Spring 2006 (Volume 23, No. 1)
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Volume 23, no. 1 Spring 2006 Nova Scotia Sends a Large In This Issue Delegation to PDAC 2006 Nova Scotia Sends a Large Delegation to PDAC 2006 Nova Scotia was well represented at Representatives from the Department the 2006 Prospectors and Develop- of Natural Resources (DNR) included the Black Bull Poised for Production ers Association of Canada (PDAC) Hon. Brooke Taylor, Minister, Peter Un- convention, which was held at the derwood, Deputy Minister, and Mineral Change at the Top for Geological Services Metro Toronto Convention Centre Resources Branch representatives Scott Division from March 5 to 8, with a large team Swinden, Mike MacDonald, Bob Ryan, of government and industry repre- and Ron Mills. The Regional Geologist for Atlantic Geoscience Society Colloquium sentatives. And what a year it was! the eastern region, Brendan MacKenzie, 2006 Preliminary estimates show that also attended the conference. Two key more than 14,000 delegates attended events were hosted by Minister Taylor in From the Mineral Inventory Files this year’s conference, representing the Nova Scotia Room at the Royal York Taking a Team Approach to Industrial many countries from all continents. Hotel. On Tuesday morning, March 7, ap- Minerals The conference has truly grown proximately 20 members of the mineral ex- from its early days at the Royal ploration sector attended the annual Nova October-December 2005 Open York Hotel, where it was largely a Scotia Mining Breakfast. This event pro- Assessment Reports national event, into what is arguably vided an excellent opportunity for industry the premier gathering point for fi- representatives to interact with DNR repre- Senior Geologist R. R. (Ralph) Stea nancing global mineral exploration sentatives to discuss exploration-related Retires and development. topics. Later in the day, Mr. Taylor hosted Update on the Donkin Coal Resource Block Dates to Remember Comments or questions? Please contact: Doug MacDonald Editor, Nova Scotia Minerals Update Mineral Resources Branch P.O. Box 698, Halifax Nova Scotia, Canada B3J 2T9 Phone 902-424-2510 E-mail [email protected] Link to a full-colour .pdf: http://www.gov.ns.ca/natr/meb/pdf/mu.htm Minister of Natural Resources the Honourable Brooke Taylor (L) is joined by prospec- tor John Wightman (C) and Executive Director of the Mineral Resources Branch Scott Swinden (R) at PDAC 2006. Nova Scotia Minerals Update Spring 2006 Black Bull Poised for Production Nova Scotia’s Black Bull Resources Inc. has announced that the construction and commissioning phase of operations has been successfully completed at its White Rock property some 30 km northwest of Shelburne in Yarmouth County. The plant is now staffed and a superin- tendent is managing operations. Production was scheduled to commence on 16 January with the processing of sample orders of quartz requested by prospective customers. The products will be sold under the brand Scotia White®. The company said that the approval process for these samples will vary by market segment but that it could be from 3 to 12 weeks before meaningful or- ders materialize. In addition to progress at the plant, an additional 12,000 tonnes of material has been blasted to add to the existing inven- Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Peter Underwood (L) welcomes visitors to the tory and ensure the company has adequate Nova Scotia booth with Regional Geologist Brendan MacKenzie (C) and Geologist feedstock for the new processing plant Ron Mills (R). during the winter. The material will be aimed at five dif- the second annual Nova Scotia Inves- betical order: Lindsay Allen, Don ferent markets - pool plaster aggregate, tors luncheon, which was attended by Black, Scott Grant, Bruce Hudgins, engineered stone, exterior insulation and 15 members from the mineral invest- Gerry Mazerolle, Ted MacNaughton, finishing systems (EIFS), landscape stone ment community. Presentations by Mr. John O’Sullivan, George Pajari, Larry and golf course sand. These are all quite Taylor and DNR geologist Bob Ryan Riteman, and John Wightman. This specialized markets, which largely reflects focused on investment opportunities in year DNR provided travel assistance to the fact that the company will be able to the province. Both events were well re- the prospectors, and staff geologist achieve higher prices in these markets than ceived by the attendees. Ron Mills worked closely with the in more commodity areas for silica, such as So how do prospectors from Nova group to prepare banners, posters, and glass sand. The nature of the Black Bull Scotia, one of the smallest provinces in hand-outs for their properties. By all material, being angular and bright white, is Canada, manage to get their mineral accounts the prospectors got some also suited to these niche areas. potential message out to this interna- great leads at the convention. Hope- US Silica (USS) is the sales agent for tional conference? One important way fully these will lead to exploration ac- most of North America except in Nova is through the Atlantic Rock Room tivity and new mineral discoveries. Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland (ARR), a tradition at the conference The PDAC convention continues to and Prince Edward Island, where Black for many years. When the conference grow in size and international content. Bull will sell direct. The agency deal offers was moved from the Royal York Hotel This presents a challenge for Nova Black Bull the experience, reputation, and to the Metro Toronto Convention Cen- Scotia to attract investment dollars in most importantly infrastructure of USS, tre in the 1990s, conference organizers an increasingly competitive setting. while the partnership offers USS access to agreed to keep the Rock Room tradi- DNR will continue to work with its a white, angular material it cannot source tion alive and provided an area on the provincial explorationists to get the from any of its own quarry operations. floor for prospectors and government message out that Nova Scotia is a good Black Bull has been working with USS to agencies from Nova Scotia, New destination for mineral exploration and identify additional market opportunities. Brunswick, and Newfoundland and development. Labrador. The 2006 roster of Nova reproduced (with permission) from Industrial Scotia prospectors included, in alpha- Mike MacDonald Minerals, February 2006, page 8 Page 2 Nova Scotia Minerals Update Spring 2006 Change at the Top for Geological Services Division clearly that the future of the Geological Services, vacated by Mike Cherry’s de- Services Division depends on a broad parture, has been filled by Mike client base, and he worked to define MacDonald. Mike is no stranger to the that broader base and ensure that we mineral industry and the geoscience com- have the ability to offer our services in munity in Nova Scotia, having previously non-traditional areas such as tourism served as project leader on the South and environmental sciences. Second, Mountain Batholith project, Industry Liai- Mike was instrumental in our efforts to son Geologist, and Manager of Geologi- build partnerships throughout govern- cal Mapping and Geochemistry. Mike ment. He recognized that in order to steps into this position at a critical junc- show our value and importance to gov- ture. With budgets more or less stabilized, ernment, we have to ensure that our at least for the time being, and with a stra- skills and services are widely known tegic planning exercise recently com- and used. Mike worked hard to present pleted, there will be ample opportunity to our programs to Regional Development work to ensure the effectiveness of our Agencies, communities, and other gov- present geoscience programs and to se- ernment departments and organizations, cure the future of the organization. With Former Director Mike Cherry. and some of these partnerships have mineral industry activity near the peak of born considerable fruit. The third item the cycle, and many opportunities to have As most readers are probably already is the strategic plan for geoscience that our geoscience knowledge applied in non- aware, Mike Cherry, Director of the he completed late last year. This docu- traditional areas of society, there will cer- Geological Services Division, retired in ment will serve as a blueprint for the tainly be challenges to ensuring that we December. Mike had been planning for future of Nova Scotia’s geoscience have the appropriate resources and staff, retirement at about this time in his life, organization and will help define the and that our mandate is met as fully as but those plans were hastened by his direction of its programs. We are fortu- possible. We welcome Mike to his new decision to get married in Ottawa in nate to have had Mike here and wish position as Director and wish him every 2006. Mike came to the Geological him all the best in his new life. success. Services Division in 1999, after spend- Following a national competition, ing about 10 years working in the Fed- the position of Director of Geological Scott Swinden eral-Provincial Liaison Office at the Geological Survey of Canada, and managing the NATMAP program. Mike brought to the division a wealth of experience, gleaned from work with two provincial surveys (Newfoundland, Ontario) as well as the GSC, and his broad and deep knowledge of geologi- cal surveys in all parts of the country. Mike’s tenure with DNR spanned the lean years of 2000 - 2003 when budgets were drastically reduced and we were faced with significant decisions about the future of our geoscience programs. Mike’s focus on people, and his im- pressive organizational skills, not to mention his well-developed network in Ottawa, served us very well as we worked to establish new partnerships and new ways of doing business in the face of diminishing resources. In terms of his lasting contribution to the organization, I would highlight three items.