Geoscience BC Launches New TREK Project

March 26, 2013 -PRINCE GEORGE - Geoscience BC is pleased to announce today the launch of a new multi-disciplinary, multi-year project in BC's interior.

Named "TREK" for "Targeting Resources through Exploration and Knowledge", this project will focus on BC's northern interior plateau region, an area which is highly prospective for mineral resources, and may also have some geothermal potential. However, the area is underexplored for these resources due to complicated and poorly understood bedrock geology and overburden.

Geoscience BC's Board has approved over $3.9 million in funding to support the first phase of this project, which will include new airborne geophysics, new stream, lake, soil and till geochemical sampling and new geological mapping and mineral deposit studies covering an area of over 20,000 km2.

Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour, said: "The Province of British Columbia continues to see real value in the work of Geoscience BC to bring new jobs and economic development to B.C. communities. The geoscience information generated by this project will help create new investment and opportunities for First Nations and communities in the Interior."

Project partners in TREK include the BC Geological Survey (Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas), the Mineral Deposits Research Unit at the University of British Columbia, PK Geophysics, based in Surrey, BC, and Noble Exploration Services Ltd., based in Sooke, BC.

Craig Hart, Director of the Mineral Deposits Research Unit said: "The recent discovery of the Blackwater gold deposit has raised interest in the mineral potential of the interior plateau and revealed a new type of mineral deposit to explore for in this region. This project will include detailed examination of the type of rocks that host the Blackwater mineralization, which will help us refine our exploration for these and other types of deposits."

This project represents the first time Geoscience BC has undertaken research related to assessing geothermal potential. Some of the First Nations in the region indicated to Geoscience BC that they were very interested in knowing if there are any geothermal opportunities in the area, particularly around some of their remote, off-grid communities where people rely on propane and diesel fuel for heat and power.

'Lyn Anglin, President and CEO, Geoscience BC commented: "In response to the interest expressed by several of the First Nations we have spoken with, we are designing the project to include additional sampling, analyses and mapping that will help us develop a better understanding of the geothermal potential of the northern interior plateau."

Media Contact:

C.D. ('Lyn) Anglin
President & 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

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