Britannia Mines Concentrator, Industrial mining complex in Britannia Beach, Canada.
Britannia Mines Concentrator is an eight-story industrial building constructed against the rock face of Mount Sheer. The structure uses gravity to process copper ore, with large square windows and reinforced concrete-steel construction throughout.
The building was constructed in 1923 after a fire destroyed earlier facilities. Operations continued until 1974, during which time it became one of the most important copper processing centers in the region.
The site reflects the importance of mining to British Columbia's development and the people who worked here. Visitors walk through spaces where decisions shaped the region's industrial future.
The site sits about 45 kilometers north of Vancouver along Highway 99, making it accessible by car via the main road. The location is part of a museum that guides visitors through the old complex and provides context for understanding the work.
The building used innovative flotation technology that made it the largest copper smelting operation of the British Empire. Between 1925 and 1930, more copper concentrate from this place was produced than anywhere else in the empire.
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