Resource/reserve classification and the qualified person

Earth scientists and engineers operating professionally in the mining indus try (Qualified Persons) can expect increasing legal and professional respon sibility as a result of new legislation expected shortly in Canada (Nationa l Instrument 43-101). This legislation will impact directly on the question of resource/reserve classification and publication of such data. legal def initions are necessarily general in order to apply to a broad range of situ ations; hence, some ambiguity is inevitable regarding acceptable criteria f or resource/reserve classification. In addition to this uncertainty as to e xactly what classification criteria are acceptable is the uncertainty on th e part of the Qualified Person as to whether he/she has fulfilled legal/pro fessional requirements satisfactorily. A procedure that protects the public and fulfills the required level of professional practice includes: 1, Resource/reserve estimation must be conducted in a rigorous, well-docume nted and reproducible manner. 2. A first essential step in estimation and classification is the clear def inition and justification of mineralized domains within which estimation an d classification can be undertaken. 3. Within the interpreted mineralized domains, resources/reserves can be es timated and then classified using appropriate criteria that are documented in sufficient detail that results are reproducible by an independent audito r. Documentation of procedures and justification of interpretations audit make the professional undertakings transparent difficult to falsify and reprodu cible by an independent auditor.