Maine Company to Lead Evaluation of Aroostook County Mineral Deposit
(Old Town, Maine—May 29, 2013). Aroostook Resources, Inc., part of the JD Irving Group of Companies, has chosen Maine engineering and natural resources consulting firm James W. Sewall Company of Old Town to develop a new mineral resource estimate for Aroostook County’s Bald Mountain mineral prospect.
Discovered in the mid-1970s by former Sewall geologist John Cummings on behalf of the Northeast Joint Venture, the deposit is being evaluated as a potential source of copper, zinc, gold, and silver. This is the second project related to the Bald Mountain prospect awarded by Aroostook Resources to a Maine firm.
The project will use historical data to produce an estimate of mineral resources available at the site located near Ashland. No additional on-the-ground work will take place during this phase of the assessment.
The project report will comply with modern industry standards that include evaluation of both the available resources and the best management practices for environmental protection. The report will identify next steps that could allow the Bald Mountain project to move to the next stage, which would generate additional jobs.
Long-term, the project has the potential to create tens of millions of dollars in economic activity and hundreds of jobs over a multi-decade timeframe.
According to David Edson, Sewall President/CEO, “Aroostook Resources, Inc., has awarded this work to Sewall because of our long history of sustainable natural resource management for Maine. Because the project is already providing jobs for Maine, this contract is another example of Irving’s commitment to Maine, and, in this instance, to the economic future of Aroostook County.”
Edson points out that a full and careful evaluation of the resource available will encourage informed public discussion on all aspects of bringing this economic development to northern Maine. Maine mining regulations are presently being revised and are due to be released for public comment this summer.
The Sewall team includes Northeast Geophysical Services of Bangor and Global Resource Engineering of New Hampshire and Colorado. Northeast Geophysical Services provides geological and geophysical surveying services in the northeast. Global Resource Engineering is an engineering company that has evaluated mineral deposits world wide. The capabilities of both firms will complement Sewall’s expertise in natural resource management and engineering. The team includes geologists and engineers with broad experience in mineral deposit evaluation and knowledge of advanced mine design, including minimizing environmental impact. Two of the team’s geologists worked at Bald Mountain in previous phases of investigation.
Anthony Hourihan of Aroostook Resources says, “We are especially pleased to employ venerable Sewall, which has played a historic role in the management of natural resources in Maine for more than 130 years. In particular, Sewall’s expertise in state-of-the-art stormwater management and water quality monitoring will ensure that economic development and jobs will be balanced with protection of Maine’s natural resources should this project move forward to additional stages of investigation.”
For more information, contact Dave Edson at 207-827-4456; edson@sewall.com.
About Aroostook Resources
Aroostook Resources, Inc., is a subsidiary of J.D. Irving, Limited (JDI) of Saint John, New Brunswick. Founded in 1882, J.D. Irving, Limited, operates in Eastern Canada and the United States with business units in forestry and forest products; transportation; shipbuilding and industrial marine; retail; industrial equipment, construction services and building materials; and consumer products. JDI sustains 1,800 direct and indirect jobs in Maine and has been doing business here for over 65 years.
About Sewall
Founded in 1880, Sewall is an international professional consulting firm headquartered in Old Town that specializes in natural resources, energy, and infrastructure. The company’s diverse portfolio includes 133 years’ experience in surveying, forest appraisal and civil engineering; 60 years’ in aerial mapping; and 30 years’ in GIS and other geospatial products. www.sewall.com.
