UBC-led exploration and geological research at major sites in Yukon and Alaska has received $557,670 in funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
The investment, along with $700,000 in in-kind and direct contributions from industry partners, will support the UBC Mineral Deposit Research Unit’s Yukon-Alaska Metallogeny (YAM) project.
The collaborative research venture with industry is designed to significantly increase the knowledge of geological features that factor into ore deposits in western Yukon and eastern Alaska. The mineral-rich area includes the Coffee gold, Casino copper-gold and Carmacks Copper deposits, which together with other mineral resources, define the Dawson Range Mineral Belt.
The research partnership includes Kaminak Gold, Sumac Mines and Copper North Mining, and provides them with access to geological knowledge and expertise generated at MDRU, and to students with progressive technical skills required by today’s exploration and mining industry.
“It’s been important for us to bring a high-level of scientific rigour, through the expertise available at MDRU, to our geological understanding of the Coffee gold resource,” said Eira Thomas, President and CEO of Kaminak Gold. “This knowledge ultimately contributes to improved exploration and development planning.”
“The awarding of this grant reflects not only the high-quality of industry-applicable research undertaken by MDRU, but its economic value,” said Craig Hart, MDRU Director.
The project also includes collaborations with the Yukon Geological Survey, the Geological Survey of Canada, and the United States Geological Survey.
The project is led by MDRU Research Associate, Murray Allan. These NSERC funds will enable UBC researchers to carry out additional fieldwork and analyses, will support student research projects, and will provide technical support for the production of maps, datasets and additional deliverables into 2018.
Chris Balma
balma@science.ubc.ca
604.822.5082
c 604-202-5047
