Mining in northern Quebec was once a “hit-and-miss” prospect. Miners might hear stories about shiny or glittering objects found on the surface of the land by Cree trappers. Prospectors would arrive looking to confirm the story. Sometimes the hunch would pan out and the miner would strike it rich. Other times, they came away with a lot of good fishing stories, mostly about the ones that got away. Today, things have changed enormously in the prospector’s favour.
Géologie Québec has published an eight-page booklet entitled “New Mineral Exploration Targets”. It provides clues to four geological regions from Ungava Bay to Val-d’Or and Matagami, to the region near the La Grande-3 reservoirs, and areas near Chapais and Chibougamau. They provide clues for mining interests big and small by pointing out key geological features, such as the presence of zinc and copper in language that only a geological engineer could love: “Central part of the anticlinal crest: possibility of ‘lac Watson’ type rhyolites.”
Those words might sound like Martian to you and me but they probably sound sweet to the ears of a miner. The booklet concentrates on seven regions with most of them in Eeyou Istchee or areas of interest. The booklet cautions that the information it provides is not a guarantee that mining activity will be either productive or profitable.
“This knowledge is acquired in order to encourage the mining industry to develop Quebec’s mineral resources by increasing exploration activity and discovering new deposits,” it states.
“During their fieldwork, geologists of the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune identified zones with a favourable geological setting for mineral exploration.”
Anyone interested in finding out more go to: “Gestion des titres miniers – Gestim.” gestim.mines.gouv.qc.ca
Or they may download the booklet here: www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/produits-services/mines.jsp
Interested parties are also encouraged to contact the geologists directly; their email addresses are listed along with the region they studied.
