A heretofore underexplored region west of Prince George will see enhanced geological surveying, thanks to $3 million in new funding from the B.C. Ministry of Energy and Mines.
The funding – announced at the Minerals North 2014 conference in Vanderhoof May 22 – will be used by Geoscience BC for its Targeting Resources for Exploration and Knowledge (TREK) project to explore for both mineral formations and geothermal heat sources.
The Interior Plateau is a 20,000-square-kilometre region that runs south of Vanderhoof and west of Quesnel.
Covered with heavy glacial till, the area’s geology has prevented the region from extensive exploration in the past. Geoscience’s TREK process uses aerial surveying to overcome some of the problems associated with physical exploration.
The process was used to discover additional deposits at the edge of the old Huckleberry mine southwest of Houston, B.C., which had been running out of ore.
“They found a very nice deposit and it has extended the life of the mine for several years,” said B.C. Mines and Energy Minister Bill Bennett.
The TREK surveying in the Interior Plateau will include identification of geothermal energy, in addition to mineral deposits.
“It’s a source of renewable energy that we’re obviously interested in seeing developed,” Bennett said. “This will give the companies an idea where to start, where to look.”
The survey area in question includes a provincial park, but Bennett said it would be off limits to mineral exploration or mining.
