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File Created: 25-Apr-1987 by Peter B. Reid (PBR)
Last Edit:  18-Jul-2020 by Karl A. Flower (KAF)

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NMI
Name ZEO, BROMLEY VALE ZEOLITE, STIK, PRINCETON ZEOLITE Mining Division Similkameen
BCGS Map 092H048
Status Developed Prospect NTS Map 092H07E
Latitude 049º 25' 18'' UTM 10 (NAD 83)
Longitude 120º 35' 42'' Northing 5477113
Easting 674410
Commodities Zeolite Deposit Types D01 : Open-system zeolites
Tectonic Belt Intermontane Terrane Quesnel
Capsule Geology

The Bromley Vale Zeolite prospect outcrops along Bromley Creek, in the vicinity of the Bromley Vale No. 1 mine (092HSE215), about 0.7 kilometre southwest of the creek's confluence with White Creek and 7.5 kilometres southwest of Princeton.

This occurrence lies near the western margin of the Princeton Basin, a northerly striking fault-bounded trough filled by Eocene volcanic rocks of mainly intermediate composition, comprising the Lower Volcanic Formation, and an overlying Eocene sedimentary sequence of sandstone, shale, waterlain rhyolite tephra (tuff) and coal, up to 2000 metres thick, comprising the Allenby Formation.

Zeolite mineralization is contained in a zeolitized, waterlain, rhyolite crystal-vitric tuff in the upper part of the Allenby Formation (Princeton Group), known informally as the Bromley Vale tephra. A 9-metre thick section of fine-grained rhyolite breccia (lapilli tuff), underlain by shale and sandstone, is exposed on the north bank of Bromley Creek, 60 metres southwest of the portal of the Bromley Vale No. 1 mine. The breccia is overlain to the east by 13 metres of vitric-crystal tuff. The beds strike 165 to 180 degrees and dip 29 to 37 degrees east. This zeolitic horizon trends north for at least 400 metres along the west limb of the north-trending Tailings syncline.

Zeolite alteration occurs in both the breccia and the vitric-crystal tuff in the form of clinoptilolite. Accessory minerals include plagioclase, potassium feldspar, quartz, montmorillonite, biotite, cristobalite and sanadine. An 8-metre section of vitric-crystal tuff contains about 60 per cent zeolite (Geological Fieldwork 1988, page 513). Exchangeable cation analyses and cation exchange capacity (CEC) in milli-equivalents per 100 grams on two samples are as follows (Open File 1987-19):

________________________________________________________________

Sample Magnesium Calcium Potassium Sodium CEC

Z5 1.0 23.3 45.4 97.7 120.4

Z6 1.4 20.0 46.9 25.6 105.2

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Sample Z5 is a grab sample of vitric-crystal tuff from the adit of the Bromley Vale No. 1 mine, while sample Z6 is a composite chip sample taken across the 9-metre section of rhyolite breccia on the north bank of Bromley Creek.

Bulk sampling and testing suggests that the zeolite from this deposit is not a suitable absorbent of water and oil. Other tests indicate this material can reduce ammonia in fish effluent, and can selectively absorb zinc from mine waste waters (Assessment Report 18543).

The deposit was sampled by Hillside Energy Corporation in 1988.

Canadian Mining Company Ltd. optioned the property in September 1999 and drilled 310 metres in 14 holes. The company estimates 710,300 tonnes reserves (Canadian Mining Website). They mined 2000 tonnes of zeolite-bearing material from the Zeo in March 2000.

The 1999 drilling program on the Zeo property was successful in defining 350,218 metric tonnes of measured zeolite resources in addition to 214,310 tonnes of indicated resources. An additional 297,000 tonnes of inferred resources extends along strike to the south (Management Discussion and Analysis paper March 1, 2005 (www.sedar.com)).

Canadian Mining changed its name to Zeo-Tech Enviro Corp. in March 2000. The company mined 4000 tonnes of zeolite in 2002.

In 2001, the Ministry of Energy and Mines issued a mining lease to Zeo-Tech Enviro Corp. for its proposed Zeo-Tech zeolite quarry. No mining was done but the company continued to work towards production of zeolite for use in lightweight specialty concrete and in absorbent products.

In 2002, Tech Enviro Corp. mined a 4000 tonne bulk sample of zeolite. Zeo-Tech and C2C Zeolite Corp. formed a partnership to market the Princeton zeolite as “Zeo-Fume”, a cement additive with applications in shotcrete, downhole cementing and other construction purposes.

In April 2003, Zeo-Tech and partner C2C Zeolite Corp. formed an operating company, United Zeolite Products Ltd., which in turn signed a five-year supply contract with Hallibuton Energy Services Inc. for 30,000 tonnes of zeolite. At the end of 2003 about 2840 tonnes had been delivered to Hallibuton, at a price reported to be $25/tonne

In 2004, United began construction in 2004 of a zeolite micronizing plant at Princeton. Late in the year, Zeo-Tech conducted crushing and stockpiling of zeolite to provide material for mill start-up and trucking to Halliburton over the winter.

In 2005, Zeo-Tech Enviro Corp mined and crushed 10,000 tonnes of zeolite.

During March 2004 through July 2018, a total of 21,364 tonnes of zeolite was intermittently quarried (Houle, J. (2018-09-17): Technical Report on the Bromley Creek Property).

In September 2018, International Zeolite Corp. released an updated zeolite mineral resource of 239,000 tonnes measured in-situ resources with an average C.E.C. of 101.7 in the quarry area, 102,600 tonnes indicated in-situ resources with an average C.E.C. of 96.8 peripheral to the quarry area and 492,700 tonnes inferred in-situ resources with an average C.E.C. of 99.3 beyond the quarry area (Houle, J. (2018-09-17): Technical Report on the Bromley Creek Property).

Bibliography
EMPR EXPL 2000-33-41; 2001-39; 2002-45; 2003-53; 2004-56; 2005-58
EMPR ASS RPT 17195, *18543, 22367, 26512
EMPR FIELDWORK *1986, pp. 247-254; *1988, pp. 511-514
EMPR OF *1987-19
EMPR P 1983-3
GSC MAP 888A; 1386A; 41-1989
GSC MEM 243
GSC P 85-1A, pp. 349-358
PR REL Zeo-Tech Enviro., Nov.8, 2004
*Houle, J. (2018-09-17): Technical Report on the Bromley Creek Property
EMPR PFD 889884, 889885

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