Manitoba's Mineral Resources
AbstractsListed below in alphabetical order by title |
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A
An Integrated Multidisciplinary and Collaborative Effort for the Permitting of the Minago Project
D. Mchaina (Victory Nickel Inc.)
An integrated multidisciplinary and collaborative approach used in the permitting of the Minago Project is discussed. The project is a Class 2 Development and a full Environmental Impact Statement is required to support an Environment Act License application before construction and operation. The Minago Project is located in Manitoba’s Thompson Nickel belt on Highway 6, approximately 225 km south of Thompson, Manitoba, Canada. The proposed Minago Project is an open pit mining project to produce nickel concentrate and frac sand. The deposit has potential as a large tonnage, low-grade nickel sulphide deposit (25.2 Million tonnes at 0.43% nickel (Ni), 0.20% cut-off grade) and contains 14.8 Million tonnes of marketable frac sand. Environmental permitting for a mining project can range from a fairly straightforward undertaking to a complex multidisciplinary endeavor which must balance and integrate a variety of scientific, technical, legal, social and political constraints. The components of the Minago Project permitting effort included but were not limited to science and technology, site specific environmental factors, laws and regulations, politics and government relations, communities of interest engagement and public relations, communication and information dissemination, and determination and commitment of Victory Nickel Inc. From the development of the EIS and the Environment Act Proposal review period, Victory Nickel adopted a thorough, cooperative and transparent approach to regulatory aspects, community engagements and environmental matters. Victory Nickel submitted an Environment Act Proposal for the Minago Project in May 2010 and obtained the Environment Act License in August 2011. This discussion is specific to the Minago Project. It is not intended to be a step-by- step guide to mine permitting in Manitoba because developing a permitting blueprint which would be applicable to all projects is not feasible.
An Update on the Sherridon VMS Property, Manitoba
L. Bloom (Halo Resources Ltd.)
Halo Resources Ltd.’s 200 sq. km. Sherridon VMS Property is a combination of mature and grassroots volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) copper, zinc and gold exploration opportunities. A 2010 NI43-101 compliant copper-zinc resource, for four of the known deposits in the district, included Indicated Resources of 6.5 million tonnes grading 0.85% copper and 1.22% zinc and Inferred Resources of 15.9 million tonnes grading 0.68% copper and 0.84 % zinc. At least 75% of the material in both categories is contained within potentially economic open pits. An update on new base metal and gold exploration targets in the area will be presented.
Auriga Gold: Mine Development and Exploration at the Maverick Gold Project, Flin Flon, Manitoba
R. Sutcliffe (Auriga Gold Corp.)
Auriga Gold Corp.’s Maverick Gold Project located 60 km northeast of Flin Flon, and includes the past-producing Puffy Lake Mine and Nokomis deposits. The Project is located at the boundary of the Kisseynew Domain and the Flin Flon Domain of the Paleoproterozoic Trans Hudson Orogen. Mineralization at the Puffy Lake Deposit consists of five parallel gold-bearing veins that strike southeast and dip 30o northeast and are interpreted as structurally controlled. Lithologies hosting the Puffy Deposit consist of volcanic strata of the Amisk Group (Flin Flon arc assemblage), basal conglomerate, sandstone and related metasediments of the unconformably overlying Missi Group, garnet-biotite gneiss, possibly of the Burntwood Group, and intrusive (gneissose) granitoid phases of the Sherridon-Hutchinson Lake Complex. The rocks have all been metamorphosed to upper amphibolite grade and isoclinally folded. Drilling to May 2011 at the Puffy Deposit, has resulted in optimized in-pit and underground Indicated Resources totalling 174,000 ounces gold and Inferred Resources totalling 558,000 ounces. The Company plans to bring the Puffy Lake Mine and 1,000 tpd mill back into production, while exploring the 20 km-long mineralized domain boundary.
Auriga Gold Corp's Maverick Project: Re-Activation of the Past-Producing Puffy Lake Mine in a Sustainable Mining Framework
R. Sutcliffe (Auriga Gold Corp.)
Auriga Gold’s Maverick Project located 60 km northeast of Flin Flon includes the past-producing Puffy Lake Mine that operated in 1988/89. The property was acquired by Auriga in October 2010. The Company plans to resume production at the 1,000 tpd mill based on the recent NI43-101 resource estimate that includes in-pit and underground Indicated Resources totalling 174,000 ounces gold and Inferred Resources totalling 558,000 ounces. The Company’s sustainable development framework involves a balanced approach to de-risking economic opportunity in the current high gold prices, mitigating project environmental impact, and a commitment to engage the local workforce. Project economics are significantly enhanced by utilizing site infrastructure that has been on care and maintenance for two decades. Economics will be further de-risked by initial test mining from starter surface pits and the deferral of higher-cost underground development. The surface pits will be sequentially mined and waste filled to minimize mining impact. Initial test mining is anticipated to create approximately 60 full-time employment opportunities, ramping up to over 100 direct jobs. The Company’s exploration program has the objective of expanding resources along a 20km prospective trend with the intent of delivering longevity to mining operations beyond the current resource.
B
Bedrock Geology and Mineral Potential of Manitoba's Far Northwest
C. Böhm (Manitoba Geological Survey)
The Manitoba Geological Survey’s Far North Geomapping Initiative continued in the summer of 2011 with bedrock and surficial geological mapping in the Snyder Lake area, in the northwestern corner of the province. The Snyder Lake area is largely underlain by psammitic, semi-pelitic, pelitic, and lesser amounts of calcsilicate gneiss and marble of the Wollaston Supergroup. The Paleoproterozoic sedimentary succession is injected by leucogranite and flanked by intrusive basement rocks of potential Archean age. In the Snyder Lake area, calcsilicate gneiss and marble are locally enriched in uranium, thorium and/or rare earth elements. Mineralization appears to be focused on metasomatized, highly altered (silicified, albitized, hematized) and strongly deformed (sheared and faulted) zones in calcareous horizons of the sedimentary sequence, which presents a different mineralization environment and process compared to the unconformity-type uranium deposits at or near the top of the Wollaston Supergroup rocks in Saskatchewan. Pervasive calcic and/or alkalic metasomatism similar to that observed in the Snyder Lake area has been documented in association with intrusion-related, metasomatic uranium, rare earth element and rare metal deposits (skarns, pegmatites and peralkaline granitoids).
Benefits of Integrating Environmental Planning Considerations in Mine Scoping Studies
D. Ramsey and M. McLaughlin (Tetra Tech)
Mine scoping studies, often referred to as preliminary economic assessments, are the first phase in the planning of a new mine that considers all main project components. These studies involve development of an initial layout plan for the surface facilities and the consideration of water sources and discharge locations, among other considerations. Locations for the mill, shaft/portal and other mine openings, tailings management areas, other surface facilities, access roads, utility corridors, and in some cases port facilities are chosen to address engineering requirements with an emphasis on lowest cost. As a reflection of their very preliminary nature, these studies have traditionally been undertaken without much or any consideration of environmental sensitivities or constraints. This absence of environmental design considerations typically results in progressive re-design through the pre-feasibility and feasibility stages of project planning and an attendant need for additional mitigation measures to deal with adverse environmental effects of the project. The project re-design can delay the environmental approval process for projects, can increase project design costs, and can result in requirements for more substantial impact management and mitigation plans than would otherwise be the case. This paper describes how the inclusion of environmental considerations at the scoping study stage for a new Copper-Zinc mine in New Brunswick, Canada, allowed the design team to take an impact avoidance approach rather than an impact mitigation approach. This change in planning strategy expedited the environmental approval for the project. A positive environmental assessment determination was issued by the province in a period of just 11 months, from the start of the project planning through to receipt of the approval. In comparison, similar project approvals have typically taken 2 years for completion.
Borehole Geophysics: The “Hows” and the “Whys”
M. Shore (Magma Geosciences Inc.)
Borehole geophysics is a subset of surface geophysical methods, subject to the limitations that sensors must be compatible with the confined, inaccessible and often hostile environment of deep drill holes. In mineral exploration the most widely employed borehole method is borehole electromagnetics (BHEM). In the ~30 years since its development, BHEM has been responsible for the detection of a large number of sulphide mineral deposits, some at depths that were far beyond the reach of airborne or surface detection. A concise summary of BHEM methods, including illustrations of EM induction and primary and secondary fields, their generation and measurement, and their interpretation will be covered. The level is aimed at the interested non-specialist. The pros and cons of carrying out BHEM, including those cases where it is not warranted, will also be discussed, as well as strategies that can help optimize its cost effectiveness.
Borehole Gravity and Borehole EM
R. Wasylechko (Abitibi Geophysics Inc.)
Gravilog, the slim-hole gravity meter was developed by Scintrex Limited with sponsorship from three mining companies: Vale, AREVA and BHP Billiton. This presentation will review the borehole gravity sensor technology; provide an update on the operational status; show some of the early test results and discuss the geological questions it can help resolve. The borehole EM presentation will show data that mapped a conductor located 450 m off-hole.
C
CaNickel Mining - Canada's Newest Nickel Producer
R. Sproule (CaNickel Mining Limited)
CaNickel Mining Limited (formerly "Crowflight Minerals Inc.") (TSX: CML, Frankfurt: CMIC) is a Canadian junior mining company focused on producing, developing and exploring base metal assets in Canada. CaNickel is supported by Hebei Wenfeng Industrial Group, a significant Chinese steel producer and a Top 500 Enterprise in China. CaNickel’s primary asset is the Bucko Lake Nickel Mine in the resource-rich Thompson Nickel Belt in Manitoba, Canada. Production began in April 2011 with the goal of producing more than 5.8 million pounds of nickel in 2011. In addition, CaNickel owns or has under option an additional 800 square kilometres of advanced-stage base metal exploration properties in the Thompson Nickel Belt and the famous Sudbury Basin in Ontario, Canada. Altogether, CaNickel has over 100 million pounds of proven and probable nickel reserves and an additional 740 million pounds of nickel resources. All of CaNickel’s reserves and resources are NI 43-101 compliant. With its strategic Chinese partner and rich basket of production and exploration assets, CaNickel is positioned for growth to become a mid-tier base metals producer.
Capital Raising in Manitoba
A. Stacey (Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP)
No project, no matter how promising or worthwhile, can be explored or developed without capital. Raising capital is never easy. In Canada, it was made more difficult by the requirement that to raise significant sums of capital a Prospectus was typically required. This was always an expensive and time consuming approach. While provincial securities legislation typically provided exemptions for “sophisticated investors” or “family and friends” those exemptions were only of limited availability and differed from province to province. In recent years the Securities Commissions of most provinces in Canada have adopted simplified methods of raising capital based primarily upon the association of the investor to the Issuer or the promoter, or upon the net worth of the investor. This presentation will outline the principal capital raising methods available under Multilateral Instrument 45 - 106, as adopted by all securities commissions in western Canada: (a) to accredited investors, (b) by private issuer, (c) to family, close friends, and business associates (d) by offering memorandum, and the limited reporting requirements which arise.
E
Exploration in Manitoba’s Northern Mining Camp
P. Karelse (Carlisle Goldfields Limited)
The MacLennan Mine and surrounding area has been the subject of exploration and gold production since the area was first staked in 1946. This area is the focus of Carlisle Goldfields exploration and development efforts. Since the commencement of production more than 400,000 ounces of gold has been produced from the MacLellan mine located in Lynn Lake Manitoba. The Carlisle Goldfields project area covers an area of approximately 20,000 hectares of the Lynn Lake greenstone belt. The Proterozoic greenstone belt can be divided into two regions. The North region or Rainbow trend a north facing homocline consisting of rhyolite, overlain by sequences of andesite and basalt, sediments and an upper thoeliitic basaltic unit. Both the MacLellan and Farley mines are hosted in this belt. The South belt or Johnson trend consists of lens-shaped volcanic and sedimentary units. The volcanic units include thoeliitic and calc-alkaline basalts which are overlain locally by felsic volcanic units. The former BT Au deposit is hosted within the Johnson trend.
Exploring the Solar System: The Manitoba-Mars Connection
Dr. E. Cloutis (University of Winnipeg)
Many geological processes that operate on planetary surfaces also operate on the Earth. By studying how such processes operate on the Earth, we can gain insights into the geology of various planetary bodies. Within Manitoba, the East German Creek area north of Swan River hosts a series of perennial cold-water hypersaline springs. These springs are possible analogues for similar spring deposits that have tentatively been identified on Mars. Such springs may have been the "last refuges" of life on Mars and hence are high priority targets for future exploration of the planet. By studying East German Creek, we can gain insights into the best way to identify their presence on Mars and how to conduct a search for life in such deposits on Mars. In a similar vein, the St. Martin crater in Manitoba (located near the town of Gypsumville) hosts a series of intracrater evaporite (gypsum) deposits. Investigations at this site have shown that it hosts cryptoendoliths - microorganisms that are able to live inside gypsum boulders. Similar intracrater gypsum deposits exist on Mars. By studying the microhabitats of these terrestrial cryptoendoliths, we are developing techniques for how best to search for their presence on Mars. Manitoba is also host to a number of other planetary analogue sites that we are just beginning to investigate.
G
Geological Context of Gold in the Eastern Flin Flon Belt
S. Gagné (Manitoba Geological Survey)
The eastern portion of the Flin Flon Belt is well-known for its wealth of base metals deposits. The area is also well-endowed in gold. In addition to hosting the largest Paleoproterozoic lode-type gold deposit of Manitoba, the New Britannia gold mine, the area is now host to a world-class Au-rich VMS system, the Lalor deposit. In the eastern Flin Flon belt gold occurs in association to VMS deposits as well as in lode-type gold deposits. Although the New Brittania Mine and the Lalor deposit are the flagships for gold mineralization in this area, there are also several other gold occurrences. This talk will review the main gold occurrences of the eastern Flin Flon belt and establish the context of gold mineralization within the framework of our current understanding of the local and regional geology. A number of recent and current geoscientific investigation led by MGS and affiliated universities are aimed at providing a modern and robust geological framework that will facilitate gold exploration in the eastern Flin Flon Domain.
Geological Mapping from a Multi-Sensor Airborne Geophysical Platform
J. Lemieux (Fugro Airborne Surveys)
Fugro Airborne Survey’s NEW Multi-sensor Airborne platform is capable of collecting simultaneous measurements of the following systems: Time Domain Electromagnetics (choice of either MEGATEM or TEMPEST); High resolution magnetic; Falcon Gravity Gradiometry; Gamma ray Spectrometry; Lidar; Digital video; and GPS positioning providing unparalleled information for geological mapping and target delineation. The Gamma Ray Spectrometry, Lidar and high frequency signal of the EM system are excellent tools for mapping terrain, surface geology and near-surface alterations. The combination of TEMPEST, Magnetics and gravity can be used to map sub-surface features such as paleochannels, shallow gas, coal, overburden thickness and mineralized targets while the deeper penetrating MEGATEM system combined with Magnetics and Gravity can be used for exploration of deeper seated mineralization and geological mapping of the basement rocks. For the exploration of much deeper structures related more to oil and gas programs, the focus would be on the Magnetics and Gravity. A small test area, north of Timmins Ontario, is presented. This shows how much additional geological information can be gained from an integrated interpretation of an airborne multi-sensor geophysical dataset in a mature mining camp where the existing geological mapping is already quite detailed and considered to be of good quality.
Geology and Morphology of Cretaceous Coal Basins, The Pas Area, West-Central Manitoba (parts of NTS 63F4, 5)
E. MacNeill (Westcore Energy Ltd.), J.D. Bamburak and M.P.B. Nicolas (Manitoba Geological Survey)
Westcore Energy Ltd. discovered nine Cretaceous-aged coal basins located southwest of The Pas, Manitoba. Drilling of airborne electromagnetic and gravity anomalies resulted in the intersection of thick coal deposits within the Lower Cretaceous Swan River Formation. The coal occurs as layers ranging in thickness from 1 to 63 metres, with composite thicknesses up to 95 metres. Depth from surface to coal ranges from 9 to 95 metres, averaging 25 to 60 metres. The coal is black, hard, has a bright to dull lustre, a density of 1.3 - 1.5 g/cc, and ranks as Lignite A (76%) to Sub-Bituminous C (13%). Average calorific values range from 19,500 to 22,500 kj/kg, Ash from 17 to 26%, Moisture from 1.5 to 4.5%, and Sulphur from 2.0 to 2.6% (all air-dried). The coal deposits are roughly circular in shape, up to 600 metres by 800 metres, and occur as bowl-shaped depressions formed into the Devonian paleosurface. The Swan River Formation is overlain by Ashville Formation and underlain by Jurassic Success Formation and Devonian Dawson Bay and Winnipegosis Formations. A bulk sample of coal is being tested for "coal-to-liquefaction" products, a patented method that extracts synthetic crude oil and high-value carbon products from coal.
Green Mining Initiative
M. Habib (Natural Resources Canada)
I
iMaQs (Integrated Mining and Quarrying System) and the New Map Gallery
J. Forbes (Manitoba Mines Branch)
Mid-December 2011 is the target for the launch of iMaQs (Integrated Mining and Quarrying System). iMaQs offers a entirely new way for clients to do business with the Mines Branch in Manitoba. Clients can submit applications and pay associated fees online at their convenience from home, office or anywhere with an internet connection. Attend the presentation to see the screens you will use. Come and see what new information is available to you at the click of a mouse button so you can effectively manage your mineral dispositions. The new Map Gallery will be launched in conjunction with iMaQs in December. This exciting and long anticipated replacement of the existing map gallery has a new look and feel with increased functionality and most importantly, greater reliability. Switching to a new technology platform makes access to current information on mineral dispositions, geology and petroleum easier and more readily available. Stay for a preview of the new Map Gallery and try out the many functions this new platform has available for your research needs.
Induced Polarization Methods
C. Brown (Abitibi Geophysics Inc.)
This presentation is a general recollection, summary and review of the effectiveness of surface time domain IP/resistivity measurements. The variety of arrays, various array spacing’s and their applications to mineral exploration will be discussed; case histories will be used to emphasize the importance of this classic method.
L
Lalor Project Update
K. Proctor (Hudbay Minerals Inc.)
The Lalor Deposit was discovered near the Town of Snow Lake, Manitoba in March 2007 and has since evolved into a fast track development project with a commitment of $704M from HudBay Minerals Inc. Of the current 30M tonnes of mineral inventory, approximately 60% of the deposit is base metal (Zn-Cu-Au-Ag), 35% is gold bearing, and 5% is copper-gold bearing. Underground diamond drill platforms will provide opportunities for upgrading of resources, as well as further exploration opportunity. There are four key components of development: 1) underground ramp access from the current operating Chisel North Mine; 2) surface infrastructure; 3) a ventilation shaft and production shaft; and 4) a concentrator with tailing pond expansion. The underground ramp access started in late 2009 and is nearing completion. Construction this past year has been focused on surface infrastructures. The ventilation shaft sinking is in progress and the production shaft sinking will start January 2012. Procurement and engineering has been started for the new Lalor concentrator with anticipation of entering a full construction phase early 2013. This presentation will provide a snapshot of key project milestones, with particular focus on the accomplishments of this past successful year of construction. The Lalor deposit is the largest pre-development deposit HudBay Minerals Inc. has discovered in the Flin Flon-Snow Lake region, and will take HudBay to the anniversary of 100 years mining in this region.
Large Synvolcanic Alteration Zones Associated with Snow Lake VMS Deposits, Flin Flon Belt, Manitoba, Canada
A.H. Bailes (Bailes Geoscience), A.G. Galley, S. Paradis and B.E. Taylor (Geological Survey of Canada)
Juvenile 1.89 Ga oceanic arc volcanic rocks of the Flin Flon volcanic belt at Snow Lake are characterized by extensive zones with anomalous 1.82 Ga metamorphic mineral assemblages, including porphyroblasts of garnet, staurolite, amphibole, biotite, gahnite and/or kyanite. They were produced from altered rocks created during pre-metamorphic, 1.89 Ga, synvolcanic, hydrothermal, fluid-rock interaction. Three separate episodes of hydrothermal alteration are recognized that span evolution of the host volcanic rocks from a primitive (nascent arc?) to mature arc geotectonic setting. The geological, geochemical, mineralogical and isotopic attributes of the zones indicate that they include VMS-related and VMS-unrelated, and were produced at high- and low- temperatures and in seafloor and sub seafloor (intra-stratal) environments. Semi-conformable alteration zones at Snow Lake are up to 20 km in strike length and 0.8 km wide. Their large exploration ‘footprint’ compared to associated ‘pipe-like’ alteration zones and VMS deposits means that such zones provide a useful target to ‘vector-in’ exploration to VMS depositional settings within volcanic belts. The VMS-related semi-conformable alteration zones at Snow Lake display diagnostic variations in intensity and style of alteration along strike towards VMS deposits, are stratigraphically underlain by altered portions of synvolcanic intrusions, are cut by discordant zones of more intensely altered rocks, and can be demonstrated to have formed by interaction with high temperature(>350°C) hydrothermal fluids.
M
Manitoba Mineral Exploration and Development Trends 2011
C.J. Beaumont-Smith (Manitoba Minerals Policy and Business Development)
Manitoba continues to experience robust levels of exploration and development investment even though recent fears of a global recession have produced significant volatility in commodity markets. The rapid decline in commodity prices in 2009 resulted in a reassessment of exploration and development budgets, which was reflected in declining exploration spending over the previous two years. This trend has been reversed in 2011 with Manitoba experiencing a significant increase in exploration spending, bringing the province into line with most Canadian jurisdictions, and returning the province’s market share of national exploration spending to traditional levels. Manitoba is also experiencing high levels of new mine development and advanced exploration, demonstrated by positive production decisions and mine construction projects. The presentation will highlight exploration trends and will focus on a review of current exploration projects in Manitoba and update the state of advanced exploration and development projects.
Mega Precious Metals - Monument Bay Gold Deposit, Northeast Manitoba
J. Rogers and G. Kuntz (Mega Precious Metals Inc.)
The 100% owned Monument Bay Project in Manitoba is Mega Precious Metals Inc.'s most advanced project. The project is located 570km northeast of Winnipeg and 340km southeast of Thompson, Manitoba, is approximately 25km long by 15km wide and hosts high-grade gold mineralization within the Stull Lake greenstone belt, similar to the Red Lake district in Northern Ontario. On June 27, 2011 Mega announced a 47% increase in the gold resources at Monument Bay. The deposit, that spans less than 4km of the 25km length, is now estimated to contain: NI 43-101 compliant Measured Resource of 221,510 tonnes grading 12.48 g/tonne, plus an Indicated Resource of 2,199,100 tonnes grading 7.12 g/tonne plus Inferred Resources of 6,147,000 tonnes grading 6.01 g/tonne using a 3.0 g/tonne cut off grade. Based on cash and shares exchanged in the Rolling Rock merger and 2011 expenditures to the end of June, the all category total ounces have a combined acquisition and discovery cost of approximately $10 per ounce of gold. This is an Archean vein complex system and not unlike many Ontario and Quebec gold mines is open on strike and dip and includes numerous parallel structures that have not been tested. Mega's long term plan is to review the entire property for additional targets, however the near term goal of this ongoing summer/fall 15,000 metre (m) drill program has the focus to outline sufficient measured & indicated resources to demonstrate positive economics for combined bulk surface and selective underground mining operations. The project remains on track for an upgraded resource in late 2011 and Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) in early 2012. Due to the uncertainty that may be attached to Inferred Mineral Resources, it cannot be assumed that all or any part of an Inferred Mineral Resource will be upgraded to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource as a result of continued exploration.
O
Oil in Manitoba: Past, Present and Future
M.P.B. Nicolas (Manitoba Geological Survey)
Manitoba is home to two sedimentary basins: the Williston Basin in the southwest, and the Hudson Bay Basin in the northeast. Current oil production is solely from the Williston Basin, while research is ongoing in the Hudson Bay Basin to determine the hydrocarbon potential of this frontier basin. The Manitoba Geological Survey is actively undertaking projects and participating in multi-jurisdictional research initiatives that help the exploration and/or development in both these basins. Manitoba has been producing oil since 1950 in the southwestern corner of the province, and has produced a cumulative 33.35 million m3 (284.2 million barrels) by December 31, 2010, from a total of 5229 wells. In 2010, Manitoba’s oil industry had a record breaking year with 516 wells drilled, and reported increased oil production for the sixth straight year, setting a new annual production record of 1.35 million m3 (11.5 million barrels). Manitoba’s oil production comes from Devonian to Jurassic-aged rocks. When the oil patch was first being explored, production was from the Mississippian Lodgepole Formation, now production and current exploration has grown and is dominantly focused on the Triassic Lower Amaranth Member of the Amaranth Formation, and the Mississippian-Devonian Bakken and Three Forks formations. New drilling technologies are being employed to increase production, keeping Manitoba an active player for years to come.
Operational Update for Tartan Lake Gold Mine, Flin Flon Greenstone Belt, Manitoba
T. Ilieva and J. Kilborn (St. Eugene Mining Corporation Limited)
The Tartan Lake Gold Mine (“Tartan Lake”) is located near Flin Flon, Manitoba, in the Flin Flon Greenstone Belt, famous for its massive zinc/copper VMS and many substantial gold deposits. The mine is 100% owned by St. Eugene Mining Corporation Limited (“St. Eugene” or the “Company”). Tartan Lake is a past-producing mine with substantial infrastructure in place, including a 440 metric tonne per day flotation/cyanide concentrator and surface plant, largely intact. The property is accessible by all-weather road and is serviced by Manitoba Hydro. The deposit was previously developed by decline to 300 metres and produced 40,000 ounces of gold from 245,000 metric tonnes (mt) between 1987 and 1989. In November 2010, MineTech International Ltd. completed a NI 43-101 compliant technical report which indicated a substantially increased resource potential (indicated /inferred) of 2.48 million mt at a grade of 4.6 grams per mt (370,000 ounces gold) using a cutoff of 2 gms/mt. In March 2011, St. Eugene completed a VTEM (Versatile time-domain electromagnetics (EM)) and magnetic survey, flying a total of 332.9 km over the Tartan Lake gold project. The Company conducted mapping and channel sampling program and identified an E-W shear zone across the whole property. As a follow up, in 2011 the Company completed a 19 holes surface drill program, totaling 4,123 metres. All holes intersected almost parallel shear zones with quartz-tourmaline-carbonate veins with visible pyrite and chalcopyrite mineralization. Significant results included 27.57 g/t Au over 0.69 m in hole TL-11-03 and 29.6 g/t Au over 0.50 m in hole TL-11-05. The delineation and step-out drilling was carried out to test the anomalies between the South and Southeast Zone, areas south of the Main and West Zone, Ruby Lake area and the geophysical anomaly north of the Main Zone. The 2011 program successfully expanded the system along strike. The system is still open at depth and along strike to the East and West. Exploration potential within the large land position surrounding the mine is considered excellent; six gold zones near the mine offer the potential to expand mine reserves. It is management’s opinion that mine production grades can be increased by 25% by using more selective mining techniques (compared to past experience) and that acceptable gold recovery can be realized using gravity/flotation processes. Due to the existing infrastructure in place, it is the Company’s view that the Tartan Lake Gold Mine offers a low risk opportunity to fast track to gold production, which will provide cash flow for future growth and allow for further exploration opportunities on the property. The Company is preparing the site to dewater the mine in the near term, which will allow for underground diamond drilling and test mining of a 10,000 mt bulk sample.
Overview of Targeted Geoscience Initiative 4 (TGI-4) Ore System Projects: A National, Thematic Program to Enhance Effectiveness of Deep Exploration
M. Villeneuve, C. Hutton, C. Bjerkelund (Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa) and S.J. Paradis (Geological Survey of Canada, Québec)
Between 1980 to 2008, Canada’s reserves of metals experienced a continuous decline, resulting in levels today that are less than half of those reported at the end of 1980. A key aspect contributing to this decline is the increasing rarity of surface discoveries in Canada forcing the exploration industry to explore even deeper for new resources. Even in established mining districts, there has not been substantive exploration below 300 m from surface due to limitations in geoscience knowledge of ore deposit and geochemical and geophysical methods. In light of this, NRCan renewed the Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI4) in 2010 for 5 years with a budget of $25M. The program focuses on providing industry with the next generation of innovative geoscience knowledge and analytical techniques that will result in more effective targeting of buried mineral deposits, thereby increasing discovery rates. The first steps of TGI4 developed underpinning scientific hypotheses that define the critical knowledge gaps within ore systems of interest. These hypotheses, in turn, focus the collaborative efforts of geoscientists from the Geological Survey of Canada, provincial and territorial government surveys, industry and academia. In the summer of 2011, TGI4 launched its thematic, knowledge-driven projects that are based around the following ore systems: 1) Lode Gold, 2) Nickel-Copper-PGE-Chrome, 3) Intrusion Related systems (e.g. porphyry), 4) SEDEX, 5) Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide systems, 6) Uranium and 7) Specialty Metals (e.g. Nb, REE). In addition, scientific studies within the fields of geophysics, geochronology and analytical geochemistry are being used to advance methodological development. Unlike previous incarnations of TGI, the thematic nature of TGI4 means that individual projects are not centred on a geographic region, but instead integrate data and knowledge from multiple mining camps across Canada. In this way, the optimum deposits are used to support studies within a single ore system, in order to best achieve the program objectives.
Overview of 2011 Activities of the Manitoba Geological Survey
R. Syme (Manitoba Geological Survey)
In 2011 the Manitoba Geological Survey (MGS) continued multiyear, collaborative projects in the Seal River region, west of Churchill. This work was supported in part by the Geological Survey of Canada Geo-mapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM; 2008-2013) program. Work also continued in the Paleoproterozoic Flin Flon Belt, wrapping up the Federal-Provincial Flin Flon Targeted Geoscience Initiative (TGI-3; 2005-2010), and in the Snow Lake area and the Thompson Nickel Belt, building on work started in 2008. Community-based geoscience activities were conducted east of Lake Winnipeg (Pauingassi and Little Grand Rapids area) and at Tadoule Lake. Phanerozoic investigations focused on evaluation of shallow unconventional Cretaceous shale gas potential in southwest Manitoba, three dimensional geological modelling in southern Manitoba, and a new GEM project in the Hudson Bay Basin. The MGS continued to provide information for decision-making with regard to the protected areas process in Manitoba, particularly for the Saskatchewan River Delta region and Manitoba’s far northeast.
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Phanerozoic Shallow Gas, Oil Shale, Coal and Fuel Peat Resources in Manitoba
J.D. Bamburak and M.P.B. Nicolas (Manitoba Geological Survey)
Shallow gas, oil shale, coal and fuel peat are energy minerals that have been identified mainly in the Phanerozoic Williston-Elk Point Basin of southwestern Manitoba, but are also likely present in the Hudson Bay Basin of northeastern Manitoba. Shallow gas of biogenic origin was used in the early 1900s for heating, cooking and lighting, near Treherne, Notre Dame de Lourdes and Manitou. One geological unit thought to have shallow gas potential is the Babcock Beds within the Boyne Member of the Cretaceous Carlile Formation, which likely underlies much of the Cretaceous portion of the Williston-Elk Point Basin. Oil shale has been proven to exist in the Cretaceous stratigraphy within southwestern Manitoba’s first and second white speckled shales, which are also known as the Boyne Member of the Carlile Formation and the Favel Formation, respectively. In the past, some of these beds have been ignited; and at one site, south of Minitonas, have burnt for almost a hundred years. Lignite coal was produced in small quantities, between 1883 and 1943, from the Goodlands Member of the Paleocene Turtle Mountain Formation, south and southwest of Deloraine in southwestern Manitoba, and the presence of lignite has also been reported south of Churchill in the Hudson Bay Basin. Recent discoveries of thick intervals (> 50 m) of sub-bituminous coal have been reported in numerous drillholes, north of the Porcupine Hills by several exploration companies, within the Cretaceous Swan River Formation. Fuel peat potential in southeastern Manitoba was investigated more than one hundred years ago; with minor production occurring, as early as 1881. Fuel peat can be found at the base of most peat bogs in Manitoba.
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Quaternary Geology Update for Northernmost Manitoba
M.S. Trommelen (Manitoba Geological Survey) and J.C. Campbell (Geological Survey of Canada)
This presentation highlights new products and results from fieldwork and data analysis in northeast Manitoba (Great Island to Kellas Lake), preliminary results from mapping in the Snyder Lake area of northwest Manitoba, and ice-flow chronology at Churchill. Data release for northeast Manitoba includes till geochemistry and pebble lithology analysis, and surficial geology maps. Ice-flow data is released for Churchill and Snyder Lake areas. A preliminary surficial map for Snyder Lake is also available. Final compilations of data in northeast Manitoba suggest there were 13 phases of ice flow, five of which are associated with streamlined landform generation. 131 field sites were visited in the vicinity of Snyder and Grevstad Lakes (NTS 64N05) during this past summer. One focus was on interpreting the ice-flow history, using both field-based and landform ice-flow indicators. Fieldwork has shown that the ice-flow history of the region is more complex than previously described. A major old, regionally-extensive, southwesterly ice-flow (220-250°, striae and landforms) is followed by a rarer ice-flow phase toward the east-southeast (85-140°). In the Late Wisconsinan, ice flowed toward the southeast (138-160°), then shifted to the south (175-195°) before a major ice-flow phase to the south-southwest (200-212°) that also generated regional drumlin fields. The late deglacial indicator record is sparse, owing to weathered outcrops and low preservation, but a few sites suggest ice flowed progressively west-southwestward (220-240°). Till samples were also taken, both for regional sampling compilation and for two outcrop and local-scale uranium dispersal studies. Dominant glacial landforms include hummocky stagnant ice moraine, streamlined landforms, ground moraine and eroded moraine within subglacial meltwater corridors.
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Redefining the Gold Potential of the Central Manitoba Property, Rice Lake Greenstone Belt
D. Benson (Bison Gold Resources Inc.)
Despite the recent surge in gold price, the Rice Lake Greenstone Belt (RLGB) remains as one of the more underexplored, highly prospective gold terranes in North America. The Uchi Subprovince of the Canadian Shield and the greenstones belts contained therein has produced in excess of 30 million ounces of gold over the past century with the dominant producing belt being the Red Lake Greenstone Belt (RGB). The RGB has current and historical production of >26 million ounces whereby the RLGB has current and historical production of approximately 1.8 million ounces of gold yet >$100 has been spent in the RGB for every $1 in the RLGB. Recent geological studies have identified that the tectonostratigraphy of the RLGB is analogous to the RGB; the only major difference being a vast majority of gold mineralization is hosted by Mesoarchean-aged strata (ca. 2.9 Ga) in the RGB and Neoarchean strata (ca. 2.7 Ga) in the RLGB. Other commonalities between the gold camps include the spatial and temporal association between gold mineralization and “late tectonic”, evolved intrusions as well as Timiskaming-type rift sedimentary sequences. Bison Gold Resources Central Manitoba Property has historically produced 205,000 ounces of gold (reported) from two main mines: the Central Manitoba (160,000 ounces) and Ogama-Rockland (45,000). Gold mineralization at Central Manitoba is hosted by shear and tension-hosted structures within fine-grained metavolcanic sediments and differentiated gabbro. At Ogama-Rockland, the host rock is an apophasis of the Ross River Pluton, a multi-phase tonalite-quartz diorite. A vast majority of Bison’s exploration work over the past few years has focused on the Ogama-Rockland area. Diamond drilling of the historical Ogama mine structures has revealed that gold mineralization persists at depth and along strike of these structures. As well, the diamond drilling in consort with extensive surface mapping and geochemical sampling and airborne topographical imagery (LiDAR) have revealed the presence of numerous additional gold-bearing structures. While the metallogenesis of the gold mineralization in the Ogama-Rockland area is evolving and complex, a structural pattern to the gold mineralization is emerging – a ladder-like or checkerboard scheme of gold-bearing structures projecting in to the hangingwall and footwall of the Ogama mineralized structure. These newly identified structures will be further drill-tested during the winter of 2011-2012; the results of which will outline the first NI 43-101 resource for the Central Manitoba Property.
Roadside Geology of Southwestern Manitoba – A Virtual Guide to Many of its Unique Geological Features
J.D. Bamburak and M. Pacey (Manitoba Geological Survey)
Southwestern Manitoba possesses many unique geological features, which can be easily visited by automobile or other means of transportation on the province’s well-developed system of highways and secondary roads. Building on last year’s introductory presentation on roadside geology in southern Manitoba, this presentation focuses on southwestern Manitoba’s features by extending the described geological journey further to the west; and by adding some video content. This virtual trip will start from Winnipeg along PTH 3 and extend almost to the Saskatchewan boundary, near Lyleton; before turning northward along PR 256 towards Elkhorn; and finally returning eastward to Winnipeg, mainly following the Trans-Canada Highway and then PTH 2. Armed with this information, an interested user should be able to plan one or more outings to visit these interesting geological features, without needing to have extensive background in geology.
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Snow Lake Mine Update
G. Thornton (Alexis Minerals Corp.)
The Snow Lake (Gold) Mine (formerly the New Britannia Mine) in the town of Snow Lake is currently ramping up prior to pre-production. The mine is in an exploration and de-risking phase intended to enhance a sustainable success profile. It is expected that the de-risking work will help optimize gold production for the planned mine life of the operation and provide some “blue sky” opportunities that can tie into the existing mine plan and infrastructure. A positive NI 43-101 feasibility study was completed in December 2010, suggesting a 15 month start-up phase including upgrading the current mine infrastructure, dewatering of the main mine, re-establishing access to the 3 Zone, development and production. The current site activities include approximately 40,000 metres (2011 YTD) of drilling both near mine targets, as well as the testing of targets around the property. Other work during 2011 has included geological mapping and geophysical interpretation. A concerted effort has been centered around mine planning, and taking internal ownership to de-risking the mine plan through thorough review, generation of mine design extraction options, and geological review including evaluation of drilling data to enhance the resources and “mineability” of the ore zones.
Strategies for Reducing Potential Financial and Legal Liability Associated with Metal Mines Environmental Effects Monitoring
D. Huebert (Stantec Consulting Ltd.)
The Metal Mining Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) program has been in place since 2002, when the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations were registered. The purpose of the EEM guidance document as written was, “to evaluate the effects of mine effluent on the aquatic environment”, and was designed to achieve “national uniformity” in monitoring, and “to provide guidance on recommended standards of good scientific practice…”. Unfortunately, there are currently at least four serious methodological and/or statistical deficiencies within the EEM that significantly bias the results towards the finding of ‘effect’. First, the basic study design is pseudo-replicated. Second, the probability of a Type 1 error is misrepresented, and is not 10% as stated, but actually over 60%. Third, calculation errors introduced into development of the Bray-Curtis Index result in a bias towards finding an ‘effect’ under almost any ecological circumstance. Fourth, the formula for calculation of plume boundaries is incorrectly stated. Together, these deficiencies result in an almost certain finding of ‘effect’, even in the absence of environmental ‘impact’. The resultant requirements for further monitoring, and ultimately demands for corrective action to address the perceived threats to the environment, will potentially and unnecessarily cost mining and forestry companies millions of dollars and exposure to legal liability under the Federal Fisheries Act. Strategies will be presented for creating remedy for these deficiencies and thereby limiting potential legal and financial liability.
Stratigraphic and Structural Controls on Auriferous Quartz-Vein Systems in the Rice Lake Mine Trend, Western Superior Province, Manitoba
S.D. Anderson (Manitoba Geological Survey)
The Rice Lake mine trend is located at Bissett, Manitoba, within an upright, north-dipping succession of ca. 2.72 Ga volcaniclastic, epiclastic, effusive and synvolcanic intrusive rocks in the central portion of the Archean Rice Lake greenstone belt. The trend includes of six significant deposits with a total gold endowment of ca. 5 million ounces (reserves, resources and past-production), making it the most significant lode-gold camp discovered to date in Manitoba. The deposits consist of auriferous quartz-vein systems that are associated with brittle-ductile shear zones and cogenetic arrays of shear and tensile fractures, and preferentially formed within chemically favourable or competent rock types, or along strength-anisotropies, during regional compressional deformation under mid-crustal (greenschist-facies) metamorphic conditions. Detailed (1:5000 scale) mapping was undertaken in August 2011 to address the need for a single, comprehensive and up-to-date geological map of the trend at a scale suitable for modelling the distribution and geometry of the gold deposits and the controls on mineralization. This talk will summarize the results of this mapping as they pertain to lithology, stratigraphy and structure of the hostrocks, and the geometry, style, kinematics and timing of the quartz-vein systems, with emphasis on small-scale examples associated with brittle-ductile shear zones in the north-central portion of the trend. These structures are comparable in most respects to northwest- and northeast-trending structures that host major orebodies in the San Antonio/Rice Lake deposit. Hence, the new data are particularly relevant to deposit modelling and exploration in the trend, and serve to emphasize the important role of hostrock composition, competency and primary strength-anisotropy in the localization of vein-hosted gold mineralization throughout the Rice Lake belt.
Sustainability: Aligning the Shareholder and the Community
D. Ginn (San Gold Corporation)
San Gold seeks sustainability through programs that align the interests of communities and shareholders. When San Gold started operations in 2005, substantial investment was made in local training. Today, this program has resulted in high rates of local and Aboriginal employment, strong buy-in from workers, reduced churn, ongoing communication with local communities, and lowered costs for transport to and from site. This program, along with San Gold’s aggressive investments in exploration and other related initiatives, continues to contribute toward the economic strength of nearby communities while fostering new relationships with other communities in mineral rich zones.
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The Hole-to-Hole Induced Polarization Solution
C. Brown (Abitibi Geophysics Inc.)
Abitibi Geophysics has worked with several gold mining companies and the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program to develop the hole-to-hole IP method. This method of surveying was developed to increase the detection radius around drill holes being surveyed. The hole-to-hole configuration employs two receiving electrodes that are lowered at equal increments in different drill holes; the signal is induced by a current bipole which is strategically installed on surface. After several pairs of holes have been read, the data are inverted to produce 3D images of potential targets. This method has the ability to illuminate extensions of existing sulphide mineralization and discover new mineralization that has been missed by drilling.
The Joy of Mineral Collecting in Manitoba
J. Biczok (Mineral Society of Manitoba)
Beautiful mineral specimens are some of nature’s finest works of art and have been collected in earnest since the 1500’s. Mineral collectors now number in the tens of thousands and many strive to build aesthetic collections that are also scientifically valuable representations of the mineralogy from a particular area or some of the 4700 known mineral species. Manitoba is the type locality for a handful of minerals and is known to collectors worldwide for the beautiful selenite (clear gypsum) crystals found in the Winnipeg floodway and the world-class millerite (nickel sulphide) specimens from Thompson, among others. The Mineral Society of Manitoba is the largest group of mineral collectors in the province and organises field trips to collecting sites throughout Manitoba and the surrounding states and provinces. Monthly meetings are held from September to May and feature presentations by guest speakers on the subjects of mineralogy, paleontology, earth and planetary science, etc. Membership is open to all and new members benefit from the knowledge of the many experienced collectors in the club. For more information see our website at http://umanitoba.ca/geoscience/mineralsociety/.
The Stonewall Quarry Park Interpretive Centre
C. Precourt (Stonewall Quarry Park)
Lime production is considered by many to be one of the founding industries of our country. Production in Stonewall began in the late 19th century. For decades life in Stonewall revolved around the quarries. The quarries which were once the lifeblood of the community ceased production in the 1960’s. The abandoned kilns stood as silent reminders of the past and the men whose labour helped shape the community. To recognize the significance of the quarries to the community the Town developed a former quarry into Stonewall Quarry Park in 1985. The Park’s Interpretive Centre quickly became a focal point of the community visited by tens of thousands each year. The community was devastated when the Centre and all contents were completely destroyed by fire on November 11, 2007. A new Interpretive Centre has just opened. Galleries include The Ordovician Sea, Manitoba Rocks, An Industry Town and its People, The Quarry, and Uses of Lime and Limestone. It features a variety of hands on, interactive displays that appeal to all ages.
3D Geological Mapping in Manitoba: Past, Present and Future
G. Keller (Manitoba Geological Survey)
The Manitoba Geological Survey is moving toward the completion of a three-dimensional (3D) geological model of the Phanerozoic succession in southern Manitoba, south of latitude 55°N. As we move toward this goal several input datasets are refined and improved as new outputs are created. Many of these datasets have become noteworthy products, able to stand on their own. For example, cross-province digital vertical maps, originally devised to resolve nomenclature and modelling issues from region to region, are now thought of as a primary web-accessible product. A new, updated surficial geology compilation was also required in order to provide a top down interpretation in areas lacking sufficient subsurface data. This presentation briefly discusses our modelling methodology and provides a review of the significant products resulting from the 3D modelling process. Formations relevant to energy production will be highlighted.
Time-Domain Electromagnetics
R. Wasylechko (Abitibi Geophysics Inc.)
This layman’s TDEM presentation will try to answer some frequently asked questions: Why so many confusing loop configurations? Why don’t some nickel conductors respond to TDEM? Sphalerite is non-conductive so why do TDEM? How deep can TDEM see? Case histories will be used to illustrate the answers.
Tracking the Trends 2012: The Top Ten Issues Mining Companies Will Face in the Coming Year
L. Derksen (Deloitte)
As emerging economies around the globe continue their rapid industrialization, demand for commodities is skyrocketing. At the same time, numerous countries are taking steps to safeguard their own supply by curbing the export of natural resources and shutting down some traditional supply markets. But more than merely affecting commodity prices, this trend is also changing the way mining companies do business. This presentation will address ten of the top global mining trends that companies can expect to face in 2012 and will explain that although the developing economies’ strong appetite for commodities is sending demand signals to the mining industry, these are being muffled by the difficulties of obtaining permits for new mines and finding skilled labour.
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Using Multidisciplinary Approaches to Explore Magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE Deposits in the Thompson Nickel Belt, Manitoba
E. Yang and C. Couëslan (Manitoba Geological Survey)
The Thompson Nickel Belt (TNB) hosts a world-class magmatic Ni-Cu-(PGE) deposit (i.e. the Thompson deposit comprising a number of orebodies or mines) and a set of small to middle-size Ni deposits as well as numerous occurrences associated with ultramafic rocks. However, over the nearly 50-years of mine production in Thompson, the projection is for mineral reserves to drop dramatically in the near future. The challenge facing the mining industry, government and academia geoscientists is how to discover more mineral resources to feed the smelters through cost-effective exploration. This presentation discusses using multidisciplinary methods to explore magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE minerals in the TNB, with the objective of improving our understanding the ore-forming systems, searching for clues to identify the nature of the magmas that generated magmatic Ni-Cu-PGE sulphide mineralization, tectonic setting, and post-mineralization modification due to deformation, alteration and metamorphism. Detailed geological mapping and structural analysis, supported by studies of lithogeochemistry, mineralogy, geochronology, and geophysical data interpretations, may help delineate exploration targets for diamond drilling. Before going even deeper, a question should be asked, “How do we fully evaluate the TNB for all potential shallower targets?”
