PROJECTS RELATED TO OTHER COMMODITIES Uranium Mineralization - The Next Steps In 2011, other projects included continued work on uranium mineralization in various parts of the province, with the emphasis now on preparation of a final report on the Central Mineral Belt, and continued geochronological work on Mo-Cu porphyry mineralization in southern Newfoundland. Some initial compilation and planning work for a proposed project on iron ore was also completed. This will commence in early 2012, under the direction of James Conliffe. Over the last four years, extensive field work was completed on uranium mineralization. Most of the emphasis was on the Central Mineral Belt of Labrador, which contains potentially economic deposits, but work was also conducted in Newfoundland. An overview of uranium mineralization in Newfoundland was completed for Current Research in 2011. Work is now in progress on a final report from the work in Labrador that will integrate the information provided by exploration projects from 2006 to 2009 with the results of research by GSNL. The Central Mineral Belt is a complex region, with at least three periods of uranium mineralization, so this is no small task. Uranium exploration in the region is currently restricted, but this synthesis of information will be valuable when it eventually resumes. Field work in the Central Mineral Belt in 2007. Greg Sparkes is always in a good mood in highly radioactive places! Iron Ore in Labrador: Proposed Geological and Metallogenic Studies The iron-ore industry is a vital component of the Provincial economy, and represents the largest contribution to our mining industry in terms of value. The industry is currently expanding, with strong demand from Asian economies. Known reserves and resources for existing operations remain healthy, but western Labrador is now experiencing renewed exploration, and there are several advanced projects. Iron ore deposits in western Labrador fall into three groups. The most extensive are “taconites” representing primary sedimentary rocks enriched in hematite and magnetite. These constitute huge potential resources, but are typically low-grade (< 30% Fe). Current production in Labrador comes from metamorphosed iron formations in the Grenville Province, where coarser grain sizes, magnetite content and higher grades (35-40% Fe) are important factors. High-grade “direct-shipping” iron ore was produced from both types of iron formations, and is thought to reflect deep weathering processes during the Cretaceous period. Geoscientific information on iron-ore deposits in western Labrador is limited and in many cases outdated, because these areas were explored in the 1950s and 1960s. With increasing interest in exploring new areas, there is a need for improved knowledge of deposit geology, structural controls, mineralogy, geochemistry and several other factors. Such information is also highly relevant to scientific interest in the Precambrian evolution of the atmosphere and biosphere, and their role(s) in the formation of these unusual and apparently non-uniformitarian deposits. A proposed project on iron ore deposits, focused in western Labrador, will address some of these questions and provide valuable descriptive information. Detailed investigations under this project will focus initially on the Julienne Lake deposit (near Labrador City), which is currently exempt mineral land (EML) recently drilled as part of resource assessment. The drill core from this work is a valuable resource for geological investigations of a metamorphosed deposit. This focused study will be accompanied and followed by more regional research intended to compare and contrast specific environments of iron ore formation across the region, including areas of new grass-roots exploration. Humphrey Mine, IOC, Labrador City - trucks indicate scale! Banded Iron Formation (”taconite”) - Mesabi Range, Minnesota. Drilling at Julienne Lake in 2010.
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PROJECTS RELATED TO OTHER COMMODITIES
Uranium Mineralization -The Next Steps
In 2011, other projects included continued work on uranium mineralization in various parts of the province, with the emphasis now on preparation of a final report on the Central Mineral Belt, and continued geochronological work on Mo-Cu porphyry mineralization in southern Newfoundland. Some initial compilation and planning work for a proposed project on iron ore was also completed. This will commence in early 2012, under the direction of James Conliffe.
Over the last four years, extensive field work was completed on uranium mineralization. Most of the emphasis was on the Central Mineral Belt of Labrador, which contains potentially economic deposits, but work was also conducted in Newfoundland. An overview of uranium mineralization in Newfoundland was completed for Current Research in 2011.
Work is now in progress on a final report from the work in Labrador that will integrate the information provided by exploration projects from 2006 to 2009 with the results of research by GSNL. The Central Mineral Belt is a complex region, with at least three periods of uranium mineralization, so this is no small task.
Uranium exploration in the region is currently restricted, but this synthesis of information will be valuable when it eventually resumes.
Field work in the Central Mineral Belt in 2007. Greg Sparkes is always in a good mood inhighly radioactive places!
Iron Ore in Labrador: Proposed Geological and Metallogenic Studies
The iron-ore industry is a vital component of the Provincial economy, and represents the largest contribution to our mining industry in terms of value. The industry is currently expanding, with strong demand from Asian economies. Known reserves and resources for existing operations remain healthy, but western Labrador is now experiencing renewed exploration, and there are several advanced projects.
Iron ore deposits in western Labrador fall into three groups. The most extensive are “taconites” representing primary sedimentary rocks enriched in hematite and magnetite. These constitute huge potential resources, but are typically low-grade (< 30% Fe). Current production in Labrador comes from metamorphosed iron formations in the Grenville Province, where coarser grain sizes, magnetite content and higher grades (35-40% Fe) are important factors. High-grade “direct-shipping” iron ore was produced from both types of iron formations, and is thought to reflect deep weathering processes during the Cretaceous period.
Geoscientific information on iron-ore deposits in western Labrador is limited and in many cases outdated, because these areas were explored in the 1950s and 1960s. With increasing interest in exploring new areas, there is a need for improved knowledge of deposit geology, structural controls, mineralogy, geochemistry and several other factors. Such information is also highly relevant to scientific interest in the Precambrian evolution of the atmosphere and biosphere, and their role(s) in the formation of these unusual and apparently non-uniformitarian deposits. A proposed project on iron ore deposits, focused in western Labrador, will address some of these questions and provide valuable descriptive information.
Detailed investigations under this project will focus initially on the Julienne Lake deposit (near Labrador City), which is currently exempt mineral land (EML) recently drilled as part of resource assessment. The drill core from this work is a valuable resource for geological investigations of a metamorphosed deposit. This focused study will be accompanied and followed by more regional research intended to compare and contrast specific environments of iron ore formation across the region, including areas of new grass-roots exploration.
Humphrey Mine, IOC, Labrador City - trucks indicate scale!
Banded Iron Formation (”taconite”) - Mesabi Range, Minnesota.
Drilling at Julienne Lake in 2010.
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