Nelson Mining Museum and Research Centre - Nelson, BC - Rock and Mineral Displays on Waymarking.com

Operated by the Chamber of Mines of Eastern British Columbia, the museum deals solely in mining and geology as they pertain to the region. Given that mining is the sole reason the area was settled in the late 1800s, it is natural that, among other things, the museum should have one of the best collections of rocks and minerals in the world.

Holding specimens of rocks, minerals and ores, the centre is an invaluable tool for both professional and amateur miners and prospectors. Too, it is an excellent educational site for anyone wishing to learn of the mining history and the geology of the Kootenay Boundary area of British Columbia.

In addition to the informational resources on hand, the centre hosts classes from elementary to high school level as well as prospecting and other courses related to mining and geology.

The specimens on hand allow one to learn which rocks and which minerals are generally associated with specific industrial and commercial metals, such as molybdenum, gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, platinum and others found in the area. Representative ore specimens from specific mines and sites allow one to make more accurate identification of these ores in the field.

To a lesser extent, much of the display is also historical, in that many of the specimens, particularly those of ores, were taken from some of the pioneering mines in various metal producing areas of the Kootenay Boundary region. Many of these specimens were taken from the ground in the late nineteenth century, their associated ore bodies providing the initial impetus for settlement and building of the towns of the Kootenay Boundary.

Towns and cities such as Nelson, Greenwood, Anaconda, Rossland, Trail, Rock Creek, Grand Forks, Midway, New Denver, Kaslo, Silverton and Sandon may never have existed were it not for the nearby discovery of commercially viable ore bodies of precious and industrial metals. Dozens of towns which no longer exist, such as Phoenix, Fairview, Zincton, Retallack, Cody, Three Forks, Camp McKinney and Cascade City were built, boomed and died on the discovery of valuable ores and their subsequent depletion.

Available to the public, the museum is a also valuable resource for those in the industry, as it holds a large collection of maps, mining publications, information on old and new claims, and old claim maps.

Though this is not its focus, the museum also holds a small collection of mining related artefacts. It also has a sizeable collection of old photos of the mines and towns in the area from the late 1800s and early 1900s.

As their hours are somewhat irregular, it would be wise to check for their hours of opening at 250-352-5242. They are, however, open year round.