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Exploration Spending

Last updated on June 27, 2024

BC Annual Exploration Expenditures | BC Annual Exploration Expenditures by Region

BC Annual Exploration Expenditures 
Year

BC Mineral Exploration

Expenditures (C$ millions)
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

 

BC Annual Exploration Expenditures by Region* 

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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

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 BCGS Information Circulars.

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