Blue Hawk Mine is a gold mine located on the east slope of Blue Grouse Mountain, on the west side of Okanagan Lake, just a few kilometres from downtown Kelowna in the Canadian province of British Columbia.
Overview
The mine consists of several adits (horizontal mine entrances) that were operated for a single year, 1934, and has been virtually abandoned ever since. British Columbia's Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources records the mine under the identifier "082ENW002" and reports that 5 metric tonnes of ore were mined, yielding 560 grams (18 troy ounces) of silver and 156 grams (5 troy ounces) of gold. The total horizontal length of the mine is approximately 90 metres.
Location
The mine is located at approximately 49°59′2″N 119°30′59″W, at an elevation of 965 metres. A gravel road leading past the mine is regularly maintained. The entrance often contains pooled water, but the interior is relatively dry and contains undisturbed geological formations.
History
- 1930s: The Blue Hawk Mine was originally developed by the Blue Hawk Syndicate, with surface trenching and pits.
- 1965–1980: Dawood Mines Ltd. explored the property, conducting surface trenching, linecutting, grid preparation, soil sampling, and magnetometer surveys. An assessment report by F. Marshall Smith also notes "minor scaling of the main adit walls and roof."
- 1980–1986: Neall Curtis Lenard completed limited prospecting, mapping, and sampling programs.
- 1986 onward: Pinewood Resources performed additional drilling, trenching, and soil sampling for gold, and completed a five-hole drill program in the area of the existing adit.
The most recent recorded owner of the property appears to be Armac Investments Ltd. of Vancouver, British Columbia. The claims covering an area of approximately 3 km²—including the Blue Hawk Mine—may have been sold by Armac to Southern Pacific Development Corp. of Vancouver, BC, in 2004 or 2005.
Current Condition
The mine is known to many Kelowna locals and has become a site of interest for hikers and urban explorers. However, it is considered dangerous, with reports of ceiling collapses in certain sections, knee-high water at the entrance, and an unstable interior. The cave system is relatively small, with only two main forks, and features hallway-style width and height corridors.
