: [Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C. (2008): US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155.]
  • Azurite
    Cu
     
    3
    [OH|CO
     
    3
    ]
     
    2
    Description: Very nice small crystals, collected in the 1980's from the 1175 Bench of the Valley Pit.
    Reference: [Robert Meyer collection, collected by David Van Dieren.]
  • Biotite
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Bornite
    Cu
     
    5
    FeS
     
    4
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
    Site Photo
    Highland Valley Copper Mine, Logan Lake, Kamloops Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada
    © jnemitz
  • Calcite
    CaCO
     
    3
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Chalcocite
    Cu
     
    2
    S
    Reference: [Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C. (2008): US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155.]
  • Chalcopyrite
    CuFeS
     
    2
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
    Site Photo
    Highland Valley Copper Mine, Logan Lake, Kamloops Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada
    © jnemitz
  • 'Chlorite Group'
    Reference: [Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C. (2008): US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155.]
  • Clinozoisite
    {Ca
     
    2
    }{Al
     
    3
    }[O|OH|SiO
     
    4
    |Si
     
    2
    O
     
    7
    ]
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Copper
    Cu
    Description: Very nice small crystals, collected in the 1980's from the 1175 Bench of the Valley Pit. Robert O. Meyer collection, collected by David van Dieren
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Covellite
    CuS
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Cuprite
    Cu
     
    2
    O
    Description: Superb examples of cuprite, variety chalcotrichite, occuring in networks of stacked bright red cubes, often nucleated with a single octahedral cuprite crystal, collected in the 1980's from the 1175 Bench of the Valley Pit.
    Reference: [Robert Meyer collection, collected by David Van Dieren.]
  • Digenite
    Cu
     
    9
    S
     
    5
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Enargite
    Cu
     
    3
    AsS
     
    4
    Reference: [Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C. (2008): US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155.]
  • Epidote
    {Ca
     
    2
    }{Al
     
    2
    Fe
    3+
     
    }[O|OH|SiO
     
    4
    |Si
     
    2
    O
     
    7
    ]
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Fluorite
    CaF
     
    2
    Reference: [Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C. (2008): US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155.]
  • Galena
    PbS
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Gypsum
    Ca[SO
     
    4
    ] · 2H
     
    2
    O
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Hematite
    Fe
     
    2
    O
     
    3
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Kaolinite
    Al
     
    2
    Si
     
    2
    O
     
    5
    (OH)
     
    4
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Limonite
    FeO(OH)·nH
     
    2
    O
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Magnetite
    Fe
    2+
     
    Fe
    3+
    2
    O
     
    4
    Reference: [Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C. (2008): US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155.]
  • Malachite
    Cu
     
    2
    [(OH)
     
    2
    |CO
     
    3
    ]
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Molybdenite
    MoS
     
    2
    Description: Crystals of up to 8 mm were found associated with Quartz and Calcite during a visit to the site by Robert O. Meyer
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Montmorillonite
    (Na,Ca)
     
    0.33
    (Al,Mg)
     
    2
    Si
     
    4
    O
     
    10
    (OH)
     
    2
    ·nH
     
    2
    O
    Reference: [Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C. (2008): US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155.]
  • Muscovite
    KAl
     
    2
    [(OH)
     
    2
    |AlSi
     
    3
    O
     
    10
    ]
    Reference: [Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C. (2008): US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155.]
  • Powellite
    Ca[MoO
     
    4
    ]
    Reference: [Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C. (2008): US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155.]
  • Pyrite
    FeS
     
    2
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Pyrolusite
    MnO
     
    2
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Pyrrhotite
    Fe
     
    7
    S
     
    8
    , (-4M), also given as Fe
     
    1-x
    S (x = 0 - 0.2)
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Quartz
    SiO
     
    2
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Scheelite
    Ca[WO
     
    4
    ]
    Reference: [Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C. (2008): US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155.]
  • 'Sericite'
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Sphalerite
    (Zn,Fe
    2+
     
    )S
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Tenorite ?
    CuO
    Reference: [Government of British Columbia, Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum. “MINFILE Record Summary 0921SW012.” 2006. 3 Sept. 2006. ]
  • Tetrahedrite
    (Cu,Fe,Ag,Zn)
     
    12
    Sb
     
    4
    S
     
    13
    Reference: [Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C. (2008): US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155.]
  • 'Zeolite Group'
    Reference: [Singer, D.A., Berger, V.I., and Moring, B.C. (2008): US Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1155.]


    39 entries listed. 32 valid minerals.

    Localities in this Region:
    Canada
     
    • British Columbia
      • Kamloops Mining Division
        • Logan Lake
          • Highland Valley Copper Mine

    The above list contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database!
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Jobs in British Columbia, Canada Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 27th Nov 2009 09:27:26