Ontario Launches Innovative Online Tool to Help Increase Mineral Exploration

Part of the government’s plan to support the mining industry

January 20, 2021

The Ontario government is supporting the province’s mining industry by launching a new online tool and making it easier for companies and prospectors to identify areas available for mineral exploration and claim registration. This is part of the Province’s plan to stimulate the sector and encourage investment to promote economic recovery.

OGS (Ontario Geological Survey) Focus is Ontario’s new innovative online geoscience tool that consolidates historical exploration information from various databases into a one-stop, easy to use format. The free, publicly-accessible tool allows all parties – from Indigenous communities to exploration companies and prospectors – to access the same data.

“Now more than ever, our government is committed to ensuring we support the ongoing prosperity of our province’s mineral exploration and prospecting industry,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines. “The OGSFocus tool is a state-of-the-art, customer-focused product that will further solidify Ontario’s position as a leading global jurisdiction in mineral exploration and production.”

Users can search the tool by clicking on a data hotspot to quickly and easily find areas around the province where mineral exploration has occurred, saving time and resources.

A live webinar demonstration of OGSFocus is being held today at 1:30 p.m. EST at the Association for Mineral Exploration Remote Roundup conference. Click here to register.

Quick Facts

• OGSFocus consolidates geoscience information from various databases into a one-stop, easy to use format that rapidly identifies areas where historical mineral exploration has occurred, where data is available, and where land is open for claim registration.
• The Ontario Geological Survey is the leading provider of reliable, credible, accessible geoscience data, information and expert knowledge for the public good in Ontario.

Additional Resources

• OGSFocus Tool

Media Assets

Image of OGSFocus Data Rating Grid (as seen in Google Earth) highlighting a Data Hot Spot.

Image of an OGSFocus Hot Spot Summary

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Media Contacts
Alex Puddifant
Minister’s Office
alex.puddifant@ontario.ca
647-201-8821

Media Relations
Communications Branch (Northern Development and Mines)
mediadesk.ndm@ontario.ca
(705) 507-8026

NT5