Platinum/Palladium, Nickel-Copper Target
Porcupine Mining Division, Ontario
Introduction
The Mann Township platinum/palladium property hosts a number of exploration features which suggests a good environment for the development of nickel-copper sulphide and Platinum Group Element (PGE) mineralization. The property is situated within the Mann complex, a large, layered ultramafic intrusion, which extends for over 40 kilometres of strike length with a width greater than 1.5 kilometres. Several nickel-copper (Ni-Cu) sulphide showings and Platinum Group Element showings have been identified within the complex. Preliminary work carried out on the Mann property has uncovered in-situ PGE mineralization within a clinopyroxenite unit exposed along the Fredrick House River. Channel sampling within this unit returned weighted average PGE + Au grades of 0.65 grams/tonne over 12.2 metres, 0.57 grams/tonne over 14 metres and 0.60 grams/tonne over 22 metres. The PGE mineralization represents a new exploration target for the Mann Complex. The mineralized clinopyroxenite unit ranges between 14 to 30 metres in thickness and over 500 metres in thickness. Tres-Or is very encouraged by the highly anomalous PGE values obtained in preliminary sampling and is planning detailed surveys to evaluate the PGE potential and Ni-Cu sulphide potential of the property.
Location and Access
The Mann Platinum/Palladium property consists of 19 claims covering 304 hectares located approximately 47 kilometres northeast of Timmins, Ontario. The project is situated within the Mann and Duff townships, of the Porcupine Mining Division. The property is easily accessed by a network of logging roads, north off of Highway 11.
Regional Geology
The property is located within the Mann intrusive complex of the Abitibi subprovince. It is located at the northwestern end of the belt of ultramafic/mafic intrusive and extrusive rocks included in the Stoughton-Roquemaure assemblage. The Mann intrusive complex is very large, with a strike length of greater than 40 kilometres and a thickness greater than 1.5 kilometres. The complex occurs approximately 28 kilometres northeast of the Kidd Creek massive sulphide deposit within the northwestern end of a belt of ultramafic/mafic rocks included in the Kidd-Munro and Stoughton-Roquemaure assemblages.
Research on the central portion of the Mann Project concluded that the clinopyroxenite in the mafic-ultramafic complex in Mann township apparently crystallized from magma similar to that which formed the sulphide bearing komatiite at the Nickel-Copper Alexo Deposit. This research indicated that exploration potential exists for the development of Ni-Cu sulphide mineralization in the Mann Complex, specifically on the Mann project. PGE mineralization identified on the Mann Project is hosted within ultramafic rocks including clinopyroxenite and peridotite. The PGE mineralization is not associated with zones of heavy sulphide mineralization, as observed at other PGE showings and deposits. The apparent controls on the transport and deposition of PGE are similar to those other PGE deposits of hydrothermal origin, such as the platiniferous pipes of the Bushveld Complex.
Exploration Potential
The Mann Project is situated within the Mann intrusive complex, a large ultramafic intrusion, which extends for 40 kilometres of strike length with a width greater than 1.5 kilometres. Recent studies of the complex have indicated a chemistry similar to that of ultramafic rocks which host the Alexo Ni-Cu sulphide deposit. In addition these same studies have identified significant anomalous PGE over considerable widths in outcrop channel samples and in diamong drill core. This PGE mineralization represents a new exploration target for the complex. An interesting feature of the Mann Complex, in particular the Mann porject, is the PGE are concentrated in a clinopyroxenite unit and are distinguished by only trace sulphides. The clinopyroxenite unit is a medium grained accumulate, between 14 to 30 metres in thickness and greater than 500 metres in length.
Mineralization is characterized by:
1. Platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd) values up to 1.1 grams/tonne with local high Pt/Pd ratios
2. low sulphide content
3. low Ni, Cu, Co
4. PGE minerals intimately associated with chlorite-clinopyroxenite-spinel alteration of hydrothermal origin
According to Good (1999), “the close special association of hydrothermal clinopyroxene, chlorite, and sulphides plus platinum-group minerals implies a hydrothermal origin for the PGE mineralization. The apparent controls on the transport and deposition of PGE are similar to those of other PGE deposits of hydrothermal origin, such as the platiniferous pipes of the Bushveld Complex.”
Exploration Program
Further work and diamond drilling is recommended to evaluate the Ni-Cu sulphide and PGE potential of the Mann Project. A two phase exploration program consisting linecutting, geophysical surveys, mapping, core re-logging and assaying of existing drill core stored on site will increase the understanding of the PGE mineralization, identify and define prospective horizons for further studies. Phase two diamond drilling is planned to further evaluate the potential of the project. An initial 1,000 metre diamond drill program will focus on testing existing known targets and any additional targets defined from the phase one exploration program.
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