RENO, NV - British Columbia Minister of State for Mining Kevin Krueger announced that four new mineralized areas have been discovered in the Cariboo (Chezacut) and Terrace regions of the northern area of the province.

Both the Chezacut and Terrace areas have been under-explored in the past.

The Chezacut area-located 200 km west of Williams Lake-was targeted for geological mapping because of the lack of prior exploration, and due to a network of logging roads that now provide access to large parts of the area. Last summer, mapping crews discovered five mineralized zones in a 1,000 km area where only one mineral occurrence was previously known. The BC Geological Survey team has discovered the Vampire zone, which they believe, contains significant gold and copper warranting further exploration.

Another ministry survey team has discovered a new lead, zinc and silver mineral site on an existing mineral claim, which highlights the potential for copper, zinc, lead, silver and gold mineralization similar to the Tulsequah Chief mine.

Krueger also declared the province's first-ever Mineral Exploration Week from January 27th to February 2nd. The announcements were made during his keynote address at the opening of the Mineral Exploration Roundup 2008 in Vancouver Monday.

In a related development, the Geoscience BC released its initial results from a $5 million exploration project in central B.C's Mountain Pine Beetle Infestation Area. The non-profit partnership Monday released data including an airborne electromagnetic survey of central British Columbia, and geochemical results from a reanalysis of almost 5,000 archived stream and lake sediment samples collected in the region ore than a decade ago.

Lyn Anglin, President and CEO of Geoscience BC said, "The data sets released today are the first in a series that will help unlock central B.C.'s mineral potential." The QUEST project covers a 46,000 square kilometer area extending from Williams Lake to north west of Mackenzie. It includes the communities of Mackenzie, Fort Sr. James, Prince George, Quesnel, Wells and Barkerville within the project area.

Among the central B.C. discoveries are the Mount Polley and Gibraltar mines as well as the ongoing exploration of the Mt. Milligan copper-gold deposit. Large portions of this area remain unexplored due to a cover of sand and gravel in the region.

Since the QUEST project was announced last June, nearly 1,760 mineral claims covering 780,000 hectares of land have been staked by 114 companies or individuals in the central B.C. geophysical area. Total claims in the area cover 2 million hectares, held by more than 300 companies or individual.

In addition to the airborne electromagnetic survey, the QUEST project is now conducting an airborne gravity survey of the project area. For more information, go to the Geoscience website at www.geosciencebc.com

SOURCE:
Provincial mining ministry reveals new central B.C. discoveries

As the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia began its 25th annual Vancouver Round Up Monday, government officials announced new mineral discoveries in Central B.C.
Author: Dorothy Kosich
Posted: Tuesday , 29 Jan 2008