Summary:
The Lac-Saint-Jean anorthosite is the largest anorthositic complex in the world, occupying an area of nearly 20,000 km2. The Property lithology consists mainly of intrusive rocks subsequently associated with anorthositic rocks of Lac St-Jean. The rocks are displayed in the form of coalescing lobes consisting of leuconorites, anorthosite, norite, gabbronorite, gabbro with olivine, and gabbro. The lower pyroxenite contains dunites, peridotites, Fe-Ti oxides, apatite, jotunites and mangerites.
Mineralization at the Lac a Paul project originated from magmatic sedimentation and segregation within the anorthositic complex. The main geological unit of interest is a Nelsonite consisting of apatite and ilmenite-rich layers. Nine apatite mineralized zones are reported within Arianne's Lac a Paul project. Zones No 1 and No 2 are low-grade apatite-ilmenite bearing gabbros. Zone No 4 is constituted by titanoferous oxides. Only Zone No 2 was explored significantly with diamond drilling. The seven (7) other zones, Zone Manouane, Zone Paul, Zone Nicole, Zone Lucie, Zone Lise, Zone Intersection and Zone Castor are considered nelsonites and are most promising. The Paul and Manouane Zones are the main interest of the Feasibility study report.
Paul Zone
The rocks consist of an olivine nelsonite, composed of similar proportions of apatite, ilmenite, magnetite and olivine, plus accessory pyroxene, feldspar and biotite as reported and validated by Réjean Girard from IOS. Depending on mineral proportions, this layered rock can vary between a genuine nelsonite, a troctolitic nelsonite, a troctolite (olivine-plagioclase rock), a pyroxenite, a gabbroic anorthosite, etc.
These facies are intricate or layered in a disorderly fashion. This Zone is embedded in apatite-free gabbroic to anorthositic host rock. The difference between the various facies is subtle, and detailed correlation between drill holes remains tricky. The Paul Zone is known to extend at least 2,700 meters, aligned east-southeast. Ovoid in shape, its width is not constant, between 150 and 300 meters (presumed thickness of the Zone). The Zone is open at depth (400 vertical meters) and presumed true thickness range from 150 to 300 meters.
The Zone is open to the east and to the west although the magnetic survey indicates it is pinched. The magnetic survey also indicates a complex internal structure, likely involving folding and stacking. Attitude of the lithology is now fairly well known. Lithological contacts are more or less diffused. Knowledge delineating the geometry of the Zone is fairly completed.
Manouane Zone
The Manouane Zone is dominated by a magnetite-bearing nelsonite, similar to the Paul Zone. This nelsonite is interbedded with gabbros, anorthosite and tonalite layers. Again, no detailed correlation was attempted between holes. The exact attitude of layering is uncertain. The Zone is currently known to extend to 1000 meters in length, trend northeast-southwest and be open at both ends. It has an apparent width of about 250 meters. The Manouane Zone is characterized by two apatite-enriched zones within the sector. These Zones are connected in the Eastern region and have variable inclination going west. This current outline approximately mimics the aeromagnetic anomaly. The Zone has been tested to a depth of almost 400 meters where it is still open, it is also open at both the east and west ends. Depth is constrained down to 125 meters at the east end.
Zone No. 2
The Zone No. 2 occurrence is made up of apatite-ilmenite bearing homogeneous anorthositic gabbro, with minor variable gabbro and anorthosite. Nelsonite and troctolite are reported as small pods.
The Zone is known to extend about 1200 meters trending northeast and has a known width of up to 300 meters. It has been tested by drilling to a depth of about 100 meters. It is overlain by a thin layer of overburden averaging about 3 meters in thickness. The rock is rather massive. Differences between facies are subtle and detailed correlation between drill holes is difficult. The attitude of the layer is suspected to be sub-horizontal. The Zone can be regarded as open in every direction. The magnetic pattern over the Zone is irregular and of little help in delineating mineralization.
Zone No. 1
It consists of an apatitebearing gabbro which is displayed as friable outcrops along road cuts. The Zone is open in all directions and at depth.
Other zones (Nicole, Castor, Intersection, Lise and Lucie)
The Nicole, Castor, Intersection, Lise and Lucie Zones are zones of prospection and only current limited surface sampling data is available with limited drilling of 2009. The best result is an intersection of 99 meters with 5.31% P2O5 along the hole LPA-09-10 drilled on the Lise Zone.