Home > News > 2014 Northeastern Ontario...

2014 Northeastern Ontario Mines and Minerals Symposium

“Focusing on the Future” – April 14-17, Timmins, Ontario

By By Frank Giorno www.mininglifeonline.net

Apr 17, 2014

The Porcupine Prospectors  and Developers Association (PPDA) concluded a successful four days (April 14th and 17th, 2014)  of workshops, field trips and technical sessions at the McIntyre Arena, in Schumacher, Ontario, geared towards all parties interested and involved in the prospecting and exploration for new mineral resources.

Focusing on the Future

This year’s theme was focusing on the future. The work of prospectors and mining exploration companies is future oriented – the development of profitable, future mines depends on the detailed explorations and subsurface probes of prospectors and junior mining companies.

“The Northeastern Ontario Mines and Minerals Symposium is an event that focuses on the technical knowledge and skills of prospectors, geologists, geophysicists, in short everyone who has an interest in finding new mineral resources in Northeastern Ontario,” said Dean Rogers, the President of PPDA.

The territorial focus of the NEOMMS is within the triangle formed by Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins and Kirkland Lake explained Rogers. The Symposium rotates annual between Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins and Kirkland Lake. There is a separate organization that deals arranges a similar event in Northwestern Ontario, out of Thunder Bay.

Rogers pointed out that those two areas essentially account for the greatest concentration of mining in Ontario. The symposium is a way for those involved in the discovery of new ore bodies and mineral deposits to stay current. New knowledge is so important for the success of prospecting and mining exploration.

Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) - Expanding Knowledge Of Minerals

One organization that uses the latest technology to generate more detailed, accurate knowledge beneficial to the prospecting and mineral exploration community is the Ontario Geological Survey.

During the NEOMMS the Ontario Geological Survey released its Precambrian Geology of Northeastern Ontario.

“The technology is always changing and improving,” said Tom Brown, the Manager of the Ontario Geological Survey,”  and that means we are now apply to produce more detailed, more accurate information about the location of mineral resources.”

More detailed, more accurate information helps prospectors and claims holders explore and identify mineral deposits. Historically the work of the OGS in the late 19th century provided the knowledge base that opened the great mining booms in Cobalt, (1900-1908), Timmins-Porcupine, 1909; Kirkland Lake, 1908 and Northwestern, Ontario.

The mandate of the Ontario Geological Survey is to identify and map geological structures that hold high potential for mining development. The OGS investigates and compiles geological and geophysical data in Ontario from Niagara to James Bay, Quebec over to the Manitoba border.

New knowledge about the composition of the province’s substrata is crucial for helping the mineral exploration industry define the areas with great potential for mining development.

For more information on the newly released Ontario Geological Survey Maps please click on the following link:  

http://www.mndm.gov.on.ca/en/news/mines-and-minerals/publications-release-notice-april-8-and-15-2014

Workshops, Technical Sessions and Field Trips

Workshops offered at NEOMMS provide the prospectors and mineral exploration sector an opportunity to increase their knowledge in crucial areas such as managing environmental risk management in mineral exploration; and understanding the geochemistry and exploration methodologies for gold & base metals.

In addition there was a lot of direct experience shared by various representatives of local mineral exploration companies like Moneta Porcupine Mines, Temex and senior mining companies such as Lake Shore Gold, Gowest Gold and St. Andrew’s Goldfields.

Another aspect of interest to prospectors and exploration companies was the requirement to consult with First Nations which recent court cases and changes to the Ontario Mining Act require before work can proceed in both the prospecting and exploration phase and also the mine development stages. Shawn Batise, executive director of Wabun Council, the regional organization that represents First Nations in Northeastern Ontario. Batise informed the attendees of Wabun Council’s approach in welcoming mining exploration and development in the Northeast. Wabun Council’s approach is to work in partnership with companies involved in the exploration phase and also the mine development and productive stages.

The informational aspect of the symposium is accompanied by several field trips to get a firsthand look at some of the exploration programs in the Timmins region. By the end of the information packed symposium the attendee will have obtained a full spectrum of knowledge, inspiration and insight that greatly assists them in their goal  -- identifying, verifying and developing mineral resources that our local, Ontario and Canadian economy depends on for future growth.

For More Information:

For more information on NEOMMS 2014 please click on the following link:

http://www.porcupineprospectors.com/events/2014-northeastern-ontario-mines-minerals-symposium/

For information on the Porcupine Prospectors and Developers Association click on the following link:

http://www.porcupineprospectors.com