The Chamber of Mines of Eastern B.C.: a vital community partner

The Chamber of Mines of Eastern B.C. is an organization that offers great resources for the industry and the general public

1 of 2The chamber has a collection of ore specimens from mines in the Kootenays. This is a display of ore samples from the Sandon and Slocan areas. — Photo courtesy Chamber of Mines of Eastern B.C.

2 of 2The Chamber of Mines of Eastern B.C. office in Nelson houses displays of mining artifacts. — Photo courtesy Chamber of Mines of Eastern B.C.

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The Chamber of Mines of Eastern B.C. has been a vital part of the mining community in the Kootenays since 1924. The chamber is a non-profit organization providing authentic, reliable information to both the general public and the mining industry. Its members include everyone from individual prospectors to large mining and engineering companies. 

According to Lloyd Addie, the president of the Chamber of Mines of Eastern B.C., the organization advocates for the mining industry and serves as an information and resource library with an extensive collection of geological information, maps, and rock and mineral specimens. The chamber also conducts educational sessions for school groups and offers prospecting and other courses. 

Precious resources

The rock collection at the chamber office, located in Nelson, B.C., is like no other.

"The chamber has rock displays from all over the world as well as rock displays from specifically the Kootenays," said Addie. "We have things like one sample of ore from each one of the local mines. You couldn't duplicate this—it's an amazing collection."

Addie said there are also books here about mining history. The chamber functions as a resource/research facility for the industry and is a valuable source of mining and exploration information. It maintains an extensive collection of reference materials dating back to 1874, including a complete set of Ministry of Mines annual reports, many Geological Survey of Canada reports, numerous miscellaneous volumes pertaining to the mineral industry and the original hard-copy Assessment Reports for Southeastern B.C. The chamber has a large number of maps—geological, magnetic, geochemical, topographic, Crown Grant survey field notes, mine maps and plans and old claims maps. 

School of rocks

Every year, the chamber hosts visits by school classes ranging from elementary to high school level. In addition, it holds an annual prospecting course designed for beginner to intermediate prospectors, and when there is demand, it organizes advanced exploration training courses.