Britannia Contaminated Sites Investigation Stage I Preliminary Site ...

on it, and a 2-storey shack were all that remained (Price, Schwab, Hutt 1995). A prominent band
of blue-green coloured staining running down the stream bed of a seepage emerging from the
portal was identified as copper-rich and slightly acidic(Price, Schwab, Hutt 1995).
Potential environmental concerns are associated with the portal discharge, mine waste rock and
the structures summarized in Table 6 (Britannia Mine & Tunnel Workings 1916; Fire Insurance
Maps (1923 – rev. 1937, 1939; undated Jane Basin Area map). The historical site layout of Beta
Camp in 1923 is shown on Figure 4.
Table 6
Historical Summary of Buildings, Structures & Equipment
Associated with Potential Environmental Concerns at the
Beta Camp
Buildings /
Dates of Operation/Existence
Structures
Locomotive Shed The duration of Beta Camp operations.
Blacksmith Shop The duration of Beta Camp operations.
Ore Bins The duration of Beta Camp operations.
3.1.2.6 Empress Camp
The Empress Camp, located at approximately 998 metre (3275 ft.) elevation, was developed in
1917 (BCMEM 1917). Access to the underground workings was via the 1050 Level Portal. At
the camp, there was a bunkhouse, blacksmith shop and cookhouse (BCMEM 1917). Hot water,
heat and electricity were installed at the camp. By 1923, a bunkhouse appears to have been the
only remaining building (Fire Insurance Map 1923). The bunkhouse still existed in 1982 (Aerial
Photograph 1982). The camp was closed during the Depression, in 1933, and reopened for a few
years in 1939 (BCMEM 1939). By 1995, the mouth of the portal had collapsed and all that
remained were a concrete foundation, woody debris and some sections of rail (Price, Schwab,
Hutt 1995).
The historical existence of the blacksmith shop and the existence of mine waste rock appear to be
the only potential sources of environmental concerns. The waste rock appeared to be highly
oxidized and seepage was emerging from the debris at the mouth of the Empress Camp in 1995
(Price, Schwab, Hutt 1995).
The historical site layout, based on the information reviewed, is shown on Figure 5.
3.1.2.7 Barbara Camp
Houses were first built at the Barbara Camp, located at approximately 1188 metre (3900 ft)
elevation, in 1915 (BCMEM 1915). The houses were heated by a hot water system. In 1916,
bunkhouses were added. Three bunkhouses, a loghouse and a cabin, existing in 1916, appeared
to have been reduced to two bunkhouses by 1923 (Ministry of Mines 1916, Fire Insurance Map
1923). A stable existed at the Barbara Portal, approximately 300 metres (984 ft) to the west and
a wagon road ran between the stable and the camp The camp was closed during the Depression,
between 1931 and 1937 (Ministry of Mines 1937). Partially collapsed shacks still existed in
1995 (Price, Schwab, Hutt 1995).
Britannia Contaminated Site Investigation
Stage I Preliminary Site Investigation
Project No. 50319-001-310 19