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KITIKMEOT
A need to find new sources of carving stone around Nunavut was the theme coming out of community consultations in the Kitikmeot last month as part of the carving stone consultation program.

Mike Beauregard, the resident geologist working on the 2010-2013 Nunavut Carvingstone Deposit Evaluation Program, visited Taloyoak, Kugaaruk, Gjoa Haven, Cambridge Bay and Kugluktuk during the latter part of October to determine where the GN will focus its research next summer to identify new carving stone sources.

Two to six people attended each event, said Beauregard. The federal and territorial governments are funding the four-year program evaluating carving stone deposits across Nunavut.

Boulders that carvers find inland often lead to quarries in that region, said Beauregard.

"Sometimes good things happen at old sites, particularly here in the Kitikmeot; unlike the Baffin, people travel inland during winter. That's when they see their soapstone sticking out," he said.

Soapstone sites were suggested and south of Gjoa Haven, a banded-coloured marble site was brought forward - a nice surprise, said Beauregard. He said another nice surprise was seeing the dolomite Kugluktuk carvers use. Each community suggested six or more sites for him to check out, something that is encouraging, he added.

"Amongst that, from the method we're using of seeing it in the summer ... we've had, in the last three years, quite good success at confirming untouched or new stone out there on behalf of the communities.

"I'm hoping that trend continues here," said Beauregard.

"The people will pretty much say up front what they know of the sites and how good it is."

Every community has now been consulted and 75 deposits were identified. Beauregard and his team will evaluate the stone carving sites in the five Kitikmeot communities and Sanikiluaq next summer.

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