Mineral Deposits Between Lillooet
and Prince George, British Columbia.

CHAPTER I.
‘ | INTRODUCTION.

This memoir is based on information obtained during a reconnaissance
of the known occurrences of mineral deposits of possible economic value
lying within the area served by the Pacific Great Eastern railway between
Lillooet and Prince George (Fort George), British Columbia (Figures 1
and 2). The country adjacent to this railway between Squamish and Lillooet
was examined by Charles Camsell!in 1917. The area traversed by the rail-
way for some 75 miles north of Lillooet was examined and geologically
mapped by G. M. Dawson.?

In 1918 certain minerals were urgently required for war purposes.
Several of these minerals were said to occur in the area in question and the
writer was instructed to examine and report on them. The territory
covered in 1918 extends from Lillooet to about 140 miles north. Three
and one-half months were consumed in field work, and of that period six
weeks were spent in examining deposits distant, by road and trail, from 16
to 60 miles from the railway line. In 1919 two and one-half months were
spent in completing the exploration along the railway line as far as Prince
George about 300 miles north of Lillooet, and an additional month was
devoted to the area traversed in 1918.

Nearly the whole of the first season was spent within the southern
portion of the field, but the time taken in visiting outlying deposits during
both the first and second seasons made any attempt at areal mapping on
a comprehensive scale impossible. Sketch topographic maps were made of
the principal deposits reported on and as much detailed geological work
as possible was done in their vicinity. A certain amount of prospecting
was also done whenever time allowed.

The mineral deposits examined are unusually diversified in character
and some of them are of uncommon occurrence. They include hydro-
magnesite, epsomite, sodium carbonate, clays, deposits of diatomaceous
earth, lignite, muscovite and peridot, chromite, molybdenite, as well as
occurrences of minerals carrying values in silver, lead, copper and gold,
manganese, and nickel. Certain of these minerals that were quoted at
high prices during the time the field investigation was made, are now
scarcely saleable. There is, however, a prospect of a demand arising for
them within a year or two. Others are not strictly “war minerals’ and
the demand for them has not been affected to so great a degree. Some
of the deposits represent new and unexploited assets and will become
more valuable as the country develops.

This report does not treat of any part of the Cariboo placer gold
deposits which lie to the northeast, which have been the subject of special
study by B. R. MacKay of this department.

1Camsell, Charles, Geol. Surv., Can., Sum. Rept., 1917, pt. B, pp. 12B-23

B.
2Dawson, G. M., ‘‘Report on the area of the Kamloops map-sheet, British Columbia.” Geol. Surv., Can.,
Ann. Rept., 1894, vol. VII, pt. B.