Can you profit from mineral prospecting? That is a question often asked when "one gets put on the spot" by people that are less excited about mineral prospecting. Usually people laugh a little and say oh sure. Stuff Like that!
Prospecting can turn into much more than a hobby.
Here is a story of four brothers from a small town in remote Newfoundland Canada that had the prospecting bug. Starting out as a hobby their efforts to look at an old mine shaft and surrounding area turned into one of the few aggressive copper exploration projects undertaken in the province during 2008 - 2009.
The full article can be read at http://www.northernpen.ca/index.cfm?sid=188333&sc=361
Here are some exerts from the story.
While the McGrath brothers brought Eagle Ridge to the area last spring, their exploration began as children climbing over rusty rocks. While the Grandois natives left the McGrath fishing stage as young men to seek work, those memories came rushing back to Wilbert as he toiled on Voisey Bay drilling rigs during the nickel rush.
"My interest was based on the simple concept of 'rusty rocks' that is a obvious indication of mineralization present in rocks, sulphides, as the oxidization process causes the rocks to be rust-stained," said Wilbert. "I kept thinking of a place I knew back near my hometown - there was lots of rusty rocks near the old St. Julien's mine shaft."
So, Wilbert, Eddie, Don and Fred made themselves a summer project - they pumped out the old mine shaft.
"The old-timers always told us it was a copper mine," said Eddie. "It started out as a bit of excitement and an excuse to get together."
But when the water was gone from the century-old exploration shaft, the brothers found a large rusty area and took samples. They came back showing eight per cent copper.
Believing in their find, they went to the annual conference of the Prospectors Development Association of Canada in Toronto, where they met Mr. Freeman.
"These boys knew nothing about prospecting, but they took the initiative and came to Toronto and all they ever seemed to care about was their community," said Mr. Freeman. "They deserve a lot of credit - this is one of only a few forgotten copper mines in Canada."
With the recent progress, Wilbert has allowed himself to indulge in dreams of a future for Grandois, which has withered to 20 residents at the end of a long dirt road since the cod moratorium.
"Following a successful drilling program, the ultimate dream is naturally to see mining development and to see the schools and churches full of people again in Croque and Grandois."
Don, meanwhile, just smiled on his way back to the old family stage after a morning building a shed on the site, and said, "If nothing else, it's a good excuse for a ride in boat."
Full Story Here
EaglRidge Minerals Link
