Mineral Exploration

W I N T E R 2 0 1 5 71 in partnership with the University of Victoria, used trace elements in apatite to discriminate major mineral deposit types. The discriminant methodology was field tested on detrital apatite in till from the Woodjam project. The results of these and other projects were pre- sented at the fall BCGS Open House, held jointly with a two-day strategic and critical materials symposium that delivered the final results of the TGI-4 specialty metals project and served as the launch point for further studies. The BCGS continues to update and distribute its databases, including Minfile, Coalfile, Property File and ARIS (Assessment Report Indexing System), through MapPlace and its integrated applications. Development continues on MapPlace 2, the next generation of MapPlace, with testing of the new open- source version of MapGuide. The BC Digital Geology Map, which uses a unique geospatial data model, remains a BCGS priority, with frequent updates. Since 2013, 1,760 new mineral occurrences have been added to Minfile, and 4,600 mineral occurrence records have been updated. Property File now has over 54,000 unique reports and maps, documenting explora- tion activity in British Columbia from the late 1800s. The BCGS has updated the RGS (Regional Geochemical Survey) database and is currently modernizing the provincial lithogeochemical database. The BCGS's provincial rock and pulp archive, which hosts over 600,000 samples and is valued at more than $20 million, was relo- cated to a new storage facility on Belleville Street in Victoria. Geoscience BC, a not-for-profit, non- governmental geoscience organization funded by provincial government grants, also provides geoscience information in British Columbia. Geoscience BC cel- ebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2015. Its mandate is to attract mineral and oil and gas investment to British Columbia by generating and publicly distribut- ing geoscience data. Geoscience BC is industry-focused and awards contracts for large geophysical and geochemical programs as well as grants to universities and consultants to undertake targeted geoscience projects, typically gener- ated through requests for proposals. Geoscience BC is governed by a volun- teer board of directors and receives tech- nical direction from volunteer technical advisory committees (mineral explora- tion, oil and gas, and geothermal), whose membership is largely drawn from the exploration industry. • Skeena Resources Limited's Spectrum project. Omega Communications.indd 1 15-02-05 9:25 AM

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