March 5, 2019
Monday’s announcement of funding to advance an all-weather access corridor into the Slave Geological Province (SGP) was an exciting one.
It will help to spur mineral exploration and mine development in the region which is recognized for having significant potential for gold, base metals, and more diamond production.
But even while this early ground work is being announced, the NWT Geological Survey will be taking the search for new minerals in the region to new heights.
Included in the joint federal/territorial announcement of funding is a $3.4 million investment in high-resolution airborne geophysical survey bedrock and surficial mapping program. The survey will be flown over large under-explored areas of the SGP at a scale that will make it possible to find indicators of previously undiscovered mineral deposits.
Similar work and funding in 2017 led to the staking of numerous mining claims and exploration drilling programs by both major mining and junior mineral exploration companies.
Read more:
Geoscience Information Leads to Largest Staking Rush Since 2014
The GNWT’s overall objective is to facilitate the next round of mineral exploration in high-potential “frontier” areas that will lead to the discovery of new, potentially-economic mineral deposits.
The aim of this latest survey project is to provide new, high-resolution geophysical data and analysis for easy-access and reference by investors and exploration companies.
Like funding for a new road, investments in geophysical data serve to open up our resource-rich territory in the interest of a strong and sustainable resource development sector with employment and business opportunities for northerners.
