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Ontario Geological Survey Open File Report 6285
Report of Activities, 2012 Resident Geologist Program
Thunder Bay South Regional Resident Geologist Report: Thunder Bay South District
2013
ONTARIO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Open File Report 6285
Report of Activities, 2012 Resident Geologist Program
Thunder Bay South Regional Resident Geologist Report: Thunder Bay South District
by
M.A. Puumala, D.A. Campbell, R.M. Cundari, S.E Zurevinski, R.D. Tuomi, H.C. Lockwood, R.L. Debicki, P. Moses, M.R. Brunelle and R. Pelaia
2013
Parts of this publication may be quoted if credit is given. It is recommended that reference to this publication be made in the following form: Puumala, M.A., Campbell, D.A., Cundari, R.M., Zurevinski, S.E., Tuomi, R.D., Lockwood, H.C., Debicki, R.L., Moses, P., Brunelle, M.R. and Pelaia, R. 2012. Report of Activities 2012, Resident Geologist Program, Thunder Bay South Regional Resident Geologist Report: Thunder Bay South District; Ontario Geological Survey, Open File Report 6285, 67p.
Users of OGS products are encouraged to contact those Aboriginal communities whose traditional territories may be located in the mineral exploration area to discuss their project.
© Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2013
© Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2013.
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Parts of this report may be quoted if credit is given. It is recommended that reference be made in the following form:
Puumala, M.A., Campbell, D.A., Cundari, R.M., Zurevinski, S.E., Tuomi, R.D., Lockwood, H.C., Debicki, R.L., Moses, P., Brunelle, M.R. and Pelaia, R. 2012. Report of Activities 2012, Resident Geologist Program, Thunder Bay South Regional Resident Geologist Report: Thunder Bay South District; Ontario Geological Survey, Open File Report 6285, 67p.
iii
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Ontario Geological Survey Regional Resident Geologist Program
Thunder Bay South Regional Resident Geologist (Thunder Bay South District)—2012
by
M.A. Puumala, D.A. Campbell, R.M. Cundari, S.E. Zurevinski, R.D. Tuomi, H.C. Lockwood, R.L. Debicki, P. Moses, M.R. Brunelle and R. Pelaia
2013
CONTENTS
Thunder Bay South District—2012
INTRODUCTION ...... 1 MINING ACTIVITY ...... 2 Amethyst ...... 2 Gold ...... 3 Hemlo Mine Deposits (Barrick Gold Corporation) ...... 3 Platinum Group Elements ...... 3 Lac des Iles Mine (Lac des Iles Mines Ltd.) ...... 3 EXPLORATION ACTIVITY ...... 16 Mining Lands ...... 16 Introduction ...... 16 Exploration ...... 16 RESIDENT GEOLOGIST STAFF AND ACTIVITIES ...... 34 PROPERTY EXAMINATIONS ...... 36 Puddy Lake Serpentinite — Nickel and Chromium Occurrences ...... 36 General Geology ...... 37 Chrome Lake Mine ...... 38 Commerce Nickel East Occurrence ...... 38 Commerce Nickel Northwest Occurrence ...... 38 Discussion and Recommendations ...... 39 Gunflint Lake Iron Property ...... 40 Discussion and Recommendations ...... 43 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXPLORATION ...... 44 Mine Centre Area Geochemical Survey Anomalies ...... 44 Bewag–Lerome Lakes Area ...... 44 Redhorse–Wisa Lakes Areas ...... 45 Gehl Lake Area ...... 45 Pekagoning Lake Area ...... 45 Targeting Contamination Centres and Structure in Search of Midcontinent Rift-Related Conduit-Hosted Nickel-Copper-PGE Deposits ...... 47 Gold and Base Metals near White Pine Lake (Begin and Lamport Townships) ...... 49 OGS ACTIVITIES AND RESEARCH BY OTHERS ...... 51 REGIONAL LAND USE GEOLOGIST ACTIVITIES ...... 59 Land Use Planning Activities...... 59 Crown Lands ...... 59 Forest Management Planning...... 59 Far North Land Use Planning ...... 60 Withdrawal Orders ...... 60 Municipal and Private Lands ...... 60 Exemptions from Mining Tax ...... 61 First Nations ...... 61 Other Activities ...... 61 Class Environmental Assessments ...... 61 Environmental Registry ...... 62 FIRST NATIONS MINERALS INFORMATION OFFICER—NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO ...... 62
viii
MINERAL DEPOSIT COMPILATION GEOLOGIST—NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO ...... 63 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...... 63 REFERENCES ...... 64
Tables 1. Mine production (2012) and reserves in the Thunder Bay South Distric...... 2 2. Amethyst quarries active in the Thunder Bay South District during 2012 ...... 2 3. Mineral reserve and resource estimates for the Lac des Iles Mine as of March 31, 2012 ...... 4 4. Assessment files received in the Thunder Bay South District in 2012 ...... 5 5. Exploration activity in the Thunder Bay South District in 2012 (keyed to Figures 4 and 5) ...... 11 6. Drilling highlights from Entourage Metals 2012 drilling on the Black Raven property ...... 17 7. Summary of significant results from Foundation Resources drilling program at Span Lake, East Coldstream property...... 20 8. Assay data from the final 8 holes of the Phase III diamond-drilling program on the Northshore gold property ...... 22 9. Assay results from the Minfocus International 2012 diamond-drilling program on the Nipigon Reefs property ...... 23 10. Exploration drilling highlights for 2012, Lac des Iles Mine...... 24 11. Global resource estimates for the Hammond Reef gold deposit ...... 29 12. Undiluted in-pit resource estimates for the Hammond Reef gold deposit...... 30 13. Significant assays from Panoramic Resources Ltd. step-out drilling program in the Beaver Lake and Southeast Anomaly zones, Thunder Bay North project...... 31 14. Significant intersections from Strike Minerals 2012 diamond-drilling program on the Harkness–Hays property...... 33 15. Significant assays from the TerraX Minerals Inc. winter 2012 drilling program on the Central Canada property...... 33 16. Significant assays from the TerraX Minerals Inc. winter 2012 drilling program on the Sunbeam– Pettigrew property...... 34 17. Property visits and field trips conducted by staff of the Thunder Bay South Resident Geologist’s Office in 2012...... 35 18. Outcrop descriptions from Gunflint Lake iron property visit. Locations are illustrated on Figure 15 ...... 41 19. Lakehead University BSc (Hons) and MSc thesis research projects ...... 52 20. Publications received by the Thunder Bay South Resident Geologist’s Office in 2012...... 53 21. Mineral deposits not being mined in the Thunder Bay South Resident Geologist’s District in 2012 ...... 54 22. Northwestern Ontario First Nations Minerals Information Officer activities conducted in 2012 ...... 62 23. Mineral Deposit Compilation Geologist—Northwestern Ontario activities conducted in 2012 ...... 63
Figures 1. Location map, Thunder Bay South District ...... 1 2. Williams Mine, decommissioned Golden Giant Mine, and David Bell Mine...... 3 3. Lac des Iles Mine ...... 4 4. Thunder Bay South District (western portion), exploration activity 2012 (keyed to Table 5) ...... 14
ix
5. Thunder Bay South District (eastern portion), exploration activity 2012 (keyed to Table 5) ...... 15 6. Map illustrating results of Entourage Metals Ltd. soil sampling program on the Northern Arm property ...... 18 7. Fairmont Resources Ltd. map illustrating results of their 2011–12 surface sampling programs on the Marmion South Contact property ...... 19 8. Map illustrating significant assay results from Golden Share’s summer 2012 surface exploration program, Shebandowan project...... 21 9. Drilling locations on Lac des Iles Mine property during 2012...... 26 10. North American Palladium’s grassroots PGE exploration properties in the Lac des Iles area...... 27 11. North Lac Des Iles drill hole location plan. From North American Palladium Ltd. website ...... 28 12. Plan view of Current Lake Intrusive Complex, illustrating location of mineralized zones at the Panoramic Resources Thunder Bay North PGM project ...... 31 13. Map of Puddy Lake area illustrating locations of occurrences visited by RGP staff ...... 37 14. Serpentinized peridotite in trench at Commerce Nickel Northwest occurrence ...... 39 15. Gunflint Lake iron property map, illustrating locations of outcrops described in Table 17...... 43 16. Photos from Gunflint Lake iron property ...... 44 17. Areas with lake sediment geochemical anomalies that were identified during the OGS Mine Centre lake sediment and water geochemical survey ...... 46
18. Map of the Nipigon Embayment showing Nipigon sill types I, II and III defined by Th/Ybpm values ...... 48 19. Geological map of Begin and Lamport townships illustrating the Tinto Lake fault and the area between Horseshoe and White Pine Lake where lake sediment geochemical anomalies were identified ...... 50
x
Thunder Bay South Regional Resident Geologist—2012
M.A. Puumala1, D.A. Campbell2, R.M. Cundari3, S.E. Zurevinski4, R.D. Tuomi5, H.C. Lockwood5, R.L. Debicki6, P. Moses7, M.R. Brunelle8 and R. Pelaia9
1Regional Resident Geologist, Thunder Bay South District, Resident Geologist Program, Ontario Geological Survey 2District Geologist, Thunder Bay South District, Resident Geologist Program, Ontario Geological Survey 3District Geologist, Thunder Bay North District, Resident Geologist Program, Ontario Geological Survey 4Mineral Deposit Compilation Geoscientist, Northwest Region, Resident Geologist Program, Ontario Geological Survey 5Regional Land Use Geologist, Northwest Region, Resident Geologist Program, Ontario Geological Survey 6Land Use Policy and Planning Coordinator, Resident Geologist Program, Ontario Geological Survey 7First Nations Minerals Information Officer, Northwestern Region, Resident Geologist Program, Ontario Geological Survey 8District Geological Assistant, Thunder Bay, Resident Geologist Program, Ontario Geological Survey 9Administrative Assistant, Thunder Bay, Resident Geologist Program, Ontario Geological Survey
INTRODUCTION The Thunder Bay South District encompasses an area of about 76 500 km². It extends from longitude 92°30′W in the southwest near Namakan Lake, south of Mine Centre, easterly to longitude 85°20′W just west of White River, Ontario. The southern boundary is the international border between Canada and the United States touching on the states of Michigan and Minnesota. The northern boundary is irregular in nature, but extends up to latitude 50°25′N just northwest of Armstrong, Ontario. The reader is referred to the location map, Figure 1, to locate the district.
Figure 1. Location map, Thunder Bay South District (image from Google Earth™ mapping service).
1 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
All Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) co-ordinates are reported in North American Datum 1983 (NAD83), unless otherwise noted. The District straddles UTM Zone 15 and UTM Zone 16, with the demarcation line being longitude 90°W. All assays were performed at the Geoscience Laboratories, Ontario Geological Survey, in Sudbury, unless otherwise noted. The authors note that, for ease of reading, all Web addresses mentioned in the report were accessed on February 19, 2013, unless otherwise noted. MINING ACTIVITY
In 2012, there were 2 producing gold mines and 1 palladium-base metal mine in the Thunder Bay South District (Table 1); David Bell and Williams gold mines are located near Hemlo, and the Lac des Iles palladium mine is located 85 km north of Thunder Bay. There are several seasonal amethyst producers (Table 2). Mine production and reserves are listed in Table 1. Assessment work received is listed in Table 4. Exploration activity is detailed in Table 5 and keyed to Figures 4 and 5.
Table 1. Mine production (2012) and reserves in the Thunder Bay South District.
Mine Production to End of 2012 Production in 2012 Reserves and Resources as of Dec. 31, 2012 *Reserves and Resources as of Mar. 31, 2012 Tonnage Total Commodity Tonnage Total Tonnage Grade @ Grade @ Grade Commodity Hemlo 77 134 609 t 14 022 898 oz Au 3 396 000 tons 206 000 oz Au 16 424 000 tons for a 0.070 oz/ton Au Deposits @ 5.65 g/t @ 0.065 oz/ton total of 1 150 000 oz Au (543 Au (Proven + Probable) employees 55 900 000 tons for a 0.033 oz/ton and 110 total of 1 828 000 oz Au contractors) (Measured + Indicated) Lac des Iles 46 168 690 t 2 747 661 oz Pd 2 063 260 t 163 980 oz Pd * 8 883 000 t for a total of * 4.21 g/t Pd, 0.30 g/t Pt, Mine 218 224 oz Pt @ 3.44 g/t Pd 11 187 oz Pt 1 201 513 oz Pd 0.29 g/t Au, 0.08% Cu, (190 195 396 oz Au 11 106 oz Au (Proven + Probable) 0.11 % Ni employees) 55 892 946 lb Cu 2 592 748 lb Cu * 33 575 150 t for a total * 2.78 g/t Pd, 0.23 g/t Pt, 31 920 838 lb Ni 1 348 179 lb Ni of 3 002 132 oz Pd 0.20 g/t Au, 0.08% Cu, (Measured + Indicated) 0.09 % Ni Unit abbreviations used: g/t = grams per tonne; lb = pounds; oz/ton = ounce(s) per ton; oz = ounces; t = tonnes.
Amethyst Two areas northeast of Thunder Bay are well-known locations for amethyst veins and production. In the area along the Magone Lake Road, north of MacGregor Township (accessible via Highway 527), 2 sites see periodic, small- scale extraction of amethyst. In McTavish Township, 5 deposits are accessible from Highway 11/17, 4 of which operate as seasonal tourist attractions. Local amethyst deposits and mines are listed below.
Table 2. Amethyst quarries active in the Thunder Bay South District during 2012.
Deposit or Mine Location Owner(s) Amethyst Mine Panorama McTavish Township S. and T. Lukinuk Blue Points amethyst mine McTavish Township L. Swanson Boulder Creek amethyst quarry North of MacGregor Township C. Anderson Canadian Shield amethyst mine McTavish Township G. Blakely Pearl Lake amethyst mine McTavish Township B. Richardson Purple Haze Mine North of MacGregor Township M. and S. Grieve Windy Ridge amethyst quarry North of MacGregor Township L. Kowtuski
2 M.A. Puumala et al.
Gold
Barrick Gold Corporation continues to produce gold from the Hemlo deposits (Photo 1).
HEMLO MINE DEPOSITS (BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION)
Production from the David Bell Mine and the Williams Mine (Barrick Gold Corporation 100%) in 2012 consisted of 206 000 ounces of gold from 3 396 000 tons milled, at an average grade of 0.065 oz/ton. Combined proven and probable reserve figures for the David Bell and Williams Mines as of December 31, 2012, totalled 16 424 000 tons at a grade of 0.070 oz/ton Au (www.barrick.com, Fourth Quarter, Year-End Report). The David Bell Mine is anticipated to close by the spring of 2014 (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal, January 10, 2013).
Figure 2. Williams Mine (foreground), decommissioned Golden Giant Mine (middle), and David Bell Mine (background).
Platinum Group Elements
LAC DES ILES MINE (LAC DES ILES MINES LTD.)
In 2012, production from the Lac des Iles Mine (North American Palladium Ltd.), located 85 km north of Thunder Bay, consisted of 163 980 ounces palladium from 2 063 260 tonnes of ore processed at an average palladium head grade of 3.44 g/t, with a palladium recovery of 78%.
The mine expansion project continued during 2012, with the completion of the headframe, main substation, hoist house building, service hoist and auxiliary hoist. Installation of the production hoist had commenced, with commissioning scheduled for the first quarter of 2013. Surface construction work that remains to be completed includes installation of the main skip dump and surface ore bins. Shaft sinking was 60% complete, progressing to a depth of 475 m below ground surface. Ramp and stope development was progressing on schedule, with the installation of a loading pocket at the 740 m level scheduled for the first quarter of 2013. The company plans to commence production via the shaft during the third quarter of 2013 (North American Palladium Ltd., news release, January 14, 2013).
Mineral reserve and resource estimates for the Lac des Iles Mine were updated during 2012. Most notably, an initial reserve estimate was prepared for the Offset Zone deposit. Detailed updated reserve and resource estimates as of
3 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
March 31, 2012, are listed below in Table 3. North American Palladium also continued to explore the potential of increasing mineral resources in the parallel Roby and Sheriff Zones (North American Palladium Ltd., news release, August 8, 2012).
Table 3. Mineral reserve and resource estimates for the Lac des Iles Mine as of March 31, 2012 (from McCracken et al. 2013). Category Cut-off Tonnes Pd (g/t) Pt (g/t) Au (g/t) Ni (%) Cu (%) Pd (oz)
Proven Offset Zone 2.5 g/t 5 632 000 4.34 0.30 0.30 0.11 0.08 786 563 Roby Zone 5.8 g/t 420 000 6.38 0.42 0.34 0.08 0.07 86 149 Open Pit 1.8 g/t 722 000 1.99 0.21 0.22 0.11 0.10 46 192 Probable Offset Zone 2.5 g/t 2 109 000 4.17 0.30 0.29 0.10 0.08 282 609 TOTAL P + P 8 883 000 4.21 0.30 0.29 0.11 0.08 1 201 513 Measured Offset Zone 2.5 g/t 4 942 550 4.56 0.33 0.31 0.12 0.08 724 000 Open Pit 1.8 g/t 1 971 000 2.00 0.24 0.15 0.05 0.07 126 735 Stockpile 83 000 1.63 0.17 0.14 0.08 0.06 4 350 Indicated Offset Zone 2.8 g/t 9 556 600 4.11 0.31 0.29 0.12 0.10 1 262 139 Roby Zone 5.8 g/t 1 269 000 7.16 0.41 0.33 0.08 0.06 292 116 Open Pit 1.8 g/t 2 565 000 2.20 0.24 0.18 0.07 0.08 181 422 Stockpile 0.5 g/t 13 188 000 0.97 0.12 0.08 0.06 0.03 411 274 TOTAL M + I 33 575 150 2.78 0.23 0.20 0.08 0.08 3 002 132 Inferred Offset Zone 2.5 g/t 13 669 000 3.59 0.30 0.23 0.09 0.08 1 575 840 TOTAL Inferred 13 669 000 3.59 0.30 0.23 0.09 0.08 1 575 840 Unit abbreviations: g/t, grams per tonne; oz, ounces.
Figure 3. Lac des Iles Mine. The new Offset Zone shaft headframe and hoist are visible in this photo taken on August 30, 2012.
4 M.A. Puumala et al.
Table 4. Assessment files received in the Thunder Bay South District in 2012.
Abbreviations AEM ...... Airborne electromagnetic survey IM ...... Industrial mineral testing and marketing AGRAD …………………………..Airborne gradiometric survey IP ...... Induced polarization survey AM ...... Airborne magnetic survey Lc ...... Linecutting ARA ...... Airborne radiometric survey Met ...... Metallurgical testing ASD ...... Assay data OD ...... Overburden drilling Beep ...... Beep Mat survey ODH ...... Overburden drill hole(s) Bulk ...... Bulk sampling PEM ...... Pulse electromagnetic survey DD ...... Diamond drilling PGM ...... Platinum group metals DDH ...... Diamond-drill hole(s) Pr ...... Prospecting DGP ...... Down-hole geophysics REP …………………………………..Report (data interpretation) ENV ………………………………………..Environmental study RES ...... Resistivity survey GC ...... Geochemical survey Samp ...... Sampling (other than bulk) GEM ...... Ground electromagnetic survey Seismic ...... Seismic survey GL ...... Geological survey SP ...... Self-potential survey GM ...... Ground magnetic survey Str ...... Stripping GRA ...... Ground radiometric survey Tr ...... Trenching Grav ...... Gravity survey UG ...... Underground exploration/development HLEM ...... Horizontal loop electromagnetic survey VLEM ...... Vertical loop electromagnetic survey HM ...... Heavy mineral sampling VLFEM ...... Very low frequency electromagnetic survey
Township or Area Company Name Year Type of Work AFRO Resident Geologist Number Office File Designation Adrian and Marks Tps. Greencastle Resources Ltd. / 2012 DD 2.52796 52A05NW-080a-c (Rockstone property) Kukkee, K.
Anders Lake area Minfocus International Inc. / 2012 ASD, DD 2.51958 52A15NW-021 (Springlet Lake property) 2244223 Ontario Inc.
Anders Lake area Magma Metals (Canada) 2011-2012 ASD, GL 2.51044 52A15NW-020 (Seagull South property) Limited 52H02SW-041
Baker Tp. Osisko Hammond Reef Gold 2011 ASD, Pr, GC, GL 2.50793 52B13SW-032 (Atikokan West property) Ltd. / Bjorkman, K. / 52B13SE-058 Bjorkman, K. / Bjorkman, J.
Barbara Lake area Canadian Copper Core Inc. / 2011-2012 AEM, AM 2.50968 42E05SW-030 (Jackpot I and II property) Robert, P. / Forbes, J. / Kornik, W. / Rapski, J. Forbes, S.
Barbara Lake area Golden Dory Resources Corp. / 2012 ASD, Pr 2.52057 42E05SW-031 (Jackpot Lithium property) Forbes, S. / Forbes, J. / Rapski, J.
Bedivere Lake area Frymire, M. / Brown, J. R. 2012 Pr 2.52503 52B15SW-034 (Bedivere Lake property)
Bedivere Lake area Frymire, M. / Brown, J. 2011 ASD, Pr 2.49649 52B15SW-033 (Sandy Lake property)
Begin Tp. Kulp, J. / Sutyor, F. 2011-2012 Pr 2.52033 52B09SW-080 (Horseshoe Lake property)
Blair Lake area Martin, James 2011-2012 ASD, Pr, Tr 2.50979 42E04SW-008 (JackPine River property)
Burchell Lake area Mengold Resources Inc. / Helm 2008 GC 2.52232 52B10SE-211 (Burchell Lake property) Exploration Ltd.; Ternowesky, J.
Coldwell Tp. Besco International Investment 2012 Pr 2.52736 42D15SE-115 (Coldwell property) Co. Ltd.
5 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
Township or Area Company Name Year Type of Work AFRO Resident Geologist Number Office File Designation Coldwell Tp. Redditt Granite Inc. 2011 Samp 2.51955 42D15SE-111 (Coldwell Granite property)
Conacher Tp. Golden Share Mining Corp. / 2011 Lc, GM 2.51109 52B09NE-091a,b (Conacher property) Parker, D. / D'Silva, B. / 52B09SE-149a,b Kukkee, K.
Conacher Tp. Golden Share Mining Corp. / 2011-2012 ASD, GL, Str 2.51101 52B09NE-092a-d (Shebandowan property) Parker, D. / D'Silva, B. / Kukkee, K.
Conmee Tp. Atlas Mining Ltd. / Kukkee, K. 2011 AM, Pr 2.50128 52A05NE-024 (Brule property) 52A05NW-079
Conmee Tp. Lehto, B. 2011-2012 Str 2.52161 52A05NE-025 (Conmee property)
Conmee Tp. Valgold Resources Ltd. 2011-2012 ASD, DD 2.51403 52A12SE-036a,b (Tower Mountain property)
Dawson Road Lots Gold Cache Inc. 2011 ASD, Str 2.51022 52A12SW-176 (Gold Cache property)
Duckworth Tp. Golden Share Mining 2011-2012 ASD, DD 2.50946 52B09SE-150 (Elwood property) Corporation / Haavaldsrud, B.
Edwards Lake area Larrett, C. 2011-2012 ASD, Pr 2.50822 52B15NW-001 (Lost Moose Lake property)
Finlayson Lake area Osisko Hammond Reef Gold 2011 ASD, DD, GC, GL, 2.50789 52B13NE-033 (Sparton Option properties) Ltd. / Sparton Resources Inc. / GM, IP, Lc 52B13SE-057 Bjorkman, K. / Fenwick, K. / 52B14NW-054a,b Davidson, B. 52G03SW-063
Fowler Tp. Magma Metals (Canada) 2012 ASD, DD, DGP 2.51609 52A11NW-008 (Spike Lake property) Limited
Freeborn Tp. Terrax Minerals Inc. / 2010-2012 ASD, DD, GL 2.52088 52B13SE-059a,b (Blackfly property) Fenwick, K. / Bjorkman, K.
Freeborn Tp. Rundle, J. / Moffatt, R; 2011-2012 ASD, Pr 2.52823 52B13SE-061 (Quartz Hill property) Wasney, A.
Grain Tp. Rare Earth Metals Inc. 2011-2012 AM, GRA 2.52211 42D15SE-112a,b (Coldwell property) 42D16SW-153a-c
Grain Tp. Wahl, Rudolf 2010-2012 ASD, Pr 2.50975 42D15SE-109 (Little Pic River property)
Greenwich Lake area Magma Metals (Canada) 2009-2012 ASD, DD 2.51047 52A15SW-055 (Greenwich Lake property) Limited
Greenwich Lake area Mega Uranium Ltd. 2011-2012 ASD, DD Grav 2.50460 52A15SW-053a,b (Greenwich Lake property)
Greenwich Lake area Magma Metals (Canada) 2010-2012 DD 2.51340 52A15SW-056 (Southeast Anomoly property) Limited
Greenwich Lake area Magma Metals (Canada) 2009-2012 ASD, DD 2.51177 52A15SW-054 (Steepledge Lake property) Limited 52A14SE-015
Greenwich Lake area Magma Metals (Canada) 2011 ASD, DD 2.50183 52A15SW-052 (Thunder Bay North property) Limited / Pizzolato, R. / Zimowski, C.
6 M.A. Puumala et al.
Township or Area Company Name Year Type of Work AFRO Resident Geologist Number Office File Designation Greenwich Lake area Magma Metals (Canada) 2010-2012 AGRAD, Grav, Lc 2.52041 52A15SW-057 (Thunder Bay North property) Limited / Pizzolato, R. / 52A10NW-047 Zimowski, C. 52A11NE-022 52A14SE-016
Hagey Tp. Golden Share Mining Corp. / 2011-2012 IP 2.51118 52B09NE-090 (Band Ore property) Parker, D. 52B09SE-148a,b
Hagey Tp. Golden Share Mining Corp. / 2011-2012 IP 2.51116 52B09NE-089 (Pistol Lake property) Parker, D. / D'Silva, B. Kukkee, K.
Hicks Lake area Kaminak Gold Corporation 2012 ASD, DD 2.52674 52A14SE-017 (Thunder Bay North property)
Horne Tp. Double Crown Resources / 2011-2012 ASD, GC 2.50971 52A12SW-177a,b (Bateman property) Denarii Resources Inc. 52A12SE-038
Horne Tp. Gold Cache Inc. 2012 ASD, Str 2.52307 52A12SW-178 (Gold Cache property)
Hutchinson Tp. Terrax Minerals Inc. / 2012 ASD, DD 2.52614 52B14SW-091 (Central Canada property) Bjorkman, K; Fenwick, K.
Jacque Tp. Rio Tinto Exploration 2012 ASD, DD 2.52554 52A11NW-009 (Sundy Lake property) Canada Inc. 52A11NE-026
Jean Tp. Canada Iron Inc. / 1401385 2012 DD 2.51851 52B08SE-019 (Gunflint property) Ontario Inc. 52B01NE-015
Kashabowie Lake area Trillium North Minerals Ltd. 2012 ASD, DD 2.52792 52B09NW-109 (Vanguard property)
Killala Lake area Wahl, R. 2010-2012 ASD, Pr 2.50546 42E02SE-024a,b (Killala Lake North properties) 42E02NE-008a,b
Killala Lake area Canadian International 2011 ASD, Pr , GL, GRA, 2.50419 42E02SE-023a-c (Prairie Lake property) Minerals Inc. / Wahl, R. Tr 42E02SW-006a,b 42D15NE-032a,b 42D15NW-040
Killala Lake area Canadian International 2011 ASD, Pr, GL, GRA, 2.50419 42E02SE-027a,b (Prairie Lake property) Minerals Inc. / Wahl, R. Tr 42E02SW-007 42D15NE-033
Killala Lake area Nuinsco Resources Limited 2010-2011 ASD, DD, Str 2.51931 42E02SE-026 (Prairie Lake property)
Killala Lake area Wahl, R. 2011-2012 ASD, Pr 2.50713 42E02SE-025a-c (Ruffle Lake area properties)
Lac des Iles area Lac des Iles Mines Ltd. 2010-2012 ASD, Str 2.51336 52H04NE-060 (Lac des Iles property) 52H04SE-044
Lac des Iles area Lac des Iles Mines Ltd. 2011-2012 ASD, DD 2.51347 52H04NE-059 (North VT Rim property)
Leckie Lake area Magma Metals (Canada) 2011-2012 ASD, GL 2.51046 52H02SW-042a,b (Disraeli Lake property) Limited 52H02NW-030
Leckie Lake area Ursa Major Minerals 2011-2012 ASD, DD 2.50435 52H02SW-040 (Disraeli Lake property) Incorporated
Leckie Lake area MinFocus International Inc. / 2012 ASD, DD 2.51711 52H02SW-043 (Seagull North property) Rainy Mountain Royalty Corp.
7 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
Township or Area Company Name Year Type of Work AFRO Resident Geologist Number Office File Designation Lecours Tp. Entourage Metals Ltd. / Barrick 2011-2012 ASD, GC 2.51469 42D09NE-137 (Rous Lake property) Gold Inc.
Lecours Tp. Entourage Metals Ltd. / Barrick 2011 Grav, Lc 2.49704 42D09NE-136 (Rous Lake property) Gold Inc.
Little Sturge Lake area Thompson, T. 2011 ASD, Pr 2.50548 52H02NW-029 (Claim #3007095)
Little Sturge Lake area Orebot Inc. /2278481 Ontario 2010-2011 GC, GM, Met, Lc, Pr 2.49180 52H02NW-028 (Fox Mountain property) Inc.
Lorna Lake area Entourage Metals Ltd. / 2011-2012 ASD, DD 2.51612 42D16SE-066 (Black Raven property) Michano, D. / Bond, J. / 42D16NE-041 Renner, R. / Fenwick, K. / Gionet, B. / Moses, J.
Lower Aguasabon Lake area Superior Prospects Inc. / 2012 ASD, Pr, GC 2.52445 42D14NE-079 (Owl Lake property) Fowler, B; Roberts, W; Shaver, J; Kelly, P.
MacGregor Tp. Courville, G. / Palangio, M. / 2010-2012 ASD, Pr LC 2.50871 52A11SE-038 (Claim #4253359) Hermeston, P.
MacGregor Tp. Courville, G. / Palangio, M.; 2012 ASD, Pr 2.52130 52A11SE-039 (Claim #4253359) Hermeston, P.
Max Lake area North American Palladium Ltd. 2011 ASD, Pr 2.49897 52H03NW-030 (Salmi property) / Siltamaki, A.
McCaul Tp. Gagne, Pierre 2012 ASD, Pr 2.52332 52B14SW-089 (Sapawe property)
McCaul Tp. Fairmont Resources Inc. / 2011 ASD, GC, GL 2.51518 52B14SW-088 (Marmion South property) Bjorkman, K. 52B13SE-060a-c
McCaul Tp. Fairmont Resources Inc. / 2011 ASD, GL 2.49249 52B14SW-086 (Marmion South property) Bjorkman, K. 52B13SE-055a-c
McCoy Tp. Rare Earth Metals Inc. 2011-2012 ASD, Pr 2.52277 42D16SW-155a,b (Coldwell property) 42D15SE-113a,b
McGill Tp. Tyko Resources Inc. 2011 GEM, Lc 2.49814 42C13NE-020 (Tyko property)
McTavish Tp. 1698220 Ontario Ltd. 2011 Lc 2.49427 52A10SE-012 (Claim #4207431)
Mooseland Lake area Richmond, W. / Stewart, K. 2010-2012 ASD, Pr 2.51458 52G08SE-009 (Mirage Lake property) 52G01NE-017
Moss Tp. Golden Share Mining 2012 ASD, Pr 2.52224 52B10SW-126 (Larose property) Corporation / Viking Gold Exploration Inc.
Moss Tp. Golden Share Mining Corp. / 2011 ASD, GL, Lc, GM, 2.50314 52B10SW-125 (LaRose property) Viking Gold Exploration Inc. Tr
Moss Tp. Kukkee, K. 2012 ASD, GC 2.50990 52B10SE-210 (Moss Lake property)
Norway Lake area Belmont Resources Inc. / 2010-2012 ASD, DD 2.52375 52G03SW-065a,b (Bufo-Lumby property) Bjorkman, K.
8 M.A. Puumala et al.
Township or Area Company Name Year Type of Work AFRO Resident Geologist Number Office File Designation Norway Lake area Fancamp Exploration Ltd. / 2010-2011 ASD, Pr, Str, Samp 2.49351 52G03SW-062 (Red Paint Lake property) Bjorkman, K; Fenwick, K.
Norway Lake area Fancamp Exploration Ltd. / 2012 ASD, DD 2.51763 52G03SW-066 (Red Paint Lake property) Bjorkman, K; Fenwick,K.
O'Neill Tp. Stillwater Canada Inc. 2011 ASD, DD 2.51332 42D16SW-154 (Marathon property) 42D09NW-151
Onion Lake area Glory Resources / Benton 2011-2012 ASD, DD 2.51446 52A11NE-025a,b (Onion Lake property) Resources Corp.
Onion Lake area LaMarche, G. 2010-2012 ASD, Pr, Str 2.51542 52A11NE-024 (Beaverlodge Lake property)
Onion Lake area Joseph, M. / Homer, C. 2011-2012 Str, Pr 2.51510 52A11NE-023 (Claim #4250542)
Onion Lake area Clark Exploration (Canada) 2011 AM 2.50302 52A11NE-021 (Clark Block) Limited / Benton Resources 52A14SE-014 Corp.
Onion Lake area Glory Resources / Benton 2011 ASD, DD, Pr, Tr 2.49744 52A11NE-020 (Onion Lake property) Resources Corp. 52A14SE-013
Pardee Tp. HTX Minerals Corporation / 2011-2012 ASD, DD, GEM, Lc 2.50875 52A04SE-090 (Pardee property) Chataway, R./ Middaugh, R.
Pays Plat Lake area Silvore Fox Minerals Corp. 2011-2012 AEM, AM 2.50669 42D14NW-083 (Winston Lake property) 42E03SW-054
Pic Tp. Blakely, G. 2011 Pr 2.51723 42D09NW-150 (Claim #4241515)
Pic Tp. Entourage Metals Ltd. / 2011 ASD, DD 2.51339 42D09NW-149 (Heron Bay Claims Group) Wahl, R.
Pic Tp. Jiminex Inc. / Beaufield 2011 ASD, Pr 2.50198 42D09NW-148 (Northern Eagle property) Resources Inc.
Priske Tp. GTA Resources and Mining 2011-2012 ASD, Pr 2.50575 42D14SW-065 (Claim #4211126) Inc. / Balmoral Resources Ltd.
Priske Tp. Strike Minerals Inc. / Hacquoil 2011 ASD, GL 2.51030 42D14SE-150 (Harkness Hayes - Gold Range Construction Limited property)
Priske Tp. Strike Minerals Inc. / Hacquoil 2012 ASD, DD 2.52419 42D14SE-153 (Harkness-Hayes property) Construction Limited
Priske Tp. Bard Ventures Ltd. / Fowler, B. 2011 GEM, GM, Lc 2.50856 42D14SE-149 (Little Bear property)
Priske Tp. Strike Minerals Inc. / Hacquoil 2009-2011 ASD, Pr 2.51752 42D14SE-152a,b (West Hemlo property) Construction Limited 42D14SW-067
Priske Tp. Strike Minerals Inc. / 2009-2011 ASD, GL 2.49750 42D14SE-147a,b (West Hemlo property) Leishman, D./ Hacquoil 42D14SW-066 Construction Limited
Root Bay area Platinum Group Metals / 2011-2012 ASD, DD, Pr 2.51772 52B15SE-022 (Bark Lake property) Benton Capital Corp. 52B10NE-028
Santoy Lake area Renner, Russell 2011 ASD, Pr 2.51474 42D15NW-041 (Larry Lake property)
9 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
Township or Area Company Name Year Type of Work AFRO Resident Geologist Number Office File Designation Sawbill Bay area Osisko Hammond Reef Gold 2010 ASD, Pr, GEM, GM, 2.52163 52B14NW-055 (Hammond Reef property) Ltd. GL, GC, Lc 52B14SW-090 52B13NE-034 52B13SE-062 52G03SE-045a,b 52G03SW-064
Schwenger Tp. Fairmont Resources Inc. / 2011 AEM, AM 2.50245 52B13SE-056a,b (Marmion South Contact Bjorkman, K. 52B14SW-087 property)
Seeley Lake area Entourage Metals Ltd. / Bond, 2011 ASD, Pr, GL, GC 2.49312 42D16SW-152 (Black Raven property) J; Michano, D; Renner, R; 42D16SE-065a-c Fenwick, K; Gionet, B; 42D16NW-043 Moses, J.
Senga Lake area Platinum Group Metals Ltd. 2011-2012 ASD, DD, Pr, GC, 2.51132 52H04SW-019a,b (Orbit-Taman property) GL, GM, Lc 52A13NW-022 52B16NE-001
Smiley Lake area HTX Resources Corp. 2010-2012 ASD, DD, Pr 2.52227 52A14NW-013 (Smiley Lake property) 52A14SW-004
Syine Tp. Hamel, J. / Bond, J; Renner, R; 2012 ASD, Pr 2.52734 42D15SW-138a-d (Bews, Jackfish and Santoy Richards, W. 42D14SE-154a,b Lakes J.V. property)
Syine Tp. Alto Ventures Ltd. 2012 ASD, GL 2.52257 42D15SW-137 (Empress property)
Syine Tp. Wahl, R. 2012 ASD, Pr 2.51861 42D15SW-136 (Jackfish Lake property)
Syine Tp. Renner, R. / Richards, W./ 2011 ASD, Pr 2.50799 42D15SW-134a,b (Prospectors JV property) Hamel, J. 42D14SE-148a,b
Syine Tp. Fladgate Exploration 2012 Str 2.52159 42D14SE-151 (Syine property) Consulting Corporation / Kravchik, O.
Tartan Lake area Siltamaki, Aki 2011 Pr 2.50037 52A10SW-042 (Amethyst Creek property)
Tartan Lake area Kowtuski, L. /1017025 2011 Pr, Str 2.50301 52A10NW-046 (Claim #4264663) Ontario Ltd.
Tease Lake area HTX Resources Corp. 2010-2012 ASD, DD, Pr 2.52229 52A14NE-010a,b (Tease Lake property)
Tib Lake area Gold Bank Mining Corp. / 2011 ASD, Pr, AM, Samp 2.48915 52H04NW-053 (Buck Lake property) Richmond, W; Houghton, F.
Trottier Tp. Asselin, R. / Kulik, H. 2011-2012 ASD, Pr 2.51963 52B14SE-067 (Claim #4212257)
Tuuri Tp. Richards, Wayne 2011-2012 ASD, Pr 2.51470 42D15SW-135 (Bozena Lake property)
Wabikoba Lake area Kaminak Gold Corporation 2012 AEM, AM 2.51927 42C12NW-136 (Hemlo North property) 42C13SW-143a,b 42D09NE-138
Wabikoba Lake area Entourage Metals Ltd. / 2011 ASD, Pr, GC 2.49177 42C13SW-140 (Hemlo North property) Fowler, B.
10 M.A. Puumala et al.
Township or Area Company Name Year Type of Work AFRO Resident Geologist Number Office File Designation Wabikoba Lake area Entourage Metals Ltd. / 2011 ASD, GC 2.51517 42C13SW-142 (Hemlo North property) Fowler, B. / Griggs, H. / Dick, P.
Wabikoba Lake area Entourage Metals Ltd. / 2011 ASD, Pr, GC 2.49768 42C13SW-141 (Hemlo North property) Fowler, B; Griggs, H; Dick, P.
Wabikon Lake area Stenlund, Rizvan 2011 ASD, Pr, Lc, Samp 2.50098 52H06SW-033 (Claim #4210795)
Walsh Tp. Shiels, T. / Roughrock Granite 2010-2012 Pr, Lc 2.50629 42D15SE-108 (Claim #4241788) and Marble Ltd.
Walsh Tp. Wahl, Rudolf 2011 ASD, Pr 2.50219 42D15SE-107 (Goldbar Lake property) 42D15SW-133
Walsh Tp. Michano, D. / Michano, J. / 2010-2012 ASD, Pr 2.50963 42D15SE-110 (Goldbar, McKellar, Deadhorse Michano, W. / Gionet, B. property)
Walsh Tp. Canadian International 2011 ASD, Pr, GL, GRA, 2.52396 42D15SE-114 (Dead Horse Creek property) Minerals Inc. Str
Ware Tp. Onchulenko, A. / Gehrels, P. 2010-2012 Pr 2.51873 52A12SE-037 (Claim #4256088)
White Lake area Kakeeway, D. 2010-2012 ASD, DD, Pr 2.51372 42C12NE-066 (White Lake Narrows property) 42C13SE-067 Williamson Lake area Black Bay Minerals 2012 AGRAD, ARA, 2.52543 52A16SE-007 (Black Bay property) Corporation / 2212150 AEM 52A09NE-007 Ontario Inc.
Table 5. Exploration activity in the Thunder Bay South District in 2012 (keyed to Figures 4 and 5).
Abbreviations AEM ...... Airborne electromagnetic survey IP ...... Induced polarization survey AGRAD ………………………….Airborne Gradiometric survey Lc ...... Linecutting AM ...... Airborne magnetic survey Met ...... Metallurgical testing ARA ...... Airborne radiometric survey OD ...... Overburden drilling Beep ...... Beep Mat survey ODH ...... Overburden drill hole(s) Bulk ...... Bulk sampling PEM ...... Pulse electromagnetic survey DD ...... Diamond drilling PGM ...... Platinum group metals DDH ...... Diamond-drill hole(s) Pr ...... Prospecting DGP ...... Down-hole geophysics RES ...... Resistivity survey GC ...... Geochemical survey Samp ...... Sampling (other than bulk) GEM ...... Ground electromagnetic survey Seismic ...... Seismic survey GL ...... Geological survey SP ...... Self-potential survey GM ...... Ground magnetic survey Str ...... Stripping GRA ...... Ground radiometric survey Tr ...... Trenching Grav ...... Gravity survey UG ...... Underground exploration/development HLEM ...... Horizontal loop electromagnetic survey VLEM ...... Vertical loop electromagnetic survey HM ...... Heavy mineral sampling VTEM ...... Versatile time-domain electromagnetic survey IM ...... Industrial mineral testing and marketing
No. Company/Individual Area Exploration (Occurrence Name or Property) (Commodity) Activity 1 Alto Ventures Ltd. (Empress) Syine Township (Au) Samp
11 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
No. Company/Individual Area Exploration (Occurrence Name or Property) (Commodity) Activity 2 Bard Ventures Ltd. (Little Bear Lake) Priske Township (Au) Lc, Pr, GM, GEM, Samp 3 Barrick Gold Corporation (Williams & David Bell properties) Bomby Township (Au) UG 4 Benton Capital Corp. (Goodchild) Cirrus Lake (Cu, Ni, PGE) Samp 5 Benton Resources Inc. (Saganaga) Saganagons Lake (Au) DD 6 Besco International Investment Co. Ltd. (Coldwell) Coldwell Township (stone) Pr 7 Black Bay Minerals Corp. (Black Bay) Williamson Lake (Cu, Au) AEM, AM, ARA 8 Blakely, G. (Superior Sandstone) McTavish Township (stone) Samp, DD 9 Bold Ventures Inc. (Wilcorp) McCaul Township (Au) Pr 10 Buchanan, K. (Gunflint Lake) Icarus Lake (Fe) Pr, Samp 11 Canada Iron Inc. (Gunflint Iron Deposit (aka Mount Edna)) Jean Township (Fe) DD 12 Canadian International Minerals Inc. (Monpre Iron Ore) Duckworth Township (Fe) Str, Tr 13 China Metallurgical Exploration Corp. Richardson Lake (Cu-Zn-Ag, Au) Pr, Samp, GL, Beep (Richardson Lake and Upper Scotch Lake) 14 Courville, G. / Palangio, M. / Hermeston, P. (Claim TB4253359) MacGregor Township (Cu, Pr, Samp amethyst) 15 Entourage Metals Ltd. (Black Raven) Lorna Lake, Cirrus Lake (Au) DD 16 Entourage Metals Ltd. (Northern Arm) Wabikoba Lake, White Lake Pr, GL, GC, Samp (Au, Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag) 17 Entourage Metals Ltd. / Ocean Park Ventures Corp. (Rous Lake) Rous Lake (Au) DD 18 Fairmont Resources Inc. (Marmion South Contact) Steeprock Lake, Sawbill Lake (Au) Pr, GC, Samp, DD 19 Fenwick, K. / Bjorkman, K. (Max Lake) Max Lake (Au) Pr, Samp 20 Foundation Resources Inc. (Coldstream Gold) Burchell Lake (Au, Cu-Zn) DD 21 Frymire, M. / Brown, J. (Bedivere Lake) Bedivere Lake (Au) Pr, Samp 22 Gagne, P. (Sapawe Gold Mine) Hutchinson Township (Au) Pr, Samp 23 Glory Resources Ltd. (Onion Lake) Onion Lake (Cu, Ni, PGE) GL, Pr 24 Godin, C. (Dawson Road Lots) Dawson Road Lots Pr, Samp. (Cu, Ni, PGE, Au) 25 Gold Cache Inc. (Gold Cache) Horne Township (Au) Tr, Samp 26 Golden Dory Resources Ltd. (Jackpot Lithium) Barbara Lake (Li) Pr, Samp 27 Golden Share Mining Corp. / Viking Gold Exploration Inc. (Larose) Tilly Lake (Au) GL, Pr, Samp 28 Golden Share Mining Corporation (Shebandowan Project) Hagey Township (Au) GL, Tr, Samp, DD, GC, Pr, GEM 29 Greencastle Resources Ltd. (Rockstone) Adrian & Marks Tps. (Cu, Zn) DD 30 GTA Resources and Mining Inc. / Balmoral Resources Inc. (Northshore) Schreiber (Au) Pr, GL, DD 31 Hamel, J. / Bond, J. / Renner, R. / Richards, W. (Bews, Jackfish & Syine Township (Au) Str, Pr, GL, Samp Santoy Lakes J.V.) 32 Joseph, M. (Onion Lake Area Claims) Onion Lake (Li, Ta) Pr, Str, Tr, Samp 33 Kaminak Gold Corporation (Hemlo North) Wabikoba Lake (Au) AM, AEM 34 Kravchik, O. (Syine) Strey Township (Au) Samp 35 Kukkee, K. (Moss Lake) Moss Township (Au) GC, Samp 36 Lamarche, G. (Beaverlodge Lake) Onion Lake (Ag, amethyst) Pr, Str, Samp 37 Minfocus Exploration Corp. /Rainy Mountain Royalty Corp. / Trillium Leckie Lake (Cu, Ni, PGE) DD, GL, Samp North Minerals / Black Panther Mining Corp (Nipigon Reefs) 38 Minfocus International Inc. (Chief Peter) Bedivere Lake (Cu, Ni, PGE) Pr, Samp 39 Moffatt, R. / Wasney, A. (Quartz Hill) Freeborn Township (Au) Pr, Samp
12 M.A. Puumala et al.
No. Company/Individual Area Exploration (Occurrence Name or Property) (Commodity) Activity 40 Moss Lake Gold Mines Ltd. (Moss Lake) Burchell Lake (Au) Met 41 North American Palladium Ltd. (Buck Lake) Sharp Lake (Cu, Ni, PGE) AM, AEM, Pr, Samp, GC 42 North American Palladium Ltd. (Bullseye) Tib Lake (Cu, Ni, PGE) AM, AEM, Pr, Samp, GC 43 North American Palladium Ltd. (Chisamore) Heaven Lake (Cu, Ni, PGE) AM, AEM, Pr, Samp, GC 44 North American Palladium Ltd. (Demars) Senga Lake, Shelby Lake AM, AEM, Pr, Samp, (Cu, Ni, PGE) GC 45 North American Palladium Ltd. (Dog River) Tib Lake (Cu, Ni, PGE) AM, AEM, Pr, Samp, GC 46 North American Palladium Ltd. (Eleph Lake) Armistice Lake, Tib Lake AM, AEM, Pr, Samp, (Cu, Ni, PGE) GC 47 North American Palladium Ltd. (Lac des Iles Mine) Lac des Iles (Cu, Ni, PGE) UG, DD, Tr, GL, Samp 48 North American Palladium Ltd. (Legris Lake) Shelby Lake (Cu, Ni, PGE) AM, AEM, Pr, Samp, GC 49 North American Palladium Ltd. (North LDI) Lac des Iles (Cu, Ni, PGE) AM, AEM, Pr, Samp, GC, DD 50 North American Palladium Ltd. (Taman) Senga Lake (Cu, Ni, PGE) AM, AEM, Pr, Samp, GC 51 North American Palladium Ltd. (Tib Lake) Armistice Lake, Heaven Lake, Tib AM, AEM, Pr, Samp, Lake (Cu, Ni, PGE) GC 52 North American Palladium Ltd. (Wakinoo) Orbit Lake (Cu, Ni, PGE) AM, AEM, Pr, Samp, GC 53 Nuinsco Resources Limited (Prairie Lake) Killala Lake (U, REE) Met 54 Osisko Hammond Reef Gold Ltd. (Hammond Reef) Finlayson Lake Area (Au) DD, Environmental Assessment 55 Panoramic PGMs (Canada) Limited (Greenwich Lake) Greenwich Lake (Cu, Ni, PGE) DD 56 Panoramic PGMs (Canada) Limited (Spike Lake) Fowler Township (Cu, Ni, PGE) DD 57 Panoramic PGMs (Canada) Limited (Thunder Bay North) Greenwich Lake (Cu, Ni, PGE) DD 58 Rare Earth Metals Inc. (Manitouwadge Graphite) Olie Lake (graphite) Pr, Samp, GEM 59 Rio Tinto Exploration Canada Inc. (Sunday Lake) Jacques Township (Cu, Ni, PGE) DD, Samp 60 Sabina Gold and Silver Corporation (Nipigon) Rightangle Lake (Au) AM, AEM 61 Silvore Fox Mineral Corp. / Orebot Inc. (Winston Lake) Pays Plat Lake (Cu-Zn) Pr, Samp, GL 62 Stenlund, R. (Wabikon) Wabikon Lake (Au, Cu) Pr, Samp 63 Stillwater Mining Company (Geordie Lake) Seeley Lake (Cu, Ni, PGE) GL 64 Stillwater Mining Company (Marathon PGM) Seeley Lake (Cu, Ni, PGE) GL, Environmental Assessment 65 Stillwater Mining Company (Sally Lake – Area 41) Seeley Lake (Cu, Ni, PGE) Pr, GL 66 Strike Minerals (Harkness-Hays) Priske Township (Au) Pr, Samp, DD 67 Superior Prospects Inc. (Owl Lake) Lower Aguasabon Lake (Mo, Cu) Pr, GC, Samp 68 TerraX Minerals Inc. (Central Canada) Hutchinson Township (Au) DD 69 TerraX Minerals Inc. (Pettigrew–Sunbeam) Sawbill Bay (Au) Samp, DD 70 Trillium North Minerals Ltd. (Vanguard) Kashabowie Lake (Cu, Zn, Ag, Au) DD 71 Wahl, R. (Jackfish Lake) Syine Township (Au) Pr, Samp 72 Wiwcharyk, G. (Kabaigon Bay) Haines Township (Au, Cu) Pr, Samp
13 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012 ). ). 11 (20 Survey Geological Ontario from Bedrock geology geology Bedrock
. 2012 (keyed to Table 5) Table to (keyed 2012 activity exploration portion),
western Thunder Bay South District ( District South Bay Thunder 4. Figure
Figure 4. Thunder Bay South District (western portion), exploration activity 2012 (keyed to Table 5). Bedrock geology from Ontario Geological Survey (2011).
14 M.A. Puumala et al. ). ). 11 (20 Survey Geological Ontario from Bedrock geology geology Bedrock
2012 (keyed to Table 5). Table to (keyed 2012 portion), exploration activity activity exploration portion),
eastern Thunder Bay South District ( District South Bay Thunder 5. Figure
Figure 5. Thunder Bay South District (eastern portion), exploration activity 2012 (keyed to Table 5). Bedrock geology from Ontario Geological Survey (2011).
15 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
EXPLORATION ACTIVITY Mining Lands
There were 6008 active mining claims for a total 52 730 claim units in the Thunder Bay South District as of January 17, 2013. Introduction
The Thunder Bay South District is actively being explored for a wide variety of mineral deposit types, including volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS)-hosted copper-zinc; mafic to ultramafic rock-hosted copper-nickel-platinum group elements (PGE); lode gold; Olympic Dam-style iron oxide-copper-gold (IOCG); polymetallic veins; alkalic porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum; molybdenum-, lithium- and rare metal-bearing pegmatite; Algoma- and Superior-type iron formation; carbonatite-hosted rare earth elements (REE) and phosphate; diamonds; graphite; amethyst and stone. Exploration
Barrick Gold Corporation (www.barrick.com) continued with their feasibility study for an open pit expansion at the Williams Mine. The proposed expansion would extend the mine life by up to 7 years from 2018 and would add about 1 million ounces of gold to the life-of-mine plan. The feasibility study was expected to be completed in the second half of 2012. Following a review of the project in the second quarter of 2012, Barrick is evaluating options to improve the project’s economic returns with the objective of defining a project that satisfies the company’s investment criteria (Barrick, Second Quarter Report 2012).
Benton Resources Inc. (www.bentonresources.ca) reported results from a 16 hole drilling program (totalling 2654 m) on their Saganaga gold property, located 120 km west-southwest of Thunder Bay. The program was designed to determine structural controls and orientation of the Starr zone mineralization. Highlights of the drilling program included 5.5 g/t Au over 8.2 m (including 11.34 g/t Au over 3.8 m) in hole SAG12-34, and 1.00 g/t Au over 28.25 m (including 2.01 g/t Au over 10 m) in hole SAG12-28 (Benton Resources Corp., news release, May 18, 2012).
Benton Capital Corporation (www.bentoncapital.ca) received results from 7 core samples from the Goodchild nickel project, located 15 km northeast of Marathon. A naturally occurring nickel-iron alloy, awaruite (Ni2Fe to Ni3Fe), was identified in a serpentinized ultramafic host rock, over a 45 m intersection (105 to 150 m) from historical drill hole GC08-08. The samples were analyzed using fusion X-ray fluorescence (XRF) followed by Davis tube magnetic separation. The XRF method returned assays ranging from 0.291 to 0.314% NiO (nickel oxide) and the subsequent magnetic concentrates recovered by the Davis tube method returned nickel grades of 0.303 to 1.48% NiO, equating to 0.035 to 0.105% recoverable nickel. Benton Capital plans to complete further testing in other portions of the serpentinized ultramafic body (Benton Resources Corp., news release, May 18, 2012).
Bold Ventures Inc. (www.boldventuresinc.com) completed an induced polarization (IP) survey on their Wilcorp gold property located approximately 14 km east of Atikokan. Prospecting is being carried out over a number of the IP anomalies that were identified during this survey. The property also includes the historic Eagle prospect that was discovered by Jack Lake Mines in 1946. (Bold Ventures Inc., news release, November 15, 2012).
Black Bay Minerals Corp. contracted Canadian Mining Geophysics Ltd. to carry out a 167.8 line km helicopter- borne, magnetic gradiometer and radiometric survey on their Black Bay property, located 87 km northeast of Thunder Bay. The survey was completed during June of 2012 (Balch 2012).
Canadian International Minerals Inc. (www.cdnintlminerals.com) entered into an option agreement to earn a 100% interest in the Gold Creek property, approximately 60 km west of Thunder Bay (Canadian International Minerals Inc., news release, March 2, 2012). The company plans to begin a program of mechanical stripping and
16 M.A. Puumala et al.
trenching of the iron formation located on their adjacent Monpre Iron Ore Project property. A historical resource estimate of 100 million tons grading 29.1% soluble iron was published for this deposit in 1958 (Canadian International Minerals Inc., news release, September 24, 2012).
Entourage Metals Ltd. (www.entouragemetals.com/) was active on the Black Raven gold, Northern Arm gold-base metal, Rous Lake gold, and Toothpick West properties in the Thunder Bay South District during 2012.
Entourage Metals Ltd. completed a 10-hole drilling program (2000 m) that began during late 2011 at the Super G prospect on their Black Raven property, 20 km northeast of Marathon. Highlights from the holes completed during 2012 (BR12-07 and BR12-15 to BR-12-19) are reported in Table 6. (Entourage Metals Ltd., news release, April 26, 2012.)
Table 6. Drilling highlights from Entourage Metals 2012 drilling on the Black Raven property.
Hole ID Sample ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Comments BR12-07 D03078 128 130 2 1.39 South Contact of Intrusion
BR12-15 D03144 23.3 23.6 0.3 1.83 BR12-15 D03173 64.9 65.32 0.42 1.12
BR12-16 D03768 35.15 35.8 0.65 4.62 Developing Vein BR12-16 D03769 35.8 36.37 0.57 1.49 BR12-16 D03832 137 139 2 1.26 BR12-16 D03842 154 156 2 1.14
BR12-17 D04125 150.72 151.33 0.61 3.87 Visible Gold
BR12-18 D04186 41.2 41.58 0.38 14.1 Developing Vein BR12-18 D04192 47.56 48.36 0.8 1.97 BR12-18 D04193 48.36 48.75 0.39 3.51 BR12-18 D04194 48.75 50.24 1.49 1.9 BR12-18 Composite 41.2 50.24 9.04 1.28 BR12-18 D04326 88.85 89.18 0.33 12.2 Breccia Vein
Entourage Metals Ltd. completed a soil sampling survey on the northwestern portion of their Northern Arm property, 15 km north of Barrick’s Hemlo gold mine. A total of 1980 samples were collected from this area, which is largely covered by glacial till. Fourteen samples returned between 47 ppb and 1800 ppb Au, with the highest gold value being associated with a 4 km trend of anomalous gold in soil parallel to the contact between intrusive and metavolcanic rocks (see Figure 6). (Entourage Metals Ltd., news release, December 12, 2012.)
Entourage Metals Ltd. completed their 2000 m phase 1 diamond-drilling program on the Rous Lake property, 20 km east of Marathon. Diamond-drill holes RL 12-02 and RL 12-03 were designed to test coincident gravity and soil gas hydrocarbon anomalies where mineralized trends known as the Northern Arm Trend and the Hemlo-Heron Bay Shear Zone (Main Mineralized Trend) merge. Highlights from these holes included 2.51 g/t Au over 1.0 m in hole RL12-02 and 0.915 g/t Au over 1.05 m in hole RL12-02 (Entourage Metals Inc., news release, August 1, 2012).
17 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
Figure 6. Map illustrating results of Entourage Metals Ltd. soil sampling program on the Northern Arm property (from Entourage Metals Ltd. website (www.entouragemetals.com/), news release, August 1, 2012).
18 M.A. Puumala et al.
In November 2012, Entourage Metals Ltd. and Ocean Park Ventures Corp. (http://oceanparkventures.com/) signed a letter of agreement whereby Ocean Park can earn a 75% interest in Entourage’s Toothpick West and Rous Lake properties, subject to approval from the TSX Venture Exchange. Entourage will remain as operator during the currency of the first and second options. A 1000 m drilling program was planned on the Rous Lake property to follow up on targets that were identified by Entourage during the 2011 field season (Entourage Metals Ltd. news release, November 21, 2012; Ocean Park Ventures Corp., news release, November 21, 2012).
Fairmont Resources Inc. (www.fairmontresources.com) completed a 10-hole, 1400 m drilling program on their Marmion South Contact gold property, located approximately 200 km west of Thunder Bay. The drilling program was focussed on the historic Olcott gold occurrence located on the southern portion of the property. Drilling program highlights included 2.00 g/t Au over 8 m (including 3.27 g/t Au over 3 m) from hole FA-MAR-12-004, 1.37 g/t Au over 10.8 m (including 3.10 g/t Au over 1.9 m) from hole FA-MAR-12-002, and 3.02 g/t Au over 2.00 m from hole FA-MAR-12-006 (Fairmont Resources Inc., news release, June 4, 2012). During the summer of 2012, Fairmont also completed a reconnaissance prospecting and soil and lake sediment sampling program on the Marmion South Contact property to evaluate several northeast-trending structures in the Marmion batholith that were identified during a 2011 airborne geophysical survey. Analyses of rock, soil and lake sediment samples included anomalous gold values that indicate that these structures, which are all located in low-lying swampy areas, are prospective for gold (Fairmont Resources Inc., news release, September 26, 2012).
Figure 7. Fairmont Resources Ltd. map illustrating results of their 2011–12 surface sampling programs on the Marmion South Contact property (from Fairmont Resources website: www.fairmontresources.com).
19 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
Foundation Resources Inc. (www.fdnresources.com) completed a 4000 m diamond-drilling program on the East Coldstream gold property, located 100 km west of Thunder Bay. The drilling program was carried out in the vicinity of Span Lake to test 3 induced polarization (IP) targets and the possible extension (IP Target #2) of the Moss Lake gold deposit. Highlights of this drilling program are provided below in Table 7 (Foundation Resources Inc., news releases, March 19, 2012; April 13, 2012; April 27, 2012).
Table 7. Summary of significant results from Foundation Resources drilling program at Span Lake, East Coldstream property. Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Length* (m) Gold* (g/t) IP Target #1 SL-11-11 98.35 108.40 10.05 2.22 Includes 99.95 102.40 2.45 7.55 Includes 99.95 100.45 0.50 21.10 160.25 160.75 0.50 21.00 SL-11-12 24.35 28.00 3.65 0.62 36.00 59.00 23.00 0.43 Includes 49.00 59.00 10.00 0.57 115.40 116.70 1.30 31.39 Includes 116.20 116.70 0.50 80.30 SL-11-13 12.50 14.25 1.75 1.26 156.00 157.50 1.50 1.59 187.75 207.80 20.05 0.45 Includes 203.00 207.80 4.80 1.36 IP Target #2 SL-11-14 29.00 52.00 23.00 0.23 308.70 310.70 2.00 0.56 SL-11-15 131.00 194.00 63.00 0.50 Includes 145.75 163.15 17.40 0.87 Includes 152.00 163.15 11.15 1.00 Includes 162.65 163.15 0.50 10.15 SL-11-16 87.10 128.50 41.40 0.24 Includes 95.00 97.00 2.00 1.09 And 174.00 178.00 4.00 0.63 Includes 176.00 178.00 2.00 1.12 IP Target #3 SL-11-03 244.25 246.50 2.25 0.47 SL-11-04 57.50 61.55 4.05 0.43 117.00 125.45 8.45 0.26 SL-11-05 114.40 116.00 1.60 0.54 182.05 183.75 1.70 0.60 203.10 208.55 5.45 1.20 Includes 205.70 207.20 1.50 3.31 SL-11-06 142.75 149.90 7.15 0.21 193.20 197.00 3.80 0.95 Includes 193.20 195.30 2.10 1.63 SL-11-08 277.30 278.85 1.55 2.19 *Mineralized zones generally start at 0.1 g/t gold and assay averages may include minimal intervals of waste material. No top cuts of assays were used. All intervals are represented as down-hole core lengths. Drill holes SL-11-07, 09 and 10 yielded no significant gold mineralization.
20 M.A. Puumala et al.
Golden Share Mining Corporation (www.goldenshare.ca) completed a second-phase drilling program consisting of 8 holes, totalling 1203 m, on the Band Ore Main target on their Shebandowan Project property, located 80 km west of Thunder Bay. Highlights from the program included 1.38 g/t Au over 1.00 m from hole BO-12-08, 7.21 g/t Au over 2.00 m from hole BO-12-10, 1.74 g/t Au over 1.00 m from hole BO-12-12, and 2.93 g/t Au over 1.00 m from hole BO-12-13 (Golden Share Mining Corporation, news release, May 23, 2012). During the summer of 2012, Golden Share completed an exploration program on the Shebandowan property that included detailed geological mapping, prospecting, sampling, trenching, geochemical sampling (Mobile Metal Ion) and a very low frequency electromagnetic (VLF-EM) geophysical survey. The exploration program focussed on the 10 km long Pistol Lake- Band Ore Main Trend and Conacher corridor (Golden Share Mining Corp., news release, August 9, 2012). Significant assay results from the trenching and sampling programs are illustrated below on Figure 8 (Golden Share Mining Corp., news release, September 13, 2012).
Figure 8. Map illustrating significant assay results from Golden Share’s summer 2012 surface exploration program, Shebandowan project (from Golden Share website: www.goldenshare.ca).
Golden Share also staked an additional 50 claim units, enlarging the size of the Shebandowan Project property to 7703 ha (Golden Share Mining Corp., news release, August 28, 2012).
Golden Share Mining Corporation and joint-venture partner Viking Gold Exploration Inc. completed a summer exploration program on the Larose property, located approximately 100 km west of Thunder Bay. The program included geological mapping, prospecting and sampling. Exploration on the southwestern, 4 km strike length of the Larose Shear Zone (LSZ) yielded 4 grab sample assay results above 0.15 g/t Au, with a maximum value of 1.14 g/t Au. Six samples from the parallel Tribute Shear Zone returned greater than 0.15 g/t Au, with a maximum value of 2.24 g/t Au. Sampling of the Lys Shear Zone, which also parallels the LSZ, provided a best assay of 0.18 g/t Au. (Golden Share Mining Corp., news release, October 25, 2012).
GTA Resources and Mining Inc. and joint-venture partner Balmoral Resources Inc. completed Phases II and III of their diamond-drilling program on the Northshore gold property, located 4 km south of Schreiber. Drilling completed during 2012 included 23 drill holes for a total of 7186 m. Including the Phase I drilling program that ended in late 2011, 35 holes have now been completed for a total of 8224 m (GTA Resources and Mining Inc., news releases, February 14, June 6, 2012; January 8, 2013). The goal of Phase II was to test the continuity of
21 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012 mineralization throughout the Afric Zone, including the Audney and Caly vein systems, while Phase III was designed to further evaluate the size and gold grade of the Afric Zone (GTA Resources and Mining Inc., news release, August 20, 2012). Highlights of the most recent Phase III drilling results are provided below in Table 8 (GTA Resources and Mining Inc., news release, January 8, 2013).
Table 8. Assay data from the final 8 holes of the Phase III diamond-drilling program on the Northshore gold property.
Hole Number Hole Depth (m) From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Grade (g/t Au) WB-12-28 287 24.0 41.0 17.0 0.32 including 24.0 25.0 1.0 1.82 WB-12-29 350 9.2 84.0 74.8 1.12 including 28.0 56.0 28.0 2.00 including 42.0 42.5 0.5 25.3 229.0 287.0 58.0 1.54 including 237.5 282.0 44.5 1.95 and 236.0 239.0 3.0 9.15 and 237.5 238.0 0.5 50.90 and 268.0 285.0 17.0 3.25 including 270.0 275.0 5.0 9.78 including 270.0 270.5 0.5 50.90 and 274.0 275.0 1.0 20.10 WB-12-30 326 5.0 48.0 43.0 1.02 including 12.0 20.0 8.0 4.58 and 176.0 181.0 5.0 1.93 and 275.0 276.0 1.0 14.50 WB-12-31 344 143.0 198.0 55.0 0.83 including 143.0 157.0 14.0 1.32 including 146.5 147 0.5 20.60 including 197.0 198.0 1.0 15.80 WB-12-32 444 231.0 244.0 13.0 1.00 and 337.0 348.5 11.5 1.26 and 368.0 369.0 1.0 9.91 and 419.8 432.0 12.2 1.02 WB-12-33 563 421.0 489.0 68.0 1.37 including 421.0 430.0 9.0 5.94 including 421.0 425.0 4.0 12.16 including 423.5 424.0 0.5 66.50 WB-12-34 215 61.1 83.0 21.9 0.96 including 74.0 83.0 9.0 2.01 including 74.0 76.0 2.0 6.96 WB-12-35 449 62.0 63.0 1.0 4.11 and 413.0 429.0 16.0 1.06 including 414.0 416.0 2.0 2.76
22 M.A. Puumala et al.
Greencastle Resources Ltd. (www.greencastleresources.com) completed a four-hole, 916 m diamond-drilling program on their Rockstone property, located 40 km west of Thunder Bay. The drill holes targeted remodelled versatile time-domain electromagnetic (VTEM) targets from a 2007 geophysical survey. Graphitic pyroclastic rocks were encountered in all 4 drill holes, while 1 hole encountered moderate levels of volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS)-type mineralization (Siemieniuk 2012).
Kaminak Gold Corporation commissioned a DIGHEM frequency domain electromagnetic and magnetic airborne survey over their Hemlo North property, located 40 km east of Marathon. The survey covered 497 line km and was completed during March 2012 by Fugro Airborne Surveys Corp (Sheridan 2012).
Minfocus Exploration Corporation (http://minfocus.com/) and joint-venture partners Rainy Mountain Royalty Corp., Black Panther Mining Corp. and Trillium North Minerals Ltd., continued to explore their Nipigon Reefs (formerly Seagull) property, located approximately 90 km north-northeast of Thunder Bay. Work completed during 2012 included 4 diamond-drill holes (1742 m) and a surface mapping program that included the sampling of 6 historic exploration trenches (Minfocus Exploration Corp., news releases, April 4, August 7, 2012). Highlights of the diamond drilling are provided below in Table 9. Minfocus also signed an agreement with Red Rock Band of Lake Helen Reserve #53A that confirms the intent of both parties to work toward a Memorandum of Understanding relating to opportunities for the Red Rock Indian Band to benefit from exploration, development and mineral production that might result from Minfocus exploration activities in their traditional territory (Minfocus Exploration Corp., news release, June 25, 2012).
Table 9. Assay results from the Minfocus International 2012 diamond-drilling program on the Nipigon Reefs property (Minfocus Exploration Corp., news release, August 7, 2012).
DDH # From (m) Width (m) Pt+Pd+Au (g/t) Pt (g/t) Pd (g/t) Cu (%) Ni (%) Cr (%) S (%) WM12-34 400 1 0.55 0.27 0.28 0.04 0.14 0.38 0.18 WM12-35 351.3 2 0.61 0.29 0.32 0.01 0.14 0.29 0.23 WM12-36 293 3 1.80 0.83 0.91 0.19 0.19 0.45 0.46 including 294 2 2.47 1.14 1.24 0.26 0.21 0.46 0.57 WM12-36 306 5 0.84 0.41 0.39 0.03 0.14 0.42 0.2 including 309 2 1.36 0.68 0.65 0.06 0.17 0.48 0.25 WM12-36 315 2 0.58 0.25 0.31 <0.01 0.09 0.39 0.16 WM12-37 313 1 0.62 0.41 0.2 0.02 0.04 0.11 0.11 WM12-37 320 5 1.28 0.58 0.66 0.08 0.15 0.3 0.37 including 322 2 2.12 0.95 1.11 0.15 0.18 0.27 0.6
Minfocus Exploration Corporation was also active on their Chief Peter nickel-copper-PGE property, located approximately 130 km west-northwest of Thunder Bay. During 2012 Minfocus signed separate Memoranda of Understanding with the Lac des Mille Lacs and Seine River First Nations with respect to exploration on the property, which is located within the traditional territories of both communities. Minfocus completed a winter 2013 drilling program (consisting of 6 holes totalling 750 m) designed to follow up on the results of their summer 2011 surface exploration program. Initial results from the drilling program returned 1.41 g/t Pt, 1.20 g/t Pd, 0.06 g/t Au, 0.67% Cu and 0.15% Ni over 4.0 m (Minfocus Exploration Corp., news releases, April 23 and December 6, 2012; March 4, 2013).
Moss Lake Gold Mines Ltd. (www.mosslakegold.com) completed metallurgical, grinding and environmental test work on samples from the Moss Lake gold deposit located 100 km west of Thunder Bay. Results of this testing suggest the following.
• The gold is free-milling by conventional cyanide leaching at reasonable grind sizes. • Gold recovery ranged from 79 to 93% over a 48-hour retention time, and reasonable reagent consumption may be expected to attain these recoveries.
23 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
• Recoveries from low-grade composites (0.53 to 0.57 g/t Au) ranged from 79 to 83%, with tailings grades of 0.09 to 0.12 g/t Au. • The mineralization contains low to undetectable concentrations of arsenic, selenium, lead and uranium, and acid-base accounting (ABA) results indicate that tailings are unlikely to be acid-generating. • Grinding tests indicate that the ore is amenable to conventional ball milling with predicted electrical consumption of 18.3 kilowatt hours per tonne (medium to hard grinding).
The company has engaged InnovExplo Consulting Group to lead a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) study of the Moss Lake deposit. The study will assess existing geological and resource models and update them as warranted. It will also develop an optimized mining scenario, preliminary operating and capital cost requirements and economic analysis (Moss Lake Gold Mines Ltd., news release, December 13, 2012).
North American Palladium Ltd. (www.napalladium.com) continued exploration efforts on their Lac des Iles Mine property, located 85 km north of Thunder Bay. A total of 50 148 m of exploration drilling was completed during 2012. A total of 19 405 m of drilling was dedicated to surface exploration projects on the Sheriff Zone, North VT Rim and other areas on the Mine Block intrusion, while 30 743 m were drilled during underground exploration and infill programs targeting the Offset and Roby Zones. Highlights of the 2012 drilling programs are provided below in Table 10 (from North American Palladium Ltd., news release, January 31, 2013).
Table 10. Exploration drilling highlights for 2012, Lac des Iles Mine.
Zone Hole # From (m) To (m) Length (m) Pd (g/t) Pt (g/t) Au (g/t) Offset - South 12-601 160 170 10 4.27 0.59 0.22 Offset - South including 161 165 4 7.47 1.01 0.33 Offset - Upper 12-701 128 147 19 3.16 0.31 0.33 Offset - Upper 12-703 228 233 5 5.25 0.50 0.52 Offset - Upper 12-705 159 192 33 3.98 0.37 0.28 Offset - Upper including 171 175 4 14.88 1.06 0.87 Offset - Upper and 303 316 13 4.20 0.51 0.16 Offset - Upper 12-706 197 218 21 4.19 0.51 0.30 Offset - Upper including 209 214 5 7.40 0.98 0.45 Offset - Upper 12-708 271 277 6 4.23 0.46 0.48 Offset - Upper and 297 299 2 8.13 0.86 0.51 Offset - Upper 12-709 307 311 4 8.92 0.78 0.49 Offset - Infill 12-841 103 129 26 5.90 0.40 0.49 Sheriff 12-174 81 101 20 2.76 0.29 0.49 Sheriff 12-175 47 56 9 3.68 0.29 0.26 Sheriff and 100 199 99 1.11 0.12 0.09 Sheriff including 100 126 26 1.93 0.19 0.13 Sheriff including 104 115 11 2.80 0.27 0.20 Sheriff 12-176 106 125 19 1.22 0.13 0.06 Sheriff 12-177 19 73 54 1.03 0.11 0.05 Sheriff including 45 59 14 1.56 0.16 0.07 Sheriff 12-179 122 252 130 1.26 0.14 0.09
24 M.A. Puumala et al.
Zone Hole # From (m) To (m) Length (m) Pd (g/t) Pt (g/t) Au (g/t) Sheriff including 130 154 24 3.05 0.33 0.20 Sheriff including 141 145 4 7.12 0.73 0.27 Sheriff 12-180 80 157 77 1.16 0.13 0.09 Sheriff including 80 91 11 2.37 0.21 0.20 Sheriff and 241 267 26 1.05 0.14 0.05 Sheriff 12-181 59 150 91 1.06 0.11 0.07 Sheriff including 59 95 36 1.42 0.14 0.09 Sheriff 12-182 62 63 1 6.12 0.24 0.14 Sheriff 12-183 140 169 29 1.11 0.13 0.06 Sheriff and 196 210 14 1.63 0.19 0.14 Sheriff 12-185 175 281 106 1.40 0.16 0.10 Sheriff including 183 190 7 2.65 0.26 0.14 Sheriff and 327 332 5 4.68 0.53 0.36 Roby - North 12-259 160 165 5 13.37 0.57 0.23 Roby - North 12-261 168 172 4 5.56 0.30 0.05 Roby - North 12-262 169 175 6 4.70 0.28 0.05 Roby - North and 193 200 7 7.09 0.33 0.31 Roby - North 12-269 138 162 24 23.35 0.98 0.68 Roby - North including 146 149 3 104.20 4.30 4.13 North VT Rim 12-031 18 22 4 4.67 0.26 0.06 North VT Rim 12-033 21 25 4 5.10 0.21 0.05 North VT Rim 12-034 15 31 16 2.21 0.14 0.02 North VT Rim 12-035 37 41 4 5.05 0.50 0.09 North VT Rim 12-036 18 24 6 12.40 0.38 0.16 North VT Rim including 23 24 1 54.10 1.32 0.59 North VT Rim 12-037 18 32 14 1.98 0.12 0.04 North VT Rim 12-038 20 30 10 2.21 0.12 0.04 North VT Rim 12-039 21 28 7 4.70 0.18 0.07 North VT Rim 12-041 22 29 7 3.84 0.17 0.09 North VT Rim 12-042 24 31 7 6.29 0.24 0.16 North VT Rim including 25 26 1 23.40 0.83 0.85 North VT Rim 12-043 14 15 1 21.00 1.18 0.06 North VT Rim 12-047 20 22 2 15.10 1.05 0.12 Note: estimated ratio of true widths to widths of intersections are as follows for each zone: Offset Zone, 70 to 100%; Roby Zone, 75 to 95%; Sheriff Zone, 70 to 90%; North VT Rim, 50 to 90%..
Underground drilling at the Offset Zone included infill drilling on the northern portion of the upper Offset Zone deposit, while exploration drilling focussed on extensions to the southern and upper portions of the ore body. Roby Zone underground extension drilling has focussed on the northern portions of that deposit. Diamond-drill hole 12-269 returned 104.2 g/t Pd over 3 m, some of the highest-grade material ever reported from Lac des Iles. The current Sheriff Zone drilling program is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2013, and North American Palladium plans to use this information to prepare an initial open pit resource estimate for the Sheriff Zone. Bulk sampling, initial pit shell
25 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
modeling and economic analyses are also planned for the Sheriff Zone deposit in 2013. North VT Rim exploration is in its early stages and was concentrated on the upper 50 m of the North VT Rim trend at locations 400 m apart. Figure 9 illustrates the locations of the 2012 diamond-drilling programs. North American Palladium is working with an independent engineering firm, Tetra Tech, to complete a pre-feasibility study for the Lac des Iles property that will include an initial declaration of Offset Zone reserves, including an updated mining plan and project economics on the converted Offset Zone reserves. The pre-feasibility study is expected to be filed in the first quarter of 2013. A full mineral reserve and resource update for the property is expected to be completed later in the year (North American Palladium Ltd., news release, January 31, 2013).
Figure 9. Drilling locations on Lac des Iles Mine property during 2012 (from North American Palladium Ltd., news release, January 31, 2013: www.napalladium.com).
A channel sampling program was also carried out at the Baker Zone to determine if additional exploration for near- surface pit-grade resources is warranted in this area (North American Palladium Ltd., news release, December 11, 2012).
North American Palladium Ltd. acquired and optioned several greenfield PGE exploration properties located within 30 km of the Lac des Iles Mine. These properties cover an area of approximately 21 000 ha and host 7 known mafic to ultramafic intrusions that are being evaluated for their PGE potential. Exploration in these properties during 2012 included helicopter-borne magnetic and electromagnetic surveys; surface trench mapping and bedrock outcrop sampling and prospecting; channel sampling across major mafic-ultramafic rock units and at historic surface mineral occurrences (4677 samples); Quaternary geology mapping; the collection of more than 2000 till and soil samples; and the collection of samples for uranium-lead age dating of presumed Lac des Iles suite intrusions (North American Palladium Ltd., news release, December 11, 2012). Figure 10 illustrates the locations of North American Palladium’s grassroots exploration properties in the Lac des Iles mine area.
26 M.A. Puumala et al.
Figure 10. North American Palladium’s grassroots PGE exploration properties in the Lac des Iles area (from North American Palladium Ltd. website: www.napalladium.com).
North American Palladium Ltd. commenced a 2500 m diamond-drilling program in October 2012 on their North LDI project, located 2 km north of the mine site (North American Palladium Ltd., news release, December 11, 2012). The first of these holes (NL 12-100) returned an intersection of 3.58 g/t Pd and 1.08 g/t Pt over 2 m within a broader zone of anomalous PGE mineralization. Figure 11 illustrates the North LDI drilling location relative to the Lac des Iles Mine. (North American Palladium Ltd., news release, January 31, 2013.)
27 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
Figure 11. North Lac Des Iles drill hole location plan. From North American Palladium Ltd. website (www.napalladium.com: news release, January 31, 2013.)
Nuinsco Resources Limited (www.nuinsco.ca) reported results of a metallurgical testing program, carried out on a 1000 kg sample of material, from its Prairie Lake phosphate – rare metals project, located 45 km northwest of Marathon. The sample, which has a P2O5 grade of 3.18%, produced a concentrate grading 34.4% P2O5, indicating the potential for the production of a saleable concentrate using industry-standard processing methods (Nuinsco Resources Ltd., news release, June 18, 2012)
Osisko Mining Corporation (www.osisko.com) continued to move forward with the development of their Hammond Reef Gold Project, located 22 km northeast of Atikokan, during 2012. The company budgeted $59 million toward upgrading resources to the Measured and Indicated category by the end of the second quarter
28 M.A. Puumala et al.
(Atikokan Progress, February 27, 2012). The mine feasibility study is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2013 (Osisko Mining Corporation, news release, January 24, 2013). Osisko also submitted a Terms of Reference for the Hammond Reef Gold Project to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment for review in January 2012 (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal, January 26, 2012) and announced in August that it had been approved (Osisko Mining Corp., news release, August 9, 2012).
On January 28, 2013, Osisko released updated mineral resources for Hammond Reef (Tables 11 and 12). Additional drilling has allowed the company to upgrade the majority of reserves to the Measured and Indicated (M&I) categories. The in-pit M&I resource is 5.31 million ounces at an undiluted grade of 0.72 g/t Au, based on a Whittle- optimized pit shell using a gold price of US$1,400 per ounce. The in-pit inferred resource is 0.28 million ounces at an undiluted grade of 0.65 g/t Au. Overall pit parameters include an average lower cut-off grade of 0.32 g/t Au and a waste/ore strip ratio of 1.01 (Osisko Mining Corporation, news release, January 28, 2013). A detailed breakdown of global and in-pit resource calculations is provided below in the following tables.
Table 11. Global resource estimates for the Hammond Reef gold deposit, released by Osisko Mining Corporation on January 28, 2013. These estimates are based on various cut-off grades ranging from 0.2 g/t to 1.0 g/t Au.
Category Grade (g/t Au) Tonnes (M) Cut-off (g/t Au) Ounces Gold (M oz) Measured 0.67 212.9 0.2 4.60 Indicated 0.44 268.7 0.2 3.84 M+I 0.54 481.6 0.2 8.44 Inferred 0.44 271.8 0.2 3.80 Measured 0.74 184.7 0.3 4.38 Indicated 0.55 174.4 0.3 3.09 M+I 0.65 359.1 0.3 7.47 Inferred 0.52 185.2 0.3 3.12 Measured 0.90 123.5 0.5 3.59 Indicated 0.78 72.9 0.5 1.83 M+I 0.86 196.4 0.5 5.43 Inferred 0.72 75.7 0.5 1.75 Measured 1.09 76.8 0.7 2.70 Indicated 1.03 32.3 0.7 1.07 M+I 1.07 109.2 0.7 3.77 Inferred 0.96 27.4 0.7 0.84 Measured 1.29 46.8 0.9 1.94 Indicated 1.28 16.0 0.9 0.66 M+I 1.28 62.8 0.9 2.59 Inferred 1.22 11.0 0.9 0.43 Measured 1.39 36.2 1.0 1.61 Indicated 1.40 11.6 1.0 0.52 M+I 1.39 14.7 1.0 2.13 Inferred 1.35 7.5 1.0 0.32
29 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
Table 12. Undiluted in-pit resource estimates for the Hammond Reef gold deposit, released by Osisko Mining Corporation on January 28, 2013. These resources occur within the US$1400/oz Whittle pit shell.
Pit Area Category Grade (g/t Au) Tonnes (M) Cut-off (g/t Au) Ounces Gold (M oz) West Measured 0.75 151.2 0.31 3.63 West Indicated 0.58 44.7 0.31 0.83 West M+I 0.71 195.9 0.31 4.46 West Inferred 0.65 13.1 0.31 0.27 East Measured 0.80 24.1 0.33 0.62 East Indicated 0.75 9.43 0.33 0.23 East M+I 0.79 33.6 0.33 0.85 East Inferred 0.50 0.27 0.33 0.01 All Measured 0.75 175.3 0.32 4.25 All Indicated 0.61 54.1 0.32 1.06 All M+I 0.72 229.5 0.32 5.31 All Inferred 0.65 13.3 0.32 0.28
The database used to develop these resource estimates comprised a total of 2144 diamond-drill holes (totalling 629 367 m) completed and assayed by Brett Resources and Osisko as of the end of April 2012 on a minimum 25 m by 25 m grid. The west pit consists of the A (Main) and Mitta Zones, while the east pit encompasses the 41 Zone deposit.
Panoramic Resources Ltd. (www.panoramicresources.com) acquired Magma Metals Ltd. and their exploration properties, including the Thunder Bay North PGM Project, located 50 km north of Thunder Bay, in June of 2012. Prior to the takeover, Magma commenced a 13-hole diamond-drilling program, totalling 4500 m, aimed at testing several geophysical anomalies identified during a magnetic and Z-axis tipper electromagnetic (ZTEM) survey. (Magma Metals Ltd., news release, February 17, 2012). Between August and December of 2012, Panoramic completed a 15-hole 12 220 m step-out drilling program in the Beaver Lake and Southeast Anomaly (SEA) zones. Significant assays from this drilling program are provided below in Table 13 (from Panoramic Resources Ltd., news release, January 21, 2013). Panoramic is reviewing mineral resources and all technical details of the 2011 Thunder Bay North project Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). This review will include re-optimising the mining method and mineral processing flow-sheet in order to reduce the estimated capital and operating costs in the PEA. Work also continues on environmental and permitting work (Panoramic Resources Ltd., news release, January 21, 2013). Figure 12 illustrates the relative locations of the mineralized zones and selected assays from the Current Lake intrusive complex.
30 M.A. Puumala et al.
Figure 12. Plan view of Current Lake Intrusive Complex, illustrating location of mineralized zones at the Panoramic Resources Thunder Bay North PGM project (from Panoramic Resources Ltd website: www.panoramicresources.com).
Table 13. Significant assays from Panoramic Resources Ltd. step-out drilling program in the Beaver Lake and Southeast Anomaly zones, Thunder Bay North project.
Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Pt (ppm) Pd (ppm) Cu (ppm) Ni (ppm) Pt+Pd (ppm) BL12-444 819.20 821.70 2.50 1.20 0.80 8256 1848 2.00 BL12-445 869.10 870.60 1.50 0.63 0.69 2052 1083 1.32 BL12-446 748.00 750.00 2.00 0.19 0.18 507 537 0.37 BL12-447 873.45 880.63 7.18 0.15 0.16 591 809 0.31 including 879.45 880.63 1.18 0.35 0.47 1450 1070 0.82 BL12-448 747.60 752.50 4.90 0.57 0.54 3697 1224 1.11 including 751.50 752.50 1.00 1.03 1.08 3240 1720 2.11 BL12-449 856.55 860.55 4.00 0.13 0.13 526 541 0.26 BL12-453 914.25 916.75 2.50 0.28 0.18 4672 1510 0.46 BL12-454 948.30 950.80 2.50 0.15 0.13 228 556 0.28 BL12-455 610.00 613.90 3.90 0.44 0.47 2024 1140 0.91 BL12-456 996.40 998.40 2.00 0.29 0.33 921 869 0.62 BL12-457 595.90 599.90 4.00 0.92 0.84 3914 2099 1.76
31 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
Magma/Panoramic was also active on other exploration properties in the Thunder Bay South District during 2012. In the winter of 2012, Magma completed drilled 1 hole on the Spike Lake property, located 30 km northwest of Thunder Bay, to test a magnetic anomaly. The hole did not encounter any mineralized bedrock, but did encounter magnetic gabbro boulders at the base of the overburden (Deller and Weston 2012). Magma also completed 6 holes (2524 m) on the Greenwich Lake JV property adjacent to the northeastern boundary of the Thunder Bay North property, 50 km northeast of Thunder Bay (Magma Metals Limited, news release, April 27, 2012).
Rare Earth Metals Inc. (www.rareearthmetals.ca) completed prospecting, sampling, line cutting and a ground horizontal loop electromagnetic survey (HLEM) on their Manitouwadge Graphite property, 30 km north of Manitouwadge. Three graphite zones have been identified on the property through historic work and new trenching recently completed by Rare Earth. The graphite zones range in thickness from 4 to 12 m and have reported chip sample grades ranging from 2.04 to 4.18% carbon (Rare Earth Metals Inc., news release, June 7, 2012). The HLEM survey delineated six conductors ranging in strike length from 150 m to 1.6 km. Three of the conductors are coincident with the previously identified graphitic horizons, while the other 3 remain to be tested and explained. A number of previously identified airborne electromagnetic anomalies to the northwest and southeast of the area covered by the HLEM survey also remain to be investigated. (Rare Earth Metals Inc., news release, July 4, 2012.)
Rio Tinto Exploration Canada Inc. (www.riotinto.com/) completed 1 diamond-drill hole on their Sunday Lake property, located 25 km north of Thunder Bay, in January 2012. This drill hole targeted the northern extent of the Sunday Lake Intrusion and the associated magnetic anomaly for its copper-nickel-PGE potential. Mineralized mafic to ultramafic intrusive rocks were encountered near the bottom of the intrusion. The most significant result was an intersection that returned 0.816 ppm Pt, 0.788 ppm Pd, 3590 ppm Cu and 957 ppm Ni over 1.05 m (Storie 2012).
Sabina Gold and Silver Corporation (www.sabinagoldandsilver.com) contracted Geotech Ltd. to carry out a 2238 line-km airborne versatile time-domain electromagnetic (VTEM) survey over their Nipigon Project property, located 100 km north of Thunder Bay. The survey was completed during January and February of 2012 (Clemmer 2012). Sabina planned to follow-up on the results of the geophysical survey with a 2000 m diamond drilling program.
Silvore Fox Minerals Corp. (www.silvorefox.com/) completed the interpretation of data from the helicopter-borne versatile time-domain electromagnetic (VTEM) geophysical survey that was completed over their Winston Lake copper-zinc property in 2011. Several anomalies were identified during the survey, and the company was reviewing the results to identify targets for follow-up geophysical work and potential diamond drilling (Silvore Fox Minerals Corp., news release, January 20, 2012).
Stillwater Mining Company (www.stillwatermining.com) continued to move forward with plans to develop an open pit mine on their Marathon PGM-Cu Project (www.marathonpgmproject.com/) property, located 10 km north of Marathon. In July, Stillwater submitted their Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the joint Federal– Provincial Environmental Assessment (EA) Review Panel (Stillwater Mining Corporation, news release, July 2, 2012). Stillwater presented information related to the Environmental Impact Statement at 3 open houses in Marathon and Thunder Bay during mid-October 2012. The environmental review is expected to be completed, and the necessary operating permits in place by 2014. Construction will take 2 years and will require 400 construction workers. The open pit mine is projected to operate for approximately 12 years (Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal, October 22, 2012). In January 2013, Stillwater updated progress on the detailed engineering study and Environmental Assessment. The engineering study is expected to be completed during the third quarter of 2013, while the company is responding to sufficiency comments received during the fourth quarter of 2012 from the EA review panel (Stillwater Mining Company, news release, January 15, 2013).
In early 2012, Stillwater entered into an agreement with Mitsubishi Corporation in which Mitsubishi can earn 25% interest in the Marathon project. Mitsubishi will make cash payment of $94.6 million and will be responsible for funding 25% of the expenditures on the project. Mitsubishi will also have the option of purchasing up to 100% of the platinum group metal production from the project (Stillwater Mining Company, news release, March 28, 2012).
Stillwater also continues to explore their regional property holdings that are located immediately to the west and northwest of the Marathon Project site in the Coldwell Alkalic Complex. Resident Geologist Program staff visited the Sally Lake/Area 41 prospect area, where Stillwater was carrying out geological mapping and prospecting during September of 2012.
32 M.A. Puumala et al.
Strike Minerals Inc. (www.strikeminerals.com/) completed a four-hole diamond-drilling program on their Harkness–Hays property, located 4 km east of Schreiber. Significant intersections are listed below in Table 14 (from Strike Minerals Inc., news releases, July 24, August 15, September 17 and October 1, 2012).
Table 14. Significant intersections from Strike Minerals 2012 diamond-drilling program on the Harkness–Hays property (VG = visible gold).
Drill Hole No. Au (g/t) Length (m) Interval (m) HH-12-01 8.19 0.3 24.2-24.5 5.45 (VG) 1.2 169-170.2 0.92 2.4 227.8-230.2 HH-12-02 20.61 (VG) 2.2 20.61-22.81 including 112.0 0.4 8.53 0.6 114.5-115.1 HH-12-03 1.45 0.3 201.8-202.1 1.19 0.3 207.8-208.1 6.15 (VG) 1.5 223.5-225.0 3.21 (VG) 1.4 237.0-238.4 VG 0.3 245.5-245.8 9.23 (VG) 1.5 266.1-267.6 1.88 0.6 252.6-253.2 2.48 (VG) 1.5 266.1-267.6 1.78 0.3 290.8-291.1 HH-12-04 1.19 5.2 239.3-244.5 including 2.86 0.6 242.9-243.5 4.22 0.5 243.5-244.0 1.09 0.5 244.0-244.5
TerraX Minerals Inc. (www.terraxminerals.com) completed diamond-drilling programs on their Central Canada and Sunbeam–Pettigrew properties during the winter of 2012. These properties are located 20 km east and 25 km northeast of Atikokan, respectively. Drilling on the Central Canada property consisted of 3 holes for 363 m, while 7 holes were drilled on the Sunbeam–Pettigrew property, for a total of 797 m. Significant results from these diamond- drilling programs are tabulated below (from TerraX Minerals Inc., news releases, March 13, and April 17, 2012).
Table 15. Significant assays from the TerraX Minerals Inc. winter 2012 drilling program on the Central Canada property.
Hole Azimuth Dip From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) CC12-01 165º -45º 32.72 43.33 10.61 1.32 including 36.05 37.87 1.82 4.77 CC12-02 165º -45º 29.83 38.75 8.92 0.74 63.29 65.21 1.92 1.35 88.05 89.46 1.41 0.64 127.96 130.15 2.19 0.82 CC12-03 165º -45º 18.05 19.06 1.01 1.83 38.72 62.02 23.30 0.83 including 38.72 39.35 0.63 7.36 including 43.87 45.73 1.86 4.44 including 58.95 59.67 0.72 4.1
33 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
Table 16. Significant assays from the TerraX Minerals Inc. winter 2012 drilling program on the Sunbeam–Pettigrew property.
Hole Target Area Azimuth Dip From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) SP12-14 WN2 140º -45º 28.76 40.56 11.8 0.33 and 68.24 69.1 0.86 1.16 SP12-15 WN2 140º -45º 8.51 9.46 0.95 18.00 SP12-16 WN2 140º -45º 78.35 80.00 1.65 0.46 SP12-19 Rubble 120º -45º 20.34 32.68 12.34 0.61 SP12-20 Sunbeam -90º 43.45 44.63 1.18 0.23
Trillium North Minerals Ltd. completed a 4-hole, 501 m diamond-drilling program on their Vanguard property, located 100 km west of Thunder Bay. This program was focussed on testing the Vanguard East showing for volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS)-style alteration and massive sulphides in mafic metavolcanic rocks. One of the highlights of the spring 2012 drilling program was the intersection of 0.69% Cu over 2.88 m, including 2.2% Cu over 0.88 m in hole VE-12-04. (Trillium North Minerals Ltd., news release, July 23, 2012).
Marathon prospector, R. Wahl, continued to conduct prospecting and sampling programs on several properties in the Schreiber–Terrace Bay and Marathon areas during 2012. Prospecting efforts during 2012 resulted in the discovery of a microdiamond-bearing para-lamproite intrusion that was visited by Resident Geologist Program personnel in November. Further information about properties available for option can be found on R. Wahl’s website (http://users.renegadeisp.com/~rwahl/main.htm).
RESIDENT GEOLOGIST STAFF AND ACTIVITIES
The Thunder Bay South District is staffed by M.A. Puumala, P.Geo., Regional Resident Geologist; D.A. Campbell, P.Geo., District Geologist; M.R. Brunelle, District Geological Assistant; and R. Pelaia, Administrative Assistant. During 2012, D.A. Campbell served as Acting Regional Resident Geologist from January 1 to June 10, while A. Cooke, G.I.T., served as Acting District Geologist from January 1 to March 31. M.A. Puumala commenced duties as Regional Resident Geologist on June 11, when D.A. Campbell returned to her home position as District Geologist.
During 2012, the Thunder Bay South District staff dealt with more than 1000 inquiries from the mining and mineral exploration sector, other government agencies and the general public. A severe rain storm on May 28, 2012, caused flood damage to the Thunder Bay Resident Geologist Program office facility at 435 James Street South. Following the storm, client service was maintained by relocating Thunder Bay South District staff to temporary office space in an adjacent building located at 421 James Street South. Assessment and mineral deposit files, publications, and the geoscience library were relocated to an off-site secure storage facility where they could be accessed on an as-needed basis. On February 4, 2013, office reconstruction was complete and operations had returned to 435 James Street South. Drill-core storage facilities in Thunder Bay and outdoor storage facilities at Marathon and in Conmee Township were made available for the use of exploration and university clients.
Thunder Bay South District staff conducted 25 property visits and 9 field trips with industry and university groups in 2012 (Table 17). District staff attended and participated at the Northwestern Ontario Mines and Minerals Symposium (Thunder Bay); Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada annual convention (Toronto); Ontario Exploration and Geoscience Symposium (Sudbury); Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (CIMM) Mineralization Systems Workshop (Thunder Bay); Institute on Lake Superior Geology (ILSG) 58th Annual Meeting (Thunder Bay); Canadian Land Reclamation Association/Ontario Mining Association Mine Reclamation Symposium (Thunder Bay); and Kenora District Mineral Exploration Information Session (Dryden). D.A. Campbell continued to serve as Treasurer, CIMM Thunder Bay Branch.
34 M.A. Puumala et al.
During 2012, Resident Geologist Program geoscientists provided support to the MNDM Mineral Development and Lands Branch in the delivery of a number of mineral exploration and development awareness workshops for First Nations communities. Staff answered geoscience-related questions at sessions that took place in the following First Nation communities located in the Thunder Bay South District: Fort William, Lac la Croix, Pic River, and Seine River.
Table 17. Property visits and field trips conducted by staff of the Thunder Bay South Resident Geologist’s Office in 2012.
Number Property or Occurrence Commodity 1 Shebandowan Mine property – A. Aubut Cu-Ni-PGE 2 ILSG Shebandowan area geology field trip – led by A. Aubut and D.A. Campbell 3 Cloud River dike and Bolduc occurrence – R. Cundari (OGS-RGP); L. Pesonen, E. Piispa (Michigan Cu, Ni Tech) 4 Kakabeka Falls geology – field trip for Ontario Parks led by M.A. Puumala 5 Beardmore/Geraldton mine reclamation – field trip led by M.C. Smyk and M.A. Puumala Au 6 MacKenzie Heights Gunflint/Archean unconformity – P. Fralick (Lakehead University) amethyst, agate 7 Beaverlodge Lake property – G. Lamarche Ag 8 Highway 11-17/Hodder Avenue veins amethyst, agate 9 Shebandowan property – Golden Share Mining Corporation Au 10 Ruby Lake marble quarry stone 11 Geco Mine property – R. Lodge (Laurentian University/OGS) Zn, Cu 12 Marmion batholith transect, Wabigoon/Marmion Terrane boundary study - Y. Lu (University of Western Australia) 13 Sibley Peninsula geology – field trip for OGS Precambrian geologists 14 Midcontinent rift intrusions and Sudbury impactoclastic debrisite in City of Thunder Bay – field trip for OGS Precambrian geologists 15 Chrome Lake Mine Cr 16 Puddy Lake and Commerce nickel occurrences Ni, Cu, PGE, Au 17 Obonga Lake Greenstone Belt transect – Wabigoon/Marmion Terrane boundary study – Y. Lu (University of Western Australia) 18 Kabaigon Bay property – G. Wiwcharyk Au 19 Shebandowan Mine – field trip for Confederation College Environmental Technician program led by M.A. Puumala 20 Jackfish Lake area property – W. Richards Au 21 Marathon PGM-Cu – Stillwater Canada Cu, Ni, PGE 22 Geordie Lake – Stillwater Canada Cu, Ni, PGE 23 Area 41 – Stillwater Canada Cu, Ni, PGE 24 Gunflint Lake Iron – R. Chataway Fe 25 Hammond Reef – Osisko Hammond Reef Gold Au 26 Tower Mountain – R. Chataway Au 27 Thunder Intrusion – B. Trevisan, P. Hollings (Lakehead University) Cu, Ni, PGE 28 Wabikon Lake area property – R. Stenlund and M. Stenlund Cu, Au 29 Max Lake area property – J. Scott Au 30 Geco and Winston Lake VMS Mines – CIM field trip Zn, Cu 31 Steep Rock Mine Fe 32 Para-lamproite property – R. Wahl diamond 33 Silver Mountain Mine Ag 34 Onion Lake area pegmatite property – M. Joseph Li, Ta
35 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
PROPERTY EXAMINATIONS
Puddy Lake Serpentinite — Nickel and Chromium Occurrences
Puddy Lake is located approximately 180 km north of Thunder Bay and 50 km southwest of Armstrong. It is located in a remote area and is accessible by either fixed-wing or rotary aircraft. An ultramafic intrusive body known as the Puddy Lake serpentinite is exposed along the shores of Puddy Lake. This intrusion is exposed along an easterly strike over a distance of 7 km and is approximately 1 km wide (Whittaker 1986) and hosts a number of historic chromium and nickel occurrences. These occurrences include the Chrome Lake deposit, Ontario’s only past-producing chromium mine, where bulk samples were removed from underground workings in the 1930s (Parsons 1937). The Puddy Lake serpentinite is located at the northern margin of the Neoarchean Obonga Lake greenstone belt.
The earliest geological mapping in the Puddy Lake area was completed in the 1930s by Graham (1931), Hurst (1931) and Kidd (1933). The first detailed mapping (at a scale of 1:15 840) was carried out by Kustra (1967). Subsequently, the nickel distribution in the intrusion was studied by Simpson and Chamberlain (1967), while the chromite mineralization in the eastern portion of the intrusion near Chrome Lake was described by Whittaker (1986). More recently, Percival and Stott (2000) established a stratigraphic and structural framework for the Obonga Lake greenstone belt and the area was included in the 1:100 000 scale geological compilation of Hart (2006) that was completed as part of the Lake Nipigon Region Geoscience Initiative. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) carried out a high-density lake sediment and water geochemical survey (Jackson and Dyer 2000) and airborne geophysical surveys (Ontario Geological Survey 2003) as part of Operation Treasure Hunt.
Historically, exploration and development in the eastern portion of the Puddy Lake serpentinite has targeted chromite, while the western portions of the intrusion have been explored for nickel and precious metals. Historic exploration activity on the property, as documented by Hinz and Landry (1994), is summarized below.
Chromite was first discovered in the vicinity of Chrome Lake in 1928 by W.K. Keefe and R.A. MacDonald who staked the occurrence and transferred ownership to Golden Centre Mines Inc. of New York. In 1930 Consolidated Chromium Corporation, a subsidiary of Golden Centre Mines, began development work, including stripping, trenching, drilling and shaft sinking. The shaft was sunk to a depth of 350 feet, with levels at 100 and 225 feet. Operations ceased in late fall of 1930 and did not resume until 1933, when new owner Chromium Alloy Co. sent 70 tons of ore to Niagara Falls, New York, for beneficiation tests. Chromium Mining and Smelting Corp. Ltd. was formed and took control of the property in 1934 and re-commenced operations in 1936. However, underground work was discontinued in 1937 because of poor ore recovery, and all activities on the site ceased in 1938.
The property has been inactive since 1938 and the patented claims that include the mine site are currently owned by Timminco Metals Div./Timminco Ltd. who carried out a geological evaluation of the property in 1990 (Johnson and Blomberg 1990) .
Between 1964 and 1967, Commerce Nickel Mines carried out the first significant exploration program targeting nickel in the western portion of the Puddy Lake serpentinite, including trenching, geological mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys and diamond drilling (24 diamond-drill holes, totalling 5590 feet). Between 1967 and 1968, Newmont Mining Corp. of Canada completed trenching, electromagnetic surveying and diamond drilling (10 holes, totalling 3106 feet). By the mid- to late-1980s, the area began to receive attention for its PGE potential. Between 1985 and 1993, K. Kuhner carried out prospecting, outcrop stripping, surface sampling and ground geophysical surveys on claims located on the south side of Puddy Lake. The property was transferred to Obongo Precious Metals Ltd. in 1993, and Obongo completed approximately 20 diamond-drill holes between 1993 and 1996. Imperial Platinum Corp. carried out geological mapping, sampling and ground geophysical surveys in 1987 and 1988 over an adjacent property encompassing areas west, north and southeast of Puddy Lake. The most recent exploration activity in the belt includes ground magnetic and electromagnetic surveys conducted by Vale Inco Ltd. in 2007 over a property covering the western half of the Puddy Lake serpentinite, and prospecting and sampling of a
36 M.A. Puumala et al.
claim near the southeast end of Puddy Lake since 2004 by D. Plumridge. The entire Puddy Lake serpentinite is currently staked, with claim holders including Navigator Minerals Inc., Pavey Ark Minerals Inc. and D. Plumridge.
On August 30, 2012, M. Puumala and R. Cundari of the Thunder Bay Resident Geologist Program office visited the Chrome Lake Mine site and 2 historic mineral occurrences located near the shoreline of Puddy Lake. The general geology of the Puddy Lake area is described below and followed by observations from the site visits and recommendations for future exploration. The occurrence locations are illustrated on Figure 13.
Figure 13. Map of Puddy Lake area illustrating locations of occurrences visited by RGP staff on August 30, 2012. Geology from Ontario Geological Survey (2011).
GENERAL GEOLOGY The Puddy Lake serpentinite is located at the northern end of the Neoarchean Obonga Lake greenstone belt and is bounded to the north by biotite tonalite and to the south by mixed metasedimentary and granitic rocks (Percival and Stott 2000). Rocks of the Puddy Lake intrusion include serpentinized dunite, peridotite and minor pyroxenite (Whittaker 1986). The serpentinite exhibits significant variability in appearance owing to heterogeneous alteration. Outcrops range in colour from red and purple to green and grey. Iron redistribution that occurred during serpentinization has resulted in complex magnetite veining in portions of the intrusion. The unweathered serpentinite becomes paler with greater magnetite segregation, transforming from dark green through progressively paler shades until it becomes chalky white with maximum iron loss. Alteration is also less heterogeneous in the eastern portions of the intrusion where the rocks are typically dark green in colour (Whittaker 1986).
Chromite occurrences in the Puddy Lake serpentinite tend to be restricted to the eastern end of the intrusion, while magnetite is the only oxide mineral in the more intensely altered western portions (Whittaker 1986). The magnetite-
37 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
rich zones exposed at Puddy Lake are associated with 20 to 30 m wide alteration envelopes cored by narrow shear zones. Elevated base (mainly nickel) and precious (gold and PGE) metal values are associated with the magnetite found in these shear zones (Lavigne, Scott and Sarvas 1991). Percival and Stott (2000) noted that the shear zones that cross-cut the serpentinite are parallel to the steeply north-dipping southern contact of the intrusion.
CHROME LAKE MINE Historic development on the Chrome Lake Mine site (MNDM Mineral Deposit Inventory record MDI52H14NW00002) resulted in the deposition of 2 mine development rock piles, one of which afforded helicopter access to the property, which is otherwise completely overgrown. Numerous collapsed buildings are still present on the site along with rail cars, rails, other historic mining equipment and miscellaneous debris.
Two outcrops located in close proximity to the southern waste rock pile were briefly examined. To the south of the rock pile, sheared metasedimentary rocks are exposed (UTM Zone 16, 321431E 5538249N). Foliation in these rocks is oriented 070/55.
An outcrop of serpentinized and hematitized ultramafic rock is exposed approximately 50 m west of the southern waste rock pile (UTM Zone 16, 321382E 5538265N). The rocks at this location are generally grey-green, with patchy red colouration where hematite alteration has occurred. The outcrop is crosscut by a 2 to 3 cm wide pegmatite vein. Adjacent to this vein there is a concentration of specular hematite, which also occurs as disseminated grains in the ultramafic rock. No chromite mineralization was observed in this outcrop. The chromite ore that was extracted from the mine in the 1930s can be found in the on-site rock piles. The ore material consists of disseminated chromite and massive chromitite from a podiform deposit that was protected from the metamorphic event that resulted in the serpentinization of the Puddy Lake intrusion (Whittaker 1986).
COMMERCE NICKEL EAST OCCURRENCE A large cleared area near the southeastern end of Puddy Lake affords easy helicopter access to the Commerce Nickel East occurrence (MDI52H13NE00018). A series of trails previously used for mineral exploration also provide access to numerous exploration trenches and outcrops on this property, which was open for staking at the time of the site visit. The area was subsequently staked by Pavey Ark Minerals Inc.
Talcose, serpentinized ultramafic intrusive rock (otherwise known as soapstone) outcrops in the vicinity of the Commerce Nickel East occurrence. The serpentinized ultramafic rock generally has a bleached grey-white colour on weathered surfaces and is green on fresh surfaces. In places, the serpentinite contained anastomosing centimetre- scale seams of magnetite. This magnetite was formed as a result of the serpentinization process and the seams generally strike easterly, approximately parallel to the regional structural trends. Magnetite in the Puddy Lake ultramafic intrusion had previously been reported to be nickeliferous (Whittaker 1986). This was confirmed by assay data for a grab sample of magnetite-rich material that was collected during this site visit at UTM Zone 16, 319433E, 5537918N (Sample MP-12-010), which returned 5954 ppm Ni. This sample also contained anomalous concentrations of precious metals (642 ppb Au, 123 ppb Pd, and 130 ppb Pt; Resident Geologist’s Files, Thunder Bay South District, Thunder Bay).
COMMERCE NICKEL NORTHWEST OCCURRENCE The Commerce Nickel Northwest occurrence (MDI52H13NE00015) is located on a peninsula on the northern shore of Puddy Lake, on claims that are currently held by Pavey Ark Minerals Inc. Evidence of significant historic outcrop stripping and trenching was noted at this site. The outcrop surface at this location has a distinctive red colouration caused by secondary iron oxides associated with the weathering of the serpentinized ultramafic rocks. The weathered surface material has largely broken down into angular pebble to cobble-sized blocks. The less weathered surface-exposed material is generally light grey or green and contains millimetre- to centimetre-scale seams and patches of magnetite. Fresh surfaces of the serpentinized material are light green in colour.
A grab sample collected from one of the historic exploration trenches at UTM Zone 16, 316806E, 5537897N assayed 1881 ppm Ni. However, no significant precious metal assay values (i.e., Au, Pt or Pd) were obtained from this sample (Resident Geologist’s Files, Thunder Bay South District, Thunder Bay).
38 M.A. Puumala et al.
Figure 14. Serpentinized peridotite in trench at Commerce Nickel Northwest occurrence.
DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The Puddy Lake serpentinite has been periodically explored for chromite, nickel and precious metals over the past 85 years. These exploration programs have demonstrated that this ultramafic intrusive body contains a small deposit of podiform chromitite and alteration zones containing significant concentrations of nickeliferous magnetite. However, the intrusion has never been the subject of a sustained, systematic exploration program. Such a program would have the potential to identify new deposits of magmatic nickel-copper-PGE and/or chromite. The presence of shear zones with anomalous gold values also indicates that the area has gold exploration potential. Additional, specific information obtained from assessment files that provides an indication of the mineral potential of this intrusion is listed below.
• Commerce Nickel Mines Ltd. discovered a massive sulphide zone on their Puddy Lake property in 1967 that returned from 4.1 to 11.6% Ni (Neely and Zinn 1987 - AFRI52H14NW0001). However, the location of this zone could not be readily identified from the available assessment file information. • Yardley (1967; AFRI 52H13NE0011) reported a copper-bearing sulphide zone in the metasedimentary rocks to the south of the ultramafic intrusion. This zone was reported to have returned up to 0.44% Cu. Again, the location of this zone cannot be readily identified with available information. • Assay results were filed (Kuhner 1987; AFRI 52H13NE9237) for a grab sample collected on claims to the west of the Commerce Nickel East occurrence. The assay results for this sample (no description available) were as follows: 12.2% Ni, 0.51% Co, 0.23% Cu, 0.012 ounce Pt per ton, 0.08 ounce Pd per ton, 0.008 ounce Au per ton, 0.18 ounce Ag per ton. • A recent Vale ground geophysical survey over a portion of the ultramafic intrusion (Dickie 2008; AFRO 2.39091) noted geophysical anomalies that were deemed to warrant testing for the possible presence of sulphide mineralization.
The historic discovery of a massive sulphide zone and the identification of possible sulphide mineralization-related geophysical anomalies in the Puddy Lake serpentinite intrusion reinforces the potential for discovery of a magmatic copper-nickel-PGE deposit in this area. The chalcopyrite mineralization found in the metasedimentary rocks south
39 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
of the intrusion is located in close proximity to a structure referred to as the north margin mylonite zone by Percival and Stott (2000). As a result, the area south of the intrusion also warrants follow-up for structurally controlled copper and gold mineralization.
Gunflint Lake Iron Property
The Gunflint Lake iron property is located 110 km southwest of Thunder Bay. Access is obtained by travelling 75 km along Highway 588 and Trout Bay Road (Trout Bay Road begins at the end of pavement) from the junction of Highway 593 to Gunflint Road and travelling south 12.5 km to the property along Gunflint Road. The property was visited by M. Puumala of the Thunder Bay Resident Geologist Program office on September 25, 2012, with consulting geologist R. Chataway. The property consists of a group of patented mining claims at the northwestern end of Gunflint Lake and 3 staked claims located immediately to the north of the patents. The property is held by K. Buchanan. Sedimentary rocks of the Paleoproterozoic Gunflint Formation are exposed on this property, which is being evaluated by the owner for its potential to host an economic iron ore deposit.
Although the Gunflint Lake iron property is located on mining patents, the Resident Geologist Program Thunder Bay office files have no record of any previous exploration on the property. The patents were granted in the early 1900s and it is believed that the claims were originally staked in anticipation of mining opportunities opening up following completion of the Port Arthur, Duluth and Western Railroad. The railroad passed through the property, but it ultimately failed and was abandoned. The Gunflint Formation in the area between the International border at Gunflint Lake and northeast to Silver Mountain was mapped by the Geological Survey of Canada in the 1920s (Gill 1926). The portion of the formation extending northeast from Whitefish Lake to Loon Lake was mapped in the 1950s by the Ontario Department of Mines (Goodwin 1960; Moorhouse 1960). The Gunflint Lake Iron property area has been covered by a recent OGS high-density lake water and sediment survey (Jackson 2001). The area also has provincial-scale OGS airborne geophysical survey coverage (Ontario Geological Survey 1999).
The Gunflint Formation is a complex sedimentary assemblage that exhibits rapid vertical and horizontal changes (Sutcliffe 1991). Pufahl (1996) indicated that the Gunflint is approximately 175 m thick, and described it as a sequence of grainstones comprising 11 lithofacies. The majority of these lithofacies are chert-carbonate grainstones (iron-bearing) that have been subdivided according to bedding structures and grain size. Other lithofacies defined by Pufahl (1996) within the Gunflint Formation include slate, lapilli tuff, stromatolites, oncolites and pebble conglomerate. The conglomerate is the basal unit of the Gunflint Formation, and occurs as a thin, discontinuous conglomerate horizon that ranges in thickness from a few centimetres to 1.5 m (Goodwin 1953).
The rocks of the Gunflint Formation were deposited during 2 transgression events (Jirsa and Fralick 2010) that resulted in 2 sequences (lower and upper) that exhibit a general fining-upward pattern. These sequences have traditionally been subdivided into lower cherty, lower slaty, upper cherty and upper slaty members (Wolff 1917; Broderick 1920). Although these older subdivisions are based on the dominant grain size in each stratigraphic section rather than a sedimentological model, they continue to be useful descriptive terms for use in the field. The uppermost few metres of the Gunflint Formation (immediately below the overlying Rove Formation) is brecciated and complexly deformed (Jirsa and Fralick 2010). In places, this horizon also contains an accretionary lapilli layer with shocked quartz and feldspar grains, which has been interpreted to represent ejecta derived from the Sudbury impact event (1850 Ma; Addison et al. 2005).
The mineralogy of the Gunflint Formation is reported by Sutcliffe (1991) to be highly variable, consisting of the silica minerals chert, chalcedony and quartz; iron oxides including hematite, magnetite, goethite and limonite; carbonates including dolomite, ferroan dolomite, ankerite, siderite and minor calcite; iron-bearing silica minerals including greenalite, stilpnomelane, minnesotaite, chamosite and chlorite; and minor sulphides. Stromatolitic and taconitic (otherwise known as grainstone) facies iron formations are also present within the Gunflint Formation.
Outcrops observed during this site visit expose rocks that represent an essentially complete cross-section through the Gunflint Formation, from the basal unconformity with the underlying Archean Saganaga tonalite basement to the Sudbury impact layer that is found at the top of the formation.
40 M.A. Puumala et al.
The basal unconformity strikes approximately east in the central portion of the property. The Gunflint Formation strata are nearly flat-lying, dipping at a shallow angle (10° or less) toward the south-southeast. Rocks interpreted to be parts of the Lower Cherty, Upper Cherty and Upper Slaty members, as well as the Sudbury impact layer were observed in the field. The rocks immediately above the unconformity comprise nearly massive magnetite units, but grade upward into a sequence of interbedded magnetite and chert. Approximately midway between the unconformity and Gunflint Lake (a distance of approximately 550 m), magnetite-bearing grainstones (taconite), interpreted to be representative of the Upper Cherty member, are overlain by much finer-grained rocks of the Upper Slaty member. These rocks are in turn overlain by rocks of the Sudbury impact layer on the southern portion of the property, closer to the shoreline of Gunflint Lake (approximately 900 m south of the unconformity). Mesoproterozoic Logan diabase sills form prominent topographic highs in the southern portion of the property where they intrude Gunflint Formation rocks. They may be correlative with the Logan diabase sill identified by Jirsa and Fralick (2010) at the top of the Gunflint section immediately to the west of the property in Minnesota.
Descriptions of the outcrops examined, and some of the photos taken, during this site visit are provided below in Table 18, and Figure 16, respectively.
Table 18. Outcrop descriptions from Gunflint Lake iron property visit. Locations are illustrated on Figure 15.
Outcrop No. Zone Easting Northing Description 1 15 668070 5331166 This outcrop is located immediately south of the Saganaga tonalite and exposes Gunflint iron formation consisting of approximately decimetre-scale layers of alternating massive magnetite and cherty grainstone. In places, the cherty grainstone layers are brecciated, with some fractures in-filled with magnetite. Bedding plane surfaces are uneven, ranging from flat-lying to having dips of up to 30°. This is likely attributable to the uneven unconformity surface that is present in this area. 2 15 668938 5331247 This is an outcrop of magnetite-rich grainstone located near the unconformity with the Saganaga tonalite. This outcrop contains centimetre- to decimetre-scale layers of magnetite- and chert-rich material, with approximately 80% of the layers in this outcrop consisting of nearly massive magnetite. Bedding at this location dips approximately 10° toward the south- southeast. 3 15 669305 5331291 Diabase (most likely a Logan sill) is present at this location immediately north of the unconformity. 4 15 669287 5331278 The unconformity between the Saganaga tonalite and Gunflint Formation grainstone is exposed at this location. 5 15 669309 5331276 Magnetite-bearing grainstone exposed on a flat outcrop surface. 6 15 669320 5331181 Magnetite-rich grainstone of the Lower Cherty member of the Gunflint Formation is exposed at this location approximately 100 m south of the unconformity. The outcrop exhibits centimetre- to decimetre-scale layering with alternating beds of material dominated by magnetite and chert. The chert-rich layers contain abundant nodules consisting largely of magnetite. A float boulder consisting of algal chert was observed adjacent to the outcrop at this location. 7 15 669730 5331272 This outcrop provides another exposure of the unconformity between the Saganaga tonalite and the Gunflint Formation. Thinly laminated chert and magnetite are present immediately above the tonalite, with the chert containing numerous linear fractures that appear to have originated as soft-sediment features (possible synaeresis cracks?). Some of the linear fractures observed in chert also cross-cut magnetite layers. 8 15 670251 5330895 This outcrop, which is located on high ground near the eastern end of the property, exposes Archean metasedimentary rocks. These rocks are strongly deformed, with foliation oriented 080/90. An S-fold was observed in the outcrop, which is also cross-cut by a lamprophyre dike. The outcrop is located immediately east of a fault shown on digital 1:250 000 scale map coverage (Ontario Geological Survey 2011) for the area, which is shown also on Figure 15. The location of this exposure of Archean rocks immediately east of the younger Gunflint Formation rocks suggests the possibility that rocks to the west of the fault have moved downward relative to those on the east side. 9 15 670112 5329942 Logan diabase sill.
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Outcrop No. Zone Easting Northing Description 10 15 669799 5330150 This outcrop exposure is located at a rock cut along the abandoned railway line and exposes brecciated chert, likely underlying the Sudbury impact layer that is located at the top of the Upper Slaty member of the Gunflint Formation. This outcrop also contains planar shear structures that appear to be related to faulting. A prominent shear zone on the south side of the abandoned rail line is oriented 160/60. Fractures on the northern rock face are oriented approximately 000/50. These features are likely to be related to the north-northeast-striking fault shown on Figure 15, immediately to the east.
11 15 669830 5330206 Brecciated chert is found near the top of a hill approximately 20 m above the former rail line. The apparent thickness of this horizon is much thicker than expected, possibly because of tectonic thickening related to faulting. 12 15 669568 5330335 This is another exposure of brecciated chert further to the west along the abandoned rail line. 13 15 668230 5330400 Logan diabase sill. 14 15 667593 5330080 A Logan diabase sill is exposed at this location. However, this exposure is notable for the presence of feldspar phenocrysts up to 9 cm in size. Such phenocrysts are often observed near the top of diabase sills. 15 15 667031 5329850 Two large angular float boulders interpreted to be derived from the Upper Cherty member of the Gunflint Formation are present at this location. The boulders consist of grainstone containing abundant magnetite grains within a chert-dominated matrix. Portions of the boulders consist of brecciated chert-magnetite iron formation. 16 15 668752 5330584 This exposure is located in a shale quarry and exposes rocks of the Upper Slaty member of the Gunflint Formation. The rocks here are magnetic, thin-bedded, fissile shales. 17 15 668773 5330689 This is an exposure of the Upper Cherty member of the Gunflint Formation. The material here is similar to the large float boulders at outcrop location no. 15. A prominent ridge immediately south of this outcrop exposes a section through the Upper Cherty member that is capped by a Logan diabase sill.
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Figure 15. Gunflint Lake iron property map, illustrating locations of outcrops described in Table 17.
DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The Gunflint Formation is the eastern extension of the Biwabik Iron Formation, which was bisected by the intrusive rocks of the Duluth Complex (Jirsa and Fralick 2010). The Biwabik Formation hosts the numerous current and past- producing iron mines located in northeastern Minnesota. The Gunflint Formation also hosts the Mt. Edna iron deposit, which is located to the northeast of Gunflint Lake and contains a historic resource of 270 million tons grading 26.9% iron (Shklanka 1968). As a result, the Gunflint Formation has considerable iron exploration potential.
As indicated above, it appears that the Gunflint Lake iron property is underlain by a nearly complete cross-section through the Gunflint Formation. Magnetite mineralization was also observed in rocks interpreted to be part of both the Lower and Upper Cherty members of the Gunflint Formation. Based on these observations, a systematic exploration program consisting of geological mapping, sampling, ground geophysical surveying and diamond drilling is warranted to establish the geometry and economic potential of the Gunflint Iron Formation on this property.
43 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
Figure 16. Photos from Gunflint Lake iron property. Top left, magnetite-rich grainstone near basal unconformity (outcrop no. 1). Top right, magnetite-bearing grainstone boulder (outcrop no. 15). Bottom left, chert breccia in Sudbury impact layer (outcrop no. 10). Bottom right, quarry face exposing rocks of Gunflint Formation Upper Slaty member (outcrop no. 16).
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXPLORATION Mine Centre Area Geochemical Survey Anomalies
The results of a high-density lake sediment and water geochemical survey of the Mine Centre area were published by the OGS in 2012 (Dyer and Burke 2012). This survey identified several precious metal, base metal and rare metal anomalies worthy of follow-up prospecting. These anomalies, described below, are situated in the portions of the survey undertaken within the Thunder Bay South District. Most of these anomalies are located in areas that are largely open for staking. Some of the most notable anomalies are highlighted below.
BEWAG–LEROME LAKES AREA (NTS 52F/02)
A corridor of chromium-nickel-copper-PGE-anomalous lake sediment samples was identified between Bewag and Lerome lakes. The southwestern end of the anomaly coincides with a distinctive aeromagnetic high (Ontario Geological Survey 1999). This area is also located in close proximity to the Quetico fault. The close association of the geochemical anomaly with a magnetic anomaly and major fault zone suggest that prospecting should be carried out in this area to search for a copper-nickel-PGE- mineralized mafic to ultramafic intrusion, similar to nearby
44 M.A. Puumala et al.
Quetico intrusions (cf. Pettigrew and Hattori 2006) At the time of writing, the entire area covered by this anomaly was open for staking.
REDHORSE–WISA LAKES AREAS (NTS 52C/08)
This area located within the Quetico metasedimentary basin displays lake sediment anomalies suggestive of mafic to ultramafic intrusion- (chromium-copper-nickel-anomalous) and pegmatite-(lithium-anomalous) hosted mineralization. The chromium-copper-nickel-anomalous response may be related to a nearby airborne magnetic anomaly related to previously documented mafic and ultramafic rocks (Chambers 1988). This area warrants follow- up prospecting for both mafic to ultramafic intrusion-hosted copper-nickel-PGE mineralization and lithium-bearing pegmatites. Another area with prospecting potential for lithium-bearing pegmatites was identified nearby in the vicinity of Wisa Lake, near a known lithium-bearing pegmatite (Breaks, Selway and Tindle 2003).
GEHL LAKE AREA (NTS 52C/09)
Highly anomalous arsenic concentrations were noted in both lake sediment and water near Gehl Lake. This area is near the intersection of the Seine River and Quetico faults. The anomalies are likely to be related to arsenopyrite mineralization in hydrothermally altered rocks in close proximity to these major fault zones. Arsenopyrite is commonly associated with gold mineralization. There is one documented gold occurrence in the Gehl Lake area (AFRI 52C09NE0020) that is associated with quartz-carbonate-altered metavolcanic rocks containing abundant arsenopyrite. Additional prospecting for gold is warranted in the Gehl Lake area, which is currently largely open for staking.
PEKAGONING LAKE AREA (NTS 52F/01)
This area, located within granitoid rocks of the White Otter batholith, had several locations with anomalous concentrations of gold in lake sediments. This area is not far from the Hammond Reef gold deposit, which is also hosted in granitoid rocks. The anomalous area also parallels a linear magnetic “low” (Ontario Geological Survey 1999). As a result, prospecting for gold-bearing structures in this area is warranted. At the time of writing, this entire area was open for staking.
As shown on Figure 17, there are also a number of other lake sediment anomalies that were identified during the Mine Centre lake sediment and water survey. For additional information, the reader is referred to Dyer and Burke (2012).
45 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
Figure 17. Areas with lake sediment geochemical anomalies that were identified during the OGS Mine Centre lake sediment and water geochemical survey carried out by Dyer and Burke (2012) (modified from Dyer and Burke 2012).
46 M.A. Puumala et al.
Targeting Contamination Centres and Structure in Search of Midcontinent Rift-Related Conduit-Hosted Nickel-Copper-PGE Deposits
The Midcontinent Rift (MCR) is a 1.1 billion year old large igneous province that produced voluminous magma in the form of dikes, sills and volcanic flows around the Lake Superior and Lake Nipigon areas. The Nipigon Embayment comprises the area around Lake Nipigon and is underlain by Mesoproterozoic rocks. It has been the focus of considerable exploration activity for nickel-copper-PGE mineralization over the past several years. Positive results include the recent discovery of the Thunder Bay North (TBN) igneous complex (Heggie et al. 2012), located southwest of Lake Nipigon, 50 km northeast of Thunder Bay. The TBN complex comprises a series of layered intrusions, dikes, sills and chonoliths emplaced early in MCR history with mineralization characterized by massive, semi-massive and disseminated sulphides (Miller, Smyk and Hollings 2010; Heggie et al. 2012). In addition to the TBN complex, several mafic-ultramafic intrusions (Seagull, Disraeli, Hele, Eva–Kitto) have been the target of much exploration activity. These mafic-ultramafic intrusions are interpreted to have been intruded along lithospheric- scale fault intersections allowing for the tapping of deeply sourced, primitive magma (Hart and MacDonald 2007). Pre-existing Archean structures have been shown to have had considerable influence on the development of early MCR structures and subsequently, the emplacement of mafic-ultramafic intrusions, including the TBN complex (Hollings et al. 2010; Heggie et al. 2012). Major structures within the Nipigon Embayment and the surrounding and underlying Archean Wabigoon and Quetico subprovinces, as outlined in Hart and MacDonald (2007), are shown in Figure 18.
Chonolith systems are widely interpreted to be the plumbing or feeder systems for overlying volcanic flows or intrusive sills (e.g., Noril’sk, Russia) and are desirable targets for nickel-copper-PGE deposits. Recent evaluation of a large geochemical data set for intrusive rocks associated with the MCR has revealed subtle variations within the Nipigon sills that may serve as an exploration targeting tool in search of the feeder systems to the sill complex (Cundari 2012). This investigation revealed 3 distinct Nipigon sill types based on Th/Ybpm ratios and εNd(t=1100 Ma) values:
● Nipigon type I sill (Th/Ybpm = 1.97 to 3.4; εNd(t=1100 Ma) = -0.5 to -1.5);
● Nipigon type II sill (Th/Ybpm = 3.4 to 5.0; εNd(t=1100 Ma) = -1.5 to -3.0); and
● Nipigon type III sill (Th/Ybpm = 5.0 to 6.5; εNd(t=1100 Ma) = -5.0 to -7.0).
Nipigon sill type I represents the least-contaminated suite; type II represents sills that display moderate contamination and type III represents the most-contaminated sills. The more-contaminated nature of Nipigon sill types II and III are interpreted to be due to those magmas having undergone more interaction with the country rocks. More-contaminated sills are distributed in clusters which can be termed contamination foci, or centres. The 2 lines of evidence outlined above may serve as exploration tools in search of desirable target rocks that may host nickel- copper-PGE mineralization. The most significant contamination and subsequent sulphide-saturation of a magma suitable for generation of a nickel-copper-PGE deposit is likely to take place in the staging chamber below the near- surface conduit or feeder to overlying magmatism. Sulphide droplets then scavenge metals from the chamber and concentrate in conduits or feeders during emplacement (e.g., Voisey’s Bay, Noril’sk) (further reading Schulz and Cannon 1997). Contamination centres within the Nipigon Embayment may serve as targets for the discovery of feeder systems to the sills, as more-contaminated sills are likely to be located proximal to feeder zones. Potential feeder systems may be targeted based on the presence of highly contaminated sills in conjunction with the intersection of major structures. Figure 18 outlines areas that remain unstaked in the Thunder Bay South District and which satisfy one or both of the criteria described here. Caution should be taken with these criteria as the data gathered and presented here were based on the re-evaluation of an existing data set. Locating feeder systems can be difficult as overlying Nipigon sills and Quaternary sediments may inhibit remote sensing techniques and conceal desirable mafic-ultramafic host rocks.
47 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
Figure 18. Map of the Nipigon Embayment showing Nipigon sill types I, II and III defined by Th/Ybpm values. Bedrock geology from Ontario Geological Survey (2011). Major faults after Hart and MacDonald (2007). Active mining claims as of December 3, 2012.
48 M.A. Puumala et al.
Gold and Base Metals near White Pine Lake (Begin and Lamport Townships)
During the 1990s, the Ontario Geological Survey carried out geological and geochemical surveys in the Shebandowan greenstone belt in areas that included Begin and Lamport townships (Osmani 1997; Bajc 2000; Jackson 2001). These surveys identified a number of interesting lithogeochemical, till and lake sediment geochemical anomalies that have garnered limited exploration activity since that time and warrant a second look.
Of particular interest are a number of observations that point toward the potential for new gold discoveries in close proximity to the Tinto Lake fault. This is an approximately northeast-striking structure that extends through both Begin and Lamport townships as shown in Figure 19. The fault also appears as a distinctive linear feature on the OGS provincial-scale geophysical map coverage (Ontario Geological Survey 1999). Both the high-density lake sediment data of Jackson (2001) and the till data of Bajc (2000) show a number of arsenic anomalies in close proximity to the Tinto Lake fault. Arsenic is often closely associated with gold and was used successfully as a gold exploration tool nearby in the Gold Creek area (Chorlton 1987). Although not as pronounced, some gold, zinc and lead geochemical anomalies were also reported in the vicinity of the fault.
Osmani (1997) identified the White Pine Lake (formerly Pinecone Lake) area as a location with the potential for new gold and base metal discoveries. Pyrite- and chalcopyrite-bearing shear zones that occur in subsidiary structures to the Tinto Lake fault are found in gabbro and amphibolite south of White Pine Lake. Quartz veins and shear zones containing anomalous concentrations of gold also occur to the north and southwest of White Pine Lake. The most significant of these is an occurrence in an iron carbonatized quartz vein that crosscuts iron formation 670 m south of Horseshoe Lake (Osmani 1997).
The White Pine Lake area has also been identified as the location of significant copper, nickel and PGE anomalies in lake sediment and till (Jackson 2001; Bajc 2000). Numerous mafic intrusions were mapped by Osmani (1997) in the general area of these anomalies. These factors suggest that the White Pine Lake area has the potential for the discovery of mafic to ultramafic intrusion-hosted copper-nickel-PGE mineralization.
Another observation that points toward the merits of prospecting for gold and base metals in proximity to the Tinto Lake fault is the fact that it has a similar orientation (i.e., northeast-striking) to the Boundary fault zone and Burchell Lake fault in the western Shebandowan greenstone belt. Those northeast-striking faults have close spatial association with a number of occurrences of significant gold and copper mineralization, including the Huronian, Moss Lake and North Coldstream deposits (Osmani 1997).
At the present time, most of Begin Township and the southern portions of Lamport Township are open for staking.
49 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012 ng the Tinto Lake fault and thearea between Horseshoe andWhite Pine Lake where lake sediment
Geological map of Begin and Lamport townships illustrati townships Lamport and Begin of map Geological
geochemical anomalies were identified by Jackson (2001). Figure 19. Geological map of Begin and Lamport townships illustrating the Tinto Lake fault and the area between Horseshoe and Figure 19. White Pine Lake where lake sediment geochemical anomalies were identified by Jackson (2001).
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OGS ACTIVITIES AND RESEARCH BY OTHERS
D.E. Ames (Geological Survey of Canada) is leading a Targeted Geoscience Initiative 4 (TGI-4) nickel-copper- PGE-chromium project studying hydrothermal-magmatic copper-PGE-rich systems. This is part of a five-year (2010–2015) collaborative federal–provincial geoscience program involving contributions from federal and provincial government agencies, research institutions and the mineral exploration and mining sector (Ames et al. 2012). Three of these projects, focused on Mesoproterozoic Midcontinent Rift-related mafic intrusions, are located in the Thunder Bay South District and are highlighted below.
M. Brzozowski (University of Windsor) is working on an MSc project with the objective to characterize variations, if any, in the chemistry of fracture-fill minerals which may be used as exploration vectors for copper-PGE. Variations in fracture and vesicle mineral chemistry will be assessed at the Geordie Lake deposit and compared to those at the nearby Marathon deposit. Meghji (University of Western Ontario) is carrying out an MSc study of the origin of platinum group mineralization in the Geordie Lake deposit, located in the Coldwell Alkalic Complex near Marathon. Preliminary investigations indicate that, as with the Main Zone at Marathon, the Geordie Lake copper- palladium mineralization is spatially associated with moderate to intense alteration within a heterogeneous gabbro. B. Trevisan (Lakehead University) has begun an MSc project studying the PGE-mineralized Thunder intrusion, located immediately north of Thunder Bay. Objectives of the study include defining the mineralogical and geochemical signature of the intrusion; establishing the geochemical vectoring capability by characterizing the alteration footprint of the intrusion in the surrounding country rocks; and establishing practical mineralogical and geochemical exploration criteria for hidden mafic to ultramafic ore systems by relating the intrusion and/or mineralization to other fertile and barren intrusive units within the Midcontinent Rift.
R.M. Cundari (OGS Resident Geologist Program) and P. Hollings (Lakehead University, Thunder Bay) continue to be involved in research into the refinement of the geochronology of Midcontinent Rift–related intrusions.
R.D. Dyer (Earth Resources and Geoscience Mapping Section, OGS, Sudbury) carried out field work for a high- density lake sediment and water geochemical survey of the Current Lake area between August 12 and August 15, 2012. The survey area was near the town of Dorion, approximately 50 km northeast of the city of Thunder Bay. This area covers a gap in lake sediment geochemistry coverage within the southeastern corner of the Lac des Iles survey area (Dyer 2012).
R.W.D. Lodge (Mineral Exploration Research Centre, Department of Earth Sciences, Laurentian University, Sudbury) continued his study of the volcanology, stratigraphy and geodynamic setting of 2720 million-year-old greenstone belts near the Wawa–Quetico subprovince boundary. The preliminary results of uranium-lead geochronology from the Shebandowan greenstone belt were reported in 2012 (Lodge 2012).
Y. Lu (Centre for Exploration Targeting, School of Earth and Environment, University of Western Australia) is working on a geochemical and geochronological study to better define terrane boundaries within the Wabigoon Subprovince of northwestern Ontario. Many mineral deposit types tend to occur near terrane boundaries, and knowledge of their locations can help to focus mineral exploration programs. Thunder Bay South Resident Geologist Program staff assisted with the collection of field samples for this study during 2012.
A. Smirnov, J. Diehl, E. Kulakov and E. Piispa (Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Michigan Technical University, Houghton, Michigan) continued with their paleomagnetic and geochronological re- investigation of the Coldwell Complex (ca. 1.1 Ga), generating implications for the reversal asymmetry in Keweenawan rocks.
A. Vaughan and N.L. Swanson-Hysell (Department of Geology, Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota) have a paleomagnetic study in progress, focussing on the Osler Volcanic Group and associated interflow sedimentary rocks
51 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012 in the Lake Superior archipelago. A. Vaughan will work on the project for his senior thesis project and is currently developing data at the Institute for Rock Magnetism.
M.J. Zieg (Department of Geography, Geology and the Environment, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania) continued his ongoing research of mafic sill emplacement in describing textural evidence for multiple injection events in a Nipigon diabase sill.
Faculty and students at Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, have recently completed, or currently are involved in, a number of research projects in the Thunder Bay South District, as shown in Table 19. Publications received in the Thunder Bay South Resident Geologist office in 2012 are shown in Table20.
Table 19. Lakehead University BSc (Hons) and MSc thesis research projects.
Student Research Topic(s) – Faculty Member BSc (Hons) Theses:
Patrick Belshaw Liquid immiscibility in tholeiites (in progress) Supervisor: Dr. Stephen Kissin
Allison Buonocore Distribution of Fluoride in Groundwater in Different Bedrock of Thunder Bay and Surrounding Area (2012) (completed) Michael D’Angelo Igneous Textures and Mineralogy of the Steepledge Intrusive Complex (in progress) Supervisor: Dr. Peter Hollings Stephen Greiner Kinetic Humidity Cell Testing of Waste Rock from the Former Steep Rock Iron Mines, Ontario (In progress) Supervisor: Dr. Andrew Conly Simon Horner Silicified Stromatolites in the Gunflint Formation, Kakabeka Falls and Current River, Northwest Ontario (completed) (2012) George Kemper- Sedimentology of the Lower Outan Island Formation and Kama Hill Formation, Sibley Group Lukasevics Supervisor: Dr. Philip Fralick (in progress) Jesse Koroscil Deformation in the Gunflint Formation (In Progress) Supervisor: Dr. Mary Louise Hill Ben Kuzmich Geochemistry and Petrology of the Dog Lake Granite Chain, Quetico Basin, Northwestern Ontario (2012) (completed) Daniel Lafreniere A Regional Geochemical Study of the Gunflint Formation (in progress) Supervisor: Dr. Philip Fralick Josh Selagi Microstructural Analysis of Porcellaneous Syenite within the Coldwell Complex (2012) (Completed) Christopher Yip Sedimentology and Geochemistry of a Regressive Surface in the Gunflint Formation (in progress) Supervisor: Dr. Philip Fralick
MSc Theses:
Robert Cundari Geology and Geochemistry of Midcontinent Rift-Related Igneous Rocks around Thunder Bay (2012) (completed)
Nathan Forslund Alteration and Fluid Characterization of the Hamlin Lake IOCG Occurrence, Northwestern Ontario, Canada (completed) (2011)
Monica Karman Sedimentology of the Interval Adjacent to the Sudbury Impact Layer in the Lake Superior Basin (in progress) Supervisor: Dr. Philip Fralick
Leah Kerkermeier Arsenic adsorption in recent Fe-Mn lacustrine precipitates (in progress) Supervisor: Dr. Philip Fralick
Ben Kowalczyk Alteration of the “C” Zone of the Hemlo Gold Deposit, Ontario (in progress) Supervisor: Dr. Andrew Conly
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Student Research Topic(s) – Faculty Member Larissa Mikkelsen Preliminary Hydrodynamic Modeling of the Steep Rock Pit Lakes, Atikokan, Ontario (2011) (Stevens) (completed)
Lindsay Moore Melt-Volatile Partitioning of Co and Ni in the Haplogranite-NaCl-KCl-H2O System (in progress) Supervisor: Drs. Andrew Conly and Steve Kissin
Skylar Schmidt Structural Control of Mineralization at Lac des Iles Mine (in progress) Supervisor: Dr. Mary Louise Hill
Christine Shultis Geoarchaeological Investigation of a Large Paleoindian (~10,500 cal BP) Campsite in the Northwestern (in progress) Lake Superior Basin Supervisor: Dr. Matt Boyd and Dr. Philip Fralick
Bret Timmis Nutrient Controls on the Effectiveness of Sulphate Reducing Permeable Reactive Barriers (in progress) Supervisor: Dr. Andrew Conly
Brent Trevisan Geology and Geochemistry of the MCR-Related Thunder Intrusion (in progress) Supervisor: Dr. Peter Hollings
Table 20. Publications received by the Thunder Bay South Resident Geologist’s Office in 2012.
Title Author(s) Type and Year of Publication Institute on Lake Superior Geology Proceedings 2012, Thunder Institute on Lake Superior Institute on Lake Superior Geology Bay, Ontario; Geology Proceedings, v. 58 (2012) Part 1: Programs and Abstracts; Part 2: Field Trip Guidebook: #1 and #13 Sudbury Impactoclastic Debrisites at Thunder Bay #2 Geology of the Sibley Peninsula #3 Lac des Iles Mine #4 Shebandowan Mine Area #5 Geology of the Thunder Bay Area; #6 Thunder Bay Amethyst Mine; #7 Building Stone Tour of Downtown Port Arthur, Thunder Bay; #8 Highway 527 Transect; #9 Rehabilitation of the Past-Producing Shebandowan and North Coldstream Mine Sites; #10 Geoarchaeology of Thunder Bay; #11 Midcontinent Rift Intrusions; #12 Musselwhite Mine Index to Maps, Bedrock Geology, 1991–2011 Ontario Geological Survey Ontario Geological Survey, set of 4 maps, scale 1:1 000 000 (2012) Index to Maps, Surficial Geology, 1991–2011 Ontario Geological Survey Ontario Geological Survey, set of 4 maps, scale 1:1 000 000 (2012) Miscellaneous Paper (MP) 177 (Supplement 2011): Index to Ontario Geological Survey Ontario Geological Survey, Miscellaneous Published Reports, Maps and Digital Data, 2011 Paper 177 (Supplement 2011), 2012 MP177 (Supplement 2011) (PDF, 0.3Mb) Miscellaneous Paper (MP) 178 (Supplement 2011): Geographic Ontario Geological Survey Ontario Geological Survey, Miscellaneous Index to Published Reports, Maps and Digital Data, 2011 Paper 178 (Supplement 2011), 2012 MP178 (Supplement 2011) PDF, 0.5Mb) Report of Activities 2011, Resident Geologist Program, Thunder D.A. Campbell, J.F. Scott, Ontario Geological Survey, Open File Bay South Regional Resident Geologist Report: Thunder Bay A. Cooke, M.R. Brunelle, Report 6273, 74p. (2012); South District H.C. Lockwood and OFR6273 (PDF, 20.6Mb) A.C. Wilson Summary of Field Work and Other Activities, 2012 Ontario Geological Survey Ontario Geological Survey, Open File Report 6280, 484p. (2012) OFR6280 (PDF, 140.1Mb)
53 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
Title Author(s) Type and Year of Publication Mine Centre Area Lake Sediment and Water Geochemical R.D. Dyer and H.E. Burke Ontario Geological Survey, Open File Survey, Northwestern Ontario Report 6281, 179p. (2012) OFR6281 (PDF, 55.5Mb) Winston Lake and Manitouwadge Revisited: Modern Views of R.W.D. Lodge Ontario Geological Survey, Open File Two Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS)-Endowed Report 6282, 34p. (2012) Greenstone Belts. A Field Trip Guidebook OFR6282 (PDF, 10.8Mb) Lake Sediment and Water Geochemical Data from the Mine R.D. Dyer and H.E. Burke Ontario Geological Survey, Miscellaneous Centre Area, Northwestern Ontario Release – Data 296 (2012) MRD296 (PDF, 0.3Mb; ZIP, 2.1Mb) Lithogeochemistry of the Dog Lake Granite Chain, Northwestern B. Kuzmich, P. Hollings Ontario Geological Survey, Miscellaneous Ontario and D.A. Campbell Release – Data 295 (2012) MRD295 (PDF, 0.2Mb; ZIP, 1.2Mb) Aggregate Test Results for Various Rock Types in Ontario D.J. Rowell and Ontario Geological Survey, Miscellaneous J.E.P. Dodge Release-Data 297 (2012) MRD297 (PDF, 0.2Mb; ZIP, 3.8Mb) Ontario Rhyolite Database – Northwestern Ontario and the B.R. Berger and J.E. Ontario Geological Survey, Miscellaneous Grenville Province Chartrand Release-Data 297 (2012) MRD298 (PDF, 0.2Mb; ZIP, 37.6Kb) The Radiogenic Isotope Characteristics of Dikes and Sills P. Hollings, M. Smyk, and Precambrian Research, 214–215, 269–279. Associated with the Mesoproterozoic Midcontinent Rift Near B. Cousens doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2011.11.006 Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. (2012)
Mineral deposits not currently being mined in the Thunder Bay South District are shown in Table 21 below.
Table 21. Mineral deposits not being mined in the Thunder Bay South Resident Geologist’s District in 2012.
Abbreviations AF ...... Assessment Files MLS ...... Mining Lands, Sudbury CMH...... Canadian Mines Handbook MR ...... Mining Recorder GR ...... Geological Report NM ...... The Northern Miner MDC...... Mineral Deposit Circular OFR ...... Open File Report MDIR ...... Mineral Deposit Inventory record PC ...... Personal Communication
Deposit Name Commodity Tonnage-Grade Estimates Ownership Reserve Status and NTS and/or Dimensions References Anderson Lake Mo 1 346 000 T A. Onchulenko W.N. Ingham Active 52A/10NE (grade not stated) (June 16, 1959) in Lindsay Explorations Ltd., prospectus (June 19, 1959)
Ardeen Mine Au Inferred Resource of Coventry Resources The Ontario Prospector, Active 52B/10SE,SW 1 082 939 t @ 14.4 g/t Au (uncut) Limited and Pele v.1, no.3, p.35 (1998); Mountain Resources CMH 2002–2003, p.335 Inc.
Atikokan Iron Mine Fe, Cu 12 000 000 T @ 35% Fe, K. Bjorkman NM (October 26, 1972) Inactive 52B/14 0.040% Cu (Resident Geologist’s files)
Aumacho (Brink) Li 759 475 T @ 1.65% Li2O, Rock Tech Resources GR 31, p.64 Active 42E/05SW plus 96 000 T @ 1.5% Li2O Inc.
54 M.A. Puumala et al.
Deposit Name Commodity Tonnage-Grade Estimates Ownership Reserve Status and NTS and/or Dimensions References Chrome Lake Mine Cr "E Zone": 25,000 tons @ 12% Timmico Metals. OFR 5889, 1994, Active 52H/14NW Cr2O3, "A Zone": 1 MT @ 7% p 41-42 Cr2O3, "G Zone": 1.5 MT @ 2.3% Cr2O3
Coco–Estelle Au 53 700 t @ 10.7 g/t Au Claims restaked in AF Inactive 42E/03SW 2010, dispute filed, proceedings pending
Dead Horse Creek Pb, Zn, Ag 14 000 T @ 1.45% Pb, 7.28% Zn, Canadian AF Active North 8.27 ounces Ag per ton International 42D/15SE Minerals Inc.
Dead Horse Creek Pb, Zn, Ag 35 000 T and 36 000 T (Zones 1 Canadian AF Active South and 2) @ 19.87% Pb, 9.08% Zn, International 42D/15SE 27.65 ounces Ag per ton Minerals Inc.
Dorion Mine Pb, Zn Maximum of 35 000 T @ 10% Pb K. Haskell Andowan Mines Ltd., Inactive 52A/15 prospectus, March 30, 1957
Fern Elizabeth Au 250 000 T @ 4.57 g/t Au Redpine Exploration CMH 1998–1999, p.309 Active Mine Inc. / R. Moffat joint 52B/13SE venture
Geordie Lake Pd, Au, Ag, 32.42 Mt @ 0.61 g/t Pd, Stillwater Mining Marathon PGM Active 42D/16SW Cu 0.04 g/t Pt, 0.05 g/t Au, Company Corporation, news 2.93 g/t Ag, 0.37 % Cu release, May 4, 2010 for 641 000 ounces Pd, 39 510 ounces Pt, 49 700 ounces Au, 3 057 800 ounces Ag, 263 670 000 lbs Cu (Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource) NI 43-101-compliant
Great Lakes Nickel Cu, Ni, PGE Historical indicated resource: Rio Tinto Exploration CMH 2002–2003, p.197 Active 52A/4SE 45.6 MT @ 0.344% Cu, Canada Inc. / Great 0.183% Ni, 0.0043 opt Pt, Lakes Nickel Limited 0.021 opt Pd
Hammond Reef Au NI 43-101 In Pit Resource with Osisko Mining Osisko Mining Active 52B/14NW cut-off grade 0.32 g/t: Measured: Corporation Corporation, News 175.3 M Tonnes @ 0.75 g/t Au Release, January 31, for a total of 4.25 M Oz. 2013 Indicated: 54.1 M tonnes @ 0.61 g/t Au for a total of 1.06 M Oz
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Deposit Name Commodity Tonnage-Grade Estimates Ownership Reserve Status and NTS and/or Dimensions References Hemlo (Interlake) Au 10.8 MT @ 0.216 ounce Au per Barrick Gold Franco-Nevada Mining Active 42C/12NW ton (= 2 328 000 ounces gold) Corporation has Corporation Limited, agreement with First-Quarter Report Newmont Mining (1999) Corporation of Canada Limited (Newmont Capital) (CMH 2002–2003, p.170)
Jack Lake Au Possible: 75 000 T Osisko Mining OFR 5332, p.J-7; Active 52B/14SW @ 0.35 ounce Au per ton and Corporation Annual Report, 3000 T @ 0.30 ounce Au per ton; Asamera Inc. (1981) or 100 000 T @ 0.45 ounce Au per ton
Kaministikwia Fe 190 MT that could produce Inland Steel MDC 11, p.374 Inactive Prospect 47.5 MT of concentrate Company 52A/12 62.85% Fe
Lac La Croix Li 1.525 MT @ 1.27% Li2O Within Quetico AF Not available for 52B/05SW Provincial Park exploration or development
M.N.W. Li 40 000 T “high-grade Li” Rock Tech Resources GSC Economic Geology Active 52H/04NE Inc. Report 21, p.61; Golden Nugget Exploration Inc. (CMH 2002–2003, p.190; Resident Geologist’s files)
Marathon Cu-PGE Cu, Ni, PGE Proven and Probable: 91.45 Mt Stillwater Mining Marathon PGM Active Project grading 0.832 g/t Pd, 0.237 g/t Pt, Company Corporation, news 42D/16SW 0.085 g/t Au, 0.247% Cu and release, January 11, 1.44 g/t Ag, containing 2010 2.44 million ounces palladium, 696 000 ounces platinum, 251 000 ounces gold, 497 million pounds copper and 4.23 million ounces silver NI 43-101 compliant
Matawin Iron Fe 120 MT @ 29.56% Fe Canadian MDC 11, p.376 Active Range (Monpre), International Duckworth, Laurie Minerals Inc. and Horne townships 52B/09 and 52A/12
Moss Lake Au Indicated resource: 39 795 000 t Moss Lake Gold Moss Lake Gold Mines Active (Snodgrass Lake) grading 1.1 g/t for a total of 1 377 Mines Inc. Ltd., news release, 300 oz; Inferred Resource: 50 364 February 20, 2013 000 t grading 1.1 g/t for a total of 1 751 600 oz
Mt. Edna Prospect Fe 270 MT @ 26.9% Fe Canada Iron Inc. MDC 11, p.386 Active (Gunflint property) 52B/08 and 52B/01
56 M.A. Puumala et al.
Deposit Name Commodity Tonnage-Grade Estimates Ownership Reserve Status and NTS and/or Dimensions References Nicopor Ni, Cu 185 000 T @ 0.48% Ni, B. Fowler Zenmac Metal Mines Inctive 42D/14NW 0.26% Cu (0-90 m); Ltd., Annual Report plus (1970) 190 000 T @ 0.40% Ni, 0.12% Cu (90-180 m)
North Shore Au Geological reserves of 2 Mt Balmoral Resources Resident Geologist’s Active 42D/14SW @ 2.2 g/t Au (Afric zone) Inc. / joint-venture files; Autotrac Ltd. Explored in 1997 by Cyprus partner GTA (CMH 2002–2003, Canada Inc. Resources and p.230) Mining Inc.
Ontario Lithium Li 1.18 MT @ 1.084% Li2O Golden Dory CMH 1997–1998, p.250 Active (Jackpot) Resources Inc. / 42E/05SW joint-venture partner Super Metals and Mining Inc.
Osmani Deposit Au NI 43-101 Resource with cut-off Foundation Foundation Resources Active (formerly East grade of 0.4 g/t. Indicated: 3.5 M Resources Inc. Inc., news release, Coldstream) tonnes @ 0.85 g/t Au for a total of September 20, 2011 96 400 oz Au. Inferred 30.5 M tonnes @ 0.78 g/t Au for a total of 763 276 oz Au
Pick Lake Cu, Zn Upper and Middle Zone: Orebot Inc., optioned AFRO # 2.45096 Active 42D/14NW [email protected] % Zn and 0.77% to Silvore Fox
Cu; Lower Zone: 1.2 Mt @ Minerals Corp. 15.9%Zn and 0.86% Cu
Pistol Lake Au Pistol Lake JF’s West zone: Golden Share Mining Golden Share Mining Active 52B/09NW Inferred Resource: Corp. Corporation, news 2 857 200 t @ 1.64 g/t Au release, October 4, 2011 for a total of 150 699 ounces Au (at 1.00 g/t Au cut off); or Inferred Resource: 851 000 t @ 2.62 g/t Au for a total of 71 700 ounces Au (at 2.00 g/t Au cut off) NI 43-101-compliant
Powell Au 250 000 T @ 0.25 opt Au Benton Resources NM (January 22, 1990) Active 52B/07SW Corp.
Prairie Lake U, Nb, REE, 515 to 630 Mt grading Nuinsco Resources Nuinsco Resources Active 42E/02SE wollastonite 0.09-0.11% niobium (0.9-1.1 kg/t) Limited Limited, news release; and 3.0-4.0% phosphorus October 26, 2011 (1.2-1.4 kg P/t)
Sally Lake Area Cu, Fe, Ti, P 60 MT @ 0.2% Cu, 27% Fe, Stillwater Mining (Bell and Bell 1991; Active plus Lake 3 Area - 5% Ti, 5% P; Company AFRO# 2.14737) northwest of plus Newmont Mining Sally Lake 32 MT @ 0.3% Cu, 23% Fe, Corporation of Canada 42D/16NW,SW 0.02% Ni, 2.48% Ti, 0.36% P Limited (Newmont Capital) (CMH 2002– 2003, p.170)
Sapawe Mine Au 528 614 T @ 0.31 opt Au 1648893 Ontario Ltd. Sapawe Gold Mines Rehabilitation 52B/14SW Ltd., news release, March 10, 1995
Sawbill Lake Au 66 600 T @ 0.20 opt Au Osisko Mining OFR 5332, p.J-4 Active 52B/14 Corporation
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Deposit Name Commodity Tonnage-Grade Estimates Ownership Reserve Status and NTS and/or Dimensions References Schreiber–Pyramid Au 107 T @ 0.71 opt Au Strike Minerals Inc. Resident Geologist’s Active 42D/14SE files Silver Mountain Ag 60 000 T @ 5.0 opt Ag, Lakehead University NM (October 28, 1954) Inactive 52A/04NW 12% CaF2 Silver Islet Ag 115 000 T @ 40 ounces Ag per Cross Estate MP 71, p.44; Inactive 52A/07SW ton in dump, plus MDC 10, p.74; 300 000 ounces Ag in roof pillar; NM (October 18, 1979); or 1 050 000 ounces Ag NM (February 10, 1983) plus 750 000 ounces Ag in pillars and stopes Stewart–Fire Tower Au 4.5 Mt inferred ValGold Resources Caracle Creek Active 52A/12SE @ 0.069 g/t Au for calculated Ltd. International Consulting reserve of 3 130 820 g Au Inc., news release, or 100 658 ounces Au January 30, 2006 NI 43-101-compliant Sunbeam Au 4410 T @ 0.42 opt Au TerraX Minerals Inc. OFR 5332, p.J-2 Active 52B/14 Swamp River Au Band Ore deposit: historical Golden Share Mining CMH 2002–2003, p.52 Active (Band Ore) resources of 251 271 ounces Au Corporation Golden Share Mining 52B/09SE within 2 principal zones: Corp., news release, Main Zone: October 4, 2011 706 000 t @ 6.86 g/t Au; # 4 Zone: 616 000 t @ 4.83 g/t Au) Thunder Bay North Pt, Pd, Cu, Ni Open pit indicated resource of Panoramic Resources Magma Metals Ltd., Active 8.64 Mt @ 1.04 g/t Pt, 0.98 g/t Pd, Ltd. news release, February
0.25% Cu, 0.18% Ni 23, 2012 Underground indicated resource of 1.369 Mt @ 1.65 g/t Pt, 1.54 g/t Pd, 0.43%Cu, 0.24% Ni Vanguard Cu, Zn, Au, East Vanguard: 100 000 T Trillium North Allegheny Mines Active gold 52B/09NW Ag @ 1.8% Cu, 3.4% Zn, Minerals Ltd. / joint- Corporation, news exploration to the 0.22 opt Ag, 0.06 to 0.19 opt Au venture partner release, November 4, east of the Benton Resources 1997 Vanguard deposit Corp. Vanguard Cu, Zn, Au, West Vanguard: ~200 000 T Trillium North Allegheny Mines Active 52B/09NW Ag @ 1.3% Cu, 1% to 2% Zn, Minerals Ltd. Corporation, news 0.28 opt Ag release, November 4, 1997 Vegan-Newkirk Li 750 000 T@ 1.38% Li2O Canadian Orebodies GR31 (1965) Active 42E/05SW Inc. Willecho and Cu, Zn, Ag 759 448 T @ 4.42% Zn, Xstrata Canada Willroy Mines Ltd., Inactive; Willroy 0.28% Cu, 1.47 opt Ag Corporation Annual Report (1976) rehabilitation 42F/04NW (combined) Winston Lake Cu, Zn 598 000 t @ 1.0% Cu, 21.2% Zn Inmet Mining Inmet Mining Inactive; 42D/14NW (incl. 33% dilution) Corporation Corporation, personal rehabilitation communication, 1999
Wisa Lake Li 330 000 T @ 1.15% Li2O Dan Patrie Lexindin Gold Mines Active 52C/08NE Exploration Ltd., Manager’s Report (1958) Note: This table contains tonnage and grade estimates referred to as reserves (indicated, measured, possible, probable), which were determined at various times by methods largely unreported. None of these estimates, unless otherwise stated, are known to conform to the standards required for National Instrument (NI) 43-101. All should be considered inferred mineral resources not reserves.
Unit abbreviations used: lbs = pounds; Mt = million tonnes; opt = ounces per ton; oz = ounce(s); t = tonnes.
58 M.A. Puumala et al.
REGIONAL LAND USE GEOLOGIST ACTIVITIES Land Use Planning Activities The northwest Regional Land Use Geologist, based in Thunder Bay, co-ordinates input into land use planning activities in the Thunder Bay South, Thunder Bay North, and Red Lake–Kenora Resident Geologist districts. Hugh C. Lockwood, P.Geo., filled this position from January through June, 2012. The position was vacant from July through November, and essential job duties were shared between Gary Grabowski, P.Geo., Acting northwest Regional Land Use Geologist, Debbie Laidlaw, P.Geo., southern Regional Land Use Geologist, and Ruth Debicki, P.Geo., Land Use Policy and Planning Co-ordinator. They were supported by other staff members in the Thunder Bay Regional Office and District offices in the northwest. The position was filled in December by Ryan Tuomi.
The objectives of the position are to • effectively represent mineral-related values in the context of competing interests for land use; • optimize the land base available for mineral exploration and development; • raise awareness within the mineral sector of the implications of legislation and regulations other than the Mining Act on their activities; and • promote awareness of how geoscience serves the public good, including by – establishing base-line environmental values; – identifying sources of minerals and energy to support sustainable economic activity; and – highlighting areas where natural geological hazards and mining-related hazards pose a threat to people and property. The competing interests for land use vary from place to place across the province, but most have the potential to restrict the availability of land, access to it, and/or the activities on it. In 2012, the northwest Regional Land Use Geologist dealt with a variety of land use planning issues throughout the Northwest Region; the following sections summarize issues, and describe the work that was done.
CROWN LANDS
The Ministry of Northern Development and Mines (MNDM) engages with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) when Crown land use planning activities have the potential to impact Provincial mineral interests. These activities include Forest Management Planning, energy and other major infrastructure projects, Far North land use planning, proposed parks, and various other initiatives related to Crown land use.
Forest Management Planning
The forest management planning process involves consideration of a wide range of values including mineral values in the context of forestry activities, and the relevance of legislation other than the Crown Forest Sustainability Act, including the Mining Act. The northwest Regional Land Use Geologist normally provides input into the development of forest management plans, including • the distribution of areas of high mineral potential, so that forestry planners are aware of areas where there may be pressures from the mineral sector for access for exploration; • the locations of existing mining claims and leases, so that exploration workings such as grid lines are not inadvertently damaged or destroyed by forestry activities; • information regarding current exploration and development activities in the area; • the location of mining-related hazards, so that forestry workers are not put at risk; and • the socio-economic impact of mineral exploration and mining in the forest management unit, so that its importance can be considered in the context of other sectors such as tourism that may be active within the forest management unit.
59 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
Formal comments and mineral values maps were provided for the English River forest management unit in 2012. The data provided included past mineral production; known mineral resources; the locations of mining land tenure and mining-related hazards; and a discussion of current exploration activity and trends.
Approved Forest Management Plans, with detailed information about annual operations including plans for creating new access routes or decommissioning existing routes, and maps showing forest access roads are posted on the MNR website at www.appefmp.mnr.gov.on.ca/eFMP/home.do?language=en.
Far North Land Use Planning
Providing geoscience advice in support of the community-based land use planning initiatives of First Nation communities in the Far North remains a priority in the Northwest Region. In 2012, the northwest Regional Land Use Geologist, together with other Resident Geologist Program staff members, continued to work with MNR staff on Far North land use planning initiatives.
In 2012, new mineral values mapping and mineral industry activity information was provided for several communities currently in the land use planning process, including Wawakapewin First Nation, Mishkeegogamang First Nation, Eabametoong First Nation, and Kasabonika First Nation. Presentations on MNDM’s role in community-based land use planning were also given to the Wawakapewin First Nation land use planning committee and to a meeting with Chiefs and land use planning staff from Windigo Tribal Council member communities.
Withdrawal Orders
Other work related to Crown land use in the Northwest Region included reviews of 9 applications for withdrawal of lands from staking under Section 35 of the Mining Act. Some applications were for surface rights only; some were for mining rights only; and some were for both surface and mining rights. The requests were done for a wide range of reasons, including • the expansion of a sawmill site; • the management of private land in the MNR Stewardship program; • support for First Nation land claim/treaty entitlement negotiations; and • facilitating Ministry of Transportation review of aggregate potential in support of highway maintenance.
Reviews by the Regional Land Use Geologist ensured that mineral potential, mineral industry activity, and mining- related hazards are identified and considered before decisions were made.
Comments, guidance and recommendations were provided for 2 aggregate extraction proposals throughout northwestern Ontario.
MUNICIPAL AND PRIVATE LANDS
The Provincial Policy Statement (PPS), which guides planning in municipalities and on private land outside of municipalities in Ontario, is issued under the provisions of the Planning Act. The PPS was last modified in 2005. A compulsory five-year review of the PPS was initiated in 2010 to ensure that it is up to date and meets current environmental standards, ensures human health and safety, and protects Ontario’s cultural and natural heritage. The northwest Regional Land Use Geologist’s assistance with the PPS review in 2012 included reviewing 10 existing Official Plans and commenting on how well they comply with the requirements of the Provincial Policy Statement. This work is helping to guide the revision of the Provincial Policy Statement.
The MNDM supports municipal and private land use planning directly through the One-Window Planning Service led by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. When requested, the northwest Regional Land Use Geologist provides input into, and reviews, draft Official Plans, Official Plan Amendments, draft plans of subdivision and
60 M.A. Puumala et al.
consent (severance) applications to ensure that Provincial mineral interests are appropriately considered in the planning process. MNDM input includes • providing data with regard to mineral potential, mining claims and leases, exploration and mining activity and mining-related hazards to planning authorities, planning consultants and MMAH in support of new municipal Official Plans, Official Plan Amendments, Zoning By-laws, and Consents (lot severances); • reviewing land use policies proposed in municipal planning documents and providing comments on those policies to MMAH “One-Window” planners for consolidation with feedback from other ministries; and • supporting the development of municipal policies and guidelines, and working to enhance the availability of data to support wise planning decisions.
In 2012, reviews, comments, mineral values mapping and other input as required were provided for Official Plans and Official Plan Amendments for the municipalities of Rainy River, Emo, LaVallee, Chapple, Atikokan, Machin, Nipigon, Thunder Bay, Sioux Lookout, Pickle Lake, Marathon, Dawson, Red Lake and Lake of the Woods. In addition, pre-consultations and reviews were provided in conjunction with 13 subdivision and consent applications.
Exemptions from Mining Tax
Section 189 (1) of the Mining Act now allows for owners of patented mining rights to apply for exemption from paying mining tax on the land. Key factors that are considered when applications are reviewed are whether or not the lands are being used for mining-related purposes, and whether or not there would be third party interest in using the lands for mining-related purposes (e.g., the surrounding lands are staked and being explored or the sites in question have provincially significant mineral potential).
Comments and recommendations were made for 47 applications for exemption from mining taxes under Section 189 of the Mining Act. The northwest Regional Land Use Geologist recommended against granting 23 of these applications on grounds that the properties in question have high mineral potential.
FIRST NATIONS
In addition to doing work related to Far North land use planning, the northwest Regional Land Use Geologist reviewed the mineral potential of lands planned for transfer to Canada on behalf of the Red Rock and Mishkeegogamang First Nations in fulfillment of land claim agreements. Other Activities
The northwest Regional Land Use Geologist also undertook other related work in 2012, as outlined below.
CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS
Class Environmental Assessments (Class EAs) are documents that set out streamlined environmental assessment processes. They apply to routine projects that have predictable and manageable environmental effects. There are currently 11 Class EAs in effect in Ontario, with regard to initiatives including the development of new infrastructure such as dams, transmission lines, pipelines, highway corridors, commuter rail stations and bus terminals, and sewer and water facilities; the establishment of new parks and conservation reserves; forest management plans; and Crown land dispositions.
The northwest Regional Land Use Geologist worked with staff of the MNR and other ministries to ensure that mineral values and mineral industry interests were identified and accommodated early in the planning process of projects subject to Class EAs. Infrastructure proponents commonly require considerable assistance to understand the various mineral industry interests that might be affected by their projects, and how mining land tenure may restrict their development plans.
61 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
Guidance regarding claimholders’ interests, exploration activity, mining activity, mineral potential, and mining- related hazards was provided for 1 Class Environmental Assessment review in 2012 in northwestern Ontario for a project that will provide a major power-line corridor to serve the communities of Pickle Lake, Slate Falls First Nation, Cat Lake First Nation and Mishkeegogamang First Nation, as well as Goldcorp’s Musselwhite Mine.
ENVIRONMENTAL REGISTRY
The Environmental Registry is an on-line resource that contains public notices about environmental matters being proposed by all Ontario government ministries covered by the Environmental Bill of Rights. The public notices contain information about proposals including new acts, regulations, policies and programs; plans to change or eliminate existing ones; and plans to issue permits for a wide range of activities across Ontario.
The northwest Regional Land Use Geologist monitored the Environmental Registry and distributed a monthly summary of postings of interest to MNDM staff.
FIRST NATIONS MINERALS INFORMATION OFFICER— NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO
P. Moses continued to serve as First Nations Minerals Information Officer for northwestern Ontario. The role of the First Nations Minerals Information Officer is to promote understanding and a co-operative working relationship between government, Aboriginal communities and mineral sector stakeholders in Ontario through the provision of outreach, information and training programs. Programs include technical information regarding the mining sequence, claim staking, basic prospecting, and mineral exploration practices and techniques, delivered through information sessions, field trips and presentations at schools, career fairs and trade shows; some of these activities are listed in Table 22.
P. Moses also provided guidance and initial support to S.E. Halet, who joined the Ontario Geological Survey Resident Geologist Program in mid-April 2012 as First Nations Minerals Information Officer for Northeastern Ontario, based in Sudbury.
Table 22. Northwestern Ontario First Nations Minerals Information Officer activities conducted in 2012.
Community District Date Activity Eabametoong First Nation Thunder Bay North April 30–May 4 Prospecting Course Kasabonika Lake First Nation Thunder Bay North September 10–14 Prospecting Course Pic Mobert First Nation Thunder Bay South October 5–9 Prospecting Course Onigiming First Nation Kenora April 16–20 Prospecting Course Lac Seul First Nation Kenora August 6–7 School Presentation to Youth Grassy Narrows First Nation Kenora October 22–26 Prospecting Course Wabigoon Lake Ojibway First Nation Kenora December 17 Line-cutting Seminar Bearskin Lake First Nation Red Lake July 10–16 Prospecting Course Bearskin Lake First Nation Red Lake July 12 School Presentation at High School Conferences, Field Trips Osisko Hammond Reef Gold Project Thunder Bay South September 26 Field Trip Winston Lake and Manitouwadge volcanogenic massive Thunder Bay South October 1–2 Field Trip sulphide (VMS) deposits Northwestern Ontario Mines and Minerals Symposium, April 2–4 Thunder Bay Kenora District Exploration Information Session and August 8–9 Treasury Metals field trip, Dryden Canadian Aboriginal Minerals Association, Toronto November 18–20
62 M.A. Puumala et al.
MINERAL DEPOSIT COMPILATION GEOLOGIST—NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO
The Mineral Deposit Compilation Geologists (MDCG) investigate and document mineral deposits and occurrences across the province. Through field visits, comprehensive literature research and personal research, they work with regional and district Resident Geologist Program (RGP) staff to ensure that the Mineral Deposit Inventory (MDI) database is regularly updated. Regular updates are required to ensure that the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines and its clients are using the most up-to-date information in making mineral investment, land-use planning and policy decisions. Shannon Zurevinski became the northwestern Ontario MDCG in March, 2012.
In mid-2012, the Natural Resources and Values Information System or NRVIS platform that was used to enter new mineral deposit data was replaced with Land Information Ontario (LIO) Editor 4.0 as a centralized, ArcGIS®-based application. Although updates and additions were made to the mineral deposit database in 2012, no new MDI database could be released in 2012. A new data distribution tool is expected to be made available early in 2013.
The most recent MDI database was released in December 2011. In addition to being made available through the MNDM website, the entire digital data set is available from the Ontario Geological Survey as “Mineral Deposit Inventory—2011”. MDI data are searchable through the Ministry’s GeologyOntario website and through OGS Earth.
Total contributions in 2012 to the MDI database for northwestern Ontario included 115 updated records, 78 records deleted and 1 new record. The MDCG also provided MDI training to Northwest Regional RGP staff; other activities are listed in Table 23.
Table 23. Mineral Deposit Compilation Geologist—Northwestern Ontario activities conducted in 2012.
Place District Date Activity Hardrock and Leitch properties Thunder Bay North June 21 Canadian Land Reclamation Association (CLRA) 6th Annual Ontario Mine Reclamation Symposium Field Trip Stillwater Marathon Thunder Bay South September 14 Property Visit Minnitaki Kenora July 24 Property Visit Bearhead Lake Red Lake June 25–26 Remote Property Visit Laurentian Goldfields; Griffith Mine Red Lake July 23 Property Visits Conferences Thunder Bay April 2–4 Northwestern Ontario Mines and Minerals Symposium Thunder Bay May 16–18 Institute on Lake Superior Geology Thunder Bay June 20 Canadian Land Reclamation Association (CLRA) 6th Annual Ontario Mine Reclamation Symposium Toronto September 25–26 Far North Land Use Planning Meeting/Workshop Sudbury November 6–7 Ontario Exploration and Geoscience Symposium
The MDI database is a dynamic compilation of over 19 000 records describing most of the known mineral occurrences in Ontario. It is an important reference tool for explorationists interested in exploring and acquiring mining properties in Ontario. When used in conjunction with other spatial databases generated by the Ontario Geological Survey, it provides additional tools for making mineral discoveries in Ontario.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Numerous prospectors, geologists and other individuals from the exploration and mining sector provided valuable information and discussions during the year and many are referred to throughout the text. A manuscript edit by Mark Smyk is appreciated, as is the editing provided by the editors of the Publication Services Section.
63 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
REFERENCES Addison, W.D., Brumpton, G.R., Vallini, D.A., McNaughton, N.J., Davis, D.W., Kissin, S.A., Fralick, P.W. and Hammond, A.L. 2005. Discovery of distal ejecta from the 1850 Ma Sudbury impact event; Geology, v.33, no.3, p.193-196.
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64 M.A. Puumala et al.
Graham, A.R. 1931. Obonga Lake chromite area, District of Thunder Bay; Ontario Department of Mines, Annual Report for 1930, v.39, pt.2, p.51-60.
Hart, T.R. 2006. Precambrian geology of the northwest portion of the Nipigon embayment; Ontario Geological Survey, Preliminary Map P.3579, scale 1:100 000.
Hart, T.R. and MacDonald, C.A. 2007. Proterozoic and Archean geology of the Nipigon Embayment: Implications for emplacement of the Mesoproterozoic Nipigon diabase sills and mafic to ultramafic intrusions; Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences v.44. p.1021-1040.
Heggie, G., MacTavish, A., Johnson, J., Weston, R. And Leon, M.A. 2012. Structural control on the emplacement of the TBN-Igneous Complex; in Proceedings and Abstracts, Part 1, 58th Institute on Lake Superior Geology, Annual Meeting, Thunder Bay, Ontario, v.58, pt.1, p.37-38.
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65 THUNDER BAY SOUTH DISTRICT—2012
Miller, J.D., Smyk, M.C. and Hollings, P.N., eds. 2010. Cu-Ni-PGE deposits in mafic intrusions of the Lake Superior region: A field trip for the 11th International Platinum Symposium; Ontario Geological Survey, Open File Report 6254, 166p. Moorhouse, W.W. 1960. Gunflint iron range in the vicinity of Port Arthur; Ontario Department of Mines, v.69, pt.7, p.1-40. Neely, W. and Zinn, R. 1987. Geological report on the Puddy Lake property , Thunder Bay Mining District, for Imperial Platinum Corporation; Thunder Bay South District, Assessment Files, AFRI report number 52H14NW0001, 19 p. Ontario Geological Survey 1999. Single master gravity and aeromagnetic data for Ontario; Ontario Geological Survey, Geophysical Data Set 1036. ——— 2003. Ontario airborne geophysical surveys, magnetic and electromagnetic data, Garden–Obonga area; Ontario Geological Survey, Geophysical Data Set 1105—Revised. ——— 2011. 1:250 000 scale bedrock geology of Ontario; Ontario Geological Survey, Miscellaneous Release— Data 126 – Revision 1. Osmani, I.A. 1997. Geology and mineral potential: Greenwater Lake area, west-central Shebandowan greenstone belt; Ontario Geological Survey, Report 296, 135p. Parsons, C.S. 1937. Investigations in ore dressing and metallurgy, January to June 1937; Canada Department of Mines and Resources, Mines and Geology Branch, no.785, 158p. Percival, J.A. and Stott, G.M. 2000. Toward a revised stratigraphic and structural framework for the Obonga Lake greenstone belt, Ontario; Geological Survey of Canada, Current Research 2000-C22, 8p. Pettigrew, N. and Hattori, K. 2006. The Quetico intrusions of western Superior Province: Neo-Archean examples of Alaskan/Ural-type mafic–ultramafic intrusions; Precambrian Research, v.149, issues 1–2, p.21-42. Pufahl, P.K. 1996. Stratigraphic architecture of a Paleoproterozoic iron formation depositional system: The Gunflint, Mesabi and Cuyuna iron ranges; unpublished MSc thesis, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, 152p. Schulz, K.J. and Cannon, W.F. 1997. Potential for new nickel-copper sulfide deposits in the Lake Superior region; United States Geological Survey, Information Handout, available online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/info/mwni_cu/ Sheridan, K. 2012. 2012 Airborne geophysics program, Hemlo North property; Thunder Bay South District, Assessment Files, AFRO report number 2.51927, 40p. Shklanka, R. 1968. Iron Deposits of Ontario; Ontario Department of Mines, Mineral Resources Circular 11, 489p. Siemieniuk, S. 2012. Diamond-drilling report on Greencastle Resources Ltd’s Rockstone property; Thunder Bay South District, Assessment Files, AFRO report number 2.52796, 25p. Simpson, P.R. and Chamberlain, J.A. 1967. Nickel distribution in serpentinites from Puddy Lake, Ontario; Proceedings of the Geological Association of Canada, v.18, p.67-91. Storie, J. 2012. 2012 drilling assessment report for the RTEC Sunday Lake project; Thunder Bay South District, Assessment Files, AFRO report number 2.52554, 34p. Sutcliffe, R.H. 1991. Proterozoic geology of the Lake Superior region; in Geology of Ontario, Ontario Geological Survey, Special Volume 4, Part 1, p.627-658. Whittaker, P.J. 1986. Chromite deposits in Ontario; Ontario Geological Survey, Study 55, 97p. Wolff, J.F., 1917. Recent geologic developments on the Mesabi Iron Range, Minnesota; American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, Transactions, v.56, p.229-257. Yardley, D.H. 1967. Commerce Nickel Mines Puddy Lake property south zone, progress report; Thunder Bay South District, Assessment Files, AFRI report number 52H13NE0011, 6p.
66 Metric Conversion Table
Conversion from SI to Imperial Conversion from Imperial to Sl
SI Unit Multiplied by Gives Imperial Unit Multiplied by Gives LENGTH 1 mm 0.039 37 inches 1 inch 25.4 mm 1 cm 0.393 70 inches 1 inch 2.54 cm 1 m 3.280 84 feet 1 foot 0.304 8 m 1 m 0.049 709 chains 1 chain 20.116 8 m 1 km 0.621 371 miles (statute) 1 mile (statute) 1.609 344 km AREA 1 cm2 0.155 0 square inches 1 square inch 6.451 6 cm2 1 m2 10.763 9 square feet 1 square foot 0.092 903 04 m2 1 km2 0.386 10 square miles 1 square mile 2.589 988 km2 1 ha 2.471 054 acres 1 acre 0.404 685 6 ha VOLUME 1 cm3 0.061 023 cubic inches 1 cubic inch 16.387 064 cm3 1 m3 35.314 7 cubic feet 1 cubic foot 0.028 316 85 m3 1 m3 1.307 951 cubic yards 1 cubic yard 0.764 554 86 m3 CAPACITY 1 L 1.759 755 pints 1 pint 0.568 261 L 1 L 0.879 877 quarts 1 quart 1.136 522 L 1 L 0.219 969 gallons 1 gallon 4.546 090 L MASS 1 g 0.035 273 962 ounces (avdp) 1 ounce (avdp) 28.349 523 g 1 g 0.032 150 747 ounces (troy) 1 ounce (troy) 31.103 476 8 g 1 kg 2.204 622 6 pounds (avdp) 1 pound (avdp) 0.453 592 37 kg 1 kg 0.001 102 3 tons (short) 1 ton(short) 907.184 74 kg 1 t 1.102 311 3 tons (short) 1 ton (short) 0.907 184 74 t 1 kg 0.000 984 21 tons (long) 1 ton (long) 1016.046 908 8 kg 1 t 0.984 206 5 tons (long) 1 ton (long) 1.016 046 9 t CONCENTRATION 1 g/t 0.029 166 6 ounce (troy) / 1 ounce (troy) / 34.285 714 2 g/t ton (short) ton (short) 1 g/t 0.583 333 33 pennyweights / 1 pennyweight / 1.714 285 7 g/t ton (short) ton (short) OTHER USEFUL CONVERSION FACTORS Multiplied by 1 ounce (troy) per ton (short) 31.103 477 grams per ton (short) 1 gram per ton (short) 0.032 151 ounces (troy) per ton (short) 1 ounce (troy) per ton (short) 20.0 pennyweights per ton (short) 1 pennyweight per ton (short) 0.05 ounces (troy) per ton (short)
Note: Conversion factors in bold type are exact. The conversion factors have been taken from or have been derived from factors given in the Metric Practice Guide for the Canadian Mining and Metallurgical Industries, published by the Mining Association of Canada in co- operation with the Coal Association of Canada.
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