Minerals are widely distributed throughout the province. The famous Sullivan Mine, at Kimberley, produces much of Canada's zinc and lead. It also is the largest silver mine in the country. The ores are shipped to a huge smelter at Trail. Copper comes from Howe Sound, north of Vancouver, Princeton, and Stewart.
Asbestos is the leading nonmetallic mineral of the province.
It is mined chiefly in the Cassiar Mountains district. The production of oil and natural gas has become increasingly important. Pipelines carry oil from the Peace River fields and Alberta across British Columbia to refineries near Vancouver and in northwestern Washington. A natural-gas pipeline was completed from the Peace River fields to Vancouver and the United States boundary in 1957. Coal is mined on Vancouver Island and in the Kootenay River region.