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Home , Carnallite, Evaporite, Saskatchewan Group

deposits in the Prairie , southwestern Manitoba lo eo gic g a a l b s o u

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a MGS y m M.P.B. Nicolas 1928 Manitoba Geological Survey, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Potash Geology 3. Esterhazy Member The Esterhazy Member is the most economic Potash Exploration potash beds. It consists of euhedral to subhedal 2. Regional and Local Geology with large anhedral crystals and minor 1. Introduction interstitial carnolite and clays (Figure 7 and 8). In Manitoba, the Paleozoic-, Mesozoic- and Cenozoic-age strata form a basinward-thickening, southwesterly- 6. Potash Resource 7. Exploration History The Prairie Evaporite is a thick Denonian-aged evaporitic sloping wedge, with the strata reaching a total thickness of 2.3 km in the extreme southestern corner of Manitoba The Esterhazy Member is intermittently present in sequence dominantly consisting of halite and . It Legend R29W1 R28 R27 R26 R25 R24 R23 (Figure 4). The potash-bearing Devonian-age Prairie Evaporite was deposited within the Elk Point Basin (Figure Formal resource estimates have been prepared for The discovery of potash in Manitoba was in an oil well T30 a narrow, elongate strip in southwestern Manitoba, includes four potash-bearing members, from oldest to youngest N 5). The Prairie Evaporite consists mainly of thick halite beds, with minor anhydrite and four localized potash beds. the Russell deposit, most recently in 2009. A historical resource drilled in 1951 at 15-18-10-27W1. This discovery led to distribution WA T29 from Township 5 to 21, Ranges 27 to 29 W1 (Figure E A H B

C Within the basin, the formation can exceed 210 m in thickness, and lies at depths of 200 to 2,700 m below surface. they are: the Esterhazy, White Bear, Belle Plain and Patience O estimate for the St. Lazare deposit was prepared in 1983. Table exploration programs by several companies. Table 2 has a T potash + salt distribution T 2). The Prairie Evaporite salt dissolution edge runs I A T28 N K A Lake members. Of these four members, only the Esterhazy and S

A 1 summarizes the estimated resources for both the Russell and detailed chronology of potash exploration in Manitoba. oil fields M

S roughly north-south from Township 1 to 29, through T27 The overlying Second Red Bed Member of the Dawson Bay Formation consists of grey, brown and red shales White Bear extend into Manitoba (Figure 1). The Esterhazy Valley River St. Lazare deposits assuming conventional underground mining eastern limit of the T26 Range 27 W1, and represents the maximum eastern Prairie Evaporite and argillaceous mudstones, which are overlain by , and some interbedded anhydrite. The In 2013, the crown potash area was amalgamated and is Member is the only potash bed in Manitoba with sufficient extent of salt (and therefore potash) occurrence operations. The Russell-McAuley area has a robust resource T25 underlying Winnipegosis Formation consists of interbedded dolomite, dolomitic limestone and anhydrite. Reef currently held by Manitoba Potash Corporation (MPC), and thickness and grade to sustain potentially economic underground wells that penetrate the (Figure 9). Over the area of known potash occurrence potential for a long term, minimum 20 year, secure supply, at a Prairie Evaporite T24 structures within the Winnipegosis Formation have been identified by seismic surveys (Figure 10). These project consists of both the Russell and St. Lazare deposits (Figure potash mining. The ore grade and tonnages measured in in Manitoba, the thickness of the Esterhazy Member rate of 2 Mt/y KCl, or higher. Manitoba's Esterhazy Member are comparable to nearby, active, T23 up into the overlying Prairie Evaporite in a number of locations and are shown schematically in Figure 4 and 6. 11). The MPC property area has a combined exploration 0 10 20 30 40 averages 5.6 m. Table 1: Mineral resource estimates for the Russell and McAuley areas long-lived potash mines in . Nearby mines include kilometres T22 database for 40 holes that penetrate the Prairie Evaporite in southwestern Manitoba. Formation, with additional data available for a number of other Nutrien’s (fomerly Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, PCS) T21 The Esterhazy Member in Manitoba compares Russell Rocanville mine and The Mosaic Company's Esterhazy K1 and favourably in grade, size and mining conditions to 3 Average grade holes, both within and outside the property (Figure 10). There is T20 Area Million tonnes K2 mines (Figure 2). (% K2O) also 2-D and 3-D seismic data available for certain areas in and A Manitoba A’ deposits supporting producing mines in southeastern

Russell deposit T19 Assiniboine Escarpment around the Property. River Saskatchewan in the operations of Nutrien’s at 1 ERA PERIOD Russell deposit 392 22.5 The known area of potash occurrence in Manitoba can be T18 Winnipeg Rocanville and at Mosaic's operations at Esterhazy, IC O Z Red River O Quaternary N Assiniboine Manitoba is looking to embrace new technologies and subdivided into three subareas that are separated from the others St. Lazare E T17 C Russell-McAuley River River just west of the MPC land holdings. It is the only shale 2 flexibility for future potash development. A new plan targeted to Figure 11: Location of the two historical potash deposits in by broad areas with no potash occurrence in the Prairie Evaporite potash area T16 St. Lazare deposit 650 20.9 Pierre Shale Overburden potash bed of known economic significance in (Figure 3). These areas total approximately 2,247 km2 of known, shale, bentonite encourage potash development in Manitoba will be announced the Russell-McAuley area, southwestern Manitoba. St. Lazare deposit T15 shale, limestone Manitoba. shale 1 potentially mineable, potash occurrences. McAuley Carlile Fm. 300 BHP Billiton reports from ADM Consulting Ltd. and AMEC Americas Ltd. (2009) at a later date. , shaleshale, sandstone

T14 C

I Favel Fm.

Cretaceous 2 O

Z Ashville Fm. Bannatyne (1983), 16% cut off grade

Exploration for potash in Manitoba has been intermittent for T13 O limestone, shale 200 S Assiniboine River Swan River Fm.

E 3 evaporite, , red shale, sandstone M many decades since potash exploration targeting the eastern T12 metres Neither of the resource estimates has been reported using the definition standards of Table 2: Detailed chronology of potash exploration in Manitoba. Melita Fm. dolomite, shale 100 the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and and, therefore, do not dolomite extension of the prolific Saskatchewan deposits started in 1959. T11 dolomite, shale clays Reston Fm. meet the reporting requirements of Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Drillhole and coring programs, supported by 2-D and 3-D seismic limestone, dolomite, shale Year Deposit Company Details T10 Amaranth Fm. sandstone, shale 0 limestone, dolomite surveys, indicate that Manitoba has potentially economically Virden 0 10 20 30 40 - Lodgepole Fm. 1951 Imperial Oil T9 limestone Discovery of potash at 15-18-10-27W1 near Virden. mineable, sizable potash deposits with geological conditions Daly-Sinclair kilometres potash area T8 Mississippian 0 similar to those in Saskatchewan. Torquay Fm 52 Sylvite and its predecessor companies Francana, S.A.M. and Tombill, drilled 10 1956-1966 St. Lazare Sylvite of Canada T7 exploration holes between Twp 17-19, Rge 29W1. Prairie Evaporite Lodgepole Fm. Devonian K S.A.M. Explorations Ltd. Lodgepole Fm. K T6 Bakken Fm. K C K I Mississippian orquay Fm K O T Southeastern Southwestern Prairie Francana Oil & Gas Ltd. Stratigraphy Z K T5 Interlake Group SaskatchewanK Group Saskatchewan O Manitoba K Evaporite Legend R29W1 R28 R27 R26 E Manitoba Group K L K Tombill Mines Ltd. T4 A Souris River K Hubbard Evaporite P Stonewall & Stony Mountain fms. AAssiniboine K A’ K Melita K salt distribution T21 T3 N R. South of the Sylvite area, Prairie Potash (owned by Canadian Nickel Co. Ltd. and IA Devonian K Russell 1964-1966 St. Lazare Prairie Potash Mines Ltd. Neely Member Pierson R Winnipeg Dawson Neely Member B T2 M potash + salt distribution Consolidated Faraday) drilled 15 holes. They conducted feasibility studies but the lease Bay potash area Red River Fm. A River C innipegosis Fm. Interlake Group innipeg Fm.E W was allowed to lapse in 1977. Formation W R Red P oil fields T20 CANADA T1 Ashern Fm. 0 Burr Member Burr Member U.S.A. 49 0 0 100 0 wells that penetrate the 101 96 sylvite 1968 St. Lazare Sylvite of Canada Sylvite let the exploration permit lapse in Manitoba to develop Saskatchewan mine (at Second Red Bed Member Second Red Bed Member Prairie Evaporite Figure 3: Map of southwestern Manitoba showing the kilometres Rocanville). Silurian Stonewall & Stony Mountain fms. Russell deposit T19 distribution of the salt and potash + salt, oil fields and wells Red River Fm. Salt back thickness Patience Lake Member innipeg 1980-1982 St. Lazare International & Chemical Corporation (Canada) Ltd. (IMC), predecessor to that penetrate the Prairie Evaporite. The three mains areas W Fm. IMC Ltd. Mosaic, explored for potash south of the Sylvite program area. IMC dropped the of potash occurrence are shown, as are the northern K - potash zone, Esterhazy Member 20 m T18 program in 1982. Belle Plaine Member (Russell deposit) and southern (St. Lazare deposit) blocks halite 15 m of the Russell-McAuley area. The salt distribution edge is Figure 4: Vertically-exaggerated and simplified cross-section of Paleozoic to Cenozoic formations in southern Manitoba, showing the Whitebear Member stratigraphy of the potash-bearing Prairie Evaporite, and underlying Winnipegosis and Ashern Formations. (Modified from Bamburak 10 m 1980-1985 equivalent to the eastern limit of the salt and potash + salt St. Lazare T17 Russell Amax Minerals Ltd. Amax was issued a 5-year permit in the Russell deposit (i.e. northern block), predecessor Prairie and Nicolas, 2009) to Canamax; 8 exploration holes were drilled by the end of 1983. Devonian Evaporite distribution areas. (from Nicolas, 2015) Canamax Resources Inc. Esterhazy Member 0 3 6 9 12 kilometres T16 1985 Russell Canamax Resources Inc. Canamax has Kilborn Ltd. undertake a preliminary engineering and economic evaluation Figure 8: Core photograph of the Esterhazy St. Lazare deposit of the Russell area deposit. Member, Prairie Evaporite, showing the potash ore T15 4. Potash occurrences zone of the St. Lazare deposit in 8-28-17-29W1; 1986 Russell Canamax Recources Inc. Canamax and the Government of Manitoba established Manitoba Potash Corporation approximate depths are 915.3 to 916.03 m. McAuley Assiniboine River N MPC (MPC); owed 51% by Canamax and 49% by Government of Manitoba. Kilborn prepared NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

West East WA E The known area of potash occurrence in Manitoba A a technical feasibility study on the Russell deposit and completed it in October 1987. B H C i O T14 qu ’il Reef n T

s T tio Manitoba re a 200 Saskatchewan I 0 100 300 A P Mus Form can be subdivided into three subareas that are keg N K A S

kilometres M A 305 m (1000 ft) 5. Russell-McAuley Area Russell separated from each other by broad areas with no 244 m (800 ft) S T13 1989 EMC Entreprise Minière et Chimique (EMC) bought the Canamax interest in MPC. EMC 244 m (800 ft) Winnipegosis upper member (reefs) upper member (reefs) Dawson Bay established Potamine for its interest in MPC. potash occurrence in the Prairie Evaporite (Figure 3): 0 183 m (600 ft) Formation 122 m (400 ft) Formation 61 m (200 ft) SCALE } The potash deposits in the Russell-McAuley area are Potamine Potash Mining 100 0 km 100 200 300 Second Red Bed Member Figure 9: Potash distribution and salt back thickness of the Russell and lower member (platform)lower member (platform) L WB ALBERTA a

t e 100 0 miles 100 200 Company of Canada Inc.

r a PL E St. Lazare deposits in the Russell-McAuley area. l located between townships 14 and 21, ranges 27 and

f 1) the Russell-McAuley area, covering a Figure 1: Stratigraphic column the middle Devonian c BP i e s SASKATCHEWAN

c 29W1 (Figure 9), and are the most explored area for h 1995 Russell formations showing correlations between townships14 to 21, ranges 27 to 29W1; a Potamine Potamine (though Gemmes and MDPA Ingénierie) carried out a critical review of the n g BRITISH e Prairie Evaporite s

t southeastern Saskatchewan and southwestern o potash in the province. The isopach of the formation Kilborn feasibility study and ran a 3-D seismic study of the area.

COLUMBIA n Edmonton o 61 m (200 ft) n

- Manitoba. e MANITOBA v 0

2) the Daly-Sinclair area, covering townships 5 a varies due to proximity to the dissolution edge but can p o rite s Russell EMC t r

a measure up to 139 m thick (Figure 9). 1997 EMC in unwilling to proceed with the Russell project due to flooding in its Clover Hill

to 11, ranges 27 to 29W1; and 183 m (600 ft) Winnipegosis Formation t a 122 m (400 ft) Legend Legend R29W1 R28 R27 R26 R25 potash mine in New Brunswick. Potash distribution area Calgary T23 Area of major Potash The deposits in the Russell-McAuley area are the only 3) the Pierson area, occurring in township 1, 0 61 m (200 ft) Prairie Evaporite isopach salt dissolution Winnipeg Winnipegosis reef complexes Regina 0 Salt 2006 Russell Potamine Potamine's interest in MPC is acquired by BHP Billiton. North Rim Exploration Ltd. range 28W1. 0 Limit of Prairie Evaporite potash deposits in Manitoba potentially amenable to salt collapse structures T22 A CANAD U.S.A. Limestone, dolostone N Limit of Elk Point Basin BHP Billiton prepared a mineral resource estimate for the Russell deposit (northern block). AMEC A (from Holter, 1969) conventional underground mining methods, however are porous zone in Dawson Bay WA B E O NORTH Argillaceous mudstone H T C I America's Limited prepares a high level conceptual development study on the Russell 61 m (200 ft) oil fields T The only area that has been actively explored for MONTANA N

A MPC

DAKOTA also excellent candidates for mining. This potash A K

E, WB, BP, PL M Esterhazy, White Bear, Belle Plaine and Patience Lake members, S A T21 project. potash is the Russell-McAuley area, where the respectively resource has been historically subdivided into two blocks: Agrium 3-D seismic area S Russell Esterhazy Member is of sufficient thickness and grade faults 2005-2010 St. Lazare Agrium Inc. Agrium Inc. gets a 5-year 45,000 hectare potash exploration permit (QP-154) in the St. Figure 5: Distribution and isopach of the Prairie Evaporite in the Figure 6: Idealized east-west section through the Prairie a northern block, referred to as the Russell deposit; and a to sustain potentially economic underground potash eastern edge of salt Lazare area. Agrium cancels their Manitoba permit in favour of other projects. Elk Point Basin. (Nicolas, 2015) Evaporite and adjacent units. (Nicolas, 2015) southern block, referred to as the St. Lazare deposit T20 mining. (Figure 10 & 11). Both deposits are continuous into one eastern edge of potash + salt 2009 Russell ADM Consulting Inc. ADM Consulting Inc. completes a resource estimate for the Russell deposit. another, the distinction between the two blocks simply wells that penetrate the Nutrien’s Prairie Evaporite T19 reflects the extent of two long-standing potash 2007-2009 St. Lazare Western Potash Western Potash Corp. held three potash exploration permits adjacent to the eastern dispositions held by competing companies. and southern boundaries of the northern and southern blocks (referred to as their 0 4 8 12 16 Russell-Miniota property). They drilled 9 exploration holes. Western Potash cancels kilometres T18 their permits to focus on its Milestone potash solution mining project in Saskatchewan. Manitoba Potash Corp. Harrowby Prov. P.T.H. bottom 2012 BHP Billiton BHP Billiton relinquished its interest in MPC to the MPC, to focus on large-scale Jansen 3-29-20-29W1 T17 Russell 846.92 m project in Saskatchewan. St. Lazare MPC 2013 T16 St.Lazare & MPC MPC acquires the southern block crown land (previous Agrium permit area). MPC now Russell controls all the crown potash lands in the north and south block (Russell and St. Lazare deposits). McAuley T15 St.Lazare & Esterhazy Mb 2018 To be determined Manitoba looks to embrace new technologies and flexibility for future potash Russell development.

T14

(2015) T13

Assiniboine River Prairie Evaporite White Bear Mb References

T12 ADM Consulting Limited. 2009: Review of material relating to the resource estimate for the Manitoba potash prospect; report prepared for AMEC Americas Limited.

Dawson Bay Fm, Second Red Bed Mb cont’d AMEC Americas Limited. 2009: BHP Billiton Russell Project – High Level Development Scenario; report prepared for BHP Billiton. Figure 10: Compilation map of showing the location and size of 818.62 m 822.12 m 837.95 m Bamburak, J. D. and Nicolas, M. P. B. 2009: Revisions of the stratigraphic nomenclature of southwest Manitoba (parts of NTS 62F, G, 826.13 m 830.28 m 833.97 m 842.42 m Winnipegosis reefs and collapse structures and basement faults, as This poster was presented at: Figure 2: Geological map showing the eastern edge of the Prairie top H, J, K, N, O, 63 C, F); in Report of Activities 2009, Manitoba Innovation, Energy and Mines, Manitoba Geological Survey, p. 183-192. identified by 2-D and 3-D seismic surveys. Information compiled from Central Canada Mineral Exploration Evaporite salt dissolution front (red), and the eastern edge of the known Bannatyne, B.B. 1983: Devonian Potash Deposits in Manitoba; Manitoba Energy and Mines, Open File Report OF83-3, 27 p. Convention potash area (yellow), drillholes that penetrate the Prairie Evaporite, and Figure 7: Composite core photo from 3-29-20-29W1 of the upper portion of the Prairie Evaporite showing the White Bear and Esterhazy members (outlined in red boxes); depths from 818.62 to 846.92 m; assessment file 74426 and Gendzwill (unpublished report, 1986). Winnipeg, MB, Canada box with ‘X’ indicates section with missing core. This core was originally drilled by Canamax Resources Inc.. Nicolas, M.P.B. 2015: Potash deposits in the Devonian Prairie Evaporite, southwestern Manitoba (parts of NTS 62F and K); in Report of Activities November 22, 2018 location of nearby potash mines in southeastern Saskatchewan. 2015, Manitoba Mineral Resources, Manitoba Geological Survey, p. 97-105.