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Todd McKinlay entered only one draw at this year's 30th annual Geoscience Forum trade show -- but it was a big one. The De Beers' exploration manager won a 1.4 carat Ekati diamond valued at about $10,000 and donated by BHP Billiton. McKinlay, left, is joined by BHP Billiton's Jim Excell and Chamber of Mine's Mike Vaydik. What is he going to do with the sparkler? "I won't have a choice," said McKinlay. The gem will be mounted and given to his long-time partner Ialeen Jones. - Thorunn Howatt/NNSL photo

Yellowknife rocks

Record numbers for Geoscience Forum

Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 27/02) - There's talk of a mile-wide gold streak. Someone else found diamonds the size of softballs.

But it costs money to go out and get those treasures, and exploration eats up lots of cash.

There was no epic staking rush coincidental with the 30th annual Geoscience Forum but rock hounds explored Yellowknife in record numbers this year.

The event brought together some 600 geologists, geophysicists, engineers and prospectors to talk about mineral exploration and resource development.

Money is a key concern in the mining world these days, or, that is, the predicament of how to get a hold of it.

Stock exchanges have been volatile during the past year. People haven't been investing in the mining sector. And that's big trouble for an industry reliant on finding financing by selling shares in its projects.

At last year's symposium, the atmosphere sparkled with excitement from the Kitikmeot diamond staking rush.

This year, miners and explorers need financing for their new-found projects.

The three-day Geoscience Forum is billed as the largest annual conference north of 60.

It's sponsored by the federal Department of Indian and Northern Development, the Government of the NWT, the C.S. Lord Geoscience Centre and the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines.

Delegates packed into the Capitol Theatre to listen to talks on exploration results in the NWT and Nunavut.

They heard about the latest in scientific findings and government geological mapping programs as well as research for new geophysical techniques.

There was also a one-day session on the latest in oil and gas exploration and discussion of the political manoeuvring and policy issues surrounding the proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

The Explorer Hotel teemed with visitors during the three-day symposium.

It was host to a three-day trade show and poster display.

Thirty years ago, geologists found themselves grounded, sitting around during November's seasonal downtime with nothing to do.

Lakes were too icy for float planes to take off, but the ice wasn't thick enough to land with skis.

Someone came up with the idea of an educational convention, and that was the birth of the geoscience event.

The NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines uses the time to hold its annual general meeting and chose a new board of directors. Former chamber president Jim Excell, of BHP Billiton's Ekati Diamonds, stepped down as president, making way for the new head, Bernadette Stewart of Yellowknife's Braden Burry Expediting.

"It's interesting to have a leader who is not in the mining sector," said Chamber of Mines general manager Mike Vaydik.

He outlined a few of the chamber's challenges ranging from a lack of infrastructure to complex regulatory regimes.