The Northwest Territories (NWT) has a new group of prospectors following two recent Introduction to Prospecting courses that were hosted in Yellowknife. The 42 participants were quick learners and one student even found visible gold!

The two-day courses were organized and hosted by the Mine Training Society, TerraX Minerals, and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment’s NWT Geological Survey and Mining Recorder’s Office.

The courses were divided into a day of classroom learning and a day in the field.  Classroom topics included: how to prospect, claim staking and regulations, assessment regulations, how to market yourself and your properties, basic geology, regional geology and the exploration cycle. 

Armed with a bag of prospecting tools, including a rock hammer, compass and hand lens, students explore local terrain on day two. They watched a claim staking demonstration and took a hands-on approach to prospecting.

This is the third year that the Introduction to Prospecting course has been held, and based on the positive response from course participants it is expected to be a reoccurring event.

As highlighted in the NWT Mineral Development Strategy (MDS), courses such as Introduction to Prospecting serve to develop an educated, trained and readily available northern workforce in the NWT – and to foster an awareness of the importance of the mining industry.

The ongoing implementation of the MDS works to advance the GNWT’s mandate to support mineral development and the mining sector in the NWT.