Geoscience BC Releases QUEST-West Airborne Gravity Survey
November 6, 2008 -Geoscience BC is pleased to announce the release of the QUEST-West airborne gravity survey today at 12:00 pm Pacific Time in Nelson BC, at the Minerals South Conference organized by the Chamber of Mines of Eastern BC.
The QUEST-West airborne gravity survey covers an area of over 40,000 square kilometers, and includes the communities of Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake, Burns Lake, Topley, Granisle, Houston, Telkwa, Smithers, Terrace and Kitimat. This area is significantly affected by the infestation of the Mountain Pine Beetle. The QUEST-West Project is designed to stimulate exploration industry interest and investment in the area, and develop economic diversification opportunities for the communities in this region.
"This airborne survey is contributing a significant amount of new data on the geology and mineral potential of a large area of BC's interior" said BC's Minister of State for Mining Gordon Hogg. "The results of the QUEST-West surveys will help to direct industry exploration investment and help to stimulate new mineral discoveries in Mountain Pine Beetle affected areas of the Province."
A total of 25,499 line-km of airborne gravity was collected by Sander Geophysics Limited on behalf of Geoscience BC and partners: the Northern Development Initiative Trust, the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako and the Regional District of Kitimat Stikine.
"The QUEST-West Project was made possible with the financial support of the Province and the Northern Development Initiative Trust," said Dr. 'Lyn Anglin, President and CEO of Geoscience BC. "The communities represented by the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, and the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine have been very proactive in pursuing economic development opportunities for their regions through stimulating more mineral exploration activity with projects like QUEST-West."
This new dataset (Geoscience BC Report 2008-10) is available for download from Geoscience BC's website at www.geosciencebc.com/s/DataReleases.asp.
The QUEST-West project also includes an airborne electromagnetic survey, undertaken by Aeroquest International, and a regional stream and lake sediment geochemical sampling program carried out by Noble Exploration Ltd. The results of these surveys will be released in early 2009.
The QUEST-West Project follows on the heels of Geoscience BC's very successful QUEST (Quesnellia Exploration Strategy) exploration geoscience project which covered approximately 46,000 square kilometers in central BC, extending from Williams Lake to northwest of Mackenzie. The QUEST Project area has seen more than 850,000 hectares of new mineral claim staking since the project was first announced in June 2007. Exploration companies have spent at least $12.5 million in the QUEST area since the project was launched.
About Geoscience BC
Geoscience BC is an industry-led, industry-focused, non-profit organization. Its mandate includes the collection, interpretation and delivery of geoscience data and expertise to promote investment in resource exploration and development in British Columbia. Funded by the Province of British Columbia, Geoscience BC works in partnership with industry, academia, government, First Nations and communities to attract mineral and oil & gas investment to British Columbia.