Case Studies

Challenge In 2008, a rise in the price of uranium sparked new efforts to develop uranium mines in southwestern New Brunswick. This caused a high volume of prospectors to begin staking land in the province, revealing challenges in the existing process. To stake a land claim, prospectors would travel to their desired parcel of land and place posts into the ground. They would then travel to their local mining recorder's office to register the claim and pay the appropriate fees. This ground staking system, dating back to the late 19th century, was both slow and costly. It could also create conflict with private land owners as prospectors would physically venture onto private land without warning. In response, the province of New Brunswick decided to modernize their process of mineral claim staking by converting to e-CLAIMS – an online map staking system. This would allow prospectors to stake their claim without ever setting foot on land and would also keep the public informed about what was happening in their communities. To make the transition, the province needed a proven mineral administration system supported by a robust data warehouse that would facilitate a GIS based map selection system. New Brunswick leverages next generation technology to create e-CLAIMS New Brunswick is blessed with a variety of rich mineral deposits and mineral exploration plays a significant role in the provincial economy. Like many other jurisdictions in Canada, the province has taken a 21st century approach to mining by transitioning from traditional ground staking to e-CLAIMS – an online map staking system. This approach has created a smaller environmental footprint and leveled the playing field for prospectors, encouraging sustainable mining exploration and development activity across the province. 1 Esri Canada | New Brunswick modernizes the process of mineral claims staking

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