Grizzly arsenic occurrence, Alberni Mining Division, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canadai

Regional Level Types
Grizzly arsenic occurrence	Occurrence
Alberni Mining Division	Division
Vancouver Island	Island
British Columbia	Province
Canada	Country

The Grizzly arsenic occurrence is located about 3 kilometres east of the Alberni Inlet and 7 kilometres south-east of Port Alberni., British Columbia.
The following quote is from B.C. Government site “Minfile”- Minfile No. 092F 172, current to 2007:
“The area is underlain by Haslam Formation sediments of the Cretaceous Nanaimo Group which are intruded by granite porphyry of the Tertiary Mount Washington Intrusive Suite (formerly known as the Catface Intrusions) (Personal Communication - N. Massey, May 1990).
A vein of calcite, striking 75 degrees and dipping vertically, and quartz stringers occur in 60 degree striking, vertically dipping argillites and shales. These are mineralized with disseminations and stringers of arsenopyrite, pyrite and nodules of native arsenic. The vein, which is 30 to 60 centimetres wide, 4.6 metres deep and about 9 metres long, follows a fracture zone 1.2 to 1.5 metres wide. A 30 centimetre sample across the vein assayed 10.6 per cent arsenic and 6.9 grams per tonne silver (Minister of Mines Annual Report 1924).”
Comments by Giles Peatfield regarding one of the minerals reported:
Arsenic: Brewer (1925) reported native arsenic on the Grizzly claim, and listed assays for four samples, two of which returned values of 10.6 and 1.0 percent arsenic respectively, a trace of gold, and for the higher grade sample 0.2 oz/ton silver. Brewer (1927) commented that “on this claim there occurs an outcrop of native arsenic, from which specimens have been sold to some of the universities and museums, as the writer is informed, and a new industry has started on a limited scale.” Traill (1970) stated that “A specimen of native arsenic in the National Mineral Collection is listed as having been collected at Port Alberni on Vancouver Island.” Several specimens of arsenic from this locality, possibly part of this original collecting, are on the mineral collecting market at this time (February 2022). Clothier (1928) made the point that the Grizzly arsenic assays only a trace in gold, unlike that from the famous Engineer Mine near Atlin, British Columbia, which “. . . carries very high values in gold, . . . .”
One further comment is that the occurrence lies within the China Creek watershed, which is the source of domestic water for Port Alberni and district. There do not appear to be any restrictions on access, but this should be confirmed with local authorities before planning any on-site collecting activity.

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Link to British Columbia Minfile:	092F 172

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References