58 Mineral Exploration | amebc.ca
and regularly updates numerous databases,
including MINFILE, COALFILE, Property
File and Assessment Reports Indexing
System (ARIS). In addition, the BCGS
is developing a new geochronological
database. MINFILE documents more than
14,800 metallic mineral, industrial mineral
and coal occurrences. ARIS has more
than 36,400 mineral exploration reports
representing about $2.6 billion of reported
exploration expenditures. Property File
now has more than 73,000 unique reports
and maps, documenting exploration
activity in British Columbia since the late
1800s. The BCGS continues to maintain
geochemical databases with multi-element
analyses from rock, till, stream and lake
sediment, water and coal ash samples. The
databases include more than five million
determinations from about 85,000 samples.
The province-wide online digital bedrock
compilation saw substantial updates in 2018.
Since 1995, MapPlace, our database-
driven geospatial web service, has provided
open geoscience data and custom map-
making tools to help decision-makers
from diverse disciplines reduce the costs
of accessing and analyzing information.
MapPlace 2, the Survey's new online
geospatial platform, allows anyone with
an Internet connection to mine multiple
provincial geoscience databases. With a
simple interface, MapPlace 2 is easy, fast,
handles large datasets and provides access
to third-party base maps and imagery.
In addition to the BCGS and the GSC,
Geoscience BC, a not-for-profit, non-
government geoscience organization funded
by provincial government grants, also
provides provincial geoscience information.
Geoscience BC awards contracts for large
geophysical and geochemical programs
and provides grants to universities and
consultants for targeted geoscience projects
typically generated through requests for
proposals. Geoscience BC is governed
by a volunteer board of directors and
receives technical direction from volunteer
technical advisory committees (mineral
exploration, oil and gas and geothermal)
whose membership is largely drawn from the
exploration industry.
Alkan Air.indd 1 2018-11-02 8:36 AM
