| 
|
Québec Exploration - On target! A key meeting with the leaders of mineral exploration in Québec! In the program:
Join us! 1,200 delegates await you! To know more about the program or to register, visit www.QuebecExploration.qc.ca
Serge Perreault, Resident Geologist
Québec’s mining industry is showing a renewed interest for uranium after 22 years of relative inactivity. Although most uranium production is concentrated in Saskatchewan and the majority of exploration expenditures are focused in that province, Québec still represents a promising territory for uranium exploration. The mineral exploration work that has covered large expanses of the province has only limited significance for current uranium exploration due to the lack of radiometric, geochemical and geological data relevant to the commodity. However, thanks to a recent geochemical survey of lake bottom sediment in the Far North, a mapping project in the northern part of the Superior Province, and judicial use of the SIGEOM database, it is now possible to plan field exploration programs for territories that were never examined in the 1960’s and 70’s.
Most of the showings worked between the 1960’s and 1980’s did not turn out to be economical. Nonetheless, a potential for economic uranium deposits definitely does exist in Québec.
The great depression experienced by the uranium market can be attributed to a number of factors, including the major accidents at nuclear facilities in the United States (1970) and the ex-USSR (1986) that slowed or completely halted the construction of new nuclear facilities in these and several other industrialized countries. New supply sources of secondary plutonium and uranium made their appearance on the market in the 1990’s following the nuclear disarmament of the two superpowers, the recycling of uranium and plutonium fuel rods, and the liquidation of uranium inventories (Comb, 2004; World Nuclear Association, October 2004). Between 1970 and 1984, the uranium market was dominated by a primary production that exceeded the needs of nuclear reactors. The production was based on erroneous forecasts of a sharp increase in nuclear energy production (Sidex, 2004). Right up until 1990, the primary production of uranium oxide (U3O8) largely exceeded demand. After 1990, U3O8 production declined in proportion to demand (Comb, 2004), and stockpiles were even liquidated between 1985 and 2003. Starting about two years ago, the spot price for U3O8 increased dramatically to attain US$30/lb in October 2003 (source: Ux Weekly; Bonnel and Chapman, 2005). It was in 1976-1977 that the price of U3O8 attained its historic high at just over US$100/lb (price in 2004 dollars or ~ US$43/lb in current dollars). This high was followed by a rapid decline, beginning in 1980, to bottom out at under US$8/lb in 2001. Spot prices account for about 15% of the uranium market, whereas 85% of transactions are carried out in the form of long-term contracts, generally at a higher cost than the spot price (Sidex, 2004).
In the years since the Kyoto summit, prominent industrialized countries have made efforts to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, which are partly responsible for the climate changes noted by scientists for over a century. With the exception of hydro-electricity, solar energy and wind energy, nuclear energy releases the least amount of greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels (World Nuclear Association, February 2005). In order to meet their Kyoto commitments and reduce their dependence on oil and natural gas to meet their energy needs, many industrialized countries have decided to construct new nuclear power plants. Furthermore a rising demand in energy needs by emerging countries like China, India and some in southeast Asia, the progressive depletion of several currently mined deposits is anticipated shortage between now and the next 10 to 15 years. The current production of primary uranium represents 55% of the needs of operating nuclear reactors (World Nuclear Association, October 2004). Collectively, these are the necessary ingredients for an upsurge of uranium spot prices, which would lead to a renewed interest on the part of mining companies to dedicate some of their exploration expenditures for uranium.
World production of uranium attained 36,300 tonnes in 2003 (Bonel, 2005). World reserves for ore with a production cost of less than US$40/kg are estimated at nearly 2 Mt uranium, representing more than a 30-year supply for existing reactors (Sidex, 2004). The Canadian production for 2004 amounts to 13,676 tonnes of U3O8 concentrate and is equivalent to 30% of world production. This production is evaluated at CA$800 million. Uranium resources with low production costs (Reasonably Assured Resources and Category I Estimated Additional Resources) amount to 590,000 tonnes U3O8 and corresponds to 12% of world production. For comparison, global reserves with low production costs are twice that of Canadian reserves. Canadian production comes entirely from Saskatchewan (Athabaska Basin). In 2003, about $13 million dedicated to off-site mineral exploration, mainly in Saskatchewan (World Nuclear Association, August 2005). At the present time, Québec does not produce uranium.
Bonel, K.A., 2005. Uranium, In World metals and minerals review 2005, éditeurs Metal Bulletin, British Geological Survey and Industrial Minerals, p. 293-297. Clark, T. and Wares, R. 2004. Synthèse lithotectonique et métallogénique de l’Orogène du Nouveau-Québec (Fosse du Labrador), Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec; MM 2004-01, 182 p. Comb, J., 2004. Fueling the future: A new paradigm assuring uranium supplies in an abnormal market, World Nuclear Association Annual Symposium, September 8-10 2004, London, 16 p. Boily. M. and Gosselin, C., 2004. Les principaux types de minéralisations en métaux rares (Y-Zr-Nb-Ta-Li-Be-ETR) au Québec, Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec, ET 2004-01, 41 p. Gosselin, C. and collaborators, 2003. Rare metals mineralizations in Québec (Y-Zr-Nb-Ta-Li-Be-ETR), Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec, DV 2003-04. Masse, J.P., 1974. L’uranium au Québec, Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec; GM 51690, 88 p. SIDEX, 2004. Exploring for uranium in Québec, SIDEX Diversification Bulletin, November 2004, 12 p. World Nuclear Association, 2004. Uranium markets, October 2004, 5 p. World Nuclear Association, 2005. Sustainable Energy, February 2005, 5 p. World Nuclear Association, 2005. Canada’s uranium production and nuclear power, August 2005, 8 p. Other suggested readings on uranium deposit types in Canada and the world: Geology of Canadian Mineral Deposit Types, edited by O.R. Eckstrand, W.D. Sinclair and R.I. Thorpe, Geological Survey of Canada, Geology of Canada, no. 8, 1996. See sections 1.1, 1.2, 7, 8.1, 12, 13, 14, 21 and 22. Dahlkamp, F.J., 1993. Uranium ore deposits. Springer-Verlag, New-York Berlin Heidelberg; 460 pages.
Distribution
of Ni-Cu-PGE mineralization in the Cape Smith Belt Daniel Bandayayera and Abdelali Moukhsil The Cape Smith Belt offers exceptional mineral potential. This area of North of Québec is the target of an ever-increasing number of exploration activities. The most recent results obtained by exploration companies confirm the excellent potential for discovering of new Ni-Cu-PGE showings. Until now, exploration was mainly concentrated in the southern part of the belt. Other more northern sectors, however, also deserve to be explored. With this in mind, the Department recently defined the geological trends for each part of the Cape Smith Belt (Raglan Trend).
Nickel grades are generally high and in places attain 8% over a thickness of about 10 m. Copper contents are fairly low and rarely reach 1%. Several samples of massive or disseminated sulphides display average grades of 3 g/t Pd and 1.3 g/t Pg. According to the classification of magmatic sulphide deposits, the north trend represents magmatic Ni-Cu sulphide deposits.
The highest Pd values (> 10 g/t) are generally associated with Cu-rich mineralization. The presence of massive chalcopyrite in the form of veins or thin centimetre-scale horizons suggests hydrothermal remobilization of Cu and Pd from primary magmatic mineralization. Some of the magmatic sulphide deposits in the south trend containing low nickel grades could therefore prove to be economic due to their high Pt and Pd contents. Systematic analysis for these elements is thus strongly recommended in the south zone, even in areas with very low nickel values.
Gold
mineralization: Pierre Rhéaume and Daniel Bandyayera During the summer of 2005, Géologie Québec conducted field studies at selected sites in the Urban-Barry Belt (UBB), particularly in the Lac Windfall and Lac Rouleau sectors. Newly stripped zones and recent drill cores were examined to gain a better understanding of the geological context of the gold mineralization for which the sector is known. Preliminary examination of the collected data reveals several similarities between the Lac Windfall sector and epithermal precious metal deposits. This work supports previous studies and highlights the development of several types of auriferous mineralization during the UBB’s geological history. In particular, the hypothesis of a large epithermal system in felsic and intermediate rocks for the Windfall and Rouleau members has significant consequences for exploration. The following features are considered particularly important:
Location and geological context The UBB is located 100 km south of Chapais (Figure 1). It consists dominantly of volcanic rocks and extends for 135 km from Lac Wilson in the west to the Grenville Front in the east. The UBB displays a prominent E-W structural trend marked by doubly plunging folds and E-W faults that produce thrusting to the north (Figure 2). Numerous felsic volcanic assemblages are present, including the Novellet (2,714 Ma), Freeman (2,701 Ma), Windfall (2,718 Ma), Rouleau, Chanceux (2,727 Ma) and Fecteau (2,791 Ma) members. The 2005 work focused primarily on the Windfall and Rouleau members where a number of exploration companies, including Ressources Murgor Inc., Noront Resources Ltd. and Beaufield Consolidated Resources Ltd., have been active for several years. Stripping and drilling in the Windfall sector revealed pyritic stockworks crosscutting a complex of quartzo-feldspathic porphyry sills, andesites and felsic tuffs. The stockworks (Figure 3) are typically only weakly deformed and have yielded gold grades of more than 10 g/t Au. The Au/Ag ratio for the samples collected in 2005 is high, on the order of 1/1, and the host rock displays alteration that is often intense and characterized by silicification, carbonatization, potassium gain and sodium depletion. Pyrite also contains tourmaline needles and locally forms tourmaline-cemented breccia similar to that found in the Lac aux Loutres sector.
Current information indicates that mineralization predates deformation and is syn-volcanic in origin. The early timing of the mineralization, the development of pyrite-gold stockworks in silicified zones with a potassic alteration halo, and the Au/Ag ratio of about 1 collectively suggest that these mineralizations belong to a large epithermal system or to an alteration pipe in an auriferous volcanogenic-exhalative system. Considerable quantities of disseminated tourmaline (1-2%) and pyrite were also observed in intermediate tuffs west of Lac Rouleau. south of the Windfall sector (NAD 83–18 - 454587E - 5431846N). These tuffs coincide with a folded magnetic high that can be followed for several kilometres. The Lac Rouleau sector has very little exposure and was mainly investigated by studying drill core. Core samples are currently being processed for lithogeochemical analysis that will help characterize this large unit. The rocks of the Rouleau Member observed in drill core were mostly lapilli or block tuffs of intermediate composition. We also observed significant carbonate alteration locally associated with shearing, as well as quartz veins and specks of visible gold. Earlier work reported reserves of 544,000 t grading 7.2 g/t Au. Preliminary evidence is compatible with vein-type mesothermal gold mineralization.
Gestim Plus - an improved version for our clients Roch Gaudreau Since the original inauguration of GESTIM in November 2000, the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune continues to make significant improvements to the system. With the intent of providing the best possible service to customers, the Ministry will soon be launching GESTIM Plus. The creation of GESTIM Plus required that we completely review all GESTIM services to better respond to the needs or our clientele. In addition to a new interface and more user-friendly website navigation, users will benefit from a group of new online services (for example, product orders, and consultation or designation of mining titles) that will be accessible by simply clicking a region of interest on a map of Québec. Moreover, GESTIM Plus offers new tools for producing maps specially adapted to your business needs. GESTIM Plus is also a new processing system for granting mining titles. It deals with queries more rapidly by offering assistance, automated authentication and supported decision-making. The aim is to substantially reduce the processing time for your files. Customers who are registered members will also notice many advantages that GESTIM Plus offers. For example, member services will allow users to manage their own mining titles. You may also communicate online with the registrar responsible for processing your file, consult your financial transactions online, and have access to your customer account to obtain a monthly statement. We are also confident that you will notice a real improvement to the claim renewal module. The Ministry plans to launch GESTIM Plus at the beginning of 2006. Be among the first to experience the improvements provided by GESTIM Plus! Can’t wait until 2006? The beta version will be demonstrated at the Québec Exploration 2005 conference, so visit our booth for a sneak preview of GESTIM Plus in action!
The latest news and obtaining geochemical analyses New tools are now available to facilitate data access for SIGEOM clients. Get rapid access to new secondary environment sediment analyses by using E-sigeom à la carte. Predefined queries under the “New Releases” option now allow the user to obtain analytical results for sediment samples collected during new surveys or those involved in recent re-analysis programs. Two new databases of secondary environment geochemical data are currently offered. The first includes the results of a lake sediment survey covering almost all the Manicouagan RMC. The second represents the results of the re-analysis of a series of lake sediment and stream sediment samples that were taken from the Baie James region. Geochemical data presented in easy-to-read tables Two utilities are available to transfer the geochemical data from SIGEOM into a table format that is easy to read. The “TranspoLithSIG” module deals with rock analyses, and the “TranspoSedSIG” module processes sediment analyses from the secondary environment. The “TranspoLithSIG” and “TranspoSedSIG” modules are available in Access 97 or Access 2000 formats. To obtain them, please contact: Centre de service des Mines
|
