RESOURCES
NUNAVIK Commerce Resources Corp. has announced the start of a test project initiative with MineSense, a digital mining solutions provider based in Vancouver, British Columbia. MineSense specializes in digital technology solutions for ore‐ waste classification in real‐time at the mining stage. Data analytics monitor mineralogical or grade changes in an ore body daily, allowing for optimal ore blending, grade trend characterization, and overall improved mine planning with resultant cost efficiencies. A supply of Rare Earth Elements mineralized material from the Ashram Deposit in Nunavik is being used for the project.
Milne Inlet, up to 176 ship transits per year and annual production of up to 12 million tonnes of ore. Many community leaders in North Baffin, especially in Pond Inlet, along with the World Wildlife Fund Canada and Oceans North, still aren’t satisfied with Baffinland’s proposals. The Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Organization in Pond Inlet does not support the expansion project. The in‐person public meeting will be in Pond Inlet and will include a video link. After the public hearing, the NIRB will prepare a report for the federal minister of northern af‐ fairs that will recommend if the project should go ahead, with a list of proposed terms and conditions for inclusion in a project certificate.
NUNAVUT
NWT
Test program to aid REE program
Potential for new gold and diamond found in samples
Mineral strategy management support
A University of Alberta research team has recovered three alluvial, kimberlitic diamonds from two small, separate samples of the Tree River Conglomerate (TRC) in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut. The recovered diamonds were from a sampling in the general area where samples were taken during regional mapping of the Anialik Lake Greenstone Belt in 1997. The samples were collected from the basal unit of the TRC which contains abundant pyrite and anomalous to high‐grade gold. The samples were collected on IOL parcel CO‐69 about 300 metres from the boundary with the Tree River Property. Conclusive zircon age dating places the Tree River Conglomerate in the “Great Gold Deposition Event”. Considering these results, Silver Range is designing a program to test the gold and diamond potential of the Tree River Conglomerate. As a precursor, the Company has submitted an Expression of Interest to Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. to obtain the mineral rights to explore IOL Parcel CO‐69.
Baffinland hearing to resume in new year The Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) will reconvene an in‐person public hearing on Baffinland Iron Mines Corp.’s railway‐based expansion of the Mary River, starting the week of January 25 through to February 6. In its expansion plan, Baffinland proposes a 110‐kilometre railway between Mary River and NOVEMBERDECEMBER 2020 | 06
Aurora Research Institute, the research division of Aurora College, has released a Western Arctic Minerals Geographic Information System (MGIS) to support Northern stakeholders in making informed decisions about mineral strategy management and land use planning. The MGIS integrates geospatial data with the most up‐to‐date information on existing oil, gas and mineral rights, important wildlife areas and ranges to visualize, store, analyze and provide information critical to support the development of mineral strategies. This data will complement academic programs and strengthen the GIS research program and the capacity to train and prepare northerners for careers in the earth resource and environmental management sectors. The project was made possible with support from the Northwest Territories Geological Survey, GNWT Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Petroleum Resources Division, the NWT Center for Geomatics and financial support from Natural Resources Canada, Geo‐mapping for Energy and Minerals (GEM II) Program.
YUKON Mill improvements and surface explorations nearing completion Progress on site‐wide capital projects including mill modifications and infrastructure improve‐ ments for Alexco Resource Corp. continue to be
on pace for completion with mill commissioning and production of silver concentrate in Q4 2020. In the mill, installation of the new tailings filter press and second ball mill are 95 per cent and 75 per cent complete, respectively. Improve‐ ment projects underway include the construction of a crusher enclosure and ventilation system and modification of the fine ore feeder system. Surface construction activities nearing final completion include the expansion of the camp accommodation complex including two new bunkhouse units, an upgraded administration complex, and employee dry and wash facilities. Rehabilitation and capital development continue on schedule at each of the three underground mines slated for initial ore pro‐ duction, with emphasis on the Bellekeno Mine where initial ore will be used for commissioning of the mill in Q4. All major pieces of new underground mine equipment have been delivered to site and are currently operating or are being commissioned. At the Bermingham mine, construction of the water treatment plant is underway, which is required prior to resuming ramp development. The 2020 surface exploration program has been extended to include a total of approxi‐ mately 7,500 metres of core drilling in at least 12 holes, exclusively testing for deeper miner‐ alization in the Bermingham mine area. Drilling will continue until late November.
Targets offer potential for new gold discoveries White Gold Corp. has announced results of its recently completed diamond drilling program on the Ryan’s Surprise target which encoun‐ tered multiple high‐grade mineralized zones expanding gold mineralization in all directions. The diamond drilling program comprised 6 drill holes totalling 1,632.5 m, with all holes encountering multiple gold intercepts, several of which are amongst the highest‐grade inter‐ cepts encountered to date on the White Gold property. It is considered a strong target for additional drilling. The Ryan’s Surprise is situated on a large 11 km by 5 km mineralized trend which hosts several additional prospective targets. It is located approximately 2 km west of the Company’s flagship Golden Saddle deposit and 11 km south of the Company’s VG deposit.
A B O V E & B E Y O N D — C A N A D A’ S A R C T I C J O U R N A L
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