WorldWide Drilling Resource

15 OCTOBER 2021 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Mineral Exploration Gets A Boost in Ontario Compiled the Editorial Staff of WorldWide Drilling Resource® The Ontario government is taking proactive steps to increase mineral exploration by launching a new online tool, making it easier for companies and prospectors to identify areas available for exploration and claim registration, while also investing in mineral exploration and mining research. These actions are part of the province’s plan to stimulate the sector and encourage investment to promote economic recovery. Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) Focus is the province’s innovative online geoscience tool, which consolidates historical exploration information from various databases into a one-stop, easy-to-use format. Drawing geoscience data from the Ontario Assessment File Database, the Ontario Drill Hole Database, and the Mineral Deposit Inventory database, the series of map layers is a free, publicly-accessible tool. Saving time and resources, users can search by clicking on a data hotspot to quickly and easily find areas around the province where mineral exploration has occurred, where data is available, and where land is open for claim registration. This tool is the leading provider of reliable, credible, accessible geoscience data, information, and expert knowledge in Ontario. Greg Rickford, minister of energy, Northern development and mines said, “The OGS Focus tool is a stateof-the-art, customer-focused product that will further solidify Ontario’s position as a leading global jurisdiction in mineral exploration and production.” Teaming up with Lakehead University, the Ontario government is investing by providing more than $690,000 to support a new five-year Industrial Chair in Mineral Exploration, which will be held by Dr. Peter Hollings, the current chair of the school’s geology department. Part of a $2.15 million initiative, this effort hopes to speed up the process of mineral exploration, bringing more mines online to meet the need for raw materials required for the technologies powering a modern economy. Of the funds announced early this year, $375,000 comes from Impala Canada, the palladiumminer owning and operating Lac des Iles Mine near Thunder Bay. Another $690,000 comes from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund. The remainder of the funding is being provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Counci l of Canada and Lakehead University. Hollings and his team will work with Impala Canada and their geology team to analyze nickel, copper, and platinum group elements, as well as the associated geological attributes near the Lac des Iles Mine and the surrounding area. Located about 55 miles northwest of Lac des Iles palladium mine. Photo courtesy of North American Palladium. EXB Mineral Exploration continued on page 16

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDk4Mzk=