Want to become a prospector?
Preparing potential prospectors
by Karina Hunter
Manitouwadge EDO Dave Raymond with the Beep Mat which is now available to residents of neighbouring communities as well.
Manitouwadge Economic Development Officer, Dave Raymond was pleased to announce today that Peter Moses, First Nations Minerals Information Officer from the Ministry of Northern Development Mines and Forestry will be in Manitouwadge February 3rd to 5th to instruct potential prospectors on the basics of prospecting and claim staking and the use of the community’s Beep Mat which was purchased last year. The three day course is being offered free of charge to any interested parties and Raymond is enthusiastic in regards to what this represents to his community. “In difficult economic times, it is encouraging to offer residents new opportunities for learning and potential income”. Of course in a community born of prospecting residents are quite familiar with the opportunities increased area prospecting can offer.
Participants, 15 years of age or older, will have the opportunity to work with such course tools as rock and mineral specimens, prospecting tools, maps, compasses and global positioning systems (GPS). Potential prospectors completing the course will, in addition to receiving a Certificate of Participation, keep the Rocks and Minerals Identification Handbook, Discover Prospecting Manual and Guide to Staking a Mining Claim manual which are used in conjunction with instruction and hands on mine claim staking practice during the course. The township’s economic development department has already begun receiving registrations; not unexpected after the flurry of activity which was generated by the Manitouwadge Economic Development Corporation’s purchase of a $11,000 Beep Mat in September.
The course is open to all Northshore residents, as is the Beep Mat; for more information or to register for Basics of Prospecting and Claim Staking contact Economic Development Assistant, Karen Robinson at 1-888-826-PLAY (7529) or 826-3227 ext. 240.
Submitted January 11th, 2010 to The Echo, Marathon Mercury and Chronicle Journal.
To read about the Beep Mat purchase visit www.karinahunter.com/?p=5600.
