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File Created: 24-Jul-1985 by BC Geological Survey (BCGS)
Last Edit:  12-Dec-1995 by Keith J. Mountjoy (KJM)

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NMI 082K3 Ag11
Name EMPRESS, EMPRESS MINE, KING (L.12626), QUEEN (L.12627), KING AND QUEEN Mining Division Slocan
BCGS Map 082K004
Status Past Producer NTS Map 082K03E
Latitude 050º 03' 25'' UTM 11 (NAD 83)
Longitude 117º 12' 21'' Northing 5544982
Easting 485266
Commodities Silver, Gold, Lead, Copper, Zinc Deposit Types I05 : Polymetallic veins Ag-Pb-Zn+/-Au
Tectonic Belt Omineca Terrane Quesnel
Capsule Geology

The Empress occurrence is located on the southeastern slopes of London Ridge, 2 kilometres east of the former McAllister mine (082KSW025). New Denver, British Columbia is located 13.5 kilometres to the southeast.

Ground covering the Empress occurrence was staked in the 1890s, with development work beginning in 1901 by Van Moerkerke under lease. Several small adits were driven with ore reported shipped from 1904 to 1909. The King and Queen claims were staked by Giegerich in the 1920s, covering the former Empress property. The newly incorporated London Hill Mine Ltd. consolidated the Silver Glance (082KSW028) and adjacent properties, including the King and Queen claims, in 1950. No work was reported and property ownership lapsed in 1957. Vimy Explorations Ltd. acquired options on 13 claims including the Silver Glance, Panama (082KSW055), London Hill (082KSW115) and Empress properties in 1960. In 1961, surface and underground sampling was conducted. Development work was carried out mainly on the former London Hill and Panama mines until 1967 when the company was dissolved. In 1966, a 130-metre crosscut was driven 25 vertical metres below the original adit but the downward projection of the lode was not intersected. The property was then acquired by United Hearne Resources Ltd. in 1974. Lots 12626 and 12627 have escheated to the Crown.

Hostrocks of the Empress occurrence are mainly black, carbonaceous slates with interbedded argillite and quartzite of the Triassic Slocan Group. These strata strike northwest and dip southwest or northeast at low angles and are intruded by numerous quartz porphyry dikes and a small granitic stock.

The workings on the Empress occurrence have explored a shear zone striking westerly. Within this zone quartz veins and lenses vary from several centimetres to over 30 centimetres thickness. These veins are mostly flat lying. Veins host disseminated or bunches and streaks of tetrahedrite, argentite, pyrite and minor galena and sphalerite.

Production records for the Empress occurrence indicate 7 years consecutive production from 1903 to 1909. During this period, 104 tonnes yielded 784,635 grams silver, 124 grams gold and 2868 kilograms lead.

Bibliography
EMPR AR 1900-983; 1901-1025; 1904-199; 1905-159; 1906-144,248; 1907- 96,213; 1908-94,246; 1909-106,272; 1950-143
EMPR BC METAL MM01183
EMPR INDEX 3-195
EMPR PF (Snell, J.C. (1977): The Geology and Mineralization of the Triassic Basal Slate Member, Slocan Sediments of Whitewater District of British Columbia, in 082K General File)
GSC MAP 1667
GSC MEM *173, Map 273A; *184, p. 228
GSC OF 432; 464
EMPR PFD 680213

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