PROSPECTING IN THE YUKON

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

Oh, by the way: A year after our Yukon summer, a valuable lode was discovered just ten miles west of one of our campsites. So some folks might look back at our near-miss prospecting attempt and repeat the old saw that we were "so near and yet so far away". I'd have to agree, although for a completely different reason . . . I'd say Frank and I managed both. We were "near" to nature and "faraway" from it all!

HOW TO BECOME A PAID PROSPECTOR

Although the Wilcoxes went rock hunting back in 1971, the Canadian Government's Prospecting Assistance Program is still in existence. And the employment offer is essentially unchanged: The government will pay all the expenses for two months or more of bush country mineral seeking by qualified hard rock (not "stream panning") prospectors. Most people in the program are returnees from previous years ... nevertheless, according to Canada's Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, newcomers often do receive prospecting contracts.

However, "first timers" rarely get the highest possible grant ($1,800), and tenderfeet may receive only a small — or no — prepayment. In such instances, the program's governing committee will review the prospectors' diary reports — along with any geological maps and information turned in — to decide which stone seekers worked enough to merit a final payment for their labor.

The folks in charge of the Prospecting Assistance Program recently proposed raising the individual funding limit to $3,500 (which would reduce the number of people the limited-budget program could sponsor) and giving selection preference to Canadians. Both of these suggested policy modifications might make it harder to join the program . . . but the agency won't know until April 1 whether the proposed changes will be approved.

You can find out about the current program's regulations-and/or where to take the beginner's prospecting course-by writing to Resident Geologist, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada. If you'd rather prospect in the Northwest Territories, write Resident Geologist, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print