Abitibi Project

The search for new base metals resources
Targeted Geoscience Initiative, Phase 3

Background

The Abitibi subprovince is the richest Archean greenstone belt. It contains 14 mining districts, where thousands of Canadians reside. These districts developed around discrete clusters of more than 80 massive sulfide deposits (VMS) and along major domain-bounding faults that are hosts to over 50 gold deposits.  However, base metal reserves have considerably declined over the last 10 years.

The TGI-3 Abitibi project is aligned with Quebec’s Copper Plan and the priorities of the Ontario Geological Survey.  It aims at supporting existing mineral resource-based communities through a multidisciplinary and transboundary approach that will generate a new geological framework at the regional scale, but also at the scale of mining districts or deposits, when needed. The compilation work proposed will put the geoscience information in a modern context and provide new geological models for exploration as well as geophysical, geochemical and geological targets. Developed in close collaboration with industries and universities, the project will reduce the geological risk inherent to the exploration and development associated with the deepening of existing mining operations to extend known reserves, and the search for new hidden deposits. In addition, it will help train highly qualified personnel in the base metals exploration sector.

Expected Outcomes

  • Increase base metal exploration success and discovery rates through multi-agency and multidisciplinary geoscience in Quebec and Ontario.
  • Increase private sector exploration expenses and investments, and consequently the chances of finding new base metal resources.
  • Train highly qualified personnel through: 1) postgraduate student thesis support and postdoctoral fellowships; 2) undergraduate student summer employment; 3) upgrading of GSC and partners’ skills of staff; and 4) knowledge transfer to exploration companies through workshops and conferences.

Activities

  • Airborne MegaTEM II surveys in the Chibougamau-Chapais and Timmins areas
  • Ground gravity surveys, Matagami and East of Rouyn-Noranda (Blake River Group)
  • Aeromagnetic survey in Burntbush area, Ontario
  • Airborne gravity survey, West of Matagami (Copper Plan)
  • Compilation of geophysical data for the Abitibi
  • High-resolution 2D seismic imaging of the central Noranda camp, with implications for mineral exploration 
  • Processing and interpretation of existing seismic reflection data in the Timmins area
  • Quaternary survey in the Lebel-sur-Quévillon / Normétal region: implications for exploration in areas with thick sedimentary covers
  • Compilation of Quaternary deposits in the Abitibi
  • Quaternary stratigraphy in the James Bay region, with implications for the Abitibi cover sequences
  • Superficial geochemistry studies in the de Lebel-sur-Quévillon / Normétal (Qc) and Cross Lake prospect (On)
  • Stratigraphic and structural study of the Blake River Group
  • Physical volcanology of the Blake River Group: implications for VMS exploration
  • Geology of the West and South-West regions of the Blake River Group, Quebec
  • Geology of the Malartic and Kinojévis Groups, Quebec
  • Study of mafic dykes and sills in the Blake River Group
  • Geology and metallogeny of the Hébécourt Formation, Blake River Group
  • Geology of the giant Horne and Quemont Cu-Au deposits, and the Delbridge, Pinkos et West Ansil deposits, Blake River Group
  • Three dimensional GIS modelling to facilitate base metal exploration in the Blake River Group
  • Metallogeny of the Doyon-Bousquet-LaRonde mining camp, Abitibi
  • Metallogeny of the Magusi -Baie Fabie deposits and the Inmont , Four Corners, Montbray and Halliwell VMS deposits, Blake River Group
  • Characterisation of hydrothermal fluids related to the LaRonde-Bousquet VMS system
  • Sulphur isotopes (32S, 33S, 34S, 36S) in the main base metal deposits of the Blake River Group: implications
  • Study of paleo-magmatic-hydrothermal systems associated with base metal deposits in the Blake River Group
  • Geology, stratigraphy and mineral potential update of the Kidd Munro assemblage
  • Structural and stratigraphic architecture of the Kidd Munro assemblage, with implications for exploration
  • The Kidd Munro rhyolite: volcanology, petrology, geochemistry and its role the formation of VMS deposits
  • Extensions of the Kidd Munro assemblage in Quebec: implications for exploration
  • Study of argillites and definition of hydrothermal vectors, Kidd Munro assemblage
  • Geology, stratigraphy and mineral potential update of the Tisdale, Ontario
  • VMS potential of the Gilman Formation, Chibougamau area
  • Metallogeny of the Estrades and Lemoine VMS deposits, Chibougamau
  • Multidisciplinary study for VMS exploration in the Matagami mining camp (Consorem – Divex - Industries -Governments)
  • U-Pb geochronology to support base metal exploration
  • U-Pb geochronology compilation of inherited zircons in Abitibi, Ontario-Quebec
  • Geochemical compilation and recognition of hydrothermal processes in the Abitibi, Quebec-Ontario
  • Geology, stratigraphy and mineral potential update and compilation of the Detour-Burntbush and Maple Mountain areas, Ontario
  • Geology of the Upper Beaver Cu-Au deposit, Ontario
  • Geology of the Potter mine, Kidd Munro assemblage, Ontario
  • Ni-Cu potential in mafic-ultramafic rocks (C Zone Nickel Sulfide Deposit, Bannockburn Township, Ontario)

Partners

Federal: Geological Survey of Canada, Geomatics Canada
Provinces: Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, Ontario Geological Survey, Discover Abitibi Phase IV
Private Sector: Agnico-Eagle, IAMGOLD, XStrata Copper, XStrata Zinc, First Metal, Donner Metals, Cogitore, Alexis, Queenston, Milstream, etc.
Universities : École Polytechnique, INRS-ETE, Laurentian, Laval, McGill, Ottawa, UQAM, UQAC, URSTM-UQAT, Consorem, Divex

Partial Scientific Productivity

  • Dion, C. et Rhéaume, P., 2008, Stratigraphie de la partie occidentale du Groupe de Blake River, Ministère des ressources naturelles et de la faune, ET 2007-03, 29 p. (http://www.mrnfp.gouv.qc.ca/produits-services/mines.jsp)
  • Dumont, R., 2008, Residual Total Magnetic Field, Burntbush Area Aeromagnetic Survey, Ontario / Composante résiduelle du champ magnétique total, levé aéromagnétique de la région de Burntbush, Ontario, Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 5840 to 5855 and Ontario Geological Survey, Maps 82 380 to 82 395, 1 sheet each. (http://gdr.nrcan.gc.ca/mirage/index_e.php)  (http://www.mndm.gov.on.ca/mines/ogs/default_e.asp) 
  • Houlé, M.G., Ayer, J.A., Baldwin, G., Berger, B.R., Dinel, E., Fowler, A.D., Moulton, B., Saumur, B.-M. and Thurston, P.C., 2008, Field trip guidebook to the stratigraphy and volcanology of supracrustal assemblages hosting base metal and gold mineralization in the Abitibi greenstone belts, Timmins, Ontario, Ontario Geological Survey, Open File Report 6225, 84p. (http://www.mndm.gov.on.ca/mines/ogs/default_e.asp)
  • Jobin, D., Dion, C. et Keating, P., 2008, Anomalie de Bouger; Groupe de Blake River, Québec, Ministère des ressources naturelles et de la Faune, DP 2008-39. (1 carte de données numériques sur disque compact optique) . (http://www.mrnfp.gouv.qc.ca/produits-services/mines.jsp)
  • McNicoll, V.J. et Goutier, J., 2008, Trois datations U-Pb de la région du lac au Goéland, Sous-province de l’Abitibi, Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, RP-2008-02.11 p. (http://www.mrnfp.gouv.qc.ca/produits-services/mines.jsp)
  • Mercier-Langevin, P., Ross, P.-S., Lafrance, B., and Dubé, B., 2008, Volcaniclastic rocks of the Bousquet scoriaceous tuffs unit north of the LaRonde Penna mine, Doyon-Bousquet-LaRonde mining camp, Abitibi Greenstone Belt, Quebec, Geological Survey of Canada, Current Research 2008-11, 19 p.  (http://geopub.nrcan.gc.ca/moreinfo_e.php?id=225285)
  • Monecke, T., Gibson, H., Dubé, B., Laurin, J., Hannington, M.D. and Martin, L., 2008, Geology and volcanic setting of the Horne deposit, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec: Initial results of a new research project. Geological Survey of Canada, Current Research 2008-9, 16 p. (http://geopub.nrcan.gc.ca/moreinfo_e.php?id=225418)  
  • Smirnoff, A., Paradis, S., and Boivin, R., 2008, Generalizing Surficial Geological Maps for Scale Change: ArcGIS Tools vs. Cellular Automata Model , Computers & Geosciences, Volume 34, No.11, pp. 1550-1568. 

Contact:

Benoît Dubé