Overview

Mine Type	Open Pit
Status	Inactive / Suspended
Commodities	Niobium Tantalum
Mining Method	Truck & Shovel / Loader
Mine Life	...

Deposit type

• Magmatic
• Carbonatite hosted

Summary:

The alkaline complex is divided into three (3) main lithological units (Units 1 to 3), the fourth unit being the Grenville rocks. These main units are composed of many specific distinct lithological units, defined by local mapping and diamond drilling.

- The first unit represents the major north-western part of the complex; its elongated shape is aligned along a North 320° axis. The composition is an alternating suite of bands of biotite-carbonate syenites, nepheline syenites, nepheline syenites with biotite and carbonatites with an orientation between North 300° and North 340°;

- The second unit mainly covers the south of the complex, but is also present in a 300 meter thick band surrounding the first unit. The composition is mainly nepheline syenite with nepheline-biotite syenite dykes crossing the formations along North 320°;

- The third unit is very small and is located in the south western part of the complex, inside the second unit and is characterized by a large amount of syenite.

Two (2) main mineralization types of economic interest are present inside the Crevier complex. The first type of uranium-niobium mineralization is mainly located inside the first unit inside an uranopyrochlore unit. The second mineralization type is one of niobium-tantalum and is associated with a pegmatite-nepheline syenite dyke located inside the second unit and also inside the first unit.

Apatite is found in few spots inside the complex but is mainly located in the center part. The apatite rich zones are along the contacts inside the carbonatite dykes and inside the nepheline syenites.

The dyke is separated in four (4) lenses stretched over 4 km and has an average thickness of 20 meters. It has been recognized down to 300 meters below surface. Exploration work was aimed at defining the exact position and grade of the nephyline syenite porphyry dyke.

The dyke is generally composed (95%) of nepheline syenite of pegmatitic texture containing large feldspar crystals and nepheline having variable grain sizes from a few centimeters to close to one meter in specific areas. Many secondary minerals are observed, mainly: biotite, magnetite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, zirconium, sodalite, cancrinite, ilmenite, carbonates and pyrochlore.

The main dyke also contains 5% of secondary dykes and host rocks. The thickness of the secondary units varies from centimeters to meters.

Lens #1 is the most southern one and is located between sections 9,700N and 11,200N. The thickness varies from 3 to 25 meters, the average being 19 meters.

Lens #2 is a relatively small lens (400 m long) located to the north of the #1 lens and appears as having been relocated. Its average thickness is 25 m.

Lens #3 is approximately 1,200 m long. The lens is 20 m thick and is showing an “interdigitation” relation with the #2 lens.

Lens #4 is more than 900 m long. Its thickness varies from 8 to 36 m (average 29 m) and is still open to the north.

Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Processing

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Production

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