Resource World Magazine

62 www.resourceworld.com O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 7 RESOURCE COMPANIES are continually looking to find ways to improve meth- ods of exploration in order to reduce the impact exploration activities have on the environment. Besides being easier on the environment, a smaller exploration foot- print can lower project costs as well as increase the efficiency of mineral explo- ration budgets. Organizations such as Geoscience BC are spearheading this kind of cutting edge research. Geoscience BC funded an innova- tive research project conducted by ALS Minerals Ltd. The project's goal was to bet- ter understand the mineralization of known mineral deposits through the analyses of snow, plant and soil samples at the deposits and to improve the commercially-available process for analyzing samples. This research has resulted in new laboratory techniques. The project, "An assessment of the use of halogens and volatile compounds in veg- etation, soil and snow in the exploration for concealed deposits: case histories from Lara and Mount Washington, Vancouver Island", centred on two well-studied field sites. According to Geoscience BC, "The new made-in-BC analytical methods measure the concentration of the halogen elements fluorine, bromine, chlorine and iodine in samples that have been collected in a way that has the potential to significantly lower the environmental impact of mineral exploration." "This is British Columbia at the cutting-edge of technology for mineral exploration," said Geoscience BC Vice President of Minerals and Mining, Bruce Madu. "Bringing these techniques closer to practical application helps to reduce the impact of mineral exploration work and builds valuable intellectual property right here in British Columbia." Samples were collected at the Mount Washington gold-copper-silver prospect and from the Lara zinc-copper-lead-silver- gold showing. Geoscience BC explained that fluids were captured from trees "by trapping 'tree sweat' in plastic bags. Halogen elements in soils were sampled using buried collectors left in the ground over several months to pas- sively absorb ions. Snow was also sampled because it can intercept and hold halogen elements." Project leader Dave Heberlein said: "We have now shown that these techniques are effective on Vancouver Island, but we still have a way to go before they can be widely used by the mineral exploration sector. More work is required to optimize sample types in other common forest types such as the spruce, lodgepole pine or Douglas- fir forests of the Interior." The project was also supported by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, and Activation Laboratories. Project reports can be accessed at geosciencebc.com. n Geoscience BC funded project shows how snow, soil and trees can detect mineral deposits underground by Kathrine Moore MININGWORLD * Resource World does not sell your information to third parties #604-700 W Pender St., Vancouver BC V6C 1G8 Canada online at www.resourceworld.com or phone 1.877.484.3800 SAVE 50% up to Resource World (Print and Digital Edition) 1 Year/6 issues (CAD $24.95) Resource World (Digital Edition) 1 Year/6 issues (CAD $12.95) Resource World International (outside Canada and USA (Print and Digital Edition) 1 Year/6 issues (CAD $99.95) NAME ADDRESS TEL EMAIL

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