Ocean drilling withdrawal by Canada sparks furor

Canada’s decision to pull out of a major international ocean drilling effort has put the collaborative program in jeopardy and cut the mining industry off from a valuable source of exploration research, say Canadian geoscientists.

Under orders to cut costs, the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) — which provides the lion’s share of Canada’s US$2 million contribution to the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) — has chosen not to commit the country to another 5-year term when the international agreement comes up for renewal Oct. 1. The withdrawal of a major participant may lead other members, including Germany, France, Japan and especially Canada’s joint venture partner Australia, to reconsider their role in the US$45-million-per-year Ocean Drilling Program (ODP). The U.S., which contributes almost half of the financing, is the main member nation.

“If Canada withdraws, it could start a domino effect that would be disastrous for the program,” said John Malpas, chairman of the Canadian Council for ODP. Although ODP also gathers information on climatic change and other long-term natural processes, part of its mandate is to examine modern massive sulphide deposits as they form on the ocean floor. Information gleaned from these studies can be used by mining companies searching for continental volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits.

“There are many direct and indirect spinoffs,” Malpas said. “It’s a basic tool for exploration in the mining industry.”

In 1991, ODP intersected 95 metres of ore-grade copper and zinc on the Juan de Fuca ridge off Vancouver Island. The ocean floor deposit is a modern analogue of deposits such as Falconbridge’s Kidd Creek mine near Timmins, Ont., and Brunswick Mining and Smelting’s (TSE) No. 12 mine near Bathurst, N.B.

“We’ve learned things that are changing exploration strategies for base metals,” concurs Robin Riddihough, the GSC’s chief scientist. But Riddihough says initiatives such as ocean drilling are viewed as too academic by the federal government, which appears anxious to sponsor only programs that contribute directly to the nation’s prosperity. Riddihough would not comment on other programs set to be cut from the GSC’s $100-million budget this spring, but some speculate that the Lithoprobe project may be targeted. Sponsored by the GSC, industry, universities and provincial surveys, the Lithoprobe project provides the exploration community with information on the earth’s lithosphere and its potential to host ore deposits.

Also said to be in jeopardy is the Research Agreements program, which provides grants totalling $2 million for university projects in the natural sciences and engineering.

Malpas said representatives from the U.S. financing were shocked at Canada’s sudden decision to withdraw from the ocean drilling program. “There was no clear consultation with the geological community before the decision was made,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of bridges to mend with the U.S. and Australia.”

He said the Canadian Council for ODP, a group of industry, government and university representatives, is now discussing alternative financing to keep Canada’s foot in the door. Options include appealing to industry and inviting a third country — Korea, Taiwan, South Africa or Mexico — to join the US$3 million Canadian-Australian partnership.