Ausgeo News  June 2005  Issue no. 78

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Team Australia scores points in Toronto

PDAC display Toronto 2005

With most commodity prices at 10 to 15 year highs, the mood was buoyant at the 73rd Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada’s Annual International Convention, Trade Show and Investors Exchange, reflecting the mineral exploration industry’s optimistic outlook.

Held in Toronto from 6 to 9 March, PDAC 2005 attracted a record 12,000 delegates, exhibitors and guests from some 85 countries, including 35 official delegations. In the trade show, 283 exhibitors occupied 460 booths, and 362 companies exhibited in the investors exchange.

Australia’s profile was boosted by the attendance of the Hon. Paul Holloway MLC, the South Australian Minister for Mineral Resources Development, who led a state delegation. Mr Bill Fisher, Australia’s recently appointed High Commissioner to Canada, also added his support to the Australian promotion. Mr Fisher is the son of Dr Norman Fisher, a former Director of Geoscience Australia’s predecessor, the Bureau of Mineral Resources.

The Australian pavilion presented a high-profile ‘Team Australia’ promotion that combined industry and government exhibitors. All states and the Northern Territory, as well as the Australian Government (Geoscience Australia), were represented alongside industry exhibitors ENCOM Technology, Intrepid Geophysics, ioGlobal, Gekko Systems Ltd, and AME Australian Mineral Economics.

A grant from the Australian Government’s Department of Education, Science and Training supported a substantial upgrade to the information technology facilities in the Australian pavilion and enhanced Australia’s whole-of-country approach to the exhibition. The grant was made under the International Science Linkage program, which is part of the government’s Backing Australia’s Ability—Building Our Future Through Science and Innovation initiative

The government’s display highlighted Australia’s premier exploration provinces, undiscovered mineral potential, and scientific and technical expertise in mineral exploration.

The half-day Australian seminar, ‘Exploring Downunder’, was very well attended. Companies active in Australia, including several Canadian companies, presented case histories of Australian discoveries and exploration experiences. Presentations were made by Placer Dome Asia Pacific, Teck Cominco, LionOre Mining International, Minotaur Exploration, Copper Strike and Golden Cross Resources. Geoscience Australia contributed on behalf of the Australian governments.

Lynton Jaques from Geoscience Australia delivered a presentation showing how deep crustal seismic imaging was providing new insights into the geology and mineral potential of Australia’s mineral provinces.

For more information phone Mike Huleatt on +61 2 6249 9087 (email mike.huleatt@ga.gov.au).

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