Northern Trust Puts $750 Grand into Search for Minerals Near Mackenzie

Tuesday, July 10, 2007 03:30 PM

Map outlines areas to be explored for mineral deposits ( courtesy Northern Trust / GeoScienceBC)

With news one of its major employers is closing for an indefinite period, the District of Mackenzie is looking for economic diversification projects.

The Northern Development Initiatives Trust has announced it will contribute $750 thousand dollars to the GeoScience BC project this summer to expand the search for minerals in the Mackenzie and Fort St. James areas.

This is the first project to be funded by the $32 million dollar Mountain Pine Beetle Recovery Program to diversify the economy of communities impacted by the pine beetle.

The GeoScience project was announced last month, and involves the mapping of a corridor that stretches from north of Mackenzie to Wiliams Lake. ( see previous story)

This project will also include the re-analysis of over 5,000 archived regional geochemical survey samples, and the collection of 2200 new geochemical samples in an area north and west of Prince George. This extra funding will allow the aerial survey to cover an additional 6,000 square kilometres in the area of a recent mineral discovery.

Geochemistry involves the sampling of sediment from lakes and streams, (photo at right courtesy Geoscience BC) looking for unusual concentrations of elements of interest such as copper or gold. Sampling crews will work from trucks and helicopter .

This new geochemical data will identify new potential mineral exploration targets, and help attract the exploration industry to the region.

The funding will allow an extension of the geophysical survey area to the north, and expansion of the geochemical survey area to the north and east around Mackenzie, BC.

Altogether, this program will produce a compilation of maps combining the results of the surveys with existing public geoscience data. All data will be released to the public in early 2008.

Mackenzie Mayor Stephanie Killam says the main goal for Mackenzie is economic diversification, "We are open for business."

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Posted on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 03:30 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: darkken on July 10 2007 4:04 PM

Now mining is to be the saviour of the economy? It would be nice for this to happen but with the uncertainty in land claims and the pine beetle epidemic crunching through the last trees in a few years, does anyone see many mines opening before 2015?

And, if they do open, who will be left to work in them?

Posted by: Andyfreeze on July 10 2007 5:04 PM

Mining is an added bonus to our economy but, mining will not replace forestry in the future.
Do loggers make good miners?
Most mines will hire EXPERIENCED miners at start-up and very few with no experience.
And they will not support the same number of workers as forestry ventures.
Training is also a very expensive process when you are trying to get ahead of huge expenditures incurred from a long startup.
While it is important that the search for minerals continues,it will not be a solution to the economic downturn that is coming for Northern/North Central B.C.
And it IS coming.
Mines have a short operating timeline compared to forestry and far more enviromental impact if not done properly.
We should support this venture, but also continue to look for solutions to the Pine Beetle fallout in terms of secondary wood products,allowable cuts,stumpage rates, etc.etc.
That should be the priority at all times.
Nobody worried about mining before so why all of a sudden is it the saving grace for B.C.?
If we allow forestry to be shoved to the back burner,we WILL regret it!

Posted by: Palopu on July 10 2007 6:51 PM

Some new mines will open, and some old mines will close. At the end of the day you will probably have a similiar amount of people working in the mining industry.

The Hucklberry mine around Houston is only staying open at this time because the price of metals is up. It was due to close this year. (One down)

The Blue Pearl mine around Smithers should open up in a year or so. (One up)

Kemess North will shut down when Kemess South is approved and goes into production there will be no net gain of jobs. If Kemess South is not approved then there will be a loss of 350 full time jobs.

Red Chris Coppers on Highway 37 North could open in the next 5 years, and will generate some jobs, however it will come on line about the same time as Alcan will knock of 750 Jobs. (One down, One up)

Terrance Metals in the Mackenzie area could come on stream in 5 years, and if it does it will replace the 350 jobs that were lost by Canfor shutting down the mill in Mackenzie. (One down, One Up)

The CN Container Terminal in Prince George while creating approx 60 full time jobs, will also eliminate 100 to 150 other full time jobs for those people who presently handle these products to Vancouver, and therefore in the end you will have a net loss.

And so it goes.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on July 10 2007 9:12 PM

Fact of life in the mining industry.
Another interesting scenario I am told that will happen with the Prince Rupert port expansion, is for every job lost in Vancouver,those people will have the option of posting to Rupert.(bumping)
Senority counts with with longshoreing jobs.
Apparently there are already some guy's already moving back and forth between Rupert and Vancover.
How many actual jobs for Rupertites remains to be seen.
I would assume this will apply to Prince George as well, depending on how it is set up.

Posted by: Bridge on July 11 2007 10:25 AM

Why are we spending taxpayers money to do research for the mining industry? What ever happened to free enterprise? Will this be another study that no one will look at?

Just wondering.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on July 11 2007 11:11 AM

Bridge...good question.
I think it has much to do with the fact that the forestry sector is going to take a major hit very soon.
However,even though I think more mining would be a positive thing for the region,it will NOT replace the forest industry in terms of jobs and long term viabitlity.
I would much rather see this kind of cash put into solutions in regards to the Pine Beetle devastation,saw milling,etc.