An innovative geoscience research project involving universities and mining industry sponsors from across Canada is being supported by the largest research grant ever awarded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) through its Collaborative Research and Development program.
The $5.1-million NSERC grant was formally announced today by the Gary Goodyear, minister of state, science and technology. The NSERC funding is augmented by close to $7-million in supportive funding from Canadian mining and related companies, acting through the Canada Mining Innovation Council (CMIC).
The multi-year project will involve more than 40 researchers in geosciences from universities across Canada. The research is being co-led by Dr. Michael Lesher, research chair in mineral exploration and professor of economic geology at LaurentianUniversity, and by Dr. Mark Hannington, Goldcorp chair in economic geology and professor of earth sciences at the University of Ottawa.
Known as Footprints, the ambitious research project is expected to enhance the ability of geologists to assess the range, depth and composition of ore bodies and mineral deposits, even those lying hundreds of metres underground.
“Essentially, the work we’re pursuing will allow us to better detect the subtle signals or footprints of mineral deposits far below the surface,” Lesher said in a release. “It will help us devise better tools for remotely sensing deeply buried ore bodies and, ultimately, we believe it can improve the way we approach mineral exploration and resource development in Canada and around the world.”
The initial grant application to NSERC included 17 Canadian universities and 24 industry partners. Since the project won official approval, the number of participating universities has grown to 24, while the number of industry partners has grown to 27.
Industry sponsors through CMIC will be contributing more than $2.8 million in cash and $3.9 million in kind for the research project.
“This project results from an unprecedented level of collaboration among the exploration industry, service providers, government institutions, researchers and universities,” said Dr. François Robert, vice-president and chief geologist of global exploration at Barrick Gold Corporation and one of the chief architects of the Footprints project. “Such a level of collaboration sets a new standard for our industry.”
