2373_01_00_Layout 1 07/01/10 9:17 PM Page 1 2373_01_00_Layout 1 07/01/10 9:29 PM Page 2 (Above) Qikiqtarjuaq, August 2009 COURTESY OF GN-EDT Contents: Acknowledgements Land Tenure in Nunavut........................................................................................................3 The 2009 Exploration Overview Indian and Northern Affairs Canada....................................................................................4 was written by Karen Costello (INAC), Andrew Fagan Government of Nunavut........................................................................................................6 (consultant) and Linda Ham (INAC) with contributions from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. ........................................................................................................8 Don James (CNGO), Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office ...................................................................................10 Keith Morrison (NTI) and Eric Prosh (GN). Summary of 2009 Exploration Activities Front cover photo: Kitikmeot Region .........................................................................................................20 Installation of power plants, Kivalliq Region .............................................................................................................41 Meadowbank Mine COURTESY OF AGNICO-EAGLE MINES LIMITED Qikiqtaaluk/Baffin Region...........................................................................................61 Back cover photo: Index .....................................................................................................................................75 Out on the land prospecting COURTESY OF CNGO About the Nunavut: Mining, Mineral Exploration and Geoscience Overview 2009 This exploration overview is a combined effort of four partners: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), Government of Nunavut (GN), Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) and Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office (CNGO). The intent of this publication is to capture information on exploration and mining activities in 2009 and to make this information available to the public. All exploration information was gathered prior to mid-November 2009. We thank the many contributors who submitted data and photos for this edition. Prospectors and mining companies are welcome to submit information on their programs for inclusion in the next Overview. Feedback is appreciated. NOTE TO READERS This document has been prepared on the basis of information available at the time of writing. All resource and reserve figures quoted in this publication are derived from company news releases, websites and technical reports filed with SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Readers are directed to individual company websites for details on the reporting standards used in each resource and reserve estimate. The authors make no warranty of any kind with respect to the content and accept no liability, either incidental, consequential, financial or otherwise, arising from the use of this document. All exploration information was gathered prior to mid-November 2009. A project’s status (active versus inactive) for INAC tracking purposes and for inclusion in this publication (both for the magazine and accompanying map) was determined by several factors, including: information publically available (e.g., corporate presentations, press releases, ftp sites such as those of the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) and the Nunavut Water Board (NWB)), active mineral tenure as shown on SidViewer, and valid Land Use Permits and Water Licenses as issued by INAC and NWB, respectively. With reference to the use of the term National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101): This is an industry standard outlining rules and guidelines for reporting and disclosing scientific and technical information about mineral projects. This standard is supervised by the Canadian Securities Administrators. 2 Table of Contents 2373_01_00_Layout 1 07/01/10 9:17 PM Page 3 Land Tenure in Nunavut The territory of Nunavut was created in April 1999 Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI). NTI issues rights to as a result of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement explore and mine through its own mineral tenure (NLCA), the largest Aboriginal land settlement in regime. Mineral rights (mineral claims or leases) Canadian history. Spanning two million kilometres that existed at the time of the NLCA signing — (km), the territory has 25 communities and known as grandfathered rights — continue to be approximately 30,000 people. Inuit represent 85 per administered by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada cent of Nunavut’s population, creating the (INAC) until they terminate or the holder transfers foundation of the territory’s culture and values. This its interests to the NTI regime. For both surface and culture is inherently connected to the land, shaping subsurface IOL, access to the land must be obtained government, business and day-to-day life. from the appropriate RIA. In addition to the creation of the territory, the The Crown owns mineral rights to 98 per cent of NLCA gave Inuit fee simple title to 356,000 square Nunavut. INAC administers these rights through the kilometres (km 2) of land. There are 944 parcels of Northwest Territories and Nunavut Mining Regulations Inuit Owned Lands (IOL) where Inuit hold surface (NTNMRs). This includes surface IOL, for which title only (surface IOL). The Government of Canada or access to the land must be obtained from the RIAs as “the Crown” retains the mineral rights to these lands. explained above. Inuit also hold fee simple title — including mineral Significantly, the NLCA is a final settlement rights — to 150 parcels of IOL (subsurface IOL), whereby all land claims in Nunavut have been which total 38,000 km 2 and represent approximately settled with the Inuit of Nunavut, thus providing an Prospecting course, sighting claim line, two per cent of the territory. Surface title to all IOL unmatched level of land tenure certainty. Clyde River, August 2009 is held in each region by one of the three Regional For more information on the location of IOL and COURTESY OF GN-EDT Inuit Associations (RIAs) while Inuit subsurface title Crown land in the territory, take a look at the 2009 to subsurface IOL is held and administered by Nunavut Exploration and Activity Map. GUIDE TO ACRONYMS CNGO Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office KivIA Kivalliq Inuit Association DPA Development Partnership Agreements MRO Mining Recorder’s Office EA Inuit Owned Lands Mineral Exploration NGO Non-Government Organizations Agreement NIRB Nunavut Impact Review Board EDT Department of Economic Development and NLCA Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Transportation, Government of Nunavut NRCan Natural Resources Canada EIS Environmental Impact Statement NT Northwest Territories EM Electromagnetic NTI Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. GIS Geographic Information System NTNMR Northwest Territories and GN Government of Nunavut Nunavut Mining Regulations GSC Geological Survey of Canada NTS National Topographic System IIBA Inuit Impact Benefit Agreement NWB Nunavut Water Board INAC Indian and Northern Affairs Canada NWNSRTA Nunavut Waters and IOL Inuit Owned Land Nunavut Surface Rights Tribunal Act IPG Institutions of Public Government PGM Platinum Group Metals KIA Kitikmeot Inuit Association QIA Qikiqtani Inuit Association KIM Kimberlite Indicator Mineral(s) RIA Regional Inuit Association Mineral Exploration, Mining and Geoscience 2009 3 2373_01_00_Layout 1 07/01/10 9:17 PM Page 4 Indian and Northern Affairs Canada rocks, minerals and careers in the exploration and development industry. Outside the territory, INAC promotes Nunavut as a premiere location for mineral- related investment. As part of this, INAC co-manages the Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office (CNGO) with the GN, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and NTI. INAC has also been busy in 2009 with Crown land and water-related responsibilities, as well as inspections and enforcements. Under the Territorial Lands Act and the Nunavut Waters and Surface Rights Tribunal Act , INAC works with license, permit and lease holders — and partner organizations as required — to ensure that certain terms and conditions are met for Crown land and waters in Nunavut. In terms of land administration, INAC manages and administers surface and subsurface rights on Crown land in Nunavut. The department also ensures compliance of the Territorial Lands Act and Boulder sampling, In Nunavut, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada’s related regulations. INAC also issues land use permits, Cumberland Peninsula, Baffin Island (INAC) broad mandate encompasses the leases, quarry permits and licenses of occupation to COURTESY OF CNGO stewardship of land and natural resources, and ensure Crown land is used responsibly. In February northern governance. In partnership with the 2009, the Nunavut Region Mining Recorder’s Office Government of Nunavut (GN), Nunavut issued 122 prospecting permits (214 permits were Tunngavik Inc. (NTI), Institutions of Public issued in 2008). Government (IPGs) and other federal partners, As an intervener in the environmental assessment INAC works to meet the federal government’s and regulatory process in the past year, INAC provides constitutional, political and legal responsibilities to technical advice to the Nunavut Impact Review Board Inuit and Northerners. (NIRB) and the Nunavut Water Board (NWB). INAC does this in a number of ways. It ensures 2009 was another busy year for INAC’s work in compliance with assessment requirements under the the management of fresh water in Nunavut,