PDAC participates in national geoscience mapping program

Earlier this year, the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) announced a series of program enhancements and new directions. Included was the proposed National Geoscience Mapping Program (NATMAP). The program, designed to increase the availability and comprehensiveness of geological mapping in Canada, is a collaborative effort among the federal and provin cial surveys, universities and industry. The prospects for NATMAP’s success look promising, but success will ultimately depend on funding.

If the various provincial and federal geological surveys are committed to the value of basic geological mapping, they should provide at least some of the funding. The National Science and Engineering Research council (NSERC) should also classify geological mapping as research and provide money for it.

A good deal of groundwork has been done in order to proceed should that kind of funding commitment be forthcoming.

The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada participated in a 2-day workshop, sponsored by the GSC, just before our annual convention. The workshop was attended by 69 participants. The purpose of the workshop was to define the program and to explore possibilities for design, implementation and funding. The results of the NATMAP workshop discussions have recently been released by the GSC in an open file report.

The mining industry will play a minor role in the actual mapping activities, such as providing detailed data in specific areas. There is, however, a role for industry in the selection and prioritization of projects. The PDAC and other industry delegates are on the steering committee to bring the program to the implementation stage.

The consensus of the workshop group is that NATMAP should be operated by a small secretariat based at the GSC in Ottawa, and controlled by a national co-ordinating committee (NCC), representing all participating agencies. The PDAC and other mining industry repre sentation will also be on the NCC.

How will NATMAP work? Projects from any of the participating agencies will be proposed to the secretariat. These will then be evaluated and perhaps submitted to the NCC for approval.

As for the type of projects, NATMAP should stress “regional mapping of bedrock and surficial geology” and fill the “knowledge gaps” while it strives for greater regional coverage. Filling in the “gaps” does not only mean areas that have not been mapped before but also areas that need revision in light of current knowledge and thematic mapping to solve specific problems.

There is also a consensus that, while NATMAP should not be used for developing digital mapping technology, it “should establish mineral standards for digital data acquisition and insist on digital data acquisition in the field.” This will allow the use of existing and future digital cartographic technology in preparation of maps. It will also mean that basic field data will be preserved and may become available in the public domain.

The PDAC commends the GSC for fostering the development of this program. It is an important initiative that recognizes there is still much basic geological mapping to be carried out in Canada.

As a collaborative venture among government surveys, academia and industry, the prospects for NATMAP’s success look promising.006 Mary-Claire Ward is the vice- chairman of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s geological surveys committee in Toronto, Ont.