Vancouver- based ATAC Resources is mourning the loss of Julia Lane, its Vice President of exploration.
The exploration company announced on Thursday that Lane and Shawn Kitchen were casualties in a fatal aircraft accident on August 6. Twenty-four year-old Kitchen was the aircraft’s pilot.
The C208 Caravan aircraft, operated by Alkan Air of Whitehorse, was lost during a routine service flight from ATAC’s Rackla Gold project to Mayo, Yukon.
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of both Julia and Shawn for their tragic losses. Julia was a consummate professional in everything she did and a true inspiration to aspiring geologists,” Graham Downs, CEO of ATAC said in a media statement. “Julia’s infectious enthusiasm and passion will be deeply missed by ATAC and the entire exploration community.”
Rob Carne, former ATAC President and Chairman of the Technical Committee said Lane was a rising star in the industry and was deeply respected across the industry.
Lane was instrumental in ATAC’s discovery and delineation of the Osiris deposits, Canada’s first and only Carlin-Type gold system
Lane was a P.Geo registered in British Columbia. began working with ATAC in 2009, as a senior project geologist for the Rackla Gold project. She became a partner in Archer, Cathro & Associates in 2012 and ATAC’s Vice President of Exploration in 2015.
Lane was instrumental in ATAC’s discovery and delineation of the Osiris deposits, Canada’s first and only Carlin-Type gold system. Lane also gained international recognition through her frequent participation in geoscience events throughout North America.
Robert Carne will assume oversight of all exploration and technical duties for ATAC on an interim basis, the company said.