Metamorphosed calcic anorthosites form one of the most distinctive rock units in the Archean gneiss complex of West Greenland. These anorthosites are of special interest because of their unusual composition with extremely calcic plagioclase, low-levels of extraneous mineral contaminates, and extensive preservation of primary igneous textures and minerals. These unique mineral-chemical attributes are directly linked to their potential use in various industrial mineral applications, in particular, their use as an alternative source of raw material for the aluminum industry.

Mineralization on the property consists of anorthosite with minor muscovite (2%) and clinozoisite (3%). Rutile, pyrite and biotite are present in extremely small amounts («1%) Thin section petrographic analysis (Le Couteur, 2012) indicates the anorthosite is composed of approximately 95% plagioclase. The rock is hard, massive and has an off-white colour with some vaguely defined patches having a faint brownish cast. The plagioclase varies in grain size up to about 30 mm across. The brownish-tinged patches appear to be large single crystals. The rock is described as coherent but crazed with fine fractures radiating in all directions, indicating the impact of tecto-morphism activity. Pale yellow clinozoisite grains up to 8 mm across, but typically less than 2 mm, account for about 2% of the rock mass. The clinozoisite grains are scattered throughout the rock mass, with some strung along fractures or ........

The exploitation license was granted for 30 years with a 20-year extension allowable. The mine has a current mine life of over 100 years with the deposit being open in all directions.

Mining at the White Mountain site consists of a simple drill and blast operation in an open pit where there is no overburden that needs to be removed prior to extraction. Mining is done with 10m benches. After blasting, the ‘shot rock’ is loaded into 35 and 40 tonne articulated haul trucks that carry the ore 11 kilometres down to the waterside processing plant. The haul trucks are operating downhill when loaded, which represents a considerable fuel saving that, together with the absence of overburden on the mineral resource, means a very cost-effective open pit mining operation.

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