Reader Rebuttal (June 01, 2001)

McWatters forgotten

I was quite disappointed to see the CMJ article [February/March 2001] defining the top 20 mineral development projects in Canada did not include McWatters Mining’s mining project in Val-d’Or , Que. As of 31/12/1999, total proven & probable reserves for the surface project stand at 16.2 million tonnes @ 3.01 grams Au / tonne, for a total of 1.576 million ounces of gold. Another measured, indicated & inferred resource of 15.6 million tonnes @ 1.34 grams Au / tonne containing another 671,000 ounces is also defined.

McWatters Mining Inc. is a junior gold mining concern and we can use all the exposure we can get. The web site is at “www.mcwatters.com”

Norman Kock, mill co-ordinator

McWatters Mining Inc., Kiena Mine

Val d’Or, Que.

Mistaken airplane

My colleague John Carson has just pointed out an error in the caption of the first picture in the “Mineral exploration trends and developments in 2000” article (CMJ February/March 2001, p.9; http:// www.canadianminingjournal.com/ issues/feb01/page8.asp).

Yes, the plane belongs to Sander Geophysics, but it is not a “Caravan”–it is a Britten Norman Islander.

John A. Grant Radiation Geophysics Section, Mineral Resources Division Geological Survey of Canada

Ottawa, Ont.

Geologists for the long term

Your editorial in the April 2001 Canadian Mining Journal talking about geologists is quite appropriate. I almost wrote you last month about what I felt during my trip to the last PDAC convention in Toronto. I was looking to the numerous beggars (quite polite, opening for us the door in the PATH) and wondered if next year I would not be sitting at their place with no job.

Louis Caron, geologist

Sept-les, Que.

I agree with your article, “Invest in geologists for the long term”. Otherwise you may see this change, from: “Canadians were the world’s foremost mine-finders” to “Canadian mine-finders are extinct” to “What’s a Canadian mine-finder?” to:

Q: “Daddy, what’s an exploration geologist?”

A: “I don’t really know son, but your grandfather was one and he used to say he lived in tents, walked through swamps, got eaten by bugs and mostly pounded on rocks with a little hammer and put pieces of rocks in a little bag. Frankly son, I never figured out why they paid him for that. Then again maybe that is why I didn’t inherit much after he passed away.”

Just joking, of course. I am doing relatively well, but as you say our industry isn’t.

Denis Villeneuve, geologist

Please send your letters to the editor at the address on page 5, or via e-mail to jwerniuk@corporate.southam.ca

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