Renewed interest in garnet mining near Apex Mountain Resort

PENTICTON – Rekindled interest in garnet mining in the vicinity of Apex Mountain Resort in the South Okanagan has not gone unnoticed by members of the local property owners association.

A post to the Apex Property Owners Association’s website stated they were informed in a March 24 meeting that Mount Riordan could be mined again with test holes to be dug in May.

Property association spokesperson James Shalman says the group is seeking more information before commenting on the issue.

B.C. Minfile records show a group of claims totalling 84 hectares was recently staked and recorded on March 27 in the vicinity of the Crystal Peak garnet deposit on Mount Riordan by Bill Yeomans of West Kelowna.

Yeomans said it was “premature right now to talk" about plans for his claims.

“It’s a long ways from having anything to talk about,” he said, adding it was far too early to say what his plans were or "what might happen up there.”

Yeomans noted most of the ground has been staked and held in the area for more than 20 years.

Map showing heavily staked areas around Apex Mountain. | Credit: SUBMITTED/B.C. Minfile

Yeomans said garnets are a commodity in increasing demand as a filtration medium for turbid water and wastewater treatment, in addition to their use as an abrasive.

Ironically, he said the only garnet mine presently in operation in North America is located in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State, and operates right next door to one of the state’s largest ski hills. He said the Barton Garnet Mine on Gore Mountain has operated continuously beside the ski hill for more than 100 years and the ski runs are within 400 metres of the mine property.

Interest in mining on Mount Riordan is not likely to disappear anytime soon due to the high quality of the garnet.

Yeomans says Barton's garnet grade is 20 per cent, while many mining experts rate the Crystal Peak property as the largest, richest garnet deposit in the world at 80 per cent.

Interest in mining the Crystal Peak garnet deposit on Mount Riordan peaked in the early 1990s when a proposal by Polestar Exploration to build an open pit garnet quarry within two kilometres of Apex village proved unsuccessful. The proposal met with strong opposition from the Apex community and other environmental groups.

According to B.C. Minfile reports, the Crystal Peak deposit contains 17,955,000 tonnes grading 80 per cent garnet with further reserves of 1,848,200 tonnes grading 78 per cent garnet and indicated reserves of 10,663,380 tonnes grading 77 per cent garnet.

Mount Riordan is the site of a large, high grade garnet deposit. Garnets are used in water and wastewater filtration and as abrasives. | Credit: GOOGLE EARTH | Photographer:


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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