Statistics

Last updated on January 23, 2026

The following current and historical data include production values and exploration spending for the mineral exploration and mining industry in British Columbia.

Production Estimates for Major Commodities Mined in BC

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2024

2024 Production Estimates for Major Commodities Mined in BC
Commodity	Quantity	Value (C$ millions)
Met Coal (tonnes)	29,161,900	10,267
Copper (lbs)	618,567,023	3,516
Gold (ozt)	613,720	2,006
Silver (ozt)	1,044,981	40
Molybdenum (lbs)	3,415,158	100
All Other Minerals
Total		15,928^P

Sources: Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation (EMLI) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan for data on Aggregates and Industrial Minerals)

Table notes:

P = Preliminary estimate
All Other Minerals include Zinc, Lead, Aggregates and Industrial Minerals.

2023

2023 Production Estimates for Major Commodities Mined in BC
Commodity	Quantity	Value (C$ millions)
Met Coal (tonnes)	29,942,000	10,585
Copper (lbs)	617,944,105	3,202
Gold (ozt)	603,673	1,580
Silver (ozt)	1,902,107	60
Molybdenum (lbs)	2,524,772	84
All Other Minerals	87,265,281	139
Total		15,651

Sources: Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation (EMLI) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan for data on Aggregates and Industrial Minerals)

Table notes:

All Other Minerals include Zinc, Lead, Aggregates and Industrial Minerals.

2022

2022 Production Estimates for Major Commodities Mined in BC
Commodity	Quantity	Value (C$ millions)
Met Coal (tonnes)	26,349,000	11,960
Copper (lbs)	599,255,831	3,117
Gold (ozt)	654,699	1,520
Silver (ozt)	1,991,604	56
Molybdenum (lbs)	2,118,000	51
All Other Minerals		939
Total		17,643

Sources: Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation (EMLI) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan for data on Aggregates and Industrial Minerals)

Table notes:

All Other Minerals include Zinc, Lead, Aggregates and Industrial Minerals.

Exploration Spending

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Annual Exploration Expenditures in BC

Year	BC Mineral Exploration Expenditures (C$ millions)
2024	552.1
2023	643.5
2022	740.4
2021	659.8
2020	422.7
2019	329.5
2018	331
2017	246
2016	205
2015	272
2014	338
2013	476
2012	680
2011	463
2010	322
2009	154
2008	367
2007	416
2006	265
2005	220
2004	130
2003	55
2002	40
2001	32
2000	30
1999	25
1998	38

Source: Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation (EMLI) British Columbia Geological Survey (BCGS): Provincial Overview of Exploration and Mining in British Columbia and BC Mineral and Coal Exploration Survey (EY, EMLI and AME).

Table notes:

1. Prior to 2016, EMLI’s regional geologists and Mineral Development Office generated annual exploration expenditure estimates. In 2016 and subsequent years, exploration expenditures, drilling estimates and other metrics were captured in the British Columbia Mineral and Coal Exploration Survey, which replaces the annual EMLI survey. The survey is a joint initiative between EMLI, the Association for Mineral Exploration, and Ernst & Young (EY) LLP. For more information, see Mineral Development Office.

Annual Exploration Expenditures in BC by Region*

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2024

2024 Regional Highlights
Region	Mineral Exploration Expenditures (C$ million)	% Share of Total BC Mineral Exploration Expenditures	Number of Projects
North Central	77.0	13.9%	41
Northwest	347.6	63.0%	91
Northeast	3.3	0.6%	2
South Central	68.2	12.4%	75
Southwest	8.3	1.5%	32
Southeast	47.7	8.6%	42
Total	552.1		283

2023

2023 Regional Highlights
Region	Mineral Exploration Expenditures (C$ million)	% Share of Total BC Mineral Exploration Expenditures	Number of Projects
North Central	67.2	10%	39
Northwest	444.1	69%	88
Northeast	2.6	0.40%	6
South Central	83.7	13%	52
Southwest	10.1	2%	22
Southeast	35.9	6%	37
Total	643.6		244

2022

2022 Regional Highlights
Region	Mineral Exploration Expenditures (C$ million)	% Share of Total BC Mineral Exploration Expenditures	Number of Projects
North Central	139.00	19%	40
Northwest	450.80	61%	90
Northeast	2.00	0.27%	3
South Central	108.50	15%	47
Southwest	10.80	1%	15
Southeast	29.40	4%	35
Total	740.50		230

2021

2021 Regional Highlights
Region	Mineral Exploration Expenditures (C$ million)	% Share of Total BC Mineral Exploration Expenditures	Number of Projects
North Central	77.50	12%	50
Northwest	365.90	55%	115
Northeast	5.30	1%	8
South Central	147.60	22%	57
Southwest	8.00	1%	24
Southeast	55.40	8%	47
Total	659.80		301

2020

2020 Regional Highlights
Region	Mineral Exploration Expenditures (C$ million)	% Share of Total BC Mineral Exploration Expenditures	Number of Projects
North Central	57.00	13%	38
Northwest	225.30	53%	67
Northeast	11.70	3%	6
South Central	69.30	16%	55
Southwest	4.00	1%	21
Southeast	55.40	13%	72
Total	422.70		259

2019

2019 Regional Highlights
Region	Mineral Exploration Expenditures (C$ million)	% Share of Total BC Mineral Exploration Expenditures	Number of Projects
North Central	35.50	11%	44
Northwest	180.80	55%	79
Northeast	8.80	3%	11
South Central	54.50	17%	60
Southwest	4.90	1%	33
Southeast	45.00	14%	70
Total	329.50		297

2018

2018 Regional Highlights
Region	Mineral Exploration Expenditures (C$ million)	% Share of Total BC Mineral Exploration Expenditures	Number of Projects
North Central	32.7	10%	36
Northwest	164	50%	81
Northeast	6.3	2%	8
South Central	56	17%	47
Southwest	7.8	2%	18
Southeast	64.5	19%	71
Total	331.3		261

2017

2017 Regional Highlights
Region	Mineral Exploration Expenditures (C$ million)	% Share of Total BC Mineral Exploration Expenditures	Number of Projects
North Central	31.3	13%	29
Northwest	99.1	40%	61
Northeast	2.4	1%	4
South Central	61.1	25%	43
Southwest	9.2	4%	21
Southeast	43.2	18%	61
Total	246.3		219

2016

2016 Regional Highlights
Region	Mineral Exploration Expenditures (C$ million)	% Share of Total BC Mineral Exploration Expenditures	Number of Projects
North Central (formerly Omineca)	29	14%	47
Northwest (formerly Skeena)	84	41%	79
Northeast	9	4%	10
South Central (formerly Thompson-Okanagan-Cariboo)	43.5	21%	35
Southwest (formerly Coast)	2	1%	26
Southeast (formerly Kootenay-Boundary)	37.4	18%	62
Total	204.9		259

2015

2015 Regional Highlights
Region	Mineral Exploration Expenditures (C$ million)	% Share of Total BC Mineral Exploration Expenditures	Number of Projects
Omineca	39.6	15%	39
Skeena	117	43%	38
Northeast	31.3	11%	9
Thompson-Okanagan-Cariboo	30	11%	14
Coast	3.7	1%	26
Kootenay-Boundary	50.8	19%	68
Total	272.4		194

2014

2014 Regional Highlights
Region	Mineral Exploration Expenditures (C$ million)	% Share of Total BC Mineral Exploration Expenditures	Number of Projects
Omineca	42	12%	35
Skeena	161	48%	54
Northeast	50	15%	16
Thompson-Okanagan-Cariboo	30	9%	18
Coast	5	1%	35
Kootenay-Boundary	50.4	15%	64
Total	338.4		222

2013

2013 Regional Highlights
Region	Mineral Exploration Expenditures (C$ million)	% Share of Total BC Mineral Exploration Expenditures	Number of Projects
Omineca	102.5	22%	44
Skeena	201	42%	82
Northeast	81.6	17%	21
Thompson-Okanagan-Cariboo	48.2	10%	19
Coast	7.2	2%	42
Kootenay-Boundary	35.5	7%	59
Total	476		267

2012

2012 Regional Highlights
Region	Mineral Exploration Expenditures (C$ million)	% Share of Total BC Mineral Exploration Expenditures	Number of Projects
Omineca	163.5	24%	70
Skeena	285	42%	82
Northeast	109.3	16%	19
Thompson-Okanagan-Cariboo	50	7%	31
Coast	17	3%	44
Kootenay-Boundary	55	8%	54
Total	679.8		300

Table notes:

2. * Some regional totals may not add up to precise decimal point of the total BC annual exploration expenditures due to rounding.

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More topics

Statistics

Production Estimates for Major Commodities Mined in BC

Exploration Spending

Annual Exploration Expenditures in BC by Region*