New targets have been prioritised for upcoming fieldwork at White Cliff Minerals’ Great Bear Lake project
A review of historic results will be coupled with observations and sample results for drill target definition
This information paves the way for capital allocation ahead of the 2024 season
Special report: Priority targets for an upcoming field program at White Cliff Minerals’ Great Bear Lake project in Canada’s Northwest Territories have been allocated, with an additional three targets in the southern part of the landholding.
Whit Cliff Minerals’ (ASX:WCN) Great Bear Lake project has a wealthy history of mining and exploration activity, although lacks substantial modern exploration.
Covering an area of 2,900km2 within the iron-oxide-copper-gold and uranium prospective ‘Great Bear magmatic zone’, the project is valued by historic miners, explorers and the Northwest Territories Geosciences Office as having the highest potential for IOCG and uranium mineralisation in Canada.
Part of the overarching ‘Radium Point’ project, historical production pre-1982 includes:
13.7Mlbs U3O8;
34.2Moz of refined silver;
11.37Mlbs of copper with gold credits;
104,000kg lead;
127,000kg nickel; and
227,000kg cobalt.
White Cliff identified the Radium Point project as being primed for future discoveries, with a wealth of historic data available for integration with modern exploration techniques and recent academic publications on the deposit styles of the GBMZ.
Since being granted the licences in February, the company has undertaken a literature review and data digitisation exercise focused on revealing prospective and overlooked target regions within the project area.
Review outlines key target areas
A review of historic rock chips results from the southern parts of the Great Bear Lake Project have continued to reveal an underexplored, district scale opportunity which will be assessed during the upcoming 2024 field work.
Priority targets include Thompson Showing (a high-grade polymetallic area south of the historic Echo Bay and Eldorado mines), the Hunter Bay Extension (immediately along strike from a historic estimate of 100,000t at 8.4% copper at the Sloan deposit), Sparkplug Lake, and Spud Bay.
Map illustrating Thompson Showing (top left) and its association with a strong magnetic feature interpreted as continuation of a gabbroic dyke. Pic via WCN
Evidence of IOCG and epithermal style mineralisation have also been identified in the southern half of the Great Bear Lake project generating new and additional priority targets such as Luv Lake, OMNI, and HD44.
Pipeline of targets to progress
“While works continue on this review, these initial results continue to demonstrate the district and regional potential of the entire project area,” WCN managing director Troy Whittaker says.
“Integration of this historic data, coupled with observations and sample results from the upcoming field program alongside outputs from the MobileMT survey will provide a robust dataset for drill target definition.
“The diligent and exceptional work done by the team has allowed us to rank priority targets across the Great Bear Lake which allow for efficient and appropriate provision of field works and capital allocation ahead of the 2024 season.
“Given the target rich environment, and different advancing stages of exploration across the project, the company is now in an envious position where it can progress and develop a pipeline of targets.”
Map of the Hunter Bay extension target area, structural mapping from historic magnetic data highlighting a strong NE trend and possible dilation zones/structural intersections. Pic via WCN
This article was developed in collaboration with White Cliff Minerals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.
This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
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