January 2019 STRATEGIC EXPLORATION 2005 2019

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January 2019

STRATEGIC EXPLORATION 2005 – 2019

In mining exploration, it is now assumed that the deposits outcropping become increasingly scarce and future discoveries are becoming

increasingly complex and can only be made by hidden deposits. This reality, coupled with the need to economically optimize the various phases

of exploration has led to the use of indirect methods. So ONHYM launched hyperspectral airborne and geochemical exploration, geophysical

airborne who helped to identify targets for mining research several campaigns.

During 2005-2019 a strategic exploration program was carried out. It includes:

Three geochemical campaign (soil and heavy minerals) from 2005 to 2007, from 2009 to 2010 and 2013 to 2016 is underway in the

southern provinces of Morocco;

Two airborne hyperspectral campaigns from 2008 to 2009 and 2011 to 2012 in the central Anti-Atlas (Sirwa) and Western Anti-Atlas

(Kerdous, Bas Draa, North Akka, Tata inliers);

A geophysical airborne Campaign (AFMAG) in the western Anti-Atlas from 2011 to 2012.

In addition, a recent geochemical survey (stream - sediment and Heavy minerals) is underway in the central High Atlas.

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1- Geochemical surveys :

a- Moroccan Southern Provinces

The works started with orientation survey to define the most representative fraction size for soil samples, which gives the best contrast between the values of geochemical background and geochemically anomalous values. The survey showed that the fraction <250 microns gives the best contrast between the geochemical background and anomalous values. For heavy mineral samples, the objective is focused on defining the mineral associations represented in the sector.

The campaigns have been conducted in Sdar, Ma’talla, Ouday Çfa, Mzayzat As- Sakkoum, Al Aggaya, Set Al Ayn Al Bayda, Lahjayra Al Bayda, Bir Gandouz, Imlily, Al Faj and Madnat Aghracha topographic sheets at a 1:100 000 scale.

Fig. 1 – Location map with general geological setting of the geochemical campaigns in Southern Provinces

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All campaigns results are recorded in important database. The analytical data were subjected to statistical processing (basic statistics, factor analysis and correlation matrices). In addition, mono-elementary and multi-elementary soil and stream sediment geochemical maps were developed. The results of the various geochemical surveys are available in digital and paper formats and are presented in the form of explanatory notes, geochemical atlas, Access databases and ARCGIS projects.

The interpretation of the geochemical anomalies obtained in relation to the geological and tectonic context of the sector made it possible to establish a

synthesis of the results, for each of the campaigns, highlighting the different associations of elements with geochemical affinity.

Thus, various associations characterizing the different geological contexts have been defined for the soil and the Heavy mineral concentrates for each of the

campaigns. The anomalous areas highlighted have been prioritized and are targets for miner research. The table showed below, summarizes the different

associations defined for the soil.

Geochemical campaigns 2006-2007 2009-2010 2013-2016

Aim Locate geochemistry anomalous that could be exploration mining targets

Location Oued Ed-Dahab –Lagouira region

Area 5 000 km² 5 000 km² 3 100 km²

Lithologic fraction < 250 μm for soil

and < 2mm for Heavy minerals

Samples collected soil 10 004 10 000 6 200

Heavy minerals concentrate 1 019 1 000 620

Analyzed Elements for the soil (43 elements) Au, Ag, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Ni, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mg, Mn, Si, Ca, Na, Al, K, Mo, Nb, Ta, P, Pb, Sb, Sc, Sn, Sr, Te, Th, Ti, U, V, W, Y, Zn, Zr, Pt, Pd and Rh.

Analyzed elements for Heavy mineral (21 elements) Au, Ag, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Ce, Cu, Hg, Mo, Nb, Ta, Pb, Sn, Ti, W, Zn, Zr. Pt, Pd and Rh.

Generated maps (Soil)

Soil samples map

Mono anomalies maps

Anomalies distribution maps

Soil anomalous maps

Generated maps (Alluvial : Heavy mineral)

Stream sediment samples maps

Anomalous point maps

Mineralogical anomalous maps

Synthetic map alluvial(chemistry)

Synthetic map alluvial (mineralogy)

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Campagne 2005-2007 Campagne 2009-2010 Campagne 2013-2016

C1-G.1 Ni, Cr, Co, Mg ± V ± Ti ± Fe ± Pt ± Pd ± Au ±

Cu

C2-G.1 U, Th, Ce, Ta, Nb, Ba ± Ag ± Sn ± W

± Pb ± As ± Pt ± K

C3-G.1 Co, Mg, Cu, Fe, V ± Cr ± Ni ± Zn

C1-G.2 Ni, Cr, Co, Cu, Pt, Pd, Rh, Mg ±Te ± Ag ± Sr ±

Fe ± Na ± Au

C2-G.2 Ni, Cr, Co, Mg ± V ± Ti ± Fe ± Pt ± Pd ± Au ±

Cu ± Ag

C3-G.2 Ni, Cr, Co ± Cu ± V ± Fe ± Mg

C1-G.3 Ni, Cr, Co, Mg, Pt, Pd, Rh, Au ± Cu

± Ti ± Sc ± U ± Te

C2-G.3 Co, Fe, Sc ± Cu ±Ag ± Ti ± V ± Mg

± K

C3-G.3 U, Th, Ce ± Ba ± Na ± K ± Be ± Y ±Sn

± Pb ± Nb ± As C1-G.4 Pb, Zn, As, ± Ag ± Cd ± Sn C2-G.4 U, Th, Y ± Ce ± Pb ± Zn C3-G.4 Pb, Zn, As ± Y ± Th ± U ± K ± Li ± Be

± Sn ± Ce ± Nb ± Cr ± Co C1-G.5 U, Th, Ce, Ta, Nb, Ba, ± Ag ± Sn ± W ± Pb ± As

± Pt ± K

C2-G.5 W, Sb, K ± Ag ± Cd ± Sn C3-G.5 Th, Ce, Nb ± Y ± Sn ± Be ± Pb ± Nb

± As ± K C1-G.6 U, Th, Zr, ± Y ± Ce ± Pb ± K C3-G.6 Cr, Co, Ce, Cu ± Sn ± Te ± Nb ± Bi ± Ba ± Sr ± W

C1-G.7 Cu, Co, Fe, V ± Ti ± Sc ± Mg ± Na

± Zn

a- Central High Atlas

A stream sediment and heavy mineral concentrates geochemistry campaign is underway in the central High Atlas. It aims to cove r 10,000 km2 and to collect

21,000 samples including 10,000 stream sediment, 10,000 alluvial and 1,000 for the mineralogical study. The planned chemical analysis are:

Elemnts planned to be analysed Number of planed Analysis

Stream sediment Au, Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Na, Ni, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ir, Li, Mg, Mn, Si, K, Mo, Nb, Ta, Os, P, Pb, Sb, Sc, Sn, Sr, Te, Th, Ti, U, V, W, Y, Zn, Zr, Pt, Pd, Re, Rh et Ru.

470 000

Heavy mineral concentrates Ag, As, Au, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ir, Mg, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, Os, Pb, Pd, Pt, Re, Rh, Ru, Sb, Sn, Sr, Ta, Te, Th, Ti, U, V, W, Y, Zn et Zr

390 000

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Fig. 2 – Location map with general geological setting of the geochemical campaigns in central High Atlas

The work also began with an orientation study that defined the size fraction that can give the best geochemical contrast between bottom and anomalous values for stream sediment samples.

The results of this campaign will be structured in the form of a database. The analytical data will be subject to the statistical processing required (basic statistics, factor analysis and correlation matrices) in the development of chemical element distribution maps and single and multi -element anomaly maps.

The works started with orientation survey to define the most representative fraction size for stream sediment samples, which gives the best contrast between the values of geochemical background and anomalous values.

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The survey have been conducted in Sdar, Ma’talla, Ouday Çfa, Mzayzat As- Sakkoum, Al Aggaya, Set Al Ayn Al Bayda, Lahjayra Al Bayda, Bir Gandouz, Imlily, Al

Faj and Madnat Aghracha topographic sheets at a 1:100 000 scale.

2- Hyperspectral campaigns:

ONHYM conducted two airborne hyperspectral remote sensing campaigns in the Anti -Atlas. The first concerned the Siroua massif (Central Anti-Atlas) while the second covered the Kerdous, Bas Draa, the north of Akka and Tata Precambrian inliers. The location of these campaigns is shown in the map below.

Fig. 3 – Location map with general geological setting of the two hyperspectral campaigns

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These campaigns helped to obtain a detailed map of alteration minerals that are linked to hydrothermal alteration, that are related to different types of deposit models. The characteristics of these campaigns are listed in the table below:

Campaign from 2008 to 2009 Campaign from 2011 to 2012

Goal Mineral identification and their associations: Alunite, Kaolinite, Pyrophyllite, Montmorillonite, Illite, Chlorite, Sericite, Jarosite, Hematite, Goethite, Talc, Calcite, Dolomite.

Geographical situation

Central Anti-Atlas (Sirwa) Western Anti-Atlas (Kerdous, Bas Draa, Akka Nord and Tata)

Area 10 000 km² 10 100 km²

Data acquisition

Data acquisition with SPECTIR Geometrical resolution: 05 m 350 spectral bands Geometrical correction with Differential GPS

Data acquisition with HYMAP Geometrical resolution: 05 m 128 spectral bands Geometrical correction with Differential GPS

Analysis and interpretations data

Data processing Mineral mapping, Database structuring Field control of six proprietary areas with field spectrometer, Rocks sampling and DRX analysis

Type of generated maps

1/50 000 scale maps of all mapped minerals Synthetic maps of mineral association

The obtained results helped to create a database that contain informations about 13 different targets from the first campaign, and 52 targets from the second campaign. These targets were linked to their respective metalogenic models, by using their specific mineral paragenesis.

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Identified targets within Sirwa’s area (Campaign from 2008 to 2009)

Identified targets in the following inliers: Kerdous, Bas Draa, Akka north and Tata (Campaign from 2011 to 2012)

Type 1 target Minerals selected from the integration of data with the typical gold mineralization model (West Autralia, M. P Schwann);

Type 2 target Advanced argillic alteration: pyrophyllite, dickite, goethite;

Type 3 target Contact shear zone: illite with phengite observed in several prospects with extensions, important in shear zones with close contact zones of carbonate-phyllitic sediment;

Type 4 target Argillic alteration: paragonite, illite, phengite

Type 5 target Destruction of chlorite: chlorite replaced by felsic minerals with the sericite-carbonate mixture,

Type 6 target Goethite: its joint presence with other targeted minerals

Type 7 target Pegmatite dikes: illite-oligoclase for mapping;

Type 8 target small area of kaolinite anomaly

Priority 1

Tidili : Epithermal with Pyrophyllite, dickite, kaolinite, Al-illite

Khzama : Porphyry Halo Propyllitic, rhyolite ? porphyry with high Al illite, dickite zone

Siroua’s breccia : Epithermal hosted in alkaline rocks with Alunite, kaolinite and Al-illite

Taghdout chain : Epithermal probably (Similar to Walker Lane) with Al-illite, pyrophyllite, dickite and kaolinite

Priority 2

Tidili North, Tidili South, Tidili SE : Epithermal with possibility of porphyry in Tidili north with Pyrophyllite, dickite, kaolinite, Al -illite and zoned illites

Siroua’s volcanic complex (Siroua A-E) :Epithermal hosted in alkaline rocks with Alunite, kaolinite and Al-illite

Zgounder NE with Al-illite and kaolinite

NW alteration zone: Epithermal with Alunite, pyrophyllite, dickite, kaolinite and Al -illite

Tafrent NE with Al-illite

Priority 3

Khzama North with Al-illite and kaolinite

Taghdout South, SW, West and NW : probably Epithermal with Al-illite and kaolinite

Izazen, Izazen West: Prophyry with Al-illite and circular kaolinite

NW A, B : probably Porphyry with Al-illite and kaolinite

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Fig. 4 – Alteration map in the area of Tidili

Fig. 5 – Example of a mineral alteration zonation in the area of Ameln Valley (Kerdous inlier)

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Based on the model characterizing the Tazalaght copper mine in the Western Anti Atlas, a campaign conducted by the airborne geophysical ZTEM method was carried out. This campaign helped to search for hidden copper deposits and covered the area between the Precambrian inliers of Kerdous, Akka and Ighrem. The covered area is 4,000 square kilometers.

Fig. 6 – Situation map with general geological setting of the AFMAG-ZTEM airborne geophysical campaign

AFMAG is an airborne geophysical method based on inductive electromagnetism that is capable of reaching great depths of exploration. It is therefore well suited to search for hidden deposits that are deep rooted. The contrast of the resistivity characterizing the geological formations present in the area of study, made it possible to obtain maps and sections at different depth levels, with the aim of locating the basement-highs related to the copper mineralization in the zone of study. The conducted campaign is characterized by the following technical specificities:

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ZTEM Magnetism

Number of flight lines/tie-lines 422/22

Line spacing 300m

Tie-line’s spacing 1000m

Measurement frequency 25 Hz, 37 Hz, 75 Hz, 150 Hz, 300 Hz, 600 Hz

Mobile sensor Receiving loop : 7,4m de diameter to measure vertical

component

Airborne Magnetometer

Reference station 2 vertical and orthogonal coils : 3,5 m of diameter to

measure horizontal component Fixed base magnetometer

Mean flight speed 80 km/h

Measured parameters In-phase component and quadrature of the magnetic

field induced Total magnetic field

Data acquired from this campaign were interpreted qualitatively and quantitatively:

Qualitative interpretation :

o In Phase components and in quadrature components help to obtain indications on the conductivity variation of the geological formations.

The analysis of maps elaborated from different frequencies show a good correlation between geological units and obtained valu es.

Precambrian formations areas are relatively resistant regarding to carbonates formation within the cove red area. “Serie de base” formation

which constitute the transition between the two units shows a very high resistivity contrast. This physical aspect helped to map the location

of these formations, at great depth. These results also contributed to the geological mapping in inaccessible areas and to select potential

areas for mineral exploration.

o The in phase total divergence is built from the in phase components of the X and Y directions, and helps to maps more precisely the conductive

areas like faults and alteration areas. Inversely, high resistivity represents Precambrian formations. More conductive areas coincides with “Lit

de vin” outcrops or with faults. Reduction to the magnetic pole shows magnetic structures and any perturbation affecting the Precambrian

formations.

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Quantitative interpretation:

Anomalous ZTEM points were selected, interpreted and mapped with their respective maximal amplitude, depth and frequency:

- 2D insertion of ZTEM allows quantitative interpretation of the results. It allows the resistivity distribution underground and geological structures

identification especially basement-highs (paleoreliefs) of Precambrian formations. These structures are targets for copper mineralization ;

- 2D quantitative interpretations are in sections and resistivity maps of several levels. These data helped to describe the geo logical structures

evolution and allowed to map these basement-highs.

Therefore, airborne geophysical AFMAG campaign carried out in the western Anti Atlas has allowed to map several geological structures with mineralization

potential. It has confirmed the existence of paleoreliefs by using high resistivity contrast. Several conductors could correspond to an in depth mineralized

structures and alteration areas. These results are the bases for planning geological and ground geophysical works.

Fig. 7 – 3D modeling of resistiv ity cross sections