Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jul 06/98) - The territorial government's department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development has created a comprehensive Internet guide for resources in the southwest Kitikmeot.

The Coronation Gulf mineral development area Web site, produced by RWED's Kitikmeot regional office in Kugluktuk and the department's Minerals, Oil and Gas division, was launched Tuesday.

The Web site, www.cgmda.nu.ca, is a compilation of information from geology maps to satellite images to wildlife habitat. Mining companies, land-use planners, environmental assessors, resource managers and the public have contributed information to the Web site.

The 120,000 square kilometre Coronation Gulf area, holds gold, lead, zinc and diamond deposits and is a key area for economic development in the North. The area includes BHP's Boston gold resource in the Hope Bay belt.

"The Web site includes 80 layers of data," Adrienne Jones, Minerals, Oil and Gas resource assessment geologist, said.

Jones, and Jane McMullen, community minerals advisor with RWED in Kugluktuk, co-created the Web site.

After division, the Nunavut Planning Commission will oversee the Web site. Content will be controlled by the Kitikmeot regional office, Jones said.

In September 1997, Minerals, Oil and Gas developed its minerals development program to support development of new mines in areas of the Western Arctic and Nunavut with mineral potential.

Over 80 agencies from Nunavut Inuit organizations to government as well as mining and mineral exploration industries contribute data to the Coronation Gulf mineral development area archives.

RWED Mineral, Oil and Gas director Doug Matthews said the Web site's information can be used to determine costs and requirements associated with mineral development in the area. Businesses can use the information not only for costs but also for identifying potential partners or joint-venture opportunities.