• Home
  • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Mines

Frequently Asked Questions - Mines

1. What is the mailing address for the Mines Branch headquarters?
2. Where can I find fossils in Newfoundland and Labrador?
3. Where can I get educational resource materials, including rocks and minerals?
4. How do I order maps, reports and other published information?
5. Where do I direct educational and general outreach inquiries?
6. Where can I find pictures and information about rocks and minerals?
7. Where can I find information about commodities mined in Newfoundland and Labrador?
8. I am looking for learning resources and posters for my classroom. Are these resources available?
9. Where can I learn about geology and what geologists do?
10. I am a tourist operator looking for local geological information that can be included in our interpretation for visitors?
11. Where can a tourist find information about the geology of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador?
12. How do I stake a mineral claim?
13. Do I need government’s approval before I do mineral exploration work?
14. I would be interested in knowing more about prospecting. Where do I start?
15. Who should I contact for further information on geology, prospecting or mining in NL?

1. What is the mailing address for the Mines Branch headquarters?

^ Top of Page

2. Where can I find fossils in Newfoundland and Labrador?

The best person to ask is Doug Boyce, the Provincial paleontologist. He can provide pointers to various sites and publications. In fact, if you visit the For the Public / Outreach page, Doug has a short paper on the fossils of Newfoundland and Labrador. Many sites are highlighted in "A Traveller's Guide to the Geology of Newfoundland and Labrador", a map and guidebook to the geology of Newfoundland and Labrador. This can be ordered from the:

^ Top of Page

3. Where can I get educational resource materials, including rocks and minerals?

Visit the Educational Resources area of our webiste or send an email to amandamccallum@gov.nl.ca, normmercer@gov.nl.ca or pub@gov.nl.ca, or call 729-6193.

^ Top of Page

4. How do I order maps, reports and other published information?

^ Top of Page

5. Where do I direct educational and general outreach inquiries?

Contact the Outreach Geologist with the Geological Survey at1-709-729-6398 or e-mail amandamccallum@gov.nl.ca.

^ Top of Page

6. Where can I find pictures and information about rocks and minerals?

Minerals of Newfoundland & Labrador, Geology & Geological Features, and Aspects of Mining in Newfoundland and Labrador are all useful links and can also be found on the Geological Survey Educational Resources.

^ Top of Page

7. Where can I find information about commodities mined in Newfoundland and Labrador?

This map of Newfoundland and Labrador show the location of major mines and advance mineral projects in the province. identifies commodity locations and gives a summary of the companies involved in mineral exploration and the metals they are exploring.

You can also find reports which summarize the major mining operations (10.5 MB) and exploration projects in the province, and the companies who are involved.

^ Top of Page

8. I am looking for learning resources and posters for my classroom. Are these resources available?

Yes, the Education Resources section of the Geological Survey’s webpage has great resources with printable posters such as Minerals in our Everyday Lives, Your House Comes out of a Mine and Did You Know?

^ Top of Page

9. Where can I learn about geology and what geologists do?

The Natural Resources Canada website provides various levels of information, including lesson plans, activities and other classroom resources. Check out Life of a rock star and If the Earth could talk .

^ Top of Page

10. I am a tourist operator looking for local geological information that can be included in our interpretation for visitors?

For information on the geology of a particular area, contact the Geoscience Publications and Information Section of the Geological Survey and staff can assist with providing geological maps and publications such as papers for your local area, free of cost. The general public is invited to visit the 1st Floor of the Department of Natural Resources, 50 Elizabeth Avenue, St. John’s, NL or send an email to amandamccallum@gov.nl.ca, normmercer@gov.nl.ca or pub@gov.nl.ca. They can also put you in contact with geologists who will have first-hand knowlege of the geology in and around your particular community.

^ Top of Page

11. Where can a tourist find information about the geology of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador?

The Newfoundland and Labrador: Traveller’s Guide to the Geology and Guidebook to Stops of Interest is a fold-out map and guidebook, available in English and French and has more than 100 geological stops of interest with brief descriptions. The NL Traveller’s Guide is available for purchase online at the GAC Bookstore or at the Johnson GEO Centre.

As part of the fall annual field trip, the Geological Association of Canada (GAC) Newfoundland and Labrador Section Newfoundland have compiled Field Trip Guides. These are free and available for download as PDF files at GAC Newfoundland and Labrador Section .

^ Top of Page

12. How do I stake a mineral claim?

Mineral claims are staked online by accessing the staking section of the Province’s Mineral Rights Administration System (MIRIAD). It is required that all persons or corporations who intend to stake claims be registered in MIRIAD (no cost to register). Any natural person 19 years of age or older, or a corporation, has the right to stake. One claim measures 500m x 500m or 25 ha (about 61 acres). A mineral claim grants the exclusive right to explore for all minerals. The cost to stake one claim is $60, of which $10 is a recording fee and $50 is a refundable security deposit. Payment must be made online by credit card. Further information is available from the Manager of Mineral Rights.

^ Top of Page

13. Do I need government’s approval before I do mineral exploration work?

Yes. Any exploration work which is capable of causing ground disturbance, water quality impairments or disruption to wildlife or wildlife habitat requires approval before the work can begin.

^ Top of Page

14. I would be interested in knowing more about prospecting. Where do I start?

The Department of Natural Resources has a prospector’s resource room on the first floor of its main office at 50 Elizabeth Avenue, St. John’s. The geologist on staff will be happy to answer questions, give useful advice, and show you some spectacular mineral specimens to spark your interest. There is also a 14 day prospectors training course presented annually in Stephenville, in the early summer. This course will teach you a good deal about rocks and minerals, as well as prospecting skills and techniques, and how these may be applied as an enjoyable hobby or even as a career!

^ Top of Page

15. Who should I contact for further information on geology, prospecting or mining in NL?

Contact the Department’s Mineral Exploration Consultant.

^ Top of Page

Adobe® Acrobat® Reader software can be used for viewing PDF documents. Download Acrobat® Reader for free.