|
|
 |
|
|
|
The Matty Mitchell Prospectors Resource Room is a government–industry–university
partnership developed by the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Natural Resources
to provide assistance to this province’s prospecting community. The Resource
Room delivers technical support as well as advice, mentoring and promotional services
to prospectors, rock hounds, mineral collectors and other interested members
of the public from all parts of the province. Opened in 1998, the facility is located
in the department’s Geological Survey (St. John’s), and is dedicated to pioneering
prospector Matty Mitchell.
Operation and development are overseen by a public–private-sector management
committee, representing the department’s Geological Survey and Mineral Development
divisions, the Newfoundland and Labrador Chamber of Mineral Resources, the Newfoundland
and Labrador Explorationists and the Earth Sciences Department of Memorial University of
Newfoundland. The Resource Room is staffed with a full-time professional geologist,
under direction of the management committee.
|
The Matty Mitchell Prospectors Resource Room project is designed to support prospectors
by providing them with mentoring, technical support, and promotional assistance,
thereby assisting in the creation of wealth and jobs through sustainable mineral
development. Through its programs in support of prospectors and others in the provincial
exploration industry across Newfoundland and Labrador, the project hopes to achieve
its goal of stimulating the provincial mineral industry and attracting new mineral investment
to the province.
|
The Matty Mitchell Prospectors Resource Room provides its information services mainly through on-site visits
to the Resource Room, by responses to email or telephone requests, by way of prospecting workshops, and via its
web site. Basic rock and mineral identification is one of the most fundamental services offered. Prospectors
are further assisted in locating pertinent geological information to select or refine target areas, generate
and further advance new prospects, or reinterpret known targets. Resource Room users may be also directed to
off-site sources of information and, where necessary, referred to Department of Natural Resources staff, MUN
Earth Science faculty and individuals in the mineral exploration industry.
|
The Resource Room also develops and maintains a "Property Poster Series" - digitally produced
information packages on individual properties. These meld prospectors’ data with geological data and
interpretation from various sources and are an important aid to prospectors in promoting and optioning their
properties. The Resource Room also produces a semi-annual series of maps, booklets and CD-ROMs,
listing individual prospector and junior company properties that are available for option. These provide
thumbnail sketches of property commodity, mineralization style, contact information and location. On-line digital
databases capturing this information are being developed.
|
The Resource Room provides logistical support for prospectors attending local and national mining and
mineral exploration conferences and trade shows. Assistance is provided to prospectors prior to, during,
and as follow-up to these events; the Resource Room also assists those who cannot be in attendance by promoting
their properties at these meetings. Participation is in conjunction with the Newfoundland and Labrador Chamber
of Mineral Resources and the Geological Survey, Mineral Development and Mineral Lands divisions, and focuses
primarily on individual prospect promotion, and in doing so, promoting the province in general as a region to
invest exploration dollars.
|
The Resource Room is involved in public awareness initiatives to help urban and rural regions appreciate
the possibilities of new economic development linked to the minerals industry. This is done in a number of ways,
including participation in rural development conferences, providing prospecting workshops and field
trips, and making presentations at various educational facilities.
|
We are located in in the east end of St. John's, on the first floor of the Natural Resources Building,
50 Elizabeth Avenue (next door to Canadian Tire).
|
Winter: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Summer: 8:30am - 4:00pm
|
|
