nunavut prospector’s program (npp) guidebook, … · minerals & petroleum resources division...

Minerals & Petroleum Resources Division Department of Economic Development & Transportation

Nunavut Prospector’s Program (NPP)

Guidebook, Application & Project Forms

(April, 2008)

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Table of Contents*

Introduction …..……………………………………………………………………… Page 4 Part I – Nunavut Prospector’s Program About the Nunavut Prospector’s Program (NPP) …...………………………………... Page 5 Who Is Eligible For A NPP Contribution ……………………………….................... Page 5 Funding Available To Prospectors ………………………………………………….. Page 5 How To Apply For Funding …………………………………………………………. Page 5 Before Completing The Application Form ………………………………………….. Page 6 Application Deadline ………………………………………………………………... Page 6 How Applications Are Reviewed ……………………………………….................... Page 6 If Your Application Is Not Approved ……………………………………………….. Page 6 If Your Application Is Approved ……………………………………………………. Page 6 Part II - Planning Your Project

Introduction ………………………………………………………………….............. Page 8 Determine The Status Of The Land You Wish To Prospect …………….…………… Page 8 Organizing Your Project & Completing Your NPP Application ………….………… Page 9 Part III – Fieldwork

Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………. Page 10Keep A Daily Diary …………………………………………………………………… Page 10Collecting Samples ……………………………………………………………………. Page 10Recording Your Traverses …………………………………………………………….. Page 10 Part IV – Your Final Report

Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………. Page 11Preparing Your Final Report …………………………………………………............... Page 11Eligible Expenses ……………………………………………………………………… Page 11Ineligible Expenses ……………………………………………………………………. Page 12 Part V – Prospecting & Geology

Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………. Page 13Minerals ……………………………………………………………………………….. Page 13Rock Types Or Classification Of Rocks ………….…………………………..……….. Page 13Rock Types Of Particular Interest ………………..…………………………………… Page 14Bedrock ………………………………………………………………………………... Page 15Erosion ………………………………………………………………………………… Page 15Glaciers …………………………………….………………………………………….. Page 15Glaciers And Ice Direction ……………………..…………………………………….. Page 15Sampling (Types of Samples) …………………………………………………………. Page 15Sample Preparation ……………………………………………………………………. Page 17Labelling Samples …………………………………………………………………….. Page 18

Nunavut Prospector’s Program (NPP) – Guidebook, Application & Project Forms

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Recording A Traverse ………………………………………… …………………….. Page 18Staking A Claim ……….……..……………………………………………………….. Page 18Examples Of Claim Tags Used In Nunavut ……………………..……………………. Page 19Example Of A Prospector’s Diary …………………..………………………………… Page 20Example Of A Project Area Outlined On A Topographic Map ………………………. Page 21Example Of A Base Map With Prospecting Area Outline, Sample Locations Plotted And Traverses Marked …….…………………………………………………...............

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Part VI – Addresses

Addresses ……………………………………………………………………………… Page 23 Part VII – Laboratories

Laboratories …………………………………………………………………………… Page 24 Part VIII – Nunavut Prospector’s Program Application

Nunavut Prospector’s Program Application ………………………………………….. Page 25 Part IX – Sample Description Sheet

Sample Description Sheet …………………………………………………………….. Page 28 Part X – Final Report

Final Report ……………………………………………………………………………. Page 29 Part XI - Glossary of Acronyms

Glossary Of Acronyms ………………………………………………………………… 3 * Additional copies of this document can be obtained at www.edt.gov.nu.ca/english/news/pub.htm or by calling the Resident Geologist nearest you (addresses included in Part VI of this document).


http://www.edt.gov.nu.ca/english/news/pub.htm

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Introduction This publication is intended to explain the Nunavut Prospector’s Program (NPP) and how individual prospectors can apply for program funding (referred to as contribution funding). While this guide is intended to be self explanatory, it is strongly recommended everyone interested in obtaining NPP support, whether experienced or prospecting for the first time, take the Introduction to Prospecting in Nunavut course offered by the Minerals & Petroleum Division of the Department of Economic Development & Transportation. This course is offered in each Nunavut community on a 3 year rotational basis (where numbers warrant). Copies of this Guidebook are available in English and Inuktitut from the Government of Nunavut Resident Geologist offices located in Arviat and Cambridge Bay. Copies are also available through the Economic Development Officers at Hamlet offices, the Regional Inuit Associations (RIAs) and Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) offices. This document can also be downloaded from the internet at: http://www.edt.gov.nu.ca/ If you have questions about the Nunavut Prospector’s Program, would like assistance with the application process or require information about the mineral potential of an area you are considering prospecting, contact the Government of Nunavut’s Resident Geologist nearest you. They will answer any questions you may have and assist you as you plan your project.


http://www.edt.gov.nu.ca/

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PART I

Nunavut Prospector’s Program (NPP)

About the Nunavut Prospector’s Program The Nunavut Prospector’s Program (NPP) is administered by the Minerals & Petroleum Division of the Department of Economic Development & Transportation, Government of Nunavut. The Program was established in 2000 to increase community-based mineral exploration and help sustain mineral activity in Nunavut. The program provides project-related financial support to Nunavut residents engaged in prospecting in the Territory. Who Is Eligible For a NPP Contribution? To be eligible for funding under the NPP you must be:

A resident of Nunavut. Eighteen (18) years of age or older. In possession of a valid Prospector’s License. Able to demonstrate a working knowledge of prospecting and claim staking, or have completed the Government of Nunavut’s (GN) “Introduction to Prospecting in Nunavut” course or an equivalent course.

Funding Available to Prospectors Under the terms of the NPP, prospectors may receive a contribution of up to $8000 each year in funding to help pay the expenses of approved prospecting projects. Contributions are awarded on a single year basis. Successful recipients may reapply in consecutive years. Funding payments are issued in two (2) instalments to successful applicants.

Initial Payment: After an applicant has been notified in writing that his or her project has been approved for funding, an initial payment of seventy-five percent (75%) of the total NPP contribution is mailed to the applicant (up to $6,000) depending on the amount of contribution awarded. This payment is forwarded to the applicant before fieldwork begins.

Final Payment: After fieldwork for the season is completed, the remaining twenty-five percent (25%) of the total NPP contribution (up to $2,000) depending on the amount of contribution awarded is mailed to the applicant upon receipt and approval of the Final Project Report (See Part X of this document).

Unused Financial Contribution: Any unused portion of a financial contribution awarded under the terms of the NPP must be returned to the Government of Nunavut.

How to Apply for Funding To apply for funding applicants are required to complete the attached Nunavut Prospector’s Program Application and deliver or mail it to the Resident Geologist nearest your proposed project area before April 30th (See Addresses, Part VI in this Guidebook for the Resident Geologist nearest you).


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Before Completing the Application Form Before completing the NPP Application form you should have:

A Nunavut Prospecting Licence - available in person or by mail at the Mining Recorder’s office of Indian & Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) in Iqaluit (See Addresses, Part VI).

A map outlining your project area. Make sure the map has the UTM or Latitude/Longitude coordinates on corners of the area you plan to prospect (See Prospecting & Geology, Part V in this document).

A preliminary discussion with the Resident Geologist about your project. Determine whether your project area is on Inuit Owned Lands (IOL). If it is on IOL,

obtain the appropriate access permits from the Regional Inuit Association (RIA) (See Addresses, Part VI in this document).

Application Deadline The deadline for submission of your application is April 30th. The sooner the application is received, the sooner you receive funding (if approved). Applications received past the deadline may not be processed if funding for the year is fully committed. Allow 3 to 5 weeks after sending in your application form for processing your application. Once your application is reviewed, you will receive a letter stating whether you have been approved or refused funding. Contribution funding is awarded yearly, but a prospector can apply for funding in successive years. How Applications Are Reviewed All applications are evaluated on an equal basis. However, with funding limited, decisions to approve or refuse an application (as well as the contribution amount awarded), are based on:

Location of the project and reasons why the area may have mineral potential. Work Plan for the project. Whether the application form has been completed fully and accurately (including a map

outlining the proposed project area). A realistic Project Budget; and, Past prospecting experience/training.

If Your Application Is Not Approved If your project is refused, you may want to review your application with one of the Resident Geologists to find out why it was refused. The Resident Geologist can recommend how to improve your proposal, and you can apply again the following year. If Your Application Is Approved If your project is approved, you will receive a Contract Agreement that you must review and sign in order to receive the NPP contribution, which at this stage will be 75% of the total NPP contribution amount. It is important to know that the Contract Agreement will stipulate that:

The contract is between the prospector (you) and the Government of Nunavut (GN). The contract is “legally binding” which means that both the prospector and the

government are responsible for completing the contract requirements (e.g. If you receive funding and do not do any fieldwork, you must return all of the NPP contribution back to the GN).


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The contract sets the amount of NPP contribution the prospector will receive. The contract sets the terms on how the NPP contribution can or cannot be spent on a

prospecting project. The contract sets the terms on what the prospector must complete during a prospecting

project in order to receive the total NPP contribution. After the prospector has reviewed, signed and sent the Contract Agreement by mail, fax or in person to a Resident Geologist, then the prospector will receive a cheque for 75% of the total NPP contribution (up to $6,000). This process normally takes several weeks.

Channel sample taken across a quartz vein


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PART II

PLANNING YOUR PROJECT Introduction Planning where and what mineral(s) to prospect for is a critical step, and will affect how you complete your NPP Application Form. Your project location may be restricted by its remoteness or accessibility, status of the land you intend to prospect on, its closeness to a community, or other factors limiting your fieldwork. To following points need to be considered when selecting the area you intend to prospect. Determine the Status of the Land You Wish to Prospect A first priority should be to determine the status of the land you wish to prospect, namely, whether it is Crown Land or Inuit Owned Land. To determine the status, you need to:

1. Contact your local Regional Inuit Association (RIA) or look at the Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) map called “Inuit Owned Lands in Nunavut”. You can obtain the NTI map from most Hamlet or government offices or by ordering one from NTI’s Cambridge Bay office (See Addresses, Part VI in this document). The NTI map shows the three types of land in Nunavut: “Crown Land” (shown in white); “Inuit Owned Land with Surface Rights Only” (shown in pink); and “Inuit Owned Land with Surface and Subsurface Rights” (shown in red).

Once you have determined if your project area is on “Crown Land” or “Inuit Owned Land”, then you need to follow one of the following steps:

2. If your project is on “Crown Land” you need to obtain a “Claim Map” of the area from the Indian & Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) Mining Recorder’s Office in Iqaluit (See Addresses, Part VI in this document). A Claim Map will show you where there are existing claims, if any, in your project area. If there are no claims in your project area, then you can prospect and stake claims across open ground at will, as long as you have a Prospector’s Licence. If there are claims in your project area, then you need to revise your project area to fit outside of the claimed area, or choose a new project area. If you choose a new project area, you will need to repeat the process of seeing if it is on “Crown Land” or “Inuit Owned Land.”

3. If your project area is on “Surface Rights Only Inuit Owned Land”, you need to obtain

an “Access to Inuit Owned Lands” permit from the RIA to prospect or stake claims. Make sure the permit allows you to stake claims. Once you have the permit, you should order a Claim Map from the Mining Recorder in Iqaluit to see if there are claims in or around your project area. If there are no claims in your project area, then you can prospect and stake claims across open ground at will, as long as you have a Prospector’s Licence. If there are claims in your project area, then you need to revise your project area to fit around the claimed area, or choose a new project area. If you choose a new project area,


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you will need to repeat the process of seeing if it is on “Crown Land” or “Inuit Owned Land.”

4. If your project is on “Surface and Subsurface Inuit Owned Land”, you will have to

contact the RIA for permission to prospect and carry out exploration work. This is the same process as for “Surface Rights Only” lands. You will also need to contact NTI in Cambridge Bay to get the “mineral rights” for your project area. NTI allows prospectors to gain the mineral rights on small sections of their lands, so you will need to tell them how much area you plan to prospect or explore for minerals. In this case, you do not need to stake claims on the NTI land.

It is important to remember that checking existing land status (called “tenure”) is essential for all prospectors, whether NPP supported or not. Organizing Your Project & Completing Your NPP Application Form Before fieldwork begins, you must decide where you want to work! There are many good reasons to want to prospect an area, such as having seen unusually coloured rocks while hunting, or having seen quartz veins you feel are worth investigating for their economic mineral potential, or, maybe your traditional knowledge suggests that there might be something interesting there. Once you have narrowed down where you would like to prospect, you can start to organize your prospecting project and complete the attached Application Form (See Part VIII in this document). Here are a few simple guidelines to help you through this step.

a) Provide the reasons why you choose this area.

b) Choose a name for your project for identification purposes (e.g. Ulu Creek Project).

c) Outline and label the area of interest with map coordinates on a 1:50,000 scale topographic or

“Claim Map”. You may use a 1:250,000 scale map if there are no 1:50,000 scale maps available for your area. A claim map can be ordered from the INAC Mining Recorder’s office. A topographic map can be ordered through your local retail store or Hunters and Trappers Organization (HTO) office. The map you order at this stage will also become the “base map” you use in the field (contact the Resident Geologist if you have trouble locating a map).

Pillow Lava in outcrop, near Rankin Inlet

d) Label the outlined prospecting area on the map with UTM or Latitude/Longitude coordinates. Label the map with the NTS map sheet name, number and scale. Also label the map with your name and prospecting project name as shown in the Example of a Project Area Outlined on a Topographic Map (See Prospecting & Geology, Part V in this document).

e) At this point, it would be a good idea to review your proposed project with the Resident Geologist, who can give you advice and help you fill out the Application Forms if you require assistance.


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PART III

FIELDWORK Introduction It is very important for a prospector to keep accurate notes so if needed he or she can find their way back to a rock outcrop or sample location. It’s often the case that even if you think you will remember a sample location or traverse route, you cannot always be sure and after a period of time passes it is often impossible to remember where a specific sample came from. The following are methods used by experienced prospectors to make sure they document their fieldwork accurately. Keep a Daily Diary As a condition of the NPP, you are required to keep a “daily log” or “daily diary” of what you have done while prospecting (See Example of a Prospecting Diary Notes, Part V in this document). You should be particularly careful to describe the traverses or routes you made while prospecting and record the locations and descriptions of samples you have taken. Also, mention what days your assistant(s) or partner(s) were with you (if they are not involved in the full length of the project). Collecting Samples You should have at least 25 photocopies of the Sample Description Sheet, with you to fill out as you take samples (See Sample Description Sheet Part IX in this document). Ideally you would collect at least 20 samples during a project, and send the more interesting-looking ones to be assayed at the end of the prospecting season. Remember to fill out a Sample Description Sheet for every sample you take, regardless of whether it is a grab sample, a stream sediment sample or anything else (See Prospecting & Geology, Part V in this document). Recording Your Traverses

“Introduction to Prospecting in Nunavut” course, Rankin Inlet students preparing map-work

A traverse is the path or route taken across the land during a day of prospecting. Usually the traverse is made with the help of a compass or Global Positioning System (GPS), map and knowledge of the land, while examining the rocks for signs of economic mineralization. Prospecting traverses can also be done along a shoreline by boat. Although you may be very familiar with the land you are prospecting it is very important you record on a map the route you take as it is easy to forget your traverse route after even a short while. Therefore, as you prospect, you need to plot every traverse onto your base map, and mark the location of every sample you take on the base map as well.


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PART IV

YOUR FINAL REPORT Introduction Once fieldwork has been completed, there are several things that must be done. First, any receipts that have been collected that cover expenses eligible under the NPP should be organized by category and safely stored. Also, sample labels should be checked for completeness and your samples packed up and sent to a certified laboratory for assay (See Part IX in this document). If you have staked claims while prospecting, you have 60 days after physically staking your claim to record it with the Mining Recorder in Iqaluit. This can be done in person, or using the “Claim Recording Form” available from the Mining Recorder or the GN Resident Geologists. Preparing Your Final Report A project Final Report is a requirement under the terms of the NPP and must be completed before a Final Payment can be made. A Guideline for developing a Final Report is provided in the attached document (See Part X in this document). The form requests the following information.

The name of the project. The location of the project (NTS map sheet name and number). Work performed including significant assay results. The start and end dates of fieldwork and relevant information on any claims staked. Conclusion summarizing what was found and what you think the mineral potential is for

your project area. Recommend whether future prospecting or exploration work in the project area should

continue and the reason(s) why exploration should continue. A summary of the cost of the project describing how much money was spent and what the

money was spent on (See list of eligible/ineligible expenses below). It is important to remember, that nearly all expenses claimed require copies of original receipts, except for your daily food allowance.

Eligible Expenses Eligible expenses include most costs directly related to the prospecting project (but not all). The following are examples of eligible expenses. If you are not sure whether an expense is eligible or not, ask your Resident Geologist before purchasing the item or service.

Examples of Eligible Expenses – Receipts Required Sample bags Flagging tape Small items of equipment, such as a GPS, a camera (under $300), and other supplies, that

are used directly on your project.


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Miscellaneous Supplies. You can claim small items and expendable supplies, like insect repellent, bungee cords, coolers and so on (up to10% of the total NPP contribution).

Sample Shipment and Analysis. To comply with the requirements of the NPP, you must spend at least $250 on sample analysis.

Fuel, oil and naphtha, etc. that are used directly on the project. Staking expenses. You can claim all expenses related to staking one mineral claim,

(2,582.5 acres) including the Recording Fees. Other expenses typically include stakes to mark out the perimeter of the claim, flagging and so on.

Report preparation. Claim up to $500 for expenses incurred while preparing the Final Report. Examples of allowable expenses include photocopying or hiring someone to help you fill out and produce your final report (must show copies of original receipts).

Equipment rental for direct use on the project of (up to 20% of the total contribution). Equipment repairs on equipment used during the project (up to 10% of the total

contribution). Assistant’s wages up to $100/day to a maximum of 30 person days (e.g. 1 person for 30

days or 2 people for 15 days). Travel expenses such as costs associated with getting to and from your prospecting area

and moving around in the prospect area are accepted (if, for example, you are surveying a section of coastline by boat). As always, copies of original receipts are required to back up the expenses. In this category you can claim up to a maximum of 50% of the total contribution, so if your total contribution from NPP was $8000, you can claim up to $4000 of travel expenses.

Example Of Eligible Expenses – Receipts Not Required

Daily Food Allowance. Receipts are not required for food. Instead, you can claim $40 per day, per person to cover grocery expenses. Food Allowance can be claimed for 30 days per person on the project. Total claims for food may not be more than $3200.

Ineligible Expenses Ineligible expenses are costs the prospector incurs that are not directly related to the prospecting project and therefore not accepted under the NPP. If you are not sure whether an expense is eligible ask your Resident Geologist before purchasing the item or service. Examples of ineligible expenses follow.

Examples of Ineligible Expenses Management, administration, legal or accounting fees. Purchase of non-consumable items which include large items of clothing, vehicles, cabins, boats, motors, snowmobiles, ATVs, cameras (over $300), travel outside of Nunavut, satellite phones, tobacco items, etc. Activities directly resulting in a net income from mineral production for the Applicant. Personal Consulting Wage. Applicants are not allowed to pay themselves a daily wage from the contribution (applicants may earn income on their projects only by optioning or selling their properties to mining or mineral exploration companies).


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PART V

PROSPECTING & GEOLOGY Introduction This section introduces some common concepts and terms used in prospecting and geology. As you learn the terms try to use them in your conversations with other prospectors and mineral exploration experts, such as geologists. Using the right vocabulary will show you understand the business and give you credibility as a prospector. Remember, the following terms are only a few of those used by experienced prospectors and there are many more which you will become familiar with over time. Minerals Minerals are the basic components of all rocks. A mineral is defined as a “naturally occurring, chemically distinct solid”. Some rocks are made up of different minerals, for example granite is made up of quartz, feldspar and plagioclase. Other rocks are made up of only one mineral such as limestone, which is entirely composed of the mineral calcite.

“Introduction to Prospecting in Nunavut” students on a field exercise, examining outcrop near Rankin Inlet

Prospectors look for certain minerals because they contain valuable metals - an example of this would be chalcopyrite, which has copper in it. Other minerals are important because they indicate that conditions at the time of mineralization were favourable to deposition of other, economically valuable minerals. An example of this would be barite, which is worth little on its own (unless there are huge quantities of it) but which, in a volcanic setting, may indicate the presence of copper sulphides, gold, lead and zinc nearby. Rock Types or Classification of Rocks There are three main rock types: 1) Sedimentary Rocks; 2) Igneous Rocks; and 3) Metamorphic Rocks.

1) Sedimentary Rocks are formed from cemented or compacted grains of sand, gravel or mud particles (called sediment) that originate from the weathering or breakup of other rocks. In most instances the loose sediment has been deposited by or carried to the oceans by streams, rivers, or are left over from glacial erosion, or sometimes from wind action. Most sediment carried by rivers or stream to a lake or sea are deposited in layers, one upon the other. Bedding or layering is the most important feature of sedimentary rocks and beds are usually horizontal (flat lying) when deposited, but they may become tilted, folded or distorted by later forces. Many sedimentary rocks contain fossils.


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2) Igneous Rocks are formed by the cooling of molten silicate material called magma (if it is confined below the earth’s surface) or lava (if it escapes to the earth’s surface or pours out onto the sea floor). To make a rock liquid, it has to be very hot, typically from 900C to 1200C. Since crystal size depends on how much time the crystals have to grow, igneous rocks that form deep beneath the surface of the earth have bigger crystals, since it takes a long time for the liquid rock (called magma) to cool. Igneous rocks that form near the surface or at the surface, like basalt flows, are called volcanic rocks and cool off very quickly and so normally have much smaller crystals, which commonly are too small to see with the naked eye.

3) Metamorphic Rocks are rocks altered within the earth’s crust by the effects of heat, pressure or chemical reaction. Sometimes the alteration of the original rock may be only slight and there is no difficulty in discerning what the original (or “parent”) rock was. Sometimes the original rock may be altered beyond recognition. Too much heat may cause the rock to melt into magma. Generally though, the effects of metamorphism are to re-crystallize the original materials into a dense mass or to cause new minerals to form or to impart distinct internal layering called foliation. Examples of new minerals that commonly form during metamorphism include biotite, muscovite, chlorite, and garnet. Rock Types of Particular Interest to the Prospector The old adage “gold is where you find it” certainly holds true in prospecting, but nonetheless, there are certain rock types which may be of particular interest to the prospector.

Quartz Veins: First and foremost, never underestimate a quartz vein! Quartz veins form as hot water seeps through the rocks and deposits quartz into cracks or faults. Gold can also be transported in this fashion, so be particularly aware of quartz veining, especially if the veins have a rusty, vuggy appearance. A vug is a crumbly-looking hole in the vein that usually occurs when a piece of pyrite weathers out. The presence of pyrite in a quartz vein is certainly indicative that mineralizing processes were active at one time, so it is probably a good idea to get it analyzed. Also, if a quartz vein has a different coloured altered zone around it, this may indicate that the water was particularly hot or acidic- two things which are good for moving metals around!

Kimberlite: Is another good rock type to know how to recognize. It is fairly variable in appearance, but often is a dark green rock that looks at first glance like a conglomerate because as it comes up in the roots of the volcano, it catches pieces from the side of the “pipe” and wears them round on the way up. On closer inspection, however, you should find that most of the “pebbles” are actually grains of nice clear olivine. Kimberlite comes from a great depth in the earth, and sometimes carries diamonds with it, which is why it is important to recognize.

Gossans: The term does not actually refer to a particular rock type, but is more of a description. Gossans in fact are simply rusty, crumbly-looking areas that are often situated above or near mineralized zones. They are always worth a look!

Bedrock “Bedrock” is solid rock that extends to great depth forming the upper surface of the Earth’s Crust. This is in contrast to the loose surface material called “overburden” that may conceal bedrock, and may be composed of soil, glacial till, or broken rock.


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Erosion Erosion is the surface process in which rocks are broken down, dissolved or otherwise removed from the place where they were deposited or emplaced. In Nunavut, the most evident and important erosional processes have been glaciation and stream erosion. In warmer climates, chemical and organic processes are more important agents of erosion. Glaciers Glaciers are large bodies of ice, derived from compacted snow, which flow across the land relatively slowly-at rates between 1 and 100 metres per year. The thickness of the ice can be variable (it has to be at least 50 metres thick to be able to flow) but the ice thickness in Nunavut reached several kilometres during the last ice age, which ended roughly 10,000 years ago. This great mass of ice does several things: first, as it flows, it exerts great pressure on the ground, which breaks up small rocks and crumbly materials. Secondly, as it picks up rocks into the base of the glacier, these rocks act as the grains glued to the paper in sandpaper, that is, they abrade the surface of the land, breaking up and smoothing rocks. Thirdly, there is a lot of water at the base of typical glaciers (although some glaciers in the High Arctic are frozen right through to the permafrost and do not have wet layers) and this water moves sand and small pebbles around, and also gets into cracks in the rock. When this water freezes, it expands and breaks the rock, which can then be taken up into the base of the glacier. The deposits left by glaciers are very variable, but the name for the material itself, the rocks/sand/gravel and mud left by the ice after it melted, is called glacial till or simply till. Glaciers And Ice Direction The direction in which the ice flowed can be misleading as there could have been so much ice that it actually flowed uphill for small distances- ice flow direction was more controlled by where the ice was coming from (areas of greatest snowfall) than by the shape of the land that it was flowing over. Therefore, the ice flow direction can be variable over time, namely the ice might have started off flowing one way and later flowed a different direction. To know the ice flow directions in your area, which is important if you are interested in till sampling, you should get a “Surficial Materials” map from the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC). See Important Addresses, Part VI in this document.

Sampling (Types of Samples) Most samples are taken for the purpose of assaying, to determine the amount of metals and other significant elements or minerals present. Depending on the type of potential deposit you are prospecting, certain established sampling methods should be followed. There are several different types of sample that you may wish to take when prospecting. These include grab samples, chip samples, channel samples, float samples, stream sediment samples, and till samples. i) A Grab Sample is a sample taken from mineralized or otherwise interesting-looking bedrock, and should be at least one (1) kilogram or two (2) pounds. As with all samples, it should be labelled with a distinctive number so that when you get the assays back from the lab you can tell


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right away where it came from. Do not forget to write the number on your base map on the spot where you took it from!

ii) A Chip Sample is a more exact way of sampling, but takes longer and is more work. To take a chip sample, mark out a line across the mineralized area on the outcrop, and with a chisel and hammer, knock some chips off the rock into your sample bag all along the line. Number and mark your sample in the usual way. The advantage of chip sampling is that sometimes, good mineralization occurs on the edges of what looks interesting, rather than right inside it. Chip samples will give a more representative assay value of the entire mineralized structure. An alternative to chip sampling is to take two grab samples, one from the colourful, visibly mineralized part, and one from right next to it in the less spectacular rock.

Chi Chip Sampling

iii) Channel Samples are a version of chip samples and do the same thing, except they provide larger samples (which is important if you are looking for gold, since gold is often unevenly distributed in the rock) but they are a lot more work and require a chisel and a lot of patience, or a rock saw (if you already have a rock saw that you use for carving, by all means use it!). Basically, you cut a little trench 3 to 4 cm deep into the outcrop across the mineralized area, and put the material from this little trench into a separate sample bag for every 10 or 15 centimetres, and treat each one as a separate sample, namely a different sample number and so on for each one. This can get complicated, but again, may be useful in more advanced projects.

iv) Float Samples are grab samples taken from rocks that are not in their original place, i.e. rocks that have been moved, whether by glaciers, rivers or simply fallen off a cliff. Sampling float can be very important in cases where you suspect that the interesting rock has not moved very far. If you are at the base of a cliff and can see where it might have come from, by all means take a sample if you can’t climb the cliff to sample the outcrop! As glaciers transport rocks, the rocks become more rounded. If you are looking at a rock that is as round as an egg, it probably travelled a long way, so it is usually not very useful to sample it, as the chances of finding where it came from are very slim. If, on the other hand, it is very angular (having sharp edges), likely it did not get moved too far and you can possibly find its place of origin. In this case it is worth sampling. If the assays come back indicating good mineralization, then you can go back next year and try and follow the ice direction back “upstream” to where it came from. When there are a large number of similar-looking float rocks, this often points to the fact that you are near the


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source. A strip of land where there are numerous rocks of the type you are looking for is called a boulder train. By following a boulder train, you can often find where all these rocks came from.

M inera lized O utcrop

Bou lder T ra in

v) Stream Sediment Samples are samples of the fine sand and silt from streambeds. The reasoning behind sampling these sediments is that many metals that come out of mineralized rocks will be carried by a stream in either very fine particles or in solution- these metals can stick to the surface of sand, gravel and so on, so what they do at the lab is basically swish your sample in acid that cleans the metal off the surfaces, and then they assay the acid. The reason you should sample fine sand and silt is that for a given volume of material, the surface area is greater if the material is finely divided. In other words, a kilogram of rock has a certain surface area- if you break that rock up and grind it into sand, the surface area will be much greater. Since the metals in water stick to any surface, the more surface the better.

The good thing about stream sediment sampling is that you can use them in areas where you suspect there is mineralization, but there is not enough outcrop to be sure. If you do decide to sample stream sediments, be sure to use Kraft paper sample bags, because the water can seep through the heavy paper and the sample dries out- if you use plastic sample bags your sample will still be wet when you ship it to the lab!

vi) Till Sampling is usually used when you are looking for diamonds, although it can be used for regular, metal prospecting as well. If you are looking for diamonds specifically, do not send your samples to a regular lab! Instead, send it in to one of the Resident Geologists, who will arrange to have it looked at by a specialized facility. A till sample taken for metals should be about ½ kilogram to 1 kilogram, and can be sent for assay to a regular assay lab as a soil sample (in Nunavut, most “soil” is till). If, however, it is taken to get it checked for diamond indicator minerals, it should be at least 5 kilograms, because the sample is later sieved and all the mineral grains that might be associated with diamonds are picked out by hand. A very rich till sample might only have 3 or 4 of these grains, so you see why it’s important that the sample be as big as possible!

Sample Preparation Once you have taken a sample you have to get it ready for shipping making sure that you can always find out where it came from even years later. For rock samples, this usually means that you should tap all the sharp corners off your sample so it does not break through the bag. Then, you should write the sample number on the bag with a grease marker. Since marker will eventually rub off or fade from the outside of the bag, you should also write the sample number on a piece of flagging tape and put that inside the bag so you always know what the sample


18

number is. Once you are back in camp, you should split any samples that you intend to send for assay into two equal parts and re-bag them separately, with the sample number in both. Send one to the assay lab and keep the other. If the assay comes back with positive results, you will need the second sample you have kept to show to the company that may be interested in your results. In the case of stream sediment samples, as mentioned before, you should always have these in Kraft paper sample bags making sure to write the sample number on the bag with a marker just before you take the sample, as wet paper is hard to write on. It is important to make sure that the sample has had time to dry out before you package it up to send off for assay, since the bags are fragile when wet, and if there is water in them the sample might leak out and be wasted, or contaminate other samples in the same package. Labelling Samples In the course of a day or season you will take many samples and you do not want to mix them up. Make sure you label each sample distinctively and in the order you take them. For example include the initials of the person sampling, the date, traverse number, and sample number. Include a label (permanent black magic marker works well) on the outside of the sample bag and inside the bag as well in case one of the numbers is removed or cannot be read. Make sure you record the sample number in your diary when you describe the sample, for example: FG-July 30, 2008-Traverse #4-Sample 17. Recording A Traverse A traverse is simply the path taken across the land during a day of prospecting. Traverses should be planed out the night before and plotted on a base map to ensure that you cover ground you have not seen yet, or alternately, to make sure that you have a second look at something interesting that you saw on a previous day. Staking A Claim While prospecting, you may find some very interesting showings (mineral occurrences) that you may want to stake in order to gain legal ownership of the minerals (See Determine the Status of the Land You Wish To Prospect, Part II in this document).

Ripple marks in sedimentary rocks

Always plot any claims you stake on your base-map. As you will see, the base-map carries a lot of information and by the end of the prospecting trip traverses, all sample locations, and any claims staked will be plotted on the map. This is why it is recommended that a 1:50 000 scale map be used, so that there is room for all this information.


19

Example of Claim Tags Used in Nunavut

Tags are placed at the Northeast, Southeast, Southwest and Northwest corners of a claim.


20

Example Of A Prospector’s Diary NTS sheet # 56J/07, Traverse #3 July 1, 2002 Sample # EK-02-02 Sample Location – 390 432 E. 7434 150 N Today I prospected the north part of Iglu Lake. I stopped at two outcrops to sample and take notes. I was not able to sample one outcrop because the rock was too hard and I did not have my heavy sledgehammer. I will try to come back if there is enough time. ___________________________________________________________________________ July 2 – did not prospect; rained for most of the day. ___________________________________________________________________________ NTS sheet #56J/07, Traverse #4 July 3, 2002 NW shore of Iglu Lake; sampled a large outcrop; rusty at west-end. Sample EK-02-08 – green rock with few specks of very small pyrite cubes. Sample EK-02-09 – from rusty zone – took a rusty rock sample with lots of pyrite (10%) Chalcopyrite (2%) & maybe Pyrrhotite 1% (?) ___________________________________________________________________________ NTS sheet #56J/07 Traverse #5 July 4, 2002 Sample #EK-02-10 384 868 East; 7435 104 North Sample #EK-02-11 385 038 East; 7435 275 North Southeast of 30 m long outcrop & NW of small creek; collected two soil samples in a rusty coloured area; EK-02-10 – rusty-brown fine soil (B-soil horizon) EK-02-11 – rusty pebbly soil – not able to get too much (B-horizon). ___________________________________________________________________________ NTS sheet #56J/07 Traverse #6 July 5, 2002 Sample #EK-02-12 384 989 East; 7444 133 North Sample #EK-02-13 384 997 East; 7457 232 North Gossan zone approximately 100 metres by 100 metres with visible pyrite cubes up to 10% by volume with traces of chalcopyrite (5%) and pyrrhotite (4%). Samples taken late in the day so will return tomorrow to map property and stake a claim over gossan zone. Sample for gold silver, copper.


21

Example of a Project Area Outlined on a Topographic Map


22

Example of a Base Map With Prospecting Area Outline, Sample Locations Plotted and Traverses Marked


23

PART VI

ADDRESSES This is a list of address that prospectors can use to obtain information, supplies, or services. The list is by no means complete and is meant as a guide only. Prospectors should add to this list as their contacts grow. Cambridge Bay Resident Geologist Minerals & Petroleum Division Department of Economic Development & Transportation Government of Nunavut P.O. Box 2420 Cambridge Bay, Nunavut Canada, X0B 0C0 Tel. (867) 983-4184 Fax (867) 983-4011 Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Arviat Resident Geologist Minerals & Petroleum Division Department of Economic Development & Transportation Government of Nunavut P.O. Box 120 Arviat, Nunavut Canada, X0C 0E0 Tel. (867) 857-2297 Fax (867) 857-2380 E-mail: [email protected]

Mining Recorders Office Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Building 918, P.O. Box 100 Iqaluit, Nunavut Canada, X0E 0H0 Tel. (867) 975-4275 Fax (867) 975-4286 www.ainc-ac.gc.ca/nu/nuv/amr/amr_e.html

Geological Survey of Canada 601 Booth Street Ottawa, Ontario Canada, K1A 0E8 Toll Free: 1-888-252-4301 Tel. (613) 995-4342 Fax (613) 943-0646 www.gsc.nrcan.gc.ca

Nunavut Tunngavik P.O. Box 76 Cambridge Bay, Nunavut Canada, X0E 0C0 Tel. (867) 983-2517 Fax (867) 983-2723 www.tunngavik.com

Kitikmeot Inuit Association P.O. Box 360 Kugluktuk, Nunavut Canada, X0E 0E0 Tel. (867) 982-3310 Fax (867) 982-3311 www.polarnet.ca/kia.htm

Kivalliq Inuit Association P.O. Box 340 Rankin Inlet, Nunavut Canada, X0E 0G0 Tel. (867) 645-2810 Fax (867) 645-3855 www.kivalliqinuitassociation.com

Qikqtani Inuit Association P.O. Box 219 Iqaluit, Nunavut Canada, X0E 0H0 Tel. (867) 979-5391l Fax (867) 979-1643 www.qukiqtani.nu.ca


mailto:[email protected]



http://www.ainc-ac.gc.ca/nu/nuv/amr/amr_e.html

http://www.gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/

http://www.tunngavik.com/

http://www.polarnet.ca/kia.htm

http://www.kivalliqinuitassociation.com/

http://www.qukiqtani.nu.ca/

24

PART VII

LABORATORIES Certified Laboratories (Labs) When you are ready to ship samples for analysis to a certified lab you must fill out a form that explains to the lab what types of samples are being shipped for analysis and what type of analysis is required (whether it’s for gold, silver, copper, zinc or another element). This form must be included with your sample shipment to the lab. It is best to contact the lab before you ship your samples and request a form and a current list of their services and costs. Most of this information will be available on the company website if you have access to a computer but you can also phone the company and they will mail you a copy of their current services and fees. Remember, you can contact one of the Nunavut Resident Geologists for their advice on how to prepare and ship your samples for assay. Acme Analytical Laboratories Ltd. P.O. Box 416 – 136 Bristol Avenue Yellowknife, NWT Canada, X1A 2N3 Toll Free 1-800-990-2263 Tel. (867) 873-9484 Fax (867) 9490 Website: www.acmelab.com

Acme Analytical Laboratories Ltd. 852 East Hastings Street Vancouver, British Columbia Canada, V6A 1R6 Toll Free: 1-800-990-2263 Tel. (604) 253-3158 Fax (604) 253-1716 Website: www.acmelab.com

ALS Chemex 212 Brooksbank Avenue North Vancouver, British Columbia Canada, V7J 2C1 Tel. (604) 984-0221 Fax (604) 984-0218 Website: www.alsglobal.com

Assayers Canada 8282 Sherbrooke Street Vancouver, British Columbia Canada, V5X 4R6 Tel. (604) 327-3436 Fax (604) 327-3423 Website: www.assayers.com

Eco Tech Laboratory Ltd. 10041 Dallas Drive Kamloops, British Columbia Canada, V2C 6T4 Tel. (250) 573-5700 Fax (250) 573-4557 Website: www.ecotechlab.com

ActLabs – Activation Laboratories Ltd. 1336 Sandhill Drive Ancaster, Ontario Canada, L9G 4V5 Tel. (905) 648-9611 Fax (905) 648-9613 Website: www.actlabs.com

Vancouver Petrographics Ltd. 8080 Glover Road Langley, British Columbia Canada, V1M 3S3 Tel. (604) 888-1323 Fax (604) 888-3642 Website: www.vanpetro.com

Saskatchewan Research Council SRC Analytical Laboratories 422 Downey Road Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada, S7N 4N1 Tel. (306) 933-6932 Toll Free Tel. 1-800-240-8808 Fax (306) 933-7922 Website: www.analytical.src.sk.ca


http://www.acmelab.com/

http://www.acmelab.com/

http://www.alsglobal.com/

http://www.assayers.com/

http://www.ecotechlab.com/

http://www.actlabs.com/

http://www.vanpetro.com/

http://www.analytical.src.sk.ca/

25

PART VIII (page 1 of 3)

NUNAVUT PROSPECTOR’S PROGRAM APPLICATION

(to be completed before fieldwork) PART A - PERSONAL INFORMATION Date: _______________________________ Applicants Name: ______________________________________________________________________ Mailing Address: _______________________________________________________________________ Community: ____________________________________ Postal Code: __________________________ Telephone:_______________________ Email: ____________________ Fax: ____________________ Prospectors Licence Number: ___________________________ Age: ____________________________ Have you received funding from the Nunavut Prospector’s Program before? Yes Year _____________________ Project Location (NTS Sheet) No Describe your prospecting or related experience (Include dates, location, courses taken or relevant work experience). If additional space is required please attach description to this form. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________

PART B - PROJECT DESCRIPTION Project Name: _________________________________________________________________________ Project Location (provide NTS Coordinates): ________________________________________________ Project Start Date: ______________________ Project Completion Date: _________________________ Reason(s) for Project: _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________


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Do you have a current mineral claim(s) in this proposed project area? (page 2 of 3)

Yes Claim Name(s) _____________________________________ No What are you prospecting for? Gold Nickel-Copper-Platinum Group Metals Diamonds Silver Base Metals (lead, zinc, copper etc.) Gem stones Carving Stone/Dimension Stone Other ____________________________________________ What activities do you plan to accomplish? Rock Sampling Soil Sampling Silt Sampling Till Sampling Trenching Claim Staking Geologic Mapping Geophysical Surveying Drilling Other: _______________________________________________________________ Do you have a prospecting partner? If yes please provide their name(s). __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ Do you plan to hire a Prospecting Assistant(s)? If yes, please provide their name(s) and for how long you will employ them. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________

PART C (Estimated Project Budget) Project Length:__________ days. Start Date:_______________ End Date:________________________ Grocery Expenses (to a maximum of 30 days per person and 80 person-days total). Your field diary must record and account for all people on the project each day (no receipts required). _________________________________ at $40/day x ____________ = $_______________________ Applicant Name Number of Days _________________________________ at $40/day x ____________ = $_______________________ Assistant 1 Number of Days _________________________________ at $40/day x ____________ = $_______________________ Assistant 2 Number of Days Sample Shipment & Analysis (must keep receipts – a minimum of $250) _________________________________________ at about $50/sample = $ ________________________ Approximate Number of Samples to Analyze


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Travel (must keep receipts – up to a maximum of 50% of total contribution) (page 3 of 3) Oil & Gas Purchase Commercial Airline Ticket Purchase = $_______________________ Vehicle Rentals: ATV Boat Snowmobile = $______________________ Aircraft Charter: Helicopter Airplane = $______________________ Equipment (must keep receipts) a) Purchase and Repairs (up to 10% of total contribution) List: ___________________________________________________ = $________________________ b) Rentals (up to 20% of total contribution) List: ___________________________________________________ = $________________________ Staking Expenses (must keep receipts) Purchases: _____________________________________________ = $________________________ Report Preparation (must keep receipts – up to a maximum of $500) Purchases: _____________________________________________ = $________________________ Contracts: _____________________________________________ = $________________________ Assistant Wages (up to a maximum of $3000 or 30 person days, (e.g. 1 person for 30 days or 2 people for 15 days each for a maximum of $3000 total) _________________________________ at $100/day x ____________ = $_______________________ Assistant’s Name _________________________________ at $100/day x ____________ = $_______________________ Assistant’s Name Total Estimated Cost of Project = $ _______________________ I hereby certify that I am the person name in the above application and that all information contained in this application is correct. Applicant’s Signature: ______________________________________ Date : _____________________ Witness Signature: _________________________________________ Date: _____________________ Witness: Please Print Name: _____________________________________________


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PART IX (page 1 of 1)

Sample Description Sheet (To be completed during fieldwork for every sample collected)

Date: ____________________________ Project Name: ______________________________ NTS Sheet: ______________________ Sample Number: _________ Traverse Number: __________ Collected By: ________________ Type of Sample: Rock Outcrop Rock Boulder Soil Stream Silt Till Other (describe) _____________________________________________________________ Location: UTM: ________________________ East ___________________________ North or Latitude: ________________________ Longitude: ______________________________ For Rock Samples: Grab Trench Other (describe) _________________________ Chip (length) ______________ Channel (length) _____________ Sample Minerals (include relative amounts): __________________________________________ Outcrop Description (contacts, veins, gossans, etc) : ____________________________________ Sketch (number & location of samples; also any geologic or interesting features). You may use the same sketch for many samples.


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PART X (page 1 of 4)

Final Report Applicant’s Name: _______________________________ Date: _________________________ Project Name: __________________________________ NTS: _________________________ PART A Work Performed: Number of days spent prospecting:_______ Travel time to and from project area: ______ Bad weather days: ________ Samples Collected: Number of rock samples collected: ________ Number of soil samples collected: ________ Number of stream silt samples collected: ______ Number of till samples collected: _______ Trench method(describe) : ______________________________________________________ Other prospecting work (describe): _______________________________________________ SIGNIFICANT RESULTS (use the back of this sheet if more space is needed)

Sample Number Location Mineral/Element Best Analysis Result CLAIMS STAKED DURING THIS PROSPECTING PROJECT

Claim Name(s) Claim Tag Number(s) Date(s) Recorded


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PART B (page 2 of 4)

Summary of Project Costs: Project Length: ____________ Days. Start Date: ____________ End Date: ________________ a) Grocery Expenses (to a maximum of 30 days per person and 80 person-days total) _______________________________ at $40/day x _____________ = $_________________ Applicant Name Number of Days _______________________________ at $40/day x _____________ = $_________________ Assistant’s Name Number of Days _______________________________ at $40/day x _____________ = $_________________ Assistant’s Name Number of Days b) Sample Shipment & Analysis (must keep receipts – a minimum of $250) ________________________________________ at about $50/sample = $ __________________ Number of Samples Analyzed c) Travel (must keep receipts – up to a maximum of 50% of total contribution) Oil & Gas Purchase Commercial Airline Ticket Purchase = $___________________ Vehicle Rentals: ATV Boat Snowmobile = $___________________ Aircraft Charter: Helicopter Airplane = $___________________ d) Equipment (must keep receipts) i) Purchase and Repairs (up to 10% of total contribution) List: ________________________________________________ = $___________________ ii) Rentals (up to 20% of total contribution) List: ________________________________________________ = $___________________ e) Staking Expenses (must keep receipts) Purchases: ___________________________________________ = $___________________ f) Report Preparation (must keep receipts – up to a maximum of $500) Purchases: ____________________________________________ = $__________________ Contracts: ____________________________________________ = $__________________


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(page 3 of 4)

g) Assistant Wages (up to a maximum of 30 person days in total – a receipt from your assistant(s) is required. _____________________________________ at $100/day x ____________ = $______________ Assistant’s Name _____________________________________ at $100/day x ____________ = $______________ Assistant’s Name

Total Estimated Cost of Project = $______________

PART C Project Conclusions: 1) What minerals/mineral showings did you find during this project? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2) What do you think the mineral potential is in this region? Why? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


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(page 4 of 4)

3) What do you think should be done in this area next (if anything), and why? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

PART D Project Ownership: I hereby certify that I am the person named in the above Project Final Report and that all information contained in the Project Summary is correct. __________________________________________________ __________________________ Applicant’s Signature Date



33

PART XI

Acronyms Used in This Document ED& T Economic Development & Transportation GPS Global Positioning System GIS Geographical Information System GN Government of Nunavut HTO Hunters and Trappers Organizations INAC Indian and Northern Affairs Canada IOL Inuit Owned Lands NPP Nunavut Prospector’s Program NTI Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated NTS National Topographic Information System UTM Universal Transervse Mercator (Coordinate System)

nunavut prospector’s program (npp) guidebook, … · minerals & petroleum resources division...

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