Manitoba’s mineral riches go largely untapped

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/05/2024 (540 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba is endowed with mineral resources but lags behind other provinces in exploration and mining, experts said at a geoscience conference at Brandon University on Tuesday.

This marked the first time the national event was hosted in Brandon. Starting Sunday and ending today, it is organized by the Geological Association of Canada, Mineralogical Association of Canada, and the 10th International Pegmatite Symposium (GAC-MAC-PEG 2024).

Local organizing committee chair Paul Alexandre said the province is rich in critical minerals such as lithium, but they remain largely untapped.

“They are underexplored and underdeveloped in mineral exploration and mining,” Alexandre told the Sun. “If you look at the areas where mining is active, there are still vast regions that need more focus.”

While nickel and copper are mined, he said, other resources have been largely ignored.

“There are political and economic factors at play that affect mineral exploration and development, but I am not an expert in that area,” he added.

One of the major challenges is infrastructure, he said.

“As of now, there is no extra hydro capacity available for a new mine, and electricity might need to be brought in from elsewhere. This is an infrastructural challenge that complicates development.”

Manitoba suffers from what Alexandre described as a “reputation bias.” He noted while provinces like Saskatchewan and Ontario are highly regarded for their mining activities, Manitoba is often overlooked.

“If people have a choice to invest, often they pass over Manitoba,” he said.

Benoit Saumur, a geology professor at the University of Quebec, echoed this sentiment, noting the similarities between Manitoba’s geology and neighbouring provinces.

“I’m familiar with some mineral deposits in Manitoba, especially in the north, like the Thompson belt and Flin Flon. There is potential for more discoveries in those areas,” Saumur said. “I can’t comment extensively on the economic geology of Manitoba because it’s not my area of expertise, but the rocks in Manitoba are similar to those in Ontario and Quebec, which have significant economic potential. Therefore, Manitoba should have similar prospects.”

Saumur, who made a presentation on structural controls on iron ore deposits at the conference, added several factors contribute to the underdevelopment of Manitoba’s mineral resources and one of them is the province’s remote and infrastructure-poor northern regions.

“Many of the areas with potential deposits are remote with very little infrastructure and exploration in such areas requires substantial investment,” he told the Sun on Tuesday. “Public datasets can help, and exploration is increasingly moving towards using computer studies to determine an area’s potential before physically going there. However, ultimately, you need boots on the ground, and it costs a lot to get people, instruments and drilling equipment to these remote locations.”

To unlock Manitoba’s mineral potential, Saumur said, significant investments in infrastructure and exploration are required and this includes creating more incentives for mining companies to explore and develop these resources. He highlighted the success of such initiatives in Quebec, where government incentives have boosted exploration activities.

Participant Braden Cuthbert, a Saskatoon-based industry professional focusing on uranium exploration, also emphasized the importance of government support.

Comparing the level of active exploration in Manitoba to Saskatchewan and the western part of Ontario, he said there is a stark difference, adding while there are currently a couple of active projects in Manitoba, there’s certainly room for many more, especially in base metals.

“Transitioning to electric vehicles is driving the demand for base metals like copper and nickel, which are essential for battery production,” Cuthbert told the Sun. “Manitoba hosts numerous deposits of these metals, some of which have yet to be discovered. I anticipate significant exploration and the opening of new mines in northern Manitoba over the next 20 years to meet the demand for these minerals in the EV market.”

He added it’s essential for the government to take a holistic approach, not just focusing on economics but also ensuring community engagement and support to aid the development of the untapped opportunities in the sector.

“We need to ensure that all stakeholders, especially the communities in northern Manitoba, are involved and on board with any developments. Continued knowledge sharing and community engagement will be vital moving forward,” he said.

Alexandre said the GAC-MAC-PEG 2024 conference aimed not only to foster discussions on these issues but also to enhance public engagement and scientific outreach.

“We have very strong Indigenous engagement to use the conference as a public engagement vector,” he said. “The conference also provided a platform for knowledge sharing and networking among geoscientists.”

» aodutola@brandonsun.com

» X: @AbiolaOdutola