Soil sediment sampling by the Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) may yield another promising diamond target in the province, says Northern Development and Mines Minister Tim Hudak.
The announcement is based on results from an OGS sampling program in the River Valley-Verner area, northeast of Sudbury. The samples consist of sand-sized grains of kimberlite indicator minerals, including rare G10 garnets and related chromite.
This latest OGS discovery of diamondiferous kimberlite indicator minerals follows some promising initial results from sampling done a year ago, says OGS geologist Nicole Tardif.
“Examination of the composition and distribution of the kimberlite indicators has identified a number of sites favourable for diamond exploration,” she says. “The fact that the grains were recovered from glacial till is exciting, as it is likely that the indicator grains found have not been transported far from their bedrock source.”
A report on the River Valley-Verner kimberlite indicator mineral project was released at a symposium of the Ontario Prospectors Association in December 2000.
Meanwhile, lake-sediment surveys have identified more than 75 targets for precious and base metals in three regions of northwestern Ontario. The geochemical anomalies, which are in the Atikokan, Schreiber and Longlac areas, show higher-than-normal concentrations of metals in lake sediments.
“Several of the anomalies identified in this study are particularly promising due to enhanced levels of palladium, platinum, copper and nickel,” says OGS geologist Richard Dyer. “Such enhanced levels are rarely found in lake sediments, and they suggest excellent mineral potential in the nearby bedrock.”
The reports are based on programs carried out under Operation Treasure Hunt, a 3-year, $29-million initiative of the provincial government.
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