The series consists of correspondence outward of the Inspector of Mines between 1877 and 1900. The inspector's jurisdiction extended to coal mines only.

Series consists of mine accident and dangerous occurrence files from the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. The Mining Regulation Act (R.S.B.C., 1979, c. 265) and Coal Mine Regulation Act (R.S.B.C. 1979, c. 52), and the Mines Act (S.B.C. 1980, c. 28) required mine owners to report serious accidents or dangerous occurrences to the ministry. These acts also gave the Inspector of Mines responsibility to investigate mines on a regular basis.

The series is arranged into four subseries: accident files, injury statistics and reports, dangerous occurrence notifications, and reports of dangerous occurrences.

The accident files (file code 20010-02), submitted to the ministry from the mine owners, are arranged by the name of the mine. The files consist primarily of one page accident forms, which list the employee and a description of the accident. Some files also contain copies of Workers Compensation forms, report forms created by the Inspector of Mines, as well as correspondence, reports, photographs and architectural plans.

The injury statistics and reports (file code 20010-05) consist of three files arranged by the name of the mine. Files consist of monthly accident reports providing statistical figures about the number and type of accidents. Some of these files also include correspondence and copies of accident forms.

The dangerous occurrence notifications (file code 20040-02) consist of investigation reports of the Inspector of Mines. Some of the files also contain correspondence between the ministry and mine owners. These files are arranged chronologically.

The reports of dangerous occurrences (file code 20040-03) contain report forms, correspondence and investigative reports. Some reports also include photographs, sketches and architectural plans.

Series consists of photographs created or acquired by the Resource Management Branch of the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources and its predecessor bodies, between 1929 and 1991. Most of the photographs are glued onto pages that formed an appendix to an inspection report. These appendices were separated from the reports and stored separately. The original reports may still be with the Ministry. Researchers should also compare them to the Ministry of Mines annual reports. In addition to the appendices, which often include captions and other accompanying material, the files contain hundreds of loose photographs, including prints, negatives, slides and polaroids in both colour and black and white. The photographs are of mines throughout British Columbia and include aerial views, mine rescue teams, machinery and equipment, reclamation work, bridges and roads and dangerous occurrences and accidents. The series also includes portions of the inspection reports and other accompanying textual information.