Evaluation of the potentiel for Cu-Au-Mo porphyry type mineralization in Abitibi: a contribution to the Copper Plan

Jean-Yves Labbé
Géologie Québec directorate

On the occasion of a workshop on the Copper Plan, held in Rouyn-Noranda in March 2005, the idea of evaluating mineral potential for Cu-Au-Mo porphyry-type deposits in Abitibi was proposed.

Because of the industry’s enthusiastic reaction to the publication of a study on volcanogenic massive sulphide potential (EP 2005-01), the exercise will be repeated for Cu-Au-Mo porphyry-type deposits throughout Abitibi. The study, based on 15 distinct geological attributes, has so far led to the production of a mineral potential map at a scale of 1:500,000.

The map shows:

• Promising areas for the discovery of porphyry-type Cu-Au-Mo mineralization
• About 75 exploration targets corresponding to highly prospective areas that had not been staked at the time of the study

The final results of the study will be revealed for the first time at Québec Exploration 2006, which will be held in Québec, next November. In addition to the 1:500,000 map of potential, the document will include an explanatory report on the various stages of the evaluation model, 21 maps at a scale of 1:500,000 illustrating the interim results of each of the stages, and 5 maps of potential at a scale of 1:250,000. A descriptive database of the 75 exploration targets will also be available.