Summary:
Deposit type
The property is composed of geological units likely to contain significant iron, titanium and vanadium oxide mineralization of igneous origin and of economic interest.
The mineralization on the property is composed of veins, dykes, lenses and tubular bodies of massive titaniferous magnetite linked to anorthosites that are common to the Grenville Geological Province. The Magpie Deposit also located on the North Shore constitutes one of the largest titaniferous magnetite deposits with reserves in excess of 800 million tonnes grading 43% Fe, 11% TiO2, 1.6% Cr and 0.20% V (Vallée and Raby, 1971).
The oxide mineralization of La Blache property is part of a widely distributed deposit-type which is typically associated in space and time with major igneous events.
Major deposits of titano-magnetite are divided into a phosphorus-rich type (Sept-Îles) and phosphorus-poor type (La Blache and Magpie). Both are distinctive in that they show high concentrations of chrome, the presence of the mineral spinel which reflects the high Al2O3 contents of the rocks and relatively low vanadium (from trace to 0.40% V2O5).
There are multiple theories on the formation of mineralization. One theory supports an origin by accumulation of dense crystals in a magma chamber through settling under the force of gravity (Pang et al. 2008), while a second favours crystallisation from an immiscible oxide-rich magma within the silicate magma intrusive sequence (Zhou et al. 2005).
Geology
The La Blache property is located in the Cote-Nord region of Quebec, part of the Grenville Geological Province. The Grenville extends for more than 2,000 km in length and skirts the North Shore of the St- Lawrence River. Its width varies from 300 km to 600 km and forms the south-east segment of the Canadian Shield. The Archean rocks of the Superior Province and the Proterozoic rocks of the Otish Basin are separated from the Grenville Province by the Grenville Front. The tectonic fabric of Grenville is predominantly northwest-southwest trending.
The Grenville consists of gneiss domes and basins with complex and irregular structural patterns and intrusive rocks of variable composition, from gabbros to alkaline rocks. The circular-shaped Manicouagan Structure located in proximity to the property was reportedly created by a meteorite impact some 214 million years ago.
The lithologies and mineralization on the property are as follows, with the lithologies divided into three major units: the gneissic and intrusive rocks of varied composition of the Hulot Complex, intrusive rocks that include the east-west trending La Blache Anorthosite Complex, and late crosscutting gabbronorites, gabbros, diabase, mangerites, granites and pegmatites (RG2002-02). The La Blache Anorthosite Complex is an almost circular batholith of 35km by 20km (GM52690) within intrusive rocks that extends for 100 kilometres by up to 20 kilometres. The anorthosites are cut by granites and pegmatite varying from a few centimetres to several metres of multiple orientations.
Four major lenses of titaniferous magnetite (Hervieux-West, Hervieux-East, Schmoo Lake and FarrellTaylor) are present as tabular bodies that are aligned over a 17km long arc (RG2002-01) located at the center of the anorthosites. The lenses are almost parallel to the axis of the large antiform defined by the anorthosites that is slightly discordant with the lithologies. Lithologies are all of igneous origin and are divided into anorthosites, garnet anorthosites, pegmatites, gabbroic anorthosite and titaniferous magnetites of the La Blache Anorthosite Complex.
Anorthosites
The anorthosites at the core of the La Blache Anorthosite Complex are composed of at least 90% andesine to labradorite plagioclase megacrysts with minor pyroxenes, titaniferous magnetite, ilmenite, garnet, biotite, olivine, pyrrhotite and chlorite. The anorthosites occupy 75% of the total surface of the property. It is massive, medium to coarse grained, equigranular and automorphic. It is also weakly deformed, unaltered, nonfoliated, but occasionally cataclastic. The anorthosites are grey colour on fresh surfaces, and the labradorite is recognizable by its bluish tinge. The anorthosites are slightly magnetic.
Garnitiferous Anorthosites
Similar to typical anorthosites, but contains between 5% and 15% garnet, the garnets are agglomerated masses of 5 to 15cm linked to magnetite and ilmenite. The unit is located in direct contact with the iron oxides and is up to 25m wide.
Pegmatites
Dykes and veins of pink pegmatites cut all other units. They are composed of quartz and potassium feldspar with minor biotite and magnetite.
Gabbroic Anorthosites
The gabbroic anorthosites are distinguished from anorthosites by its content of 5% to 25% of mafic minerals. Contacts are gradual between the two units.
Titaniferous Magnetite
The titaniferous magnetite is a very black colour with a bluish reflection in contrast to the much lighter grey anorthosite, even in weathered outcrops. It is massive and is in contact with anorthosites that also occur as enclaves in the oxides. The typical composition is 80% titaniferous magnetite, 10% spinel, 5% to 10% ilmenite, and 5% pyroxene and/or plagioclase.
The dominant structure on the Property has a northwest orientation as per the general alignment of the La Blache Anorthosite Complex.
Mineralization
Farrell-Taylor
The Farrell-Taylor showing is the most advanced showing on the property. Surface mineralization in outcrop is located roughly at the eastern extent of an east-west 3.5 km long by 1 km wide dual geophysical anomaly with a magnetic low, conductive western portion and a magnetic high, non-conductive in this eastern portion. The drilling confirmed geophysical modelling, and mineralization is shallow east dipping (10° to 20°), 25 metres to 200 metres thick magnetic lens of massive, transitioning to semi-massive and then disseminated magnetite-ilmenite mineralization.
Hervieux East Extension
The Hervieux East Extension is the second most developed showing on the property, defined as a 200m by a minimum of 35m width along strike, with good exposure. The mineralization is massive, medium to coarse grained magnetite and ilmenite in rounded outcrops.
Hervieux North Extension
Located approximately 1 kilometer north of Hervieux East Extension, this is a 30m cliff of magnetite-ilmenite bearing anorthosite. This prospect was discovered during the 2010 exploration campaign and has not receive additional work after initially found. The sample taken in 2010 assayed 61.9% Fe2O3, 16.7% TiO2 and 0.17% V2O5
La Blache Lake West
The average results from this area from all select grab samples was 13.5% Fe2O3, 3.6% TiO2 and 0.08% V2O5, with the best result returned in a select grab sample in 2012 was 36.5% Fe2O3, 11.9% TiO2 and 0.25% V2O5.