Idziszek, Placer Dome take top awards at convention

Among the highlights of the 63rd annual convention of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), held recently in Toronto, was the presenting of awards to individuals and companies for achievements in the mining industry.

The PDAC’s William Dennis Prospector of the Year Award was presented to renowned geologist Chet Idziszek by Nellie Cournoyea, premier of the Northwest Territories.

Idziszek, The Northern Miner’s “Man of the Year” for 1990, was recognized for the major role he played in the discovery and development of the Eskay Creek gold-silver mine in northern British Columbia.

This rich deposit is considered to be among the most significant gold discoveries in Canada since the Hemlo find in Ontario, slightly more than a decade ago. Eskay Creek is now a producer.

Idziszek was also recognized for his leadership of Adrian Resources (TSE) during its exploration and development of the Petaquilla copper-gold deposits in Panama. Teck (TSE) is now funding a feasibility study for several of the deposits while Adrian continues exploration on others.

The PDAC honored Placer Dome (TSE) with the 1994 Viola MacMillan Developers Award, in recognition of the company’s major expansion in Timmins, Ont. This initiative, which will enable the old Dome mine to produce 300,000 oz. gold per year for the next 10 years, involves an investment of $150 million over two years. The expansion project is complicated by the fact that the mine site is in the midst of a town, rather than in a remote area. Lionel Kilburn, well known for his many contributions to the Canadian exploration industry (as well as to the PDAC), was the recipient of one of two Distinguished Service Awards. The other recipient was Christopher Jennings, president of SouthernEra Resources (TSE). Jennings has worked for several major companies but is best known for his early recognition of the importance of new diamond discoveries in Canada. SouthernEra is among the junior companies exploring for diamonds in Canada’s North, as well as elsewhere in the world.

Aur Resources (TSE) received the Environmental Award for the overall design of the new Louvicourt mine in Quebec, and for its clean-up of the old, adjacent Louvem site. The company was also cited for its management of a tailings system which improves water quality downstream of the minesite and allows for thickened tailings to be used to prepare backfill material.