Prince George, B.C.- The latest report from a GeoScience survey in the  region west of Prince George,  has produced some  exciting  data for possible mining  exploration.

(At right,  blue line outlines area mapped during phase one of SeArch project.  Images courtesy Geoscience BC)

Phase one of the SeArch project examined more than 6700 kilometres of  land   in a grid pattern from Smithers to Terrace and south  to Kitimat, showing  what  may lie  beneath  the  surface .  This area was  previously surveyed in 2008 as part of Geoscience B.C.’s Quest-West project,  but  the most recent survey  which started in August of  2015, used  magnetic  sensor technology mounted on a helicopter .  The  grid  pattern was spaced  at 250 metres,  producing  more detail than  had been previously available.

Geoscience B.C.’s  Vice President of Minerals and Mining, Bruce Madhu   says the  data shows  areas which have a highly magnetic  response.

“The computer generated image (image at right) colours things from blue to red. Blue being weaker  magnetic response, and red being higher  magnetic response.  The industry  is  quite attracted to the higher magnetic response  it indicates the rocks might  be more favourable, or they’ve gone through some  geological process that has concentrated  magnetic minerals and  that’s the key.  So in the area, between Smithers and Terrace , there are some significant well  defined magnetic  highs that I think will be of interest.”

In the past,  release of  the Geoscience  data has sparked  a rush of  claims being staked, and  that  is likely to happen  again with the release  of the data of phase one of SeArch.

The information comes at a time when commodities are low and mining operations  slowed and in some cases halted,  but the information will set the stage for the future. “If not this year, or next year, this information will serve  a generation of explorers,  it could  be ten years down the road.  It’s a major long term investment in British Columbia ” says Madhu  “The process often takes years and years, and it’s not  unusual for a discovery to take a decade to 20 years  to reach its full potential.

Geoscience  BC President Robin Archdekin  says Geoscience was created during a similar downturn  a decade ago  “In 2005  when prices were off and the industry was struggling, we were  created.  The notion is that during difficult times,   it’s  expensive to do this kind of work.  we are competing on a world basis, and by having this  work done, it just  makes B.C. that much more attractive for whatever minimum finances are out there to invest.”

Madhu says  phase two of the SeArch project will  take place this year “We highlighted an area  stretching from Smithers to Vanderhoof and  almost to  the Blackwater River area  west of Quesnel.  We intend to  survey a majority of that  this year,  in 2016,  in one of the biggest survey’s we’ve ever proposed.”