Mineral Exploration

S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 9 Photograph : Andy Randell Gretchev. "If we can get the informa- tion out there [about minerals and their uses], people are more likely to make informed decisions." Vancouver Mining Exploration Group vancouvermeg.com I n 2015, t he Va ncouver M i n i ng Exploration Group conducted its inaug- ural outreach program through geo- logical consulting group Strata GeoData Services (SGDS). The brainchild of Andrew Randell, P.Geo, SGDS is divided into two specialized areas: SGDS Hive and Below BC. SGDS Hive focuses on the continued education of graduate geoscientists and works to ease their transition between academia and the workplace. More rel- evant to AME's outreach program, Below BC's (belowbc.com) mandate is to provide opportunities for the public to learn more about the rich geological history of British Columbia. It also works to engage earth science graduates on project work, giving them valuable experience. Some projects from Below BC include: • Mineral Mondays, when photographs of samples from the PaciŒc Museum of Earth's mineral collection are shared on Facebook and LinkedIn, along with stories about the "discovery" of the specimen and the region from which it came • A showcase at the Vancouver Gem & Mineral Show in August 2015, which was attended by over 10,000 people; BelowBC will attend again in August 2016 • Articles on urban and roadside geol- ogy throughout Vancouver and B.C. • Educational outreach and content development, including regional mapping through field training in Vancouver's Kitsilano neighbourhood Vancouver Island Exploration Group vixgroup.ca I n 2012, t he Va nc ou ver I s l a nd Exploration Group formed its Outreach Committee through a grant from AME, and has since been reaching out to the general public and advocating for the mineral exploration and mining indus- tries. Mainly through luncheon meet- ings and short courses, the committee brings interesting and diverse speakers and instructors to the region. Hats and T-shirts were created with some of the AME grant funding, and they are pre- sented as unique speaker gifts as well as sold at cost to "spread the word." AME Outreach Education Fund AME also awards grants through its Outreach Education Fund, a corporate endowment dedicated to increasing the public's appreciation and understand- ing of B.C.'s mineral exploration industry through the advancement of public edu- cation and community programs. MineralsEd mineralsed.ca MineralsEd goes directly into elementary schools in the Lower Mainland, teaching the "Kids and Rocks" program to children in kindergarten through Grade 3. A part- nership between teachers and industry, MineralsEd encourages and supports earth science, minerals resources and mining education in schools. Britannia Mine Museum britanniaminemuseum.ca The Britannia Mine Museum has received several grants from AME, used for educa- tional outreach to students in the Lower Mainland. This money has been allocated to the design and development of the Core Explore components, a rock core examina- tion and mapping table to introduce stu- dents to one element of work in explora- tion. New posters and interpretive panels for the Core Explore exhibit were also developed.†The museum hosts approxi- mately 10,000 students annually as well as thousands of public visitors to the mine. Centre of Training Excellence in Mining acareerinminingbc.ca In 2015, the Centre of Training Excellence in Mining (CTEM) received a grant toward co-ordination and production of the second edition of the BC Career Pathways Guidebook: Mining Careers. CTEM was created in 2013 with the aim of provid- ing British Columbians with access to education and training programs specif- ically focused on careers in the mineral exploration and mining industries. The guidebook, originally prepared in 2014, communicates to prospective students, jobseekers and the general public about opportunities in prospecting, exploration and development, operations, and rec- lamation projects in B.C. CTEM hopes to distribute the second edition to a broader B.C. audience, including Aboriginal and remote communities. (opposite left) The Chamber of Mines of Eastern BC display at Kaslo May Days; (opposite right) cookie mining at the Prospectors' Tent at Pioneer Day in the village of Hazelton; (below) Andy Randell shows an interested three-year-old a piece of amber with preserved insects at the Vancouver Mineral and Gem Show.

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