Province Backs Quest To Unlock Mineral Potential

June 12, 2007-

PRINCE GEORGE - Geoscience BC is launching the $5-million QUEST project in central B.C.'s Mountain Pine Beetle infestation area to help unlock the province's mineral potential and stimulate new economic activity, announced Minister of State for Mining Kevin Krueger.

"This is the largest public geoscience project in British Columbia's history," said Krueger. "This important work in conjunction with the B.C. Geological Survey's many ministry projects will help industry identify vitally-needed mineral deposits to help diversify local economies."

The QUEST (Quesnellia Exploration Strategy) project will include airborne electromagnetic and airborne gravity surveys and geochemical sampling over an area of 40,000 square kilometres extending from Williams Lake north to Mackenzie during summer months. The project will also include collecting over 2,000 lake and stream sediment samples and reanalyzing over 5,000 existing samples for base and precious metals.

"This project will provide us with a much better understanding of the region's mineral potential. We are confident the results will stimulate more on-the-ground exploration in the area and lead to new mineral discoveries in central B.C.," said Dr. 'Lyn Anglin, president and CEO of Geoscience BC

QUEST will complement ongoing minerals and oil and gas geoscience programs of the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources in the same region. Ministry geologists are working on geological mapping, mineral deposit studies, geochemistry sampling and oil and gas studies throughout the mountain pine beetle infestation region with specific projects in the Anahim Lake, Burns Lake, Houston, Merritt, Prince George, Quesnel and 100 Mile House areas.

"We are very concerned about diversifying the economies of communities which have been highly dependent on the pine forest," said Prince George North MLA Pat Bell. "This is a brilliant opportunity to capitalise on the burgeoning success of the mining industry."

"The geology of our region is known to be challenging and it has been under-explored by the mineral industry," said Prince George-Omineca MLA John Rustad. "By applying cutting edge exploration technologies to this area, we will reduce some of the exploration risk and attract industry attention."

"QUEST will help industry target their mineral exploration dollars more effectively and stimulate the exploration activity required to make new mineral discoveries," said Prince George- Mount Robson MLA Shirley Bond.

Geoscience BC is an industry-led, industry-focused, non-profit organization established in 2005 with a $25-million grant from the Province. Its mandate includes the collection, interpretation and delivery of geoscience data and expertise to promote investment in resource exploration and development in British Columbia.

For more details on Geoscience BC's QUEST project and partnership opportunities visit www.geosciencebc.com or call (604) 662-4147.

C.D. ('Lyn) Anglin
President & CEO
Geoscience BC
604 662-4147

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