OTTAWA — Thanks to a venture by the Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has released new geo-mapping data to support increased, more effective mineral exploration in the border area between Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador.
“These new high-resolution aeromagnetic maps will help unlock the full mineral potential of the Schefferville region,” said the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources. “In the long run, this work could create new opportunities in previously underutilized areas beyond Schefferville.”
The region east of Schefferville is considered underexplored for mineral resources, and these new data have the potential to generate significant exploration activity. They were released via free Internet download from the Geoscience Data Repository for Aeromagnetic Data at http://gdr.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php.
The natural resources ministries of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador will continue with collaborative mapping during the summer of 2009 over the area covered by the aeromagnetic data.
In May 2009, the Government of Canada increased this year’s funding of the GEM program from $22 million to $30 million to accelerate geo-mapping work within the overall GEM funding envelope. GEM is the $100-million first phase of a public geoscience program that will complete geo-mapping of Canada’s North.
It is estimated that public geo-mapping programs can result in a five-to-one return in leveraging private sector investment. Accordingly, the Government of Canada’s $100-million investment in GEM could generate up to $500-million in private sector resource exploration and development.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Natural Resources Canada has released new geo-mapping data to support mineral exploration in the border area between Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador. Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt says the data will help to create new economic opportunities by unlocking the full mineral potential of the Schefferville region.
Media may contact:
Jocelyne Turner
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-996-2007
or
Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-992-4447
NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media.
