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Proactive disclosure Print version   | |  EXTECH: Exploration Science and Technology Initiative Overview and objectives
EXTECH (EXploration TECHnology) was initiated in 1989 to promote the development of new approaches to mineral exploration in Canada. It was prompted by declining economic reserves in Canada's established mining camps, reflecting reduced expenditures on exploration in these camps and changes in global metal prices. Many mining camps had been well explored using existing methods and consensus was that new economic discoveries could be aided by innovative concepts and technologies. Base metals have been commodities of concern since the late 1980s due to depletion of national reserves. In 1998 gold camps had joined the ranks of concern, partly due to depleted reserves but also because of the increased challenge of finding economic reserves with declining world prices. In 1999, uranium was added because of the challenge of moving from shallow to deep exploration and because of anticipated demand for uranium as a major energy source that would not accelerate climate change. While drivers have changed, the EXTECH approach has remained constant as follows. EXTECH represents an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to mineral exploration research. It encourages synergy among specialists in the various fields of geology, geophysics, and geochemistry by focusing their efforts on understanding a specific deposit-type in a specific mining camp. Expertise and synergy are enhanced by linking federal, provincial/territorial, university and industry scientists in one, time-limited project. The nominal goal is to develop an integrated deposit model In working toward this goal, the regional geoscience knowledge base of the mining camp is enhanced, generic and specific technologies are developed or enhanced, and the data, technologies and models are transferred through collaboration, workshops and publications to various client groups.
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