Targeted Geoscience Initiative 4 (TGI4) Nickel, Copper, Platinum Group Elements and Chromium Ore Systems

The scientifica research and results of this project are available via GEOSCAN

Canada is a major mineral producer with 16% of the world’s nickel (Ni), 7% of Platinum Group Elements (PGE) and 3% of both copper (Cu) and cobalt (Co). Some of the world’s largest and most productive Ni and Cu mining districts are found in Canada, specifically in Sudbury, Thompson, Raglan, and Voisey’s Bay1.  However, Canadian Ni and Cu mineral reserves have decreased by more than 50 % over the past 25 years2.

The discovery of chromite during the 21st century in the Ring of Fire (Ontario) could be as important as the discovery of nickel was in Sudbury in the 19th century 3. There are now several chromite deposits in the advanced stages of exploration in the McFauld’s Lake region of northern Ontario.

National, district and deposit scale studies (see map) are focused on determining the key components necessary for detecting hidden or deeply buried Ni-Cu-PGE and Cu mineralization. These ore deposits occur in highly variable geologic settings with complex geochemical, mineralogical and geophysical signatures that challenge successful exploration, particularly in the deeper or covered parts of established and emerging terranes.

This project has three themes utilizing a multidisciplinary approach focused on determining genesis of the ore system and deposits, developing or improving vectoring tools (indicators and direction) and fertility of:

  • High-magnesium ultramafic to mafic magmatic systems (e.g. Ring of Fire);
  • hydrothermal-magmatic copper-PGE-rich systems (e.g. Sudbury); and
  • orogenic nickel-copper systems (spatially associated with Mountain Belts).

New geoscience knowledge is being created using geological, geochemical and airborne geophysical data at a number of research sites in Ontario, Manitoba, Labrador and British Columbia covering mature, emerging and poorly understood Ni-Cu-PGE-Cr geologic environments. To achieve project objectives this project will harness the expertise within the Geological Survey of Canada, and more than 45 scientists and students from over 10 Canadian universities.

For more information about the Nickel, Copper, Platinum Group Elements and Chromium Ore Systems Project, contact:

Mike Villeneuve, Program Manager
Geological Survey of Canada
Natural Resources Canada
601 Booth Street
Ottawa ON  K1A 0E8

Tel.: 613-995-4018
E-mail: TGI-IGC@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca
www.nrcan.gc.ca/tgi

1 Ames D.E. 2011
2 Mineral Association of Canada, 2010
3 Ontario Budget Speech, 2010