The results of the Yellowknife EXTECH III project will be published by the Mineral Deposits Division (MDD) of the GAC as an MDD Special Volume.

A total of 26 papers has been submitted for the volume which is organized into themes of: Historical Background; Regional Geology; Mineral Deposits and Regional Metallogenic Studies; Surficial Geology and Exploration Geochemistry;Geophysical Approach to Gold Exploration in the Yellowknife Area; and Data Integration and Guides to Exploration. The publication will also include a DVD containing:

1. digital files of appendices and tables;
2. a compilation of georeferenced geoscience data for the Yellowknife greenstone belt in a 2-D GIS database; and
3. over 50,000 drill holes from the Con and Giant mines compiled in a 3-D GIS database.

Some of the key results include:

1. The compilation of information from over 50,000 drill holes at the two mines, integrated mine workings and lithochemical samples, utilizing 3-D GIS modeling undertaken collaboratively with mine geologists, has identified a number of drill targets for future exploration;
2. Metamorphic mapping has resulted in a comprehensive definition of the metamorphic isograds and their location for the main part of the Yellowknife greenstone belt and provides useful constraints on genetic modeling;
3. New geochronological data from both Re-Os and U-Pb zircon dating with the addition of bedrock geochemistry has helped clarify the Au mineralization timing, redefined the belt stratigraphy as well as allowing for the identification of a major crustal break;
4. The refinement of the Quaternary geology and testing of new approaches to till sampling in conjunction with biogeochemistry has allowed for more efficient kimberlite indicator mineral and gold grain surveys and resulted in the discovery of two new kimberlites;
5. Detailed surface and downhole geophysical surveys combined with laboratory studies on physical properties of the deposit lithologies has allowed for the refinement of the geophysical signatures of the orebodies and accompanying sulphide mineralization;
6. The compilation of the history of mining in the Yellowknife Greenstone Belt and its economic impact has contributed to a better understanding of the potential socio-economic implications of future mines and exploration projects in the north.

A brief overview of the EXTECH 3 project is also available from the Northwest Territories Geoscience Office. This volume is expected to be completed by March 2005. Project background and objectives, progress reports, summaries and conference posters are located at EXTECH 3 site.