The Dominion Coal Block

Last updated on July 10, 2020

In 2013 the Government of Canada announced that it is ‘considering an open and competitive sale of the Dominion coal blocks in the Kootenay region of British Columbia’. This sale would open up coal lands for development for the first time since 1905.

British Columbia Geological Survey Information Circular 2014-02 briefly outlines the Dominion coal blocks and contained coal resources.

Geological references regarding the Dominion coal blocks

Background Information

Resource Assessments

  • Grieve, D.A. and Kilby, W. E., 1989. Geology and Coal Resources of the Dominion Coal Block (NTS 082G). British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, British Columbia Geological Survey Paper 1989-4.
  • Dawson, F.M., Lawrence, G.F, Anderson, T.C., 1998. Coalbed methane resource assessment of the Dominion coal blocks, southeast British Columbia. Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 3549, 41 p.

Articles and Papers

  • Latour, B.A., 1970. Report on Coal Deposits of the Dominion Government Coal Block, Fernie Area, British Columbia. Canada Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Report, 12 p.
  • Anonymous, 1974. Availability of Coking Coal in Western Canada – Final Report; British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines COALFILE Report # 79, pp. 40-43.
  • Ollerenshaw, N.C., 1977. Canadian Government Coal Block, Parcel 73, Fernie Basin, British Columbia. In: Current Research, Part B: Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 77-1A, pp. 155-159.
  • Ollerenshaw, N.C., 1981. Parcel 82, Dominion Coal Block, Southeastern British Columbia. In: Current Research, Part B: Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 81-1B, pp. 145-152.
  • Grieve, D.A. and Kilby, W.E., 1985. Structural modelling of parts of the northern Dominion Coal Block (Parcel 73), southeastern British Columbia (82G/10). In: Geological Fieldwork 1984, British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines, British Columbia Geological Survey Paper 1985-1, pp. 53-65.
  • Ryan, B., 2004. The CBM resource of some prospective areas of the Crowsnest Coalfield. British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Summary of Activities 2004, pp. 41-56.

Maps

  • Price, R.A., 1962. Fernie map-area, east half, Alberta and British Columbia, 82G E1/2. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 61-24 and Map 35-1961.
  • Pearson, D.E. and Grieve, D.A., 1979. Coal Investigations, Crowsnest Coalfield. In: Geological Fieldwork1978, British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines and Petroleum Resources, British Columbia Geological Survey Paper 1979-1, pp. 61-65.
  • Pearson, D.E. and Grieve, D.A., 1981. Geology of Crowsnest Coalfield, Southern Part. British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, British Columbia Geological Survey Preliminary Map 42, scale 1:10,000, 7 sheets.
  • Dawson, F.M., Lawrence, G.F, Anderson, T.C., 1998. Maps 1, 2 and 3 of Coalbed methane resource assessment of the Dominion coal blocks, southeast British Columbia. Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 3549.
  • Price, R.A., 2013. Geology, Fernie, British Columbia-Alberta, Geological Survey of Canada, Map 2200A, 2 sheets, 1:125 000 scale.

Exploration Reports

The following reports are available from the COALFILE search engine using the COALFILE report number.

  • Nakayama, K., Hatta, K. And Harada, K., 1966. Report on the Survey of Fernie Coal Mine, British Columbia, Canada. Nittetsu Mining Consultants Co., Ltd, British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines, COALFILE report #289, 37 p. (Appendix, 17 p.)
  • Shiokawa, K., 1968. Feasibility Report, Fernie Coal Mine Project, British Columbia, Canada. Nittetsu Mining Co. Ltd., British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines, COALFILE Report #293, 35 p.
  • Aihara, A., 1970. The Interim Report on the Field Investigation Executed in the Flathead Ridge Pacific Coal Ltd. Property, British Columbia, Canada. British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines, COALFILE Report #300, 23 p.
  • Kaiser Resources Limited, 1971. Exploration Progress Report, Hosmer Ridge – Wheeler Ridge, Crowsnest Property, British Columbia. Kaiser Resources Ltd., British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines, COALFILE report # 336, 136 p. (Drill Logs, 19 p.)
  • Kaiser Resources Limited, 1973. West Lodgepole area, British Columbia – Figures and resource estimate charts. Kaiser Resources Ltd, British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines COALFILE report #301, 136 p. (Maps and Sections, 52 p.)
  • Kaiser Resources, 1974. A collection of maps and cross-sections on Sparwood Ridge Area, British Columbia. Kaiser Resources Ltd., British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines COALFILE report #441, 22 p.
  • Kaiser Resources, 1974. Taylor East and South Licenses – sections and maps, Mt. Taylor area, British Columbia. Kaiser Resources Ltd., British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines COALFILE report #444, 68 p. (Maps and Sections, 37 p.)
  • Kaiser Resources, 1979. Taylor South Licenses, Mt. Taylor Area, British Columbia. Kaiser Resources Ltd., British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines, COALFILE report #445, 37 p.