(Official Newsletter of the

Newfoundland and Labrador Prospectors Association)

December 2013, Number 7

17 Nelder Drive, Mount Pearl, NL, A1N 4M2

(709)740-6000 nmercer@nlprospectors.org www.nlprospectors.org

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hello to All Members:

Well, here we are just a few days from Christmas and the Holiday Season. It is hard to believe how quickly the year has

gone by and for most everybody your prospecting season is winding down. Time to get your reports prepared and all of

your assay results and sample location maps in order. I sincerely hope that even though this has been a very challenging

year, that your prospecting efforts and hard work have paid off, and that you discovered new showings and prospects this

year, which returned encouraging assay results!

As I write these notes today, on this beautiful, cold but sunny December

morning, I reflect on the fact that it is the opportunity to pursue one's

interests and dreams in the Great Outdoors, which is so important to each

of us! That sense of adventure and discovery is what motivates the

Prospector in All of Us, to Continue the Search! As I noted in the Fall

Newsletter, what we need to have happen is for a Major Mineral Discovery

to be made somewhere in the Province, and this will re-ignite the

investment interest in Prospecting and Mineral Exploration here in

Newfoundland and Labrador.

This province is vast and resource rich and I firmly believe that there are

still many great mineral deposits out there, both on the island and in

Labrador just waiting to be discovered! We are blessed with World Class

Geology and Mineral Potential and the prospectors of this province have

the skill sets, enthusiasm and passion to make their mark in the mineral

industry of this province!

Our Association is there to assist and provide supports and advocacy for all

of the prospectors of Newfoundland and Labrador. This issue of the NLPA

Newsletter will briefly outline our activities over the past couple of months

and update all members on the progress that we have been making on

everyones’ behalf. Student Members viewing

a Redbed Copper/Silver Prospect near Kelligrews

The Claim Post Revisited

By Christopher Hutchings, P.Geo.

Choppers circling overhead! Fellers with axes tearing through the bush at full tilt! Action galore! If you experienced

such an event, you were a staker. NLPA's Newsletter, The Claim Post, is appropriately named. The bygone era of ground

staking in this province can evoke some vivid memories. Today, should a squared-off tree stump wearing a metal tag be

located while prospecting, that's a bona fide claim post. Decades ago, a discovery was protected by staking in the field

and not by pressing a computer key. This article briefly relates the life of a ground staker.

Excitement! Nothing, exploration oriented, got the adrenal pumping like ground claim staking, a staking rush was even

better. This could be the latest hot spot - a mineral play in the making - whether a recent discovery, Crown land re-

opening for acquisition, an open file release or a new geological concept; excitement was guaranteed. Fortunes, literally,

could be at stake. Mineral exploration is a very competitive business. Online staking and its predecessor, map staking,

cannot compare to the thrill of physically winning out over a competitor to secure exploration rights. Drilling spectacular

intersections is another zenith, however, it's not a contest anymore - the ground is already tied up.

Typical claim stakers - geologists, prospectors, geochemical samplers, line cutters and geophysical operators - possessed

certain ruggedness necessary to withstand the rigors of the bush - sweating in blistering summer heat, drenching by

torrential rain or freezing in winter. Blackflies, quaking bogs, cliffs, treacherous streams, ice breakup and wild animal

encounters were equally hazardous. Charging across difficult terrain at a breakneck or snail's pace in less than ideal

conditions is either commendable or foolhardy. A staker's proficiency included navigation relying on the trusty Silva to

follow compass routes with great accuracy, blazing trees, shaping posts, erecting cairns and witness posts, map reading,

fractional (irregular) staking, estimating distance by counting paces or later by hip-chain thread and having the stamina

to walk many kilometres.

GO! GO! GO! Staking a block of 16 claims: Cut Post No. 1 (tag); south > 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 (windfall) to No. 2 (tag), west >

2-1, 2-2, 2-3 to No. 3 (tag), north > 3-1, 3-2, (bull moose in rut) 3-3 to No. 4 (tag), east > 4-1 (steep hill - pant), 4-2, 4-3

back to No. 1 and record names of tag owner and staker, date and time completed (signal chopper). Marked on

intermediate posts with lumber crayons were block #, post #, date and time on south, west, north and east sides,

appropriately; corner tags were inscribed with a pen or nail. All posts were decorated with flagging tape. Block staking

was often rapidly concluded by having staking crews stationed at each post. Do you recall midnight staking?

Competitive ground staking was undertaken by exploration/mining companies and individuals, all reinforced by service

contractors. Seemingly, if you were contemplating acquiring a particular property, chances were the competition had the

same idea. A decision to stake had to be made very quickly. Disputes frequently arose in a contested melee and a mineral

claims inspector was required to sort out the tangle. Gone are the energized days of foot staking. Enter technological

advancement - just click your mouse to outwit the competition.

REPORT TO MEMBERSHIP ON PROGRESS OF THE

GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND POLICY COMMITTEE

By Wayde Guinchard, Chair

We are pleased to advise that we had our first Government/NLPA committee meeting on November 28, 2013. The

following representatives were in attendance:

NR Staff NLPA

Dave Liverman, ADM Wayde Guinchard

Jim Hinchey, Director Kevin Ryan

Justin Lake, Recorder

Phil Saunders

John Clarke

Dale O'Rielly

Stephen Hinchey

All in attendance felt the committee process is very effective. It gave us a great opportunity for very frank and open

discussion on all issues and as a result, we all have a better understanding of each group's position and rationalization.

We feel that we have stated our NLPA positions sufficiently; that after our next meeting, tentatively scheduled for January

2014, we will be able to finalize most if not all of the issues raised under the 3 key priorities, Genuine Prospector

Designation, Grants and Assessment reports. No doubt some issues will require additional time due to legislative changes

being required, however, we feel that we will have advanced far enough to introduce new issues such as land use,

permitting, quarry versus mineral rights, surface rights versus mineral rights etc.

Still lots to be done, but we keep moving forward.

WAYS AND MEANS

Our Fundraising Goal this year was to raise $10,000 for the Association and

realizing how challenging a year it has been for many in the mineral industry,

particularly in the prospecting and junior mineral exploration sector, we are

closing in on that Goal.

Since I last reported back in our October Newsletter, our Association has

received a number of additional donations from several individuals, along with

one Professional Mineral Industry Association. These include:

Cyril Pelley $50.00

David Hunt $80.00

Anonymous Prospector $300.00

Robert Freeman $250.00

CIM Newfoundland Branch $2,500.00

Previous Total $5,820.00

Total to Date $9,000.00

On behalf of the Association, I want to sincerely thank all of the above for their kind support this past year. In particular, I

want to sincerely acknowledge and thank the CIM Newfoundland Branch for their very generous donation to the NLPA.

As of today, the Association has a Bank Balance of $26,715.00 in our Account and we are expecting the CIM

Newfoundland Branch cheque by mail within the next few days. As I reported previously, our Association came in well

under budget in our first operating year with expenses in the range of $8000.00 for 2012/13.

At this level of expenditure, we have enough monies on hand to sustain the activity of the Association for 3 years, so we

are doing really well and also Membership Fee Renewals are continuing to come in for the 2013/14 Operating Year. A

number of members have been opting for the 3-year payment plan, so this is also quite encouraging as we look forward to

2014.

By this time, I had promised to conclude a Review Audit of our Association's Account and I have to apologize, as time

just has not allowed me to finish this task and I accept full responsibility for this delay. With the Christmas Season and

Holidays just around the corner, I promise that this festive period will allow me some time to get this work concluded on

behalf of the Executive and Board.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Several initiatives are being explored by the Education and Training Committee which we hope will come together in the

New Year. They are as follows:

1. We have been in discussions with CONA officials who are responsible for Continuing Education and Training

Programs. We have presented them with a proposal and attached budget to deliver a Weekend Based Introductory

Prospector Training Course in 10 Regional Centres around the province. We expect that CONA will report back to us

early in the New Year, presenting us with several training options, including a Distance Education option. Once the

Committee has reviewed the program options, a recommendation will be taken to the Board for discussion and hopefully a

decision will be made on the direction the NLPA will follow on this important aspect of training for many of our

members. We also plan on having discussions with officials in the Provincial Government, particularly the Program

Training people in the Department of Advanced Education and Skills. It is here where we may possibly secure public

funds to roll out these Weekend Courses It is planned to meet with AES officials very early in the New Year.

2. The proposed 1-2 day Weekend Wilderness Survival and First Aid Training Course suggested for NLPA members in a

Central Newfoundland location has been deferred till the spring of next year. Discussions have been held with a

Professional Consulting Company, well versed in delivering such a Course, but the cost is fairly high. Further work will

be undertaken by the Education and Training Committee to explore other less costly options early in the New Year. Also,

the membership will be canvassed to gauge the level of interest in participating in such a Training Course in the spring;

once more acceptable costs are secured.

3. Interest has been expressed by the SEG Student Club of MUN Earth Sciences Department to partner with our

Association in putting off a One Day Prospector's Short Course on VMS Deposits of Central Newfoundland. This

proposed Short Course will

be delivered during the

winter in St. John's and will

consist of a series of

PowerPoint Presentations

along with a wide array of

rock and mineral samples on

display, from a number of

Volcanic Massive Sulphide

Deposits from the central

region. It is hoped to also

videotape this Short Course

and put it up on the NLPA

Website.

Secretary/Treasurer Kevin Ryan presents a cheque to the SEG Student Club Reps.

4. Our Association now has a strong group of MUN Earth Science Students involved as members. A number of these

students have assisted the NLPA, since we started, in staffing various Trade Show Booths, as well as spending time in the

field sharing their knowledge with several of our members, which they have greatly appreciated. With a $1000 grant that

we have received from the local NL Section of GAC [Geological Association of Canada] St. John's 88 Trust Fund, it is

intended to offer an afternoon Short Course to our Student Members introducing them to Prospecting and providing them

with information on How to Stake Mineral Claims, Accessing and Availing of the Geoscience Resources Atlas, and other

prospecting tips. This Short Course will be offered during the winter and in early spring will be followed up with a Day

Long Economic Geology Field Trip, which other interested members will also be able to participate in as an educational

opportunity. Again, it is intended to videotape the Short Course component and put it up on our Association's Website for

all of our members to view.

Secretary/Treasurer Kevin Ryan presents a NLPA cheque to MUN's Alexander Murray Geology Club at their recent End Of Term Christmas Social

MENTORSHIP

Several members of the Association have made the suggestion at several Regional Meetings, that we develop and place on

the Website, a List of Experienced Prospectors, Exploration Geologists and other Mineral Industry Resource Professionals

who would act, on a confidential basis, as mentors to our members who are spread out far and wide across the province.

These Resource People would agree to have their contact

information placed on the Association's Website and also

distributed by e-mail to all NLPA members in the province. They

would agree to be available, as best they can, to answer questions

and provide guidance to individual members on various aspects of

their prospecting programs. This could range from providing basic

geological information, interpreting geochemical data, to

explaining what would be the best exploration tool to use, or

survey to conduct as a prospector explores his or her target area.

This Mentorship Initiative is not meant to replace the supports and

services provided by the Mines Branch of the NL Department of

Natural Resources and also the wide range of prospector supports

offered by Pat O'Neill of the Matty Mitchell Prospectors

Resources Room. The intent is to complement the services and

supports already offered and to tap into the wide array of

experience and expertise that exists both in the prospecting

community and in the broader mineral industry here in the

province. Please stay tuned, as you will hear more about

Mentorship very early in the New Year!

REGIONAL MEETINGS AND EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS

To date in 2013, there have been 6 Regional Meetings and Educational Workshops held in various parts of the island. For

the most part, these have been very well attended and participants were well engaged in all of these evening events.

Locations were as follows:

1. St. John's 4. Gander

2. Clarenville 5. Grand Falls / Windsor

3. Marystown 6. Stephenville

The final Regional Meeting and Educational Workshop for 2013, will be held on

Thursday, December 19th in the Big Land in the Labrador City/Wabush area and it

is expected that most NLPA members who reside in these two mining towns will be

in attendance.

Very early in the New Year, there will be an NLPA Regional Meeting and

Educational Workshop for Central Labrador members in the Happy Valley/Goose

Bay area. For our members who live in the Central Labrador region, please check

the Association's Website in early January, as details will be posted there. Also

Notices will be sent out to each of you about this upcoming event, as well as being

advertised on the radio and in the local newspaper. NLPA President Norm Mercer

Speaking at the Clarenville AGM

PROMOTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

Early in the New Year, the Promotions and Communications Committee will be expanded and greater emphasis will be

placed on being more proactive in raising public awareness about prospecting and mineral exploration in the province.

More effort will be placed on getting the message out that prospecting and mineral exploration activity are economic

drivers in many rural regions of the province.

Prospecting discoveries lead to the development of mines, such as Voisey's Bay, creating significant employment

opportunities and numerous other economic spin-offs, along with direct taxation revenue for the Provincial Government.

It is intended to target various types of media outlets, such as Regional and Community Newspapers, Radio Stations

including interviews and also Community Cable Channels to assist with this increased effort.

NLPA Website –www.nlprospectors.org:

Our Association's Website will also be used to get our Message out there and we will be adding new materials to the site

as we roll into 2014. If any member has ideas about relevant articles and photos that you feel should be placed on the

Website, then please forward them along to either myself, or Sandy Duffitt in Clarenville, as Sandy maintains our Website

on a regular basis.

As further Regional Meetings and Educational Workshops are planned, as well as Prospector Short Courses; details will

be placed up on our Website, so please check for regular updates in the New Year. If any members know of other good

websites or links that should be added, please let Sandy know, so that they can also be added to the Association's Website.

Mineral Resources Review 2013:

Again this year, we had a Trade Show Booth at Mineral Resources Review 2013, which was held at the Delta St. John's

Hotel and Conference Centre during late October/early November. Our Booth was one of the most popular venues at the

Trade Show with a steady stream of delegates dropping by to learn more about our Association and to discuss prospecting

activities in the province.

Congratulations to Bennett d'Eon of

Eastern Geophysics Ltd. in Corner Brook

who was the lucky winner of our Booth

Prize which was a copy of the well written

and illustrated book, "The Geology of

Newfoundland". Also, I want to thank a

number of members of the Association,

including a number of student members,

who volunteered to staff our Booth during

the Trade Show. Sincere Thanks is also

extended to the CIM Newfoundland

Branch for providing the NLPA again this

year with a complimentary Trade Show

Booth. This support is really appreciated

by our Association.

Norm Mercer with Pat O’Neill drawing for the NLPA Booth Prize at the Trade Show

Mining Week:

I just want to say a Big Thank You to Dylan Abbott for visiting several high schools in the St. John's region during

Mining Week. Dylan spoke to several classes of high school students telling them about our Association and explaining to

them about the type of field activities that a prospector undertakes and the enjoyable, healthy, physical aspect to

prospecting and searching for hidden mineral deposits in the outdoors.

Dylan was elected by our MUN Earth Science student members to sit as a Director on the Association's Board of

Directors and he brings a youthful, fresh perspective and lots of enthusiasm and ideas to our meetings, which is greatly

appreciated. We hope to expand on these school visits and presentations in the coming years and would encourage other

members to volunteer to take part in this excellent initiative.

GOLD!

Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold!

Bright and yellow, hard and cold Good or bad a thousand fold!

Molten, graven, hammered and rolled, How widely it agencies vary,

Heavy to get and light to hold, To save - to ruin - to curse - to bless -

Hoarded, bartered, bought and sold, As even its minted coins express:

Stolen, borrowed, squandered, doled, Now stamped with the image of Queen Bess,

Spurned by young, but hung by old And now of a bloody Mary.

To the verge of a church yard mold;

Price of many a crime untold.

By Thomas Hood

(submitted by Prospecting Geologist, Eric Hussey)

MEMBERSHIP FEES FOR 2013/14

Please remember that Membership Fees for 2013/14 are now past due and any members, who have not submitted them up

to now, can still send them along to me. Your New Membership Card and Receipt will be mailed out to you right after

your payment is received. Quite a number of members have been using the 3-year payment option, but this is entirely up

to individual members.

The Association has come a long way in a short period of time and has many active and dedicated volunteers both on your

Executive and Board, along with serving on the various Committees. This is your Association and our fee structure is very

modest and I sincerely hope that everyone will consider renewing their Membership Fee. I fully realize that for many

prospectors it has been a very challenging time, particularly trying to find employment in the mineral exploration sector,

as well as in attracting exploration company interest in your mineral properties.

The NLPA is there to help you and provide you with a strong network and advocacy voice to advance prospecting and

raise the public profile and interests of the prospecting community here in Newfoundland and Labrador. By all of us

participating and working together, your Executive and Board are fully committed to working on all of your behalf, as we

move in to 2014 and beyond. In fact, this year we have still been growing and adding members and we welcome all your

comments, suggestions and constructive criticism to improve and be more effective for our Membership!

CONCLUSION

I again want to encourage each of you as members, to submit articles, or opinion pieces to place in future issues, or photos

of interest. I will endeavour to include them in our Association's Quarterly Newsletter. Thanks are extended to

Prospecting Geologists, Chris Hutchings of Carbonear, NL and Eric Hussey of Calgary, AB for their enjoyable

submissions for this Issue. I sincerely hope that we continue to receive further submissions from

members in the months and years ahead!

I want to again Thank so very much, Shirley Cooper for all of her hard work and dedication as an

NLPA Volunteer and for all of her assistance in preparing our Association's Newsletter

throughout the year. Shirley also maintains our Master Membership E Mail List, as well as

assisting with all of the various Notices and Flyers that are sent to all members throughout the

year. To be honest, I would be lost without her; so, Shirley, on behalf of all of the members of the

NLPA, a Sincere Thank You! NLPA Member & Volunteer

Shirley Cooper

On behalf of the Executive and Board, as well as from my

own family, I want to wish each of you and your families, a

Very Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy and

Prosperous New Year! For those of you who will be

travelling during the holidays, I sincerely wish each and

every one of you, safe travels and enjoyable, fun-filled

times with family and friends! We all are so blessed and

have much to be thankful for here in Newfoundland and

Labrador.

All the Best.

Yours in Prospecting!

Norm

President

NLPA Santa’s Elf Norm Mercer and Grandson Finn

Wish You A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

“STRONGER TOGETHER”

A Child is Born

and becomes a Consumer of Commodities