Geoscience BC Announces QUEST-Northwest Project
April 28, 2011 -Geoscience BC is pleased to announce the launch of the $ 3 million QUEST-Northwest Project today at the Minerals North meeting in Stewart, British Columbia. QUEST-Northwest builds on Geoscience BC's successful QUEST series of projects (QUEST, QUEST-West and QUEST-South) which have combined regional geochemical and airborne geophysical surveys to stimulate new mineral exploration activity in BC's southern and central interior.
The QUEST-Northwest Project will focus on the prospective geology transected by Highway 37, particularly the areas around the communities of Dease Lake, Iskut, Telegraph Creek and Stewart. The region has a long history of mineral exploration and mining, including the Premier, Granduc, Eskay Creek and Snip mines; and possible mine development projects including Red Chris, Galore Creek, KSM, Schaft Creek and others.
"The B.C. and federal governments have committed to spending $400 million to electrify the Highway 37 corridor, just south of the main QUEST-Northwest activities," said Minister of Energy and Mines Rich Coleman. "Regional geoscience programs, such as QUEST-Northwest, will help stimulate additional mineral exploration in this very prospective area and attract significant investment to northwest BC."
The QUEST-Northwest project will include three separate activities: airborne geophysical surveys, a regional ground geochemical program and bedrock geological mapping. The high-resolution airborne magnetic surveys in the north will be complemented by a compilation of existing high-quality industry airborne magnetic data in the Stewart area to the south.
The project will also involve the collection of new stream sediment and water samples in the Dease Lake and Telegraph Creek areas, and the reanalysis of existing samples collected in 1986 from northwest of Telegraph Creek.
"Geoscience BC undertook a major geochemical reanalysis program focused on Northwest BC in 2010, which was aimed at using modern analytical methods to improve the quality of data on existing geochemical samples from the area," said 'Lyn Anglin, President and CEO of Geoscience BC. "When this data was released in January of this year, over 80,000 hectares of new mineral claims were registered within a week of the release. The QUEST-Northwest geochemical program will expand on the 2010 project, and combined with new airborne geophysical surveys and bedrock mapping, will undoubtedly stimulate more mineral exploration interest and investment in the project area."
The QUEST-Northwest bedrock mapping initiative in the Dease Lake and Iskut areas, will be carried out by the British Columbia Geological Survey (Ministry of Energy and Mines). Modern, detailed bedrock mapping is essential to understanding the mineralized potential of the area, and Geoscience BC is pleased, to be working with the British Columbia Geological Survey to provide the mineral exploration industry with important new geoscience information and ideas.
"Modern geological maps produced by expert staff of the British Columbia Geological Survey are a key tool used by prospectors, geologists and mining companies to explore for new mines." said Dave Lefebure, Chief Geologist, Ministry of Energy and Mines. "New maps in the mineral-rich Dease Lake region will highlight prospective areas for copper, gold and other metals."
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.
For more information on QUEST-Northwest and other Geoscience BC projects, please see Geoscience BC's website at www.geosciencebc.com.
For more information, please contact:
'Lyn Anglin, PhD, PGeo
President and CEO
Geoscience BC
(604)-290-1194
www.geosciencebc.com