Mineral Exploration Roundup 2009
Field Trips

Myra Falls 

Date: Thursday, January 29 - Friday, January 30, 2009
Description: The Myra Falls underground/open pit mine is located on Vancouver Island. The deposit comprises polymetallic massive and disseminated sulphides, pyritic massive sulphides, and stringer sulphide zones. Myra Falls currently has measured and indicated resources of just over 7 million tonnes grading 7.2% zinc, 1.2% copper, 1.7 g/t gold and 55 g/t silver. The field trip will depart by bus from the Westin Bayshore, Vancouver on Thursday, January 31. Following a night in Campbell River, the morning at Myra Falls will be spent touring through the underground, accessed by a 716 m deep shaft and linked to 14 km of ramps and lateral developments. A surface tour will follow if time permits. The tour will return to The Westin Bayshore, Vancouver, the afternoon of Friday, February 1.

Particulars: This field trip will require extensive underground walking, comfortable warm clothing is recommended.  Steele-toed boots will be provided, please email Dan Marshall your shoe size once you have registered for the trip.

For more information on this event please contact:
Dan Marshall - marshall@sfu.ca

Orca Quarry

Date: Friday, January 30, 2009
Description: Focus on Social and Environmental Sustainability Practices. The Polaris Mineral Corporation’s Orca Quarry is the newest major quarry to be constructed on the west coast and has been built to the highest standards of environmental and social sustainability. It is a state-of-the-art facility designed and built for the long-term, cost-effective production of high quality construction aggregates for the coastal ready-mix concrete markets.  The Quarry is owned 88% by the Orca Quarry and 12% by the ‘Namgis First Nation.  In 2007 the quarry sold 1.15 million tons of sand and gravel to customers in California, Hawaii and in Vancouver after beginning production in February.  It is permitted to produce 6.6 million tons per year, making it the largest sand and gravel quarry in Canada.

Particulars: The trip will depart from the Westin Bayshore in the morning. The group will catch the seaplane from Vancouver Harbour and fly into Port McNeill. Orca is located on the east coast of Northern Vancouver Island about 4 kilometers west of Port McNeill. The site tour take about 5 hours and will include a presentation on operations and the social and environment practices followed by a guided tour of the quarry and the half kilometer long ship-loading pier and ship-loader. Staff will be on site to discuss any points of interest the group might have including relations with the First Nations people and the local community, social and environmental sustainability practices, operations, logistics etc.  After the tour the group will fly back to Vancouver Harbour for arrival Friday late afternoon.