ROCK ROOM

Smithers Exploration Group's Collection of Cordilleran Rock Suites

Welcome to Smithers Exploration Group’s Rock Room, home to our classic collection of Cordilleran rock suites. This extensive collection of rock samples is representative of deposits and rock types from across British Columbia, with a focus on the northwest. It’s an important resource for the development of expertise on the geology of northern BC and the discovery of the next mines.

The collection was begun in the 1970s by local geologists and prospectors, as well as the BC Ministry of Mines, and was updated under the direction of former regional geologist Paul Wojdak. It is designed to give hands-on examples of the rocks that make up the regional geological framework of northern British Columbia. We are working hard to complete our collection: if there is a particular suite you are keen to see but we do not yet have, please let us know and we will prioritize the aquisition of those samples. If you have a suite that you would consider donating to help us fill in the gaps, please contact us.

The Rock Room occupies a spacious classroom at the Smithers Exploration Group office at #101 3423 Fulton Avenue in Smithers. We have almost 2000 rock samples catalogued, clearly labelled and stored in trays that can be removed for handling and close examination. The room is heated, well-lit and spacious .It is equipped with regular and zoom stereomicroscopes for detailed investigation.

The rock suites cover:

Plutonic
Volcanic
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
Stratigraphy
Mineral Deposits and Ore Deposit Types
Rock-forming and Ore Minerals

Call 250-877-7883 or email rockroom@smithersexplorationgroup.com if you have questions about the Rock Room or the donation requirements for samples.

SEG’s Rock Room with its Cordilleran Rock Suites will make Smithers home to a unique tool for explorationists. It will attract industry and government attention to Smithers as a community committed to the growth of the minerals industry in BC.

Browse the Rock Room Collection

Library No.	Suite Name	Location	Collector	Rock Name	Age	Description	Cart
S18-38	Edziza Volcano	Raspberry Fm	J Souther	Basalt	Cenozoic	black with brown streaks along flow direction; 5-10% plagioclase; rare (one) pyroxene crystal	Add Item
S18-37	Edziza Volcano	Raspberry Fm	J Souther	Basalt	Cenozoic	black; aphanitic; massive; trace feldspar; trace calcite amygdules	Add Item
S18-36	Edziza Volcano	Raspberry Fm	J Souther	Calcite amygdule	Cenozoic	radiating crystal; 4-5 cm size	Add Item
S18-35	Edziza Volcano	Raspberry Fm	J Souther	Basalt	Cenozoic	as above, very sparse plagioclase crystals; flow layered	Add Item
S18-34	Edziza Volcano	Raspberry Fm	J Souther	Basalt	Cenozoic	dark grey; mainly aphyric, perhaps single phenocryst per surface of specimen	Add Item
S18-33	Edziza Volcano	Raspberry Fm	J Souther	Plagioclase phyric basalt	Cenozoic	brown; 25% feldspar 1.5 cm long by 0.5 cm wide, unusual honey brown colour, twinning evident on minority of crystals; sparse (<1%) tiny pyroxene or oxide crystals	Add Item
S18-32	Edziza Volcano	Ice Peak Fm	J Souther	Basalt	Cenozoic	black-green; grey weathering; aphanitic; 1% vesicles	Add Item
S18-31	Edziza Volcano	Ice Peak Fm	J Souther	Basalt	Cenozoic	dark green-black; dense; massive; no vesicles; sparse phenocrysts of feldspar, pyroxene(?) that are somewhat rounded, resorbed?	Add Item
S18-30	Edziza Volcano	Ice Peak Fm	J Souther	Basalt	Cenozoic	black, weathers dark grey; dense; aphanitic; no vesicles	Add Item
S18-29	Edziza Volcano	Big Raven Fm	J Souther	Olivine basalt	Cenozoic	grey; 5% plagioclase; 3% olivine, prominent 1 cm phenocryst; 10% vesicles	Add Item
S18-28	Edziza Volcano	Big Raven Fm	J Souther	Vesicular olivine basalt	Cenozoic	red-brown; 10% plagioclase to 4 mm; 2% olivine, irredescent pale green	Add Item
S18-27	Edziza Volcano	Big Raven Fm	J Souther	Vesicular basalt	Cenozoic	red-brown; 5% plagioclase laths to 1 cm; 20% vesicles; possibly minor altered pyroxene	Add Item
S18-26	Edziza Volcano	Big Raven Fm	J Souther	Vesicular olivine basalt	Cenozoic	25% vesicles; 1% olivine; 1% feldspar crystals	Add Item
S18-25	Edziza Volcano	Big Raven Fm	J Souther	Pahoehoe (ropy) lava	Cenozoic	reddish-brown; strongly flow-textured; low density due to air pockets	Add Item
S18-24	Edziza Volcano	Big Raven Fm	J Souther	Olivine basalt	Cenozoic	black; 10-15% olivine, 1-2 mm; 2% plagioclase, 1-2 mm size	Add Item
S18-23	Edziza Volcano	Big Raven Fm	J Souther	Olivine basalt	Cenozoic	black; 2% olivine, mm size; 10% plagioclase, 1-3 mm size; 2% pyroxene(?), hard to discern; 4% vesicles	Add Item
S18-22	Edziza Volcano	Big Raven Fm	J Souther	Basalt	Cenozoic	dark grey; 10% plagiocase; 1% vesicles	Add Item
S18-21	Edziza Volcano	Pillow Ridge Fm	J Souther	Vesicular basalt	Cenozoic	black; 5% plagioclase laths; 25% vesicles	Add Item
S18-20	Edziza Volcano	Pillow Ridge Fm	J Souther	Vesicular basalt	Cenozoic	very irregular texture; xenoliths of plagioclase-pyroxene with crystals to 2 cm size; 0-25% plagioclase laths; 15-20% vesicles; matrix is glassy near vesicles	Add Item
S18-19	Edziza Volcano	Nido Fm	J Souther	Olivine basalt	Cenozoic	20-25% olivine phenocrysts, pale to honey brown, vitreous; <5% plagioclase; 65% brown aphanitic matrix; 10% vesicles	Add Item
S18-18	Edziza Volcano	Nido Fm	J Souther	Basalt	Cenozoic	red-brown; 2-3% plagioclase, 1-4 mm; 1% vesicles and calcite amygdules, mainly <2 mm	Add Item
S18-17	Edziza Volcano	Nido Fm	J Souther	Basalt breccia	Cenozoic	50% brown matrix; 50% aphyric clasts - tan, grey, black, red, vesicular, non-vesicular; clasts are angular to sub-round	Add Item
S18-16	Edziza Volcano	Nido Fm	J Souther	Basalt	Cenozoic	greenish-black; similar to above but aphyric	Add Item
S18-15	Edziza Volcano	Nido Fm	J Souther	Olivine basalt	Cenozoic	greenish-black; similar to above but more phenocrysts, 3-4% olivine and plagioclase	Add Item
S18-14	Edziza Volcano	Nido Fm	J Souther	Basalt	Cenozoic	black; chocolate brown weathering; mainly aphanitic, one or two feldspars	Add Item
S18-13	Edziza Volcano	Nido Fm	J Souther	Trachyte	Cenozoic	purple; 15% feldspar and olivine phenocrysts, 0.5 to 2 cm size; weakly flow-aligned; feldspars are twinned, olivine is amber	Add Item
S18-12	Edziza Volcano	Nido Fm	J Souther	Amygdaloidal basalt	Cenozoic	brown; 5% amygdules, 2 cm size, two types of fillings, radiating calcite and lesser chalcedony	Add Item
S18-11	Edziza Volcano	Edziza Fm	J Souther	Trachyte	Cenozoic	very dark grey; flow foliation (layered); 1% feldspar both parallel and perpendicular to flow foliation; trachyte is reported to be predominant lithology	Add Item
S18-10	Edziza Volcano	Edziza Fm	J Souther	Trachyte	Cenozoic	dark grey; 1-2% plagiocase; possible pyroxene; massive texture, no vesicles	Add Item
S18-09	Edziza Volcano	Edziza Fm	J Souther	Trachyte	Cenozoic	medium grey; aphyric except for one rounded feldspar megacryst 1 cm in size, apparent resorption halo; 5% irregular cavities (vesicles); trachyte is reported to be predominant lithology	Add Item
S18-08	Edziza Volcano	Edziza Fm	J Souther	Trachyte	Cenozoic	grey-green; nearly aphyric, 1-2% pyroxene phenocrysts, less than mm size; trachyte is reported to be predominant lithology	Add Item
S18-07	Edziza Volcano	Edziza Fm	J Souther	Trachyte	Cenozoic	green; 5% feldspar phenocrysts, to 5 mm size; trachyte is reported to be predominant lithology	Add Item
S18-06	Edziza Volcano	Spectrum Fm	J Souther	Rhyodacite crystal tuff	Cenozoic	greenish-grey; <5% phenocrysts of twinned feldspar (mainly), lesser rounded quartz and minor biotite; reported to be microporphyritic comendite to pantellerite (peralkaline, sodic rhyolite)	Add Item
S18-05	Edziza Volcano	Spectrum Fm	J Souther	Rhyolite	Cenozoic	grey; vesicular; flow banded; secondary quartz crystals formed in some vugs; reported to be microporphyritic comendite to pantellerite (peralkaline, sodic rhyolite)	Add Item
S18-04	Edziza Volcano	Spectrum Fm	J Souther	Andesite - basalt lapilli tuff	Cenozoic	80% aphanitic purple matrix; 20% tan brown aphanitic clasts, to 0.5 cm; reported to be alkali olivine basalt	Add Item
S18-03	Edziza Volcano	Spectrum Fm	J Souther	Rhyodacite ash tuff	Cenozoic	light grey; reported to be microporphyritic comendite to pantellerite (peralkaline, sodic rhyolite)	Add Item
S18-02	Edziza Volcano	Spectrum Fm	J Souther	Felsic ash flow (ignimbrite)	Cenozoic	medium grey; finely banded; contorted banding; reported to be microporphyritic comendite to pantellerite (peralkaline, sodic rhyolite)	Add Item
S18-01	Edziza Volcano	Spectrum Fm	J Souther	Rhyolite ash	Cenozoic	off-white; possible phenocrysts too small to be identified; reported to be microporphyritic comendite to pantellerite (peralkaline, sodic rhyolite)	Add Item
S17-11	Tagish - Labarge	Teepee prospect	M Mihalnyuk	Skarn, sulphide bearing		white to very pale green; too fine grained to identify minerals; reported to contain grossularite, tremolite, diopside, epidote; 5-10% irregularly distributed cobaltite, arsenopyrite, magnetite (minor, non-magnetic); patchy cobalt bloom (eurythrite)	Add Item
S17-10	Tagish - Labarge	Crine prospect	M Mihalnyuk	Quartz-pyrite-arsenopyrite vein		gold bearing	Add Item
S17-09	Tagish - Labarge	104M/8,9	M Mihalnyuk	Biotite granite (lKg)	Cretaceous	white-grey; medium-coarse grained; 40% quartz; 55% feldspar, appears to be all plagioclase; 5% biotite	Add Item
S17-08	Tagish - Labarge	104M/8,9	M Mihalnyuk	Rhyolite (MVr)		white-grey; massive; aphanitic	Add Item
S17-07	Tagish - Labarge	104M/8,9	M Mihalnyuk	Biotite-muscovite-plagioclase-quartz schist (PPMb)		dark grey; knots of quartz vaguely resemble garnet porphyroblasts; crinkle folds shown by biotite; derived from greywacke	Add Item
S17-06	Tagish - Labarge	104M/8,9	M Mihalnyuk	Chlorite-actinolite schist (PPMa)		green; finely laminated on mm scale; derived from mafic volcanic flow or tuff	Add Item
S17-05	Tagish - Labarge	104M/8,9	M Mihalnyuk	Marble (PPMm)		pale to medium grey; tight folding of resistant bands	Add Item
S17-04	Tagish - Labarge	104M/8,9	M Mihalnyuk	Hornblendite (JKh)	Jura-Cretaceous	black; >95% very coarse hornblende; 5 cm aligned crystals; 1-2% interstitial feldspar, sausseritized (epidote altered), pale green	Add Item
S17-03	Inklin / Labarge Grp	Stikine River area	M Mihalnyuk & T Richards	Volcanic sandstone / greywacke	Lower to Mid-Jurassic	grey; abundant fine muddy matrix (i.e. greywacke); fine pebbles of white (acidic) and greenish (basic) volcanics; feldspar and mafic clasts; immature greywacke	Add Item
S17-02	Inklin / Labarge Grp		M Mihalnyuk & T Richards	Greywacke / sandstone	Lower to Mid-Jurassic	grey; common rip-up clasts of shale, aligned parallel to bedding; platey fracture corresponds to slatey cleavage, at high angle to bedding	Add Item
S17-01	Inklin/ Labarge Grp		M Mihalnyuk & T Richards	Feldspathic volcanic sandstone	lower to Mid-Jurassic	grey; little matrix; minor shale fragments; slatey cleavage prominently developed	Add Item
S16-11				Phyllite		green to tan with metamorphic pyrite (originally diagenetic?) cubes to <= 1cm associated with calcite +- quartz	Add Item

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