Pioneering Geology in the Canadian Cordillera BCMEMPR Open File 1992-19 Table of Contents Introduction – Pioneering Geology in the Canadian Cordillera by V.M. Levson Miners at Work - A History of British Columbia’s Gold Rushes by B. Griffin The Canadian Cordillera; A History of Who, What and When by C.J. Yorath The Mineral Survey - Cordilleran Cinderella by A. Sutherland Brown The Emergence of Engineering Geology in British Columbia "An Engineering Geologist Knows a Dam Site Better!" by D.F. VanDine, H.W. Nasmith and C.F. Ripley Britannia, the Story of a British Columbia Mine - From Mining Resource to Heritage Resource by M. Mullan British Columbia’s Hydrocarbon Hunt; "The Hole Story" by N. Wemyss The History of Earthquake Studies in British Columbia - From Indian Legend to Satellite Technology by G.C. Roger The Search for the Oldest Fossils in the Cordillera by R. Ludvigsen The History of Marine Geology in British Columbia - From Infancy to Today by J. Murray and W.H. Mathews Geological Mapping in the Cordillera - Then and Now by J.O. Wheeler V.M. Levson PIONEERING GEOLOGY IN THE CANADIAN CORDILLERA V.M. Levson British Columbia Geological Survey, Victoria, B.C. The papers are compiled from the personal INTRODUCTION experiences of the authors, historical documents and The collection of papers compiled in this information collected from contacts with early volume was presented at a symposium of the Pacific researchers, some of whom still continue to have a Section of the Geological Association of Canada, significant impact on geologic studies in the Cordillera. entitled The Earth Before Us - Pioneering Geology in The first hand accounts of early developments in the Canadian Cordillera, in March of 1991. As a result Cordilleran geology by these researchers are an of interest generated by the symposium, the publication important contribution to this volume. For example in of these papers was undertaken by the British Columbia the field of engineering geology, the personal Geological Survey Branch in co-operation with the contributions of Hugh Nasmith and Charlie Ripley are Geological Association of Canada. The papers focus on acknowledged and discussed by Doug VanDine in his early geoscience studies in the Canadian Cordillera and paper jointly presented with them. Although retired, events leading to the present status of geologic activities VanDine’s co-authors continue to be involved in in the region. The Canadian Cordillera comprises a professional activities in their field. Similarly, John geologically complex mountainous region composed of Wheeler has continued, in `retirement’, to have a five major tectonic belts that extends for more than 1500 significant impact on our understanding of the geology kilometres through British Columbia and Yukon of the Canadian Cordillera, as exemplified by his Territory. Past governments and industry have recently published, monumental compilation maps endeavored to understand the geology of this land mass delineating tectonic assemblages and terranes of the in order to develop the region and locate mineral and Canadian Cordillera (Wheeler and McFeely, 1991 and petroleum resources. From gold rushes, mining, Wheeler et al., 1991). petroleum exploration, and marine discoveries to Although not intended to be comprehensive, engineering endeavors and earthquake studies, each was the papers presented here give a broad cross-section of an integral part of unlocking the Cordilleran puzzle. The geology in the Canadian Cordillera. The volume begins following papers discuss how the geological, with a presentation of the vivid history of gold rushes geophysical and geotechnical aspects of this complex and mining. This colourful discussion of events that put geographical area have been investigated, while British Columbia `on the map’ is presented by Bob disclosing behind-the-scene stories of the people Griffin, a researcher with the Royal British Columbia involved. Museum. The evolution of geologic thought by The papers are written by prominent scientists from the Geological Survey of Canada, researchers, many of whom have had direct personal universities and industry is then discussed by Chris experience in the development of their fields. For Yorath. Complimentary activities of provincial example, Atholl Sutherland Brown describes the history geologists are described by Atholl Sutherland Brown in of the British Columbia Geological Survey from the his summary of the history of the British Columbia unique perspective of a former head of the Geological Geological Survey. These papers are followed by Division (1974-1984). Similarly, Marilyn Mullan accounts of the evolution of research in major geologic describes the events leading to the establishment of the fields in the Cordillera including engineering geology, Britannia mine as a National Historic Site, a process mining, petroleum geology, geophysics, paleontology with which she herself was intimately involved. In and marine geology. Each of these areas is discussed addition, Chris Yorath and John Wheeler describe separately by well-known specialists. Gary Rogers, a activities of the Geological Survey of Canada, an prominent seismologist with the Geological Survey of organization with which both writers have long been Canada, discusses the history of earthquake studies in associated. Chris Yorath also writes from the British Columbia. Early mining in British Columbia, as perspective of author of the recently released exemplified by the development of a world-class mine book, Where Terrains Collide (Yorath, 1991) and at Britannia, is discussed by Marilyn Mullan. Doug coeditor of the Decade of North American Geology VanDine, Hugh Nasmith and Charlie Ripley provide a volume entitled Geology of the Cordilleran Orogen in summary of historical events in engineering Canada (Gabrielse and Yorath, 1992). Both these geology and Jim Murray and Bill Mathews describe volumes are recommended for further reading, the first developments in marine geology, the province’s newest for the non-specialist and the second for an excellent geological science. Rolf Ludvigsen, an eminent technical overview of Cordilleran geology. paleontologist well known for his work on the Burgess Shale fauna which is now preserved in a World Heritage 1 British Columbia Geological Survey OF1992-19 V.M. Levson Site, describes developments in paleontology, Mines and Petroleum Resources and particular emphasizing the search for Cambrian and Precambrian appreciation is extended to John Newell for editing, and fossils. The history of the petroleum industry in the to Brian Grant of the Scientific Review Office for final Cordillera is summarized by Nick Wemyss, formerly editing and layout. Not at all least, appreciation is also with the British Columbia Petroleum Geology Branch. extended to each of the authors for their personal The volume concludes with a first-hand account contributions. of geologic mapping by the Geological Survey of Canada in the `early days’ and a comparison with today REFERENCES by John Wheeler, an eminent Cordilleran geologist. Gabrielse, H. and Yorath C.J. (Editors) (1992): Geology Due to the growing awareness among of the Cordilleran Orogen in Canada; geoscientists of the importance of presenting Geological Survey of Canada, The Geology of information on geological research to the public, the Canada Number 4, 847 pages (also Decade of symposium from which these papers are drawn included North American Geology, The Geology of a special session geared for a general audience. The North America, Volume G2). session was jointly sponsored by the Pacific Section of Wheeler, J.O. and McFeely, P. (1991): Tectonic the Geological Association of Canada and the Royal Assemblage Map of the Canadian Cordillera British Columbia Museum. During this presentation and Adjacent Parts of the United States of Bob Griffin described how British Columbia boomed America; Geological Survey of Canada, Map during the search for placer gold in the last half of the 1712A, scale 1:2 000 000. 19th century. Robert Turner discussed the dramatic Wheeler, J.O., Brookfield, A.J., Gabrielse, H., Monger, early expansion of railways and other transportation J.W.H., Tipper, H.W. and Woodsworth, systems in response to mining developments in the G.J.(1991): Terrane Map of the Canadian province. The Turnagain placer gold nugget, one of the Cordillera; Geological Survey of Canada, Map largest known in British Columbia, was on display at 1713A, scale 1:2 000 000. the symposium for the first time in more than 50 years Yorath, C.J. (1991): Where Terrains Collide; Orcha and it is now part of a formal exhibit at the Royal Book Publishers Limited, Victoria, 231 pages. British Columbia Museum. The nugget is 1641 grams in weight (52 oz) and is 20 centimetres long. It was discovered in the Turnagain River area in northwest British Columbia in 1937 by Alice and Vern Shea and was purchased that year by the British Columbia government for only $1500. The large number of people attending the symposium illustrates the public interest in the history of geologic developments in the Cordillera and the importance of presenting scientific results at a level that can be appreciated by all. It is a pleasure to be able to introduce this volume to interested readers. It is hoped that these papers will not only increase our understanding of the history of geologic studies in the Canadian Cordillera but will also highlight the need for geologic research in fields of current importance including: earthquake, landslide and other geologic