Series GR-0086 - Prospecting licenses for coal, petroleum, and natural gas

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Prospecting licenses for coal, petroleum, and natural gas

General material designation

  • textual record

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Title notes

  • Source of title proper: Title based on contents of series.

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Series

Reference code

GR-0086

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Edition statement of responsibility

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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1883-1946 (Creation)
    Creator
    British Columbia. Dept. of Mines

Physical description area

Physical description

4 m of textual records

Publisher's series area

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1899-1960)

Biographical history

The Dept. of Mines was established in 1899 in accordance with the Department of Mines Act (SBC 1899, c. 48). Prior to that, the earliest regulation of mining in the province was implemented under the Gold Fields Proclamation of 1859 with the appointment of two gold commissioners by Governor James Douglas for the Colony of British Columbia. A gold commissioner was first appointed in 1864 for the Colony of Vancouver Island. The commissioners registered claims, issued licenses and adjudicated disputes with the advice and aid of elected district mining boards.

The establishment of a provincial government with British Columbia’s entry into Confederation ultimately led to a Minister of Mines Act (SBC 1874, c. 16) in 1874. The Provincial Secretary also served as the Minister of Mines. In 1895, the Bureau of Mines Act 1895 (SBC 1895, c. 3) brought together all government offices connected with the mining industry. A provincial mineralogist was appointed who reported to the Provincial Secretary and Minister of Mines.

In 1899, the Department of Mines Act created a separate department and minister. The Bureau of Mines remained in place as the technical division of the department and was also responsible for the certification for assayists. Revisions to the Department of Mines Act in 1934 and 1937 abolished the bureau and completely reorganized and centralized the department, dividing the functions into four branches: Administration Branch under the chief gold commissioner; Assay Branch under the chief analyst and assayer; Mineralogical Branch under the chief mining engineer; and Mines Inspection Branch under the chief inspector of mines. The department had responsibility for all matters affecting mining, including the collection, publication and circulation of information relating to mining, administration of all mining laws, and the operation and maintenance of the Provincial Assay Office, laboratories, sampling plants, and the maintenance of the Museum of Minerals.

The functions and responsibilities of the department remained relatively stable until 1953 when responsibility for administration of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Act and the Coal Act was transferred from the Department of Lands and Forests. A Petroleum and Natural Gas Branch, headed by the Chief Petroleum Engineer, was established and the department was renamed the Department of Mines and Petroleum Resources in 1960 (SBC 1960, c. 107).

Custodial history

Part of Herald Street Inventory. Transferred by the Dept. of Lands in 1975.

Scope and content

The series consists of 45 volumes of prospecting licence stubs for coal, petroleum, and natural gas created by the Dept. of Mines, and its predecessor the Bureau of Mines between 1883 and 1946. The licence stubs are arranged in numerical order and include coal prospecting licenses 1-404, coal and petroleum prospecting licenses 405-9500 and coal, petroleum and natural gas prospecting licenses 9501-13000.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Arrangement

Volumes originally held a two part form, with main copy being torn out and given to the licencee.

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Script of material

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Availability of other formats

Restrictions on access

There are no access restrictions.

Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

Associated materials

Related materials

Accruals

General note

Accession number(s): 76-G-015

General note

Existence and location of index to licences unknown.

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