The Graham Island Coalfield

Last updated on April 18, 2019

NTS Map Sheets: 103F01, 08; 103K01

Coal deposits on the Queen Charlotte Islands are poorly understood due to thick vegetation, lack of outcrop and complex geology. Deposits are found only on Graham Island. Tertiary lignites are exposed in the northeast coastal areas and the older anthracites and bituminous deposits outcrop in the southwestern part of the island. The variation in rank of the older deposits is attributed to the contact metamorphism from younger volcanic rocks. The Jura-Cretaceous deposits were discovered in 1865 and a few thousand tonnes were mined from 1865 to 1872. Preliminary exploration by a number of companies in recent years has failed to identify sufficient resources to justify continued development.

References

(compiled July 2000)

Sutherland-Brown, A., 1968. Geology of the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia. B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Bulletin 54.

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