Early placer and hardrock mining in the Ymir / Salmo districts dates back to the late 1800’s. High grade gold and silver have been won from the many hardrock mines within close proximity of these communities. During the earlier mining period, placer gold had been recovered from many of the surrounding creeks. Adding to the placer potential along the Salmo River, has been the fine gold lost during the processing of hardrock ore at the stamp mills setup along the watercourse of both the Salmo River and Sheep Creek. By example, the old timers estimated that only 50% to 70% of the gold mined, was recovered, with the balance escaping. It was projected that during the 1980’s the Queen Mine alone, lost over 11 million dollars of fine gold to Sheep Creek The Ymir Mine, was considered by far, the most important lode mine in the area. It started out with forty stamps and added forty more, making it the largest. The other mills in the region had a total of sixty stamps, making a total of 140 stamps in the general vicinity of Ymir. Each stamp could crush and pulverize 2 yards (5 tons) of ore per hour. This came to approximately 4000 tons of ore per day. As with other mining operations of the era, large quantities of fine gold were lost, and in this instance, much was deposited into the Salmo River, accumulating along the many natural entrapment areas. Adding to the potential in this region, would be the ‘old gold’ laid down along the ancient channels of the Salmo (Salmon) River Basin. By example, during the earlier days of mining in this region, two brothers whom located their home along the valley floor at Erie, discovered coarse placer gold when digging their well, thus sparking another flurry of activity.

The following GPEX properties in the Ymir/Salmo region, each bear high potential for the recovery of gold lost during the hardrock mining operations of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. This would have accumulated along the current watercourse’s bars and banks. Plus, there exists high probability for the old gold laid down when the valleys became infilled during the last glacial period. The old gold would be found along the benches and old channels.

Three out of the following four tenures lie between Ymir and Salmo, each of which bear equal opportunity for recovering the finer gold and silver lost from the Ymir area hardrock mines. Each also bears old channel benches. Similar would also apply to the fourth property situate downstream from Salmo, slightly below Sheep Creek’s confluence with the Salmo River. This property would also bear high potential for the fine gold carried down Sheep Creek from the Queen Mine operation.

. These properties may also be applicable for machine operations. A placer operator’s paradise

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The ‘Ymir Bench’ placer property is located 1.4 kilometres south from the heart of Ymir, along BC Highway 6, or otherwise, 9 kilometres north of the settlement of Salmo.

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The ‘Sal-O-Channel North’ placer property is located 3.4 kilometres south from the heart of Ymir, along BC Highway 6, or otherwise, 7 kilometres north of the settlement of Salmo.

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The ‘Sal-O-Channel South’ placer property is located 4 kilometres south from the heart of Ymir, along BC Highway 6, or otherwise, 6.25 kilometres north of the settlement of Salmo.

The ‘Sal-Mint’ placer property is located 11 kilometres south from the settlement of Salmo, along BC Highway 3

 

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