1E Grenville Province

1E
Exploration Activities
Grenville Province
The Grenville Province is the youngest tectonic province
of the Canadian Shield; it extends along a northeast trending
axis for more than 2,000 km and averages 350 km in width.
It is bounded to the northwest by the Grenville Front and to
the southeast by the St. Lawrence River and the Paleozoic
Appalachian orogens.
SOUTHWESTERN GRENVILLE PROVINCE
The Parautochthon and its boundary with the Allochthon
attracted exploration companies searching for precious metals, base metals, and diamonds (projects 1-8). Among the
latter, Aurizon Mines Ltd completed the first phase of a till
sampling program on the Kipawa gold-uranium project (project 5).
Samples with anomalous gold values are clustered within four
distinct glacial dispersal trains along a northeast-trending axis
some 30 km long. All four dispersal trains are closely associated with a quartzite unit within a Proterozoic paragneiss and
migmatite complex.
Southeast of the Front, Archean (Pontiac, Abitibi, Opatica,
and Ashuanipi subprovinces) and Paleoproterozoic (Otish basin
and Gagnon terrane) rocks form the Parautochthon. The latter
consists of crust that initially formed the southeast margin of
Laurentia and that was reworked, for the most part, during the
Mesoproterozoic. The Allochthon, consisting of magmatic or
accreted terrains, was later assembled onto the Parautochthon.
The earliest terrains, recognized in the northeastern half of the
Grenville Province, are Labradorian in age (1710-1600 Ma)
followed by Pinwarian (1520-1460 Ma) rocks, extending over
most of the province. The most recent terrains are represented
by an episode of crustal formation restricted to the southwest
part of the province. They correspond to a juvenile tonalitediorite assemblage assigned to the Lacoste, Mekinac, and
La Bostonnais magmatic suite (ca. 1.38 Ga).
In 2006, the number of exploration projects in the
Mont-Laurier and Fort-Coulonge areas reached a 25-year peak.
Uranium exploration is largely responsible for this upswing,
as nearly a dozen exploration companies were active in the
Central Metasedimentary Belt, in the Mont-Laurier terrane
(projects 5, 16, 18-22 and 24-26). Nova Uranium Corporation
completed more than 60 drillholes totalling 6,500 m on
the Mont-Laurier property (project 22), following airborne
magnetic and radiometric surveys, ground scintillometer
surveys and channel sampling. Three out of 39 holes drilled in
the first phase of exploration intersected a subvertical pegmatite
dyke with grades ranging from 0.098% U3O8 over 23.38 m
to 0.026% U3O8 over 7 m. Uranium mineralization occurs as
uraninite disseminated in the pegmatites and to a lesser extent,
in surrounding metasedimentary rocks and granites.
Between accretionary episodes, extensional phases led to the
formation of back-arc basins in the Mont-Laurier and Morin
terranes, as well as the intra-arc basin filled by rocks of the
Wakeham Group. Extensional phases are also associated with
the emplacement of anorthositic and charnockitic complexes
(AMCG). After the Shawinigan metamorphic event (11901140 Ma), during which the Mont-Laurier and Morin terranes
were metamorphosed to amphibolite-granulite facies, the
main collision of the Grenvillian phase took place during the
Ottawan orogeny (1080-1020 Ma). A final phase of compression, at about 1.0 Ga, appears to be essentially restricted to the
area near the Grenville Front, whereas inside the orogen, this
episode is marked by the emplacement of late anorthosites and
discrete granitic intrusions.
In addition to uranium, copper attracted joint venture partners
Quinto Technology Inc. and Appalaches Resources Inc. in
the Mont-Laurier area. The two companies completed 450 m
of drilling on one of six geophysical anomalies defined on
the Bornite Hill property (project 17). Here, skarn-type copper occurrences generally consist of disseminated or massive
pyrite, chalcopyrite, and bornite in diopside-rich calc-silicate
rocks. Drillholes encountered significant copper mineralization, namely 0.57% over 22.8 m, and 1.27% over 3.83 m, as
well as gold, platinum and palladium-bearing intervals in some
drillholes, including 1.1 g/t Au over 1.2 m, and 0.8 ppm Pt over
1.06 m.
Suzie Nantel, Abdelali Moukhsil
Introduction
NORTHEASTERN GRENVILLE PROVINCE
For the second consecutive year, the northeastern Grenville
Province saw an increase in the number of exploration projects
for iron and uranium. Géologie Québec continued its mapping program, this year covering an area north of the town of
Baie-Comeau (1:125,000 scale, NTS sheets 22F/07, 22F/08,
22F/09, 22F/15, and 22F/16).
From an economic standpoint, the Grenville Province is
known for its architectural stone and industrial stone quarries
as well as its industrial mineral operations (see Chapter 2). It
also hosts the Mont-Wright iron mine and the Lac Tio titanium
mine in the Côte-Nord region, as well as the Niobec niobium
mine in the Lac-Saint-Jean region.
Manicouagan Minerals Inc. reported encouraging results
from the Mouchalagane property (project 39). Channel samples
from the Bob showing on the property yielded assays reaching 3.21% Ni, 2.33% Cu, 3.7 g/t Pt, and 25.90 g/t Pd over
0.5 m (channel sample no.8). Other occurrences also yielded
In 2006, most of the 61 exploration projects brought to
our attention were located in the southwestern part of the
Parautochthon, in the Mont-Laurier terrane, in the northeastern
part of the Allochthon and in the Gagnon terrane (Figure 1E,
Table 1E). A few major projects are briefly described below.
37
1E
interesting grades, namely 1.04% Ni, 1.76% Cu, 0.3 g/t Pt,
1.5 g/t Pd, and 0.13% Co in a grab sample from the Dernière
Chance showing.
ore is identical to that at Peppler Lake; it consists of layers of
massive hematite and magnetite and layers of disseminated iron
oxides in a Lake Superior-type iron formation. Québec Cartier
Mining Company, also in the Fermont area, is considering
reopening the past-producing Fire Lake iron ore mine (project 43) as a satellite operation. Proven and probable reserves
were estimated in 1985 at 341 Mt grading 33.35% Fe.
The Fermont area is characterized by the presence of abundant iron ore deposits, among which the Mont-Wright deposit,
mined since 1974 by the Québec Cartier Mining Company
(QCMC). Not far from the mine, on the Peppler Lake iron
property (project 42), Quinto Technology Inc. completed a
drilling campaign (21 drillholes totalling 2,538 m) in order
to delineate the extent of the deposit and conduct a feasibility
study. Preliminary data released by the company indicates the
presence of 250,000 tonnes of reserves at a grade of 28.2% Fe.
Also near the town of Fermont, Consolidated Thompson Iron
Mines Ltd continued exploration and assessment work on the
Bloom Lake property (project 44). The company released a new
resource estimate, whereby measured resources are established
at 488.5 Mt grading 29.91% total Fe, and indicated resources at
149.2 Mt grading 29.29% total Fe. According to the feasibility
study, commercial production could begin in 2008, at an annual
capacity of 5 Mt of iron concentrate grading 65% Fe. The iron
In the Basse-Côte-Nord region, near Baie-Johan-Beetz,
Entourage Mining Ltd carried out an extensive exploration
program on the Doran uranium property (project 57). Samples
from many different zones yielded anomalous grades up to
0.76% U3O8. Overall, uranium appears to be associated with
pegmatite dykes and granitic intrusions. In the same area,
Starfire Minerals Inc. conducted radiometric and magnetic
geophysical surveys and a sampling program on the CrossStructure property (project 59). The best assay results from
grab samples were 0.09% U3O8. Uranium concentrations are
primarily associated with pegmatite dykes cross-cutting rocks
of the gneissic Aguanish Complex.
38
1E
78°
70°
74°
66°
58°
62°
54°
54°
FG
44
39
43
or
ad c
br
e
La éb
u
Q
41 42
38
1
50°
34
47-48
46
35
50
ll
Sept-Îles
initive)
61
52-53 54 56
49
36
uncil (non def
the Privy Co
55
51
40
37
ry by
1927 bounda
ll
60
57 58
59
50°
Havre-Saint-Pierre
45
32
31
Baie-Comeau
FG
P
Chicoutimi
6-7-8
3
4
5
46°
11
12
13
l
2
25 26
28
27
15 24 23
14
20-21-22
16
Mont Laurier 17 19
9 10 18
29
33
30
Québec
Montréal
Hull
74°
78°
LITHOLOGIC LEGEND
66°
70°
0
LITHOTECTONIC LEGEND
Sept-Îles Layered Igneous Complex
58°
62°
: Grenville Front
Parautochthon and External
Allochthon
Charnockite, mangerite,
monzonite and granite
Allochthon
: Tectonic Boundary
(Ductile shear zone)
Anorthositic suites
Lelukuau and Tshenukutish
Terranes
: Tectonic Boundary
(Thrust fault)
Eclogitic AMGC suites
Gagnon Terrane
: Normal Fault
Metamorphosed mafic
igneous complexes
Mont-Laurier Terrane
: Mines
Morin Terrane
Supracrustal rock belts
Wakeham Group
Figure 1E. Exploration projects in the Grenville Province for 2006.
39
50 100
km
TOWNSHIPS
-
Mazenod
Mazenod
Atwater, Booth, Gaulin,
McLachlin, Villedieu
Booth, McLachlin,
Senezergues
Blondeau, La Noue,
Gaboury, Guay
Blondeau
Guillet, Blondeau,
Bellefeuille, La Noue
Pontefract
Grand-Calumet
Grand-Calumet
Aldfield, Masham
Aldfield, Masham
Hainaut
Décarie, Pérodeau
Fontbrune, Major
Major
Sicotte
Brunet, Moreau,
Pérodeau
Leman
Leman
Pérodeau, Leman,
Franchère
Chopin
Chopin, Leman
-
-
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
40
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
31 O/06
31 O/06
31 O/03-06
31 O/03
31 J/14-15
31 J/14
31 J/14
31 J/11-14
31 J/12
31 J/11-12-13-14
31 J/13
31 J/14
31 K/15
31 F/09
31 F/09
31 F/10
31 F/15
31 F/15
31 M/07
31 M/07
31 M/07
31 L/15-16,
31 M/01-02
31 L/15
31 M/03
31 M/03
22 L/15
NTS
Ressources Maxima inc.
Ressources Maxima inc.
Uranor inc.
Ressources Maxima inc.
Nova Uranium Corporation
Ressources Antoro inc.
Consolidated Pacific Bay Minerals Ltd
Golden Dragon Explorations Inc.
Starfire Minerals Inc. / F. Yacoub
Quinto Technology Inc. /
Ressources Appalaches inc.
Azimut Exploration inc.
Ressources Strateco inc.
Matamec Exploration inc.
Aldershot Resources Ltd
Aldershot Resources Ltd
Golden Calumet Exploration ltée
Geotest Corp.
Aldershot Resources Ltd
Ressources Covedex inc.
Ressources Covedex inc.
Géotech Exploration ltée
Mines Aurizon ltée
Globex Mining Enterprises Inc. /
Noront Resources Ltd
Ressources d’Arianne inc.
Kinbauri Gold Corp.
Bitterroot Resources Ltd
COMPANIES / PROSPECTORS
TABLE 1E- Exploration projects in the Grenville for 2006 (see figure 1E).
Nos.
Lesueur / Boisvert
Lesueur
Menjo Grenville
Mountain River
Mont-Laurier
Andy Lake
Mont-Laurier
La Corne
Capri
Bornite Hill
Baskatong
Mont-Laurier
Vulcain
Shawville
Kert
Calumet Mine
Grand Calumet
Rive
Lac Diamant
Lac Pleau
Lac des Moufettes
Kipawa
Hunters Point
Mazenod
Laniel
Twins
PROJECTS
Cu-Au-Ag-U
Cu-Au-U
U
Cu-Zn
U
U
U
U
U
Cu-Ni-Co-Ag
Cu-U
U
Cu-Ni-Co-PGE
U
U
Zn-Pb-Au-Ag
U
U
Zn-Pb-Cu-Ni-Cr-CoRRE-U-Th-Au-Ag
Diamond-Zn-CuCr-Co-Fe-Ti-U-REE
Diamond-Zn-CrNi-U-Th-Au-EGP
U-Au
U-Au
U
EGP- Diamond
Ni-Cu-PGE
SUBSTANCES
G, S
G, S
G, Pr, GpRa(G)
D (5:200)
D (60:6500), T, Pr, GpMa(A),
GpRa(A)(G), Gs(r), S, G
GpRa, GpMa, S, T
Pr, S, Gs(sl)
GpRa
GpRa(A)
T, S, D (6:451)
Gs(l), Pr
G, GpRa(A), GpMa, S, Pr, T
G, S
S, GpRa(G)
Pr, S, G, GpRa(G)
GpMa, S
GpMa(G), Gs
S, Pr, GpRa
G, Pr, Pg, TE, S
G, Pr, TE, Pg
G, Pr, TE
GpRa(A), GpMa(A),
GpEm(A), Gs(t)
GpRa(A), GpMa(A)
GpRa
Gs(sl), G
TE
WORKS (1)
1E
Beauvais, Flèche
-
-
-
-
-
Parker
Parker
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
-
39
46
Bernard
38
Fafard, Franquelin,
Godbout
-
37
45
-
36
Lislois, Normanville
-
35
44
-
34
Bergeron
Saguenay
33
43
-
32
Faber, Malapart,
Thury
La Trappe
31
Boucault, Thury
Bickerdike, Gendron
30
42
Bourgeoys, Langelier,
Tourouve
29
41
Payment
28
Berthelet, Brien
Galifet, La Poterie
27
40
TOWNSHIPS
41
12 L/11
12 L/11
22 P/06
22 I/13, 22 P/02-0305-06-11
22 J/15
22 J/10
22 J/02-10
22 J/07
22 G/05-12
23 B/14
23 B/06
23 B/05-06
23 B/05, 23 C/08
22 N/09
23 C/04
23 C/04
22 N/07
22 K/14, 22 N/03
22 K/04
22 F/13
22 C/04
22 E/10
32 H/01
31 P/09
31 P/10
31 P/11
31 O/01-08,
31 P/04-05
NTS
QIT Fer et Titane inc.
QIT Fer et Titane inc.
M. Morissette
Azimut Exploration inc. /
Kennecott Exploration Compagny
R. Landry / J. C. Rochette
R. Landry / J. C. Rochette
M. Richard / S. Landry
R. Landry / J. C. Rochette
Ressources Appalaches inc.
Consolidated ThompsonLundmark Gold Mines Ltd
Compagnie minière Québec Cartier
Quinto Technology Inc.
Azimut Exploration inc.
Groupe de prospecteurs et FREM
Manicouagan Minerals Inc.
Robert Côté
Manicouagan Minerals Inc.
Quinto Technology Inc.
Fancamp Exploration Ltd
Exploration Esbec inc.
Galaxy Resources Inc.
Rio Tinto Fer et Titane inc.
9144-6883 Québec inc.
Société d’exploration minière Vior inc.
Normand et Denis Fortin
Réjean Frigon
Soquem inc.
COMPANIES / PROSPECTORS
TABLE 1E- Exploration projects in the Grenville for 2006 (see figure 1E).
Nos.
-
Forage Grader-Sud 2006
Forage Puyjalon 2006
Lac Vital
Manitou
Tomo
Graupe
SM 12-13
Miali
Ashini
Lac Bloom
Fire Lake
Lac Peppler
Mont Merry
Caniapiscau 2006
Mouchalagane
Victoria
Manicouagan
Lac Guéret
La Blache
B-100
Lac Fafard
Zec Varin
Lac Yenevac
Édouard
Bourgeoys, Langelier,
Tourouve
Vermillon
PROJECTS
Fe-Ti
Fe-Ti
Cu-Ni
Cu-U
U-Nb
REE, Zn
REE, Zn
REE, Zn
U
Fe
Fe
Fe
Cu-U
Ni-Cu-PGE
Cu-Ni-Pt-Pd
Diamond
Ni-Cu
Graphite
Fe-Ti
Cu-Ni-Co-Pt-Pd
U
Fe-Ti
Ni
Cu-Ni
Pt-Cu-Ni-Pd
Au-Cu
Cu-Ni-Au
SUBSTANCES
D (3:457)
D (3:362)
Gp, GpRa
Gs(l), Pr, Gs(sl), Pr
S, Pr
S, Pr
S, Pr
S, Pr
Pr, G, T, GpRa, S, Gs(r)
FM
D (42:6946)
D (27:3230), FM
Gs(l), Pr
Pr, Gs(s)
S, T, Pr, GpEm, GpMa,
G, Gs(r), Gs(sl)
Gp, S
D (9:4321)
D (34:2400)
Met
GpMa, T
GpRa, GpMa, S, G, Pr
GpEm, GpMa
Gp(G)
Pr
T, G
T
Pr, GpEm(A), GpMa(A)
WORKS (1)
1E
-
-
-
Costebelle
-
-
-
-
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
12 O/06-10-11
12 K/16, 12 N/01
12 L/08
12 L/06-07-08
12 L/08
12 M/01
12 M/08-09
12 L/15
NTS
Azimut Exploration inc.
Azimut Exploration inc.
Starfire Minerals Inc. / F.Yacoub
Uracan Resources Ltd
Entourage Mining Ltd / F.Yacoub
Azimut Exploration inc.
Azimut Exploration inc.
Azimut Exploration inc.
COMPANIES / PROSPECTORS
1 = See the legend of abbreviations and the signification of bold type in the appendix II.
TOWNSHIPS
TABLE 1E- Exploration projects in the Grenville for 2006 (see figure 1E).
Nos.
Augustin (NE2-NE3)
Chevery (SE2-SE3)
Cross Structure
Johan-Beetz
Doran
Aguanish
Havre (NW2-NW4)
Havre (SW2-SW3)
PROJECTS
U
U
U-Th
U-Th
U
Cu-U
U
U
SUBSTANCES
Gs(l), Pr
Gs(l), Pr
S, GpRa, GpMa,
G, S, GpRa, GpMa(A),
GpEm(A), GpRa(A)
D (16:1200), Pr, S
GS(l), Pr
Gs(l), Pr
Gs(l), Pr
WORKS (1)
1E
42