Released on May 24, 2001
New geological maps may help exploration companies find deposits of gold,silver and other metals in northern Saskatchewan.
The maps, released this week, are created from detailed geological
information from airborne surveys of the remote Phelps Lake and Uranium
City areas. The data will help companies predict the probability of
mineral deposits and develop exploration strategies.
The surveys were funded through the Government of Canada's $15-million,
three-year Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI), Saskatchewan Energy and
Mines and Saskatchewan Northern Affairs from the provincial Centenary Fund.
"Communities in these areas will benefit from opportunities for new
economic development, employment and skills training created by increased
exploration and mining," Natural Resources Canada Minister Ralph Goodale
said. "And the knowledge from these surveys will help the communities make
decisions about land use that balance economic, environmental and social
factors."
Accessible geological maps and survey data are among Canada's key
advantages in the global competition for mining investment.
"Mining and mineral exploration are important for our northern economy,"
Saskatchewan Northern Affairs Minister Keith Goulet said. "The new data
could lead to increased economic activity and benefits for the residents of
the Athabasca region."
Information collected under the surveys also helps communities assess the
environmental and social impact of proposed development projects. For
example, by evaluating the mineral potential of the Phelps Lake area,
geologists will help the province select boundaries for its protected areas
that avoid mining lands valuable to the local communities.
"We are excited about the possibilities of further exploration in these
areas," Energy and Mines Minister Maynard Sonntag said. "The keen interest
and new investment by the exploration companies heralds a renewed focus on
mining in northern Saskatchewan."
Mining in Canada today is a $28-billion industry and the lifeblood of some
600,000 Canadians in more than 100 rural, remote and Aboriginal
communities. Mining is a significant contributor to Saskatchewan's
economy, with 20 communities that rely on mining. Principal minerals in
Saskatchewan are potash, uranium, coal, salt, sand and gravel.
"There is no doubt that this data will be beneficial for Saskatchewan and
Canada," Churchill River, Saskatchewan, MP Rick Laliberte said. "The
survey will provide key information as northern Saskatchewan continues to
build on its mineral exploration capacities."
The Government of Canada's Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI), led by
NRCan's Geological Survey of Canada, was established to produce new
geological maps and data about underexplored areas with a high potential of
mineral deposits and to make this information publicly accessible through
the Internet.
Funding for the Targeted Geoscience Initiative was provided for in the 2000
federal budget, in which the government made specific commitments to build
a dynamic economy for the 21st century through innovation, knowledge and
technology.
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For more information, contact:
Pat Breton George Patterson
Natural Resources Canada Energy and Mines
Ottawa Regina
Phone: (613) 996-2007 Phone: (306) 787-2560