First Results from Geoscience B.C.'s $2.5 million QUEST-South Project Expected to Stimulate New Mineral Exploration Activity in South Central B.C.
Click here to access new QUEST-South data
Vancouver BC -- January 18, 2010 -- Geoscience BC today released the initial results from the QUEST-South Project today at the Mineral Exploration Roundup Conference in Vancouver, B.C. Data released includes the largest airborne gravity survey of south-central B.C. conducted by the organization, covering 45,000 square kilometres, and geochemical results from the reanalysis of over 8000 archived stream sediment samples from southern B.C. collected between 1976 and 1981.
QUEST-South, the third of Geoscience BC's major mineral geoscience projects, focuses on B.C.'s southern interior, and includes the communities of Kamloops, Merritt, Princeton, Cache Creek, Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton, Revelstoke, 100 Mile House, Hope and Williams Lake. The project was designed to provide new regional public geoscience information, both to attract new mineral exploration investment into the region as well as provide support to companies already working in the historically active mining area.
"QUEST-South is an exciting Geoscience BC project for the communities and First Nations in the southern Interior and throughout B.C.," said Randy Hawes, Minister of State for Mining. "The B.C. government is proud to support QUEST in unlocking the mineral potential of south central B.C. The project is stimulating new economic activity, attracting new investment and supporting families and communities."
The QUEST-South data released today includes the results of a $2 million airborne gravity survey, which was flown during the fall of 2009 by Sander Geophysics Ltd. The survey should help see down to rocks that are prospective for mineral deposits, but which are buried beneath other rock units that cover much of southern B.C.
The QUEST-South airborne gravity survey adjoins the QUEST gravity survey released in 2008, which in turn adjoins the QUEST-West survey released in 2009. Geoscience BC's three QUEST projects have collected new geophysical information over almost one-sixth of the area of B.C. in the last three years.
The release also includes the results of the QUEST-South geochemical reanalysis project, with new stream sediment geochemical data for over 8000 samples covering an area of over 130,000 square kilometers. Results of analysis from new stream and soil geochemical samples collected last summer in the Merritt area will be released later this spring. Combined, these releases will represent the largest infusion of new public geochemical data to the provincial databases since the 1970s. Noble Exploration Services Ltd. managed the QUEST-South geochemical project.
"Geoscience BC believes that the new QUEST-South datasets will lead to new mineral exploration work in southern B.C.," said 'Lyn Anglin, President and CEO of Geoscience BC. "Our experience with previous regional datasets, like we are releasing today, has been that there is immediate mineral claim staking based on the project results and we expect the same will happen based on the results released today."
The QUEST-South Project was funded by Geoscience BC. Since its inception in 2005, Geoscience BC has committed over $20 million to minerals geoscience projects in B.C., which has been matched by almost $7 million in partnership funding. In addition, industry has spent millions following up on Geoscience BC's data releases. For more information on the QUEST-South Project, go to Geoscience BC's website: www.geosciencebc.com.
For more information, please contact:
C.D. ('Lyn) Anglin, PhD, P.Geo
President and CEO
Geoscience BC
(604) 290-1194
Geoscience BC
Geoscience BC is an industry-led, industry-focused not-for-profit society. Its mandate includes the collection, interpretation and marketing of geoscience data and expertise to promote investment in resource exploration and development in British Columbia. Geoscience BC is funded through grants from the Provincial Government and works in partnership with industry, academia, government, First Nations and communities to attract mineral and oil & gas investment to BC.
www.geosciencebc.com
Vancouver BC -- January 18, 2010 -- Geoscience BC today released the initial results from the QUEST-South Project today at the Mineral Exploration Roundup Conference in Vancouver, B.C. Data released includes the largest airborne gravity survey of south-central B.C. conducted by the organization, covering 45,000 square kilometres, and geochemical results from the reanalysis of over 8000 archived stream sediment samples from southern B.C. collected between 1976 and 1981.
QUEST-South, the third of Geoscience BC's major mineral geoscience projects, focuses on B.C.'s southern interior, and includes the communities of Kamloops, Merritt, Princeton, Cache Creek, Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton, Revelstoke, 100 Mile House, Hope and Williams Lake. The project was designed to provide new regional public geoscience information, both to attract new mineral exploration investment into the region as well as provide support to companies already working in the historically active mining area.
"QUEST-South is an exciting Geoscience BC project for the communities and First Nations in the southern Interior and throughout B.C.," said Randy Hawes, Minister of State for Mining. "The B.C. government is proud to support QUEST in unlocking the mineral potential of south central B.C. The project is stimulating new economic activity, attracting new investment and supporting families and communities."
The QUEST-South data released today includes the results of a $2 million airborne gravity survey, which was flown during the fall of 2009 by Sander Geophysics Ltd. The survey should help see down to rocks that are prospective for mineral deposits, but which are buried beneath other rock units that cover much of southern B.C.
The QUEST-South airborne gravity survey adjoins the QUEST gravity survey released in 2008, which in turn adjoins the QUEST-West survey released in 2009. Geoscience BC's three QUEST projects have collected new geophysical information over almost one-sixth of the area of B.C. in the last three years.
The release also includes the results of the QUEST-South geochemical reanalysis project, with new stream sediment geochemical data for over 8000 samples covering an area of over 130,000 square kilometers. Results of analysis from new stream and soil geochemical samples collected last summer in the Merritt area will be released later this spring. Combined, these releases will represent the largest infusion of new public geochemical data to the provincial databases since the 1970s. Noble Exploration Services Ltd. managed the QUEST-South geochemical project.
"Geoscience BC believes that the new QUEST-South datasets will lead to new mineral exploration work in southern B.C.," said 'Lyn Anglin, President and CEO of Geoscience BC. "Our experience with previous regional datasets, like we are releasing today, has been that there is immediate mineral claim staking based on the project results and we expect the same will happen based on the results released today."
The QUEST-South Project was funded by Geoscience BC. Since its inception in 2005, Geoscience BC has committed over $20 million to minerals geoscience projects in B.C., which has been matched by almost $7 million in partnership funding. In addition, industry has spent millions following up on Geoscience BC's data releases. For more information on the QUEST-South Project, go to Geoscience BC's website: www.geosciencebc.com.
For more information, please contact:
C.D. ('Lyn) Anglin, PhD, P.Geo
President and CEO
Geoscience BC
(604) 290-1194
Geoscience BC
Geoscience BC is an industry-led, industry-focused not-for-profit society. Its mandate includes the collection, interpretation and marketing of geoscience data and expertise to promote investment in resource exploration and development in British Columbia. Geoscience BC is funded through grants from the Provincial Government and works in partnership with industry, academia, government, First Nations and communities to attract mineral and oil & gas investment to BC.
www.geosciencebc.com