Airborne survey probes Mine Centre’s potential

Ontario is using state-of-the-art technologies to support mineral exploration and boost investment in the Mine Centre area.
The province has launched an airborne geophysical survey as part of an enhanced geoscience program in the region.

High-quality data produced by the survey will help attract investment by identifying new mineral targets for exploration companies.
The survey also will provide new data for land-use planning purposes.
The survey responds to the report of Northwestern Ontario economic facilitator Dr. Robert Rosehart, who called for the delivery of more geoscience in this region.
“Results of this survey will be of great interest to the exploration sector, and this information could help lead to the creation of new mines and new jobs in this region in the future,” said Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro.
“Airborne geophysical surveys can be a powerful tool for economic stimulus and growth,” echoed Northern Development and Mines minister Michael Gravelle, who also is MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North.
“We are pleased that our enhanced geoscience program will help shine a light on this region’s mineral potential,” he added.
Airborne geophysical surveys help us better understand the geology of an area by collecting information from the air without disturbing the ground surface below.
They are flown at low altitude using either specially-modified fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters.
Surveys are flown systematically along parallel flight lines, which typically are between 100 metre and one km apart.
The aircraft will fly down one line, turn at the end of the line, and fly back up the next line.
There are several types of airborne geophysical surveys which measure different physical properties of rocks, such as magnetism, gravity, and electrical conductivity.
Information is collected by instruments that either are mounted on the aircraft or towed below it. Data is recorded by computers onboard the aircraft.
The data will be processed later to create maps and images that are used to interpret the geology of the surveyed area.
Quick facts
•It is estimated that every dollar invested in a basic geological survey triggers $5 in exploration spending by the private sector; and
•This provincial investment also supports the Atikokan Mineral Development Initiative, a multi-year effort to identify areas of high mineral potential in a region from Lake Shebandowan to Mine Centre and Quetico Park to Ignace.