The Tulsequah and Taku valleys have a history of mining exploration which goes back to the 1800's. Memoir 248 of the Geological Survey of Canada, based on exploration in 1932 by Forrest A. Kerr gives a good account of the early history of mining exploration in the Taku Valley.

"In 1875 the annual report of the Minister of Mines for British Columbia mentions discoveries of gold on 'Tacoo' River. In 1882 the gold commissioner of the Cassiar district 'guessed' that a small production of placer gold was made in the 'Takoo' district. Dawson mentions Taku River in his report of 1888. During the Klondike rush of 1897-98 and later years the Taku was a route of entry to the interior, and many prospectors halted or abandoned their journey to prospect in the district. Subsequent to this rush prospecting was intermittent, but probably, from 1912 on at least, some work was done in the district each year.

Lode deposits were probably discovered early in the history of the district, because some of them, such as the Tulsequah Chief, Ericksen-Ashby, and others, outcrop so prominently that they could hardly be missed. Knowledge of the Tulsequah Chief, at least, is reported to date back to 1910 or 1912.

The official record of mining and prospecting in the district begins in 1923, when George A. Clothier, resident engineer for the northwest district of British Columbia, visited it. In that year the Tulsequah Chief, staked earlier by W. Kirkham of Juneau, was optioned by the Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Company, which drove an adit in an unsuccessful search for ore and then abandoned its operations. Five years later, in 1928, a syndicate represented by W.A. Eaton and Dan J. Williams found impressive widths of mixed sulphides; and in 1929 the United Eastern Mining Company optioned the property and carried on efficient and aggressive development.

Reports of these operations drew prospectors into the district, and in May 1929 V. Manville discovered the Big Bull mineralized zone, on which the Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Company acquired a working option. The later discovery of the Ericksen-Ashby and other deposits contributed further to the favourable publicity given to the area.

Tulsequah, the first permanent settlement, now became established. Prospectors continued to increase in numbers during 1929 and 1930, but with the advent of government officials and customs duties, the free and easy passage from Alaska to British Columbia ended, and this caused a considerable lessening of activity. Interest in the district was still further decreased by the failure of the United Eastern Mining Company, in 1930, to resume work on the Tulsequah Chief, and by the later action of the Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Company in dropping its option of the Big Bull claims. However, Tulsequah had been established, and the fairly regular service between it and Juneau continued. In 1931, active development began on the Whitewater claims (afterwards the Polaris-Taku mine) by the N.A.Timmins Company, and in 1932 Tulsequah airport began to be much used by companies in search of placer gold. "

A "Report on the Taku River Area, Atlin Mining Division, North-western Mineral Survey District" written by J.T. Mandy, Resident Mining Engineer, appeared in the annual Report of the Minister of Mines in 1929. This report stated that "In September, when the area was examined, not more than forty prospectors were in the territory. Most of these were congregated around the mouth of the Tulsequah River." and that "Meals could generally be procured for 75 cents at the Taku Point float-house and for $1 a meal at Tulsequah, where general supplies can be procured from the Taku River Transportation and Trading Company's store, operated by William Strong."

The Report of the Minister of Mines for 1930 states that "During the season about 100 prospectors were active in the section." and that "Several dwellings, a store, bunk-house and restaurant were constructed. A post-office was opened and a Customs official, Deputy Mining Recorder, and Provincial constable temporarily appointed."

Work continued in the area, and in 1937, the Polaris-Taku Mine was brought into production, a 200-ton per day mill was constructed, and a road was built from the Taku river to the mine site. This mine operated continuously until 1951, except for a 4-year hiatus during WWII. Total production from the Polaris-Taku was 231,000 ounces of gold from 760,000 tons of ore. The workforce at the mine varied from 120 to 200, all of whom lived in the town of Tulsequah, many with their families.

Picture Below: Tulsequah townsite in 1950s

Starting in 1947, exploration and pre-production work were begun at the Big Bull and Tulsequah Chief deposits. Roads were built to connect the two mine sites to the Taku river, including two trestle bridges across the Tulsequah river, a new sawmill was constructed to supply building materials to the valley, oil-storage tanks were built at Tulsequah, and construction of a cookhouse, warehouse, powerhouse, dry, 5 bunkhouses and 3 residences was completed at the Big Bull.

In 1951, the Polaris-Taku mine was closed, just as the Big Bull and Tulsequah Chief mines were opening. The mill complex and town site were leased by Cominco, and continued to be used by the new operations. Cominco's mines operated successfully until 1957, when they were mothballed pending an increase in metal prices. Cominco never reopened the mine, and caretakers lived at the site until the mill equipment was dismantled and sold in the late1970's.

Recent History

In 1981 Redfern commenced a reconnaissance exploration joint venture in northwest British Columbia which ultimately resulted in staking of several parcels of claims on mineral prospects, one of which was a block of claims surrounding the residual claims held by Cominco over the Tulsequah Chief mine. Redfern recognized that the deposit had the geological characteristics of a volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit rather than the replacement/shear-hosted affinity previously ascribed to the deposits. This recognition had important implications as VMS deposits typically occur as several lenses within a favourable geologic horizon. This meant that there was likely to be more ore at Tulsequah Chief than previously identified.

At the same time Cominco geologists were engaged in re-evaluating their understanding of the Tulsequah property along similar lines. This resulted in Cominco staking additional claims to expand their holdings around the known deposits. Redfern acquired its partner’s interest in their JV Tulsequah claims and initiated discussions with Cominco concerning joint exploration. Eventually an agreement was signed whereby Redfern could acquire a 40% interest in the amalgamated claims by funding the first $3 million of renewed exploration. Work started in 1987 with surface diamond drill holes and progressed to drilling from the rehabilitated underground workings in 1988. By 1989 Redfern had earned its interest and the subsequent ongoing exploration was jointly funded. Exploration programs continued each year on this basis until 1992 when Redfern negotiated and exercised an option to purchase Cominco’s interest in the property. Redfern, as sole owner, proceeded with large programs in 1993 and 1994 leading towards feasibility assessment and permitting decisions.

All of this work had been successful in defining a large and continuous extension of the previously mined deposit. In 1993 Redfern obtained a positive pre-feasibility study result and in 1994 initiated full feasibility studies. Concurrently an application was made to obtain a Mine Development Certificate under the prevailing environmental assessment regulation. More detailed information on the results can be found in the sections on the feasibility studies and the permitting process.