Core Days highlight positives of mining sector

It’s a slow time for the uranium industry in northern Saskatchewan, but there’s also some positives in the mining sector.

That’s according to Keewatin Community Development Association Chief Executive Officer Randy Johns, who said there are other commodities in the North where the global markets are more favourable. In conjunction with Northlands College, Johns hosted the Second Annual Core Days May 30 and 31 at the Mine School in Air Ronge.

“Because we have such great uranium deposits, people lose focus on all the other minerals that are out there,” he said. “There are people mining and looking for gold, base medals. There’s a new push for cobalt and rare Earth [minerals]. There’s a really good market for base medals right now.”

Johns noted Core Days is meant to showcase the positive aspects currently in the mining industry such a new exploration projects and discoveries. Attended by geologists and other professionals who work in the mining field, the event also offered technical talks, a tour of the Mine School, an examination of drill core samples and a demonstration of Northlands’ diamond drill. Johns added the main purpose of the conference was to exchange ideas amongst each other.