Two procedures for development of exploration tactics in British Columbia

"Rational exploration requires the prior selection of areas possessing excellent geological potential and minimum hazards to commercial development . Within an over-all strategy of grass-roots exploration, two procedures for selecting areas for (i) coal and (ii) metals exploration are described. The procedures explicitly balance infrastructure requirements and environmental concerns for areas of geological merit not alienated in parks and reserves. Through consensus, priorities are attached to those areas meriting closer scrutiny and field reconnaissance.IntroductionMining companies need to know that having made a potentially economic discovery, they will be allowed to develop it with minimum delay and at reasonable cost. The environment for exploration in British Columbia is complex and recent experience suggests that conditions are not becoming any easier. Conflicts over land use issues, preservation and economic development are common. The high cost of exploration requires that the risks should be offset where possible by: (i) carefully selecting the areas in which to work (ii) conducting operations in a responsible manner, and (iii) working cooperatively with the community of interests. This paper concerns the first action: prior selection of areas.To aid exploration planning at Suncor, a procedure was developed to grade those areas of the province possessing favourable geology according to the ease with which a mine might be developed . This had to be done within the constraints of the company's over-all approach to exploration. This emphasizes ""grass-roots"" exploration of self-generated projects in British Columbia. In addition, having selected a favourable belt of rocks, it is intended to persevere there while steadily adding to the accumulated data base and local experience. Hence, it is intended to concentrate on an area. This implies a long-term commitment to an area which in turn increases the importance of the original selection.Suncor's search is directed to finding base and precious metals in intrusive and volcanic environments, and export quality coal."