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Helicopter drags 14 metre wide transmitter along in search for minerals

Nov. 6, 2008, Trail, B.C. – Searching B.C.'s West Kootenay's for minerals such
as copper, lead and zinc used to start with visiting fields and
examining data.

But a helicopter flying out of the Trail Airport in recent weeks
is taking the mineral exploration process into the future by
dragging a 14-metre wide electromagnetic transmitter and receiver
along as it surveys neighbouring valleys.

Warner Miles, of the Geological Survey of Canada, says the
circular transmitter dragged by the helicopter creates a magnetic
pulse that penetrates the ground.

The data can then be used by exploration companies to pinpoint
promising sites for ground inspections and drilling to determine the
extent of the mineral deposits identified.

"If there are no conductors present, there is no interference
with the pulse and what we get back at the receiver is the same
pulse that we sent out,'' Miles said.

"But if there is a conductor in the ground, it will cause a flow
of electrons through the conductor, setting up a second magnetic
field, or pulse, that we can measure at the receiver.''

The survey work got underway in mid-October. Work was initially
slowed by equipment problems, including a rented helicopter that
wasn't powerful enough to pull the big transmitter ring.

About one-third of the survey has been completed, with work being
delayed recently by rainy weather.

The $600,000 survey is being conducted for Natural Resources
Canada and Geo-Science B.C., under a program called the Targeted
Geo-Sciences Initiative. The contractor is the Toronto office of
Fugro, a Dutch-based company specializing in airborne, sub-surface
surveying for the mining, oil and gas, and environmental sectors
worldwide.

"Our mandate is to improve resources for smelters in major
mining camps across Canada,'' Miles said.

 
Trail Daily Times

THE CANADIAN PRESS