New maps to boost mineral exploration in British Columbia

Geoscience BC researchers sample till from a roadside in 2021. Resulting maps will help to focus mineral exploration in central BC. Photo credit: Haj Bains.

New maps published Monday are expected to attract new mineral exploration interest and investment in central British Columbia.

Six sets of three maps from Geoscience BC can now be used by industry, governments, communities and Indigenous groups to ‘see through’ glacial sediments and better understand mineral exploration potential between Prince George and Quesnel.

The surficial geology, drift thickness and till sampling suitability maps for six new areas, are part of the Central Interior Copper-Gold Research (CICGR) series’ Surficial Exploration Project. The Surficial Exploration Project is generating new maps, reports and data to help trace geochemical anomalies back to their bedrock source between Quesnel and Mackenzie.

The new maps inform the collection and interpretation of new geochemical and mineralogical data from glacial deposits to improve understanding of the rocks below. Initial reanalysis results and map sheets for the northern part of the project were published in 2021, and final research results and reports are expected to be available later in 2022.

“The Central Interior Copper-Gold Research projects play a vital role focusing mineral exploration in BC,” Geoscience BC Vice President, Minerals, Christa Pellett said in a media statement. “The new maps are central to this research and will support the CICGR goal to improve understanding of surficial geology of central British Columbia.”

CICGR is a major multi-year Geoscience BC series of collaborative minerals earth science projects between Quesnel and Mackenzie. It is designed to highlight potential mineral deposits buried under glacial deposits to focus mineral exploration, attract investment and assist more informed natural resource decisions.

The CICGR program also includes the Identification of New Porphyry Potential Under Cover in Central British Columbia project. Results from that project were published in January 2022.

Upcoming events

There will be a technical talk on the research from project researcher Dave Sacco of Palmer at the Kamloops Exploration Group conference on April 13, 2022. The conference will also feature an update on other Geoscience BC minerals research. Details on how to register for the conference are here.

Geoscience BC will also host a non-technical community open house webinar on April 21 at 12:00 PM Pacific to provide an update on the CICGR series.

Webinar registration is here.