Jan 8 2016
Integra Gold Corp. is pleased to provide an update on its $1 million Integra Gold Rush Challenge. On December 1, 2015 the Company closed the Challenge to submissions and is happy to announce that based on an initial review of the over 100 detailed submissions the initiative has already been an overwhelming success.
To view a video outlining the highlights of the Gold Rush Challenge and introducing a number of the judges for the live finale please click on the following link:
Submission Review Underway, Gold Rush Challenge Technical Judges Awaiting 20 Semi-Finalists
In total, 1,342 entrants from over 83 countries worldwide registered to compete in the challenge, resulting in 95 teams and over 100 proposals. WSP I Parsons Brinckerhoff ("WSP"), one of the world's leading engineering and geological consulting firms with more than 32,000 employees and official GeoScience partner of the Gold Rush Challenge, is currently in the process of selecting and delivering the top 20 submissions to the Challenge's technical judging panel. On or before February 15th 2016, these technical judges will narrow the field down to the top five finalists which will then go up against a separate panel of industry leaders in the "shark-tank" style live finale at PDAC 2016.
The live event will be held at the Carlu during PDAC on March 6, 2016. Proceeds from the evening will go to a variety of Val-d'Or based charities. For media enquiries, ticket sales, and further information about the event.
Panelists Announced for Live Finale
The panel of industry leaders for the live finale event at PDAC 2016 will use their experience, knowledge, and skills to help choose the winner of the Integra Gold Rush Challenge.
The panelists named to the "shark-tank" style live finale are:
- Brent Cook: BSc Geologist, Exploration Analyst and Author of Exploration Insights
- Chantal Gosselin: B.Eng Mining Engineer, MBA, most recently held the position of Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Goodman Investment Counsel
- Rob McEwen: Honorary Doctor of Law, MBA, BA, Founder of Goldcorp Inc. and McEwen Mining, launched Goldcorp Challenge
- Sean Roosen: Chair of the Board of Directors & CEO, Osisko Gold Royalties
- Randy Smallwood: P. Eng. Geological Engineer, President & CEO, Silver Wheaton
The Challenge's technical judging panel is made up of the following members:
- Neil Adshead: PH.D Geologist, Investment Strategist at Sprott Asset Management LP
- Andrew Brown: MSc Geologist, Chief Geologist - West Africa for B2Gold Corp
- Benoît Dubé: PH.D Geologist, Senior Research Scientist with the Geological Survey of Canada
- James Franklin: PH.D Geologist, Geological Survey of Canada Chief Scientist (retired)
- David Rhys: MSc Geologist, Panterra Geoscience consulting geologist
- Brian Skanderberg: MSc Geologist, President and CEO of Claude Resources.
Computer science and machine learning advisor to the judges' panel:
- David Stephens: B.A. Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Director of Business Development at Goldcorp.
Orbit Garant Welcomed as Gold Rush Challenge Platinum Sponsor
The Company is also pleased to announce Orbit Garant (TSX: OGD) as its Gold Rush Challenge Platinum Sponsor, whose sponsorship proceeds will go towards the incentive prize. Orbit Garant is a leading Canadian mineral drilling services provider based in Val-D'Or and a long-time supporter of Integra and the Lamaque Project. Orbit Garant currently has seven diamond drill rigs and drilling personnel operating on Integra's Lamaque Gold Project.
"The Gold Rush Challenge is an opportunity to draw attention to Val-d'Or as a premier mining jurisdiction and to showcase the exploration potential in the Abitibi region," said Eric Alexandre, President and CEO of Orbit Garant. "Integra has for many years been a very active exploration client and we are pleased to see the abundance of new targets generated by this innovative process on the Lamaque property."
Macquarie and IBM to Sponsor Gold Rush Finale
The Macquarie Group Foundation have joined as Lead Sponsor of the event and will be matching the funds raised, increasing the philanthropic impact of this event for the benefiting charities. IBM will host the mining innovation expo and cocktail reception before the live event which will be open to all attendees.
George Salamis, Executive Chairman of the Company comments, "I have been in the mining industry for over 25 years, and the Gold Rush is the most exciting, rewarding, and transformational project I have worked on. Geologists, engineers, computer scientists, statisticians, students and others from all corners of the globe came together to work on this challenge. Though the prize money certainly acted as an incentive for some, based on the videos we have received from participants, the sheer challenge of interpreting decades of data was a dominant driving force behind many submissions," commented Executive Chairman George Salamis. "In some ways, I believe this Challenge could, and will, effect how resource companies look at exploration in the future. Being a geologist by training, I have had my eyes opened by the multi-disciplinary, collective approach to problem solving, mineral exploration, and data analysis brought to the forefront by this Challenge. We are excited for the next steps to come in the Gold Rush."