Canadian exploration spending tops $800m 5 Dave Barr, Atlin residents win mining awards

Despite the lure from abroad, Canada’s mineral potential continues to attract exploration dollars from both juniors and majors, according to the latest figures compiled by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).

Preliminary estimates show that mineral exploration spending totalled $804 million last year — the second highest level of exploration spending in the 1990s. With spending of $895 million, 1996 retains the record for the decade.

Of the $804 million spent in 1997, $644 million was allocated to “grassroots exploration” (finding and delineating new deposits), with $160 million spent on the appraisal of delineated deposits. The bulk of the funds (58%) was spent in Ontario ($173.9 million), the Northwest Territories ($151.9 million) and Quebec ($140.3 million). Key targets remained diamond exploration in the Lac de Gras area of the Territories and base metal exploration in Labrador.

Both juniors and majors contributed to the strong performance. Juniors spent an estimated $298 million (or 37%) of total expenditures.

NRCan estimates that exploration spending this year will total $767 million, with $587 million allocated for grassroots projects. Senior companies plan to spend $455 million, and junior ones, $312 million.

Based on NRCan data, Canada remains one of the world’s top choices for exploration investment. For the 10-year period that ended in 1991, Canada was the number one destination for exploration investment, followed by Australia and the U.S. Between 1992 and 1996, Canada ranked second after Australia, and is expected to hold that position this year as well.

The Mining Association of British Columbia recently hosted a celebration in Vancouver, B.C., to honor people and communities who have gone that extra mile for mining.

Choosing a winner from a list of stellar nominees is always difficult, and this year was no exception, organizers say. The committee choosing the Mining Industry Person was deadlocked, until it decided that the award should be shared by two recipients: consulting engineer Gavin Dirom and prospector Dave Barr.

Dirom was honored for his role in making the province’s new Mineral Exploration Code a reality. Organizers say this was no easy task, as it involved endless hours of committee work, negotiations with government officials, and plenty of drafting and re-drafting before the legislation was passed. The accomplishment was deemed all the more remarkable because Dirom freely volunteered his time and energy to the worthwhile cause.

Dave Barr, a well-known industry champion, was recognized for his tireless efforts and committment to the province’s Land Resource Management Plan.

Organizers cited Barr’s dedication, saying he thought nothing of travelling all over the province to ensure industry views were represented during the land-planning process. They also pointed out that when Dave Barr got to the table to discuss the future of the Cassiar-Iskut-Stikine, or the co-existence of wildlife and mining-related infrastructure, he spoke “with a depth of knowledge of the area and commitment to mining, unmatched by anyone.”

The town of Atlin, on the eastern shore of Atlin Lake, was honored as “Community of the Year” for its support of the Tulsequah Chief base metal project, a former producer being revived by Redfern Resources. Community residents made important contributions both to the success of exploration at the property, and the subsequent environmental review process. The residents supported the project through the activities of the local group CARES (Concerned Atlin Residents for Economic Sustainability).

Situated in remote northwestern British Columbia, Atlin was established in 1898 during the Pine Creek gold strike. During the height of the gold boom, an estimated 1,500 people lived in the townsite and another 4,500 lived in nearby gold camps. While the gold rush days are long gone, placer mining continues in the region today.