The Media Room

2011/32 (a)

Backgrounder

Targeted Geoscience Initiative-4: Increasing Deep Exploration Effectiveness

The Targeted Geoscience Initiative-4 is a collaborative federal geoscience program with a mandate to generate new geoscience knowledge in support of deep exploration. This is the third renewal of a highly successful minerals program that began in 1999.

To accomplish this objective, the Geological Survey of Canada, part of Natural Resources Canada, has implemented an extensive program with activities focused on regions in or near established and emerging mineral camps. In addition, TGI-4 will lead the development of new geoscience-based techniques for locating deep mineral deposits.

The five-year, $25-million renewal investment will be further leveraged through partnerships with provinces, academia and the mineral industry to gain maximum impact for the following program objectives:

  • Focus on data-rich established and emerging mining camps to optimize exploration-related geoscience knowledge development;
  • Develop new and improved geoscience knowledge and techniques to better understand, model and detect Canada’s major mineral deposits;
  • Focus on reducing investment risk and cost through smarter targeting; and
  • Train and mentor students in order to increase the number of highly qualified personnel available to the mineral industry.

Program focus and content is being developed through discussions with provincial and territorial jurisdictions and with guidance from industry through the Canadian Mining Innovation Council. Incorporated in March 2009 as a not-for-profit organization, the Canadian Mining Innovation Council is a network of industry, academic and government leaders whose purpose is to improve the competitiveness of a responsible Canadian mining industry by strengthening mining research excellence across Canada.

Richard Walker

Director of Communications

Office of the Minister

Natural Resources Canada

Ottawa

613-996-2007

or

Media Relations

Natural Resources Canada

Ottawa

613-992-4447

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