The Britannia Mine came full circle this month, from exporting precious ore over 100 years ago to now importing gold and silver in the form of a historical exhibit at the BC Mining Museum.
Museum staff excitedly announced Monday (April 26) the arrival of a new silver and gold collection, graciously donated to the museum by Vancouver-based metallurgist Douglas Scheving.
"We are absolutely thrilled to have received this collection and are extremely grateful to Douglas," said Diane Mitchell, museum curator of education and collections.
"We feel that it shows the regard in which the museum is held, that he should choose to donate a collection that he has lovingly amassed over the years. It was clear on meeting him just how intimately he knew each piece."
Scheving, a mineral enthusiast since childhood, has focused his collection efforts on gold and silver pieces over the past 40 years. The BC Mining Museum collection highlights over 140 pieces of gold and silver originating from mines across the whole of North America, including those in British Columbia.
A key piece of the collection, responsible for much of its esteem, is a palm-sized piece of quartz containing almost seven ounces of gold, originating from the Bralorne Mine, just west of Lillooet, B.C.
"We will of course be treating the collection with the reverence it deserves and look forward to being able to display part of it in our forthcoming Beaty Lundin Visitor Centre," said Mitchell.
The collection showcases many aspects of the gold and silver mining industry including smelting and processing in addition to illustrating the way in which gold has been utilized for centuries and how it continues to impact the lives of people today.
Scheving chose to donate his collection "so that others may enjoy the collection as much as he does," said Mitchell.
The BC Museum of Mining is currently in the design phase of creating the perfect exhibit to showcase this invaluable collection, according to Mitchell, which will be presented alongside a gold display.
This new collection is perfect for the BC Museum of Mining since it showcases an array of gold and silver samples to help demonstrate the wonder of these precious metals to museum visitors, she said.
The museum, a non-profit organization that promotes mining awareness through experiential education programs, is a National Historic Site and a BC Historic Landmark that was established in 1971 to preserve the material and social history of mining in British Columbia.
Governed by the Britannia Beach Historical Society, the museum's goals are to provide historic collection preservation and insightful public engagement regarding environmental and sustainability issues.
