Grenville Province
Suzie Nantel, Abdelali Moukhsil
Introduction
The Grenville Province is the youngest tectonic province of the Canadian Shield; it extends along a northeast trending axis for more than 2,000 km and averages 350 km in width.
It is bounded to the northwest by the Grenville Front and to the southeast by the St. Lawrence River and the Paleozoic Appalachian orogens.
Southeast of the Front, Archean (Pontiac, Abitibi, Opatica, and Ashuanipi subprovinces) and Paleoproterozoic (Otish basin and Gagnon terrane) rocks form the Parautochthon. The latter consists of crust that initially formed the southeast margin of Laurentia and that was reworked, for the most part, during the Mesoproterozoic. The Allochthon, consisting of magmatic or accreted terrains, was later assembled onto the Parautochthon.
The earliest terrains, recognized in the northeastern half of the Grenville Province, are Labradorian in age (1710-1600 Ma) followed by Pinwarian (1520-1460 Ma) rocks, extending over most of the province. The most recent terrains are represented by an episode of crustal formation restricted to the southwest part of the province. They correspond to a juvenile tonalite- diorite assemblage assigned to the Lacoste, Mekinac, and La Bostonnais magmatic suite (ca. 1.38 Ga).
Between accretionary episodes, extensional phases led to the formation of back-arc basins in the Mont-Laurier and Morin terranes, as well as the intra-arc basin fi lled by rocks of the Wakeham Group. Extensional phases are also associated with the emplacement of anorthositic and charnockitic complexes (AMCG). After the Shawinigan metamorphic event (1190- 1140 Ma), during which the Mont-Laurier and Morin terranes were metamorphosed to amphibolite-granulite facies, the main collision of the Grenvillian phase took place during the Ottawan orogeny (1080-1020 Ma). A fi nal phase of compres- sion, at about 1.0 Ga, appears to be essentially restricted to the area near the Grenville Front, whereas inside the orogen, this episode is marked by the emplacement of late anorthosites and discrete granitic intrusions.
From an economic standpoint, the Grenville Province is known for its architectural stone and industrial stone quarries as well as its industrial mineral operations (see Chapter 2). It also hosts the Mont-Wright iron mine and the Lac Tio titanium mine in the Côte-Nord region, as well as the Niobec niobium mine in the Lac-Saint-Jean region.
In 2006, most of the 61 exploration projects brought to our attention were located in the southwestern part of the Parautochthon, in the Mont-Laurier terrane, in the northeastern part of the Allochthon and in the Gagnon terrane (Figure 1E, Table 1E). A few major projects are briefl y described below.
Exploration Activities
SOUTHWESTERN GRENVILLE PROVINCE
The Parautochthon and its boundary with the Allochthon attracted exploration companies searching for precious met- als, base metals, and diamonds (projects 1-8). Among the latter, Aurizon Mines Ltd completed the fi rst phase of a till sampling program on the Kipawa gold-uranium project (project 5).
Samples with anomalous gold values are clustered within four distinct glacial dispersal trains along a northeast-trending axis some 30 km long. All four dispersal trains are closely associ- ated with a quartzite unit within a Proterozoic paragneiss and migmatite complex.
In 2006, the number of exploration projects in the Mont-Laurier and Fort-Coulonge areas reached a 25-year peak.
Uranium exploration is largely responsible for this upswing, as nearly a dozen exploration companies were active in the Central Metasedimentary Belt, in the Mont-Laurier terrane (projects 5, 16, 18-22 and 24-26). Nova Uranium Corporation completed more than 60 drillholes totalling 6,500 m on the Mont-Laurier property (project 22), following airborne magnetic and radiometric surveys, ground scintillometer surveys and channel sampling. Three out of 39 holes drilled in the fi rst phase of exploration intersected a subvertical pegmatite dyke with grades ranging from 0.098% U3O8 over 23.38 m to 0.026% U3O8 over 7 m. Uranium mineralization occurs as uraninite disseminated in the pegmatites and to a lesser extent, in surrounding metasedimentary rocks and granites.
In addition to uranium, copper attracted joint venture partners Quinto Technology Inc. and Appalaches Resources Inc. in the Mont-Laurier area. The two companies completed 450 m of drilling on one of six geophysical anomalies defi ned on the Bornite Hill property (project 17). Here, skarn-type cop- per occurrences generally consist of disseminated or massive pyrite, chalcopyrite, and bornite in diopside-rich calc-silicate rocks. Drillholes encountered signifi cant copper mineraliza- tion, namely 0.57% over 22.8 m, and 1.27% over 3.83 m, as well as gold, platinum and palladium-bearing intervals in some drillholes, including 1.1 g/t Au over 1.2 m, and 0.8 ppm Pt over 1.06 m.
NORTHEASTERN GRENVILLE PROVINCE
For the second consecutive year, the northeastern Grenville Province saw an increase in the number of exploration projects for iron and uranium. Géologie Québec continued its map- ping program, this year covering an area north of the town of Baie-Comeau (1:125,000 scale, NTS sheets 22F/07, 22F/08, 22F/09, 22F/15, and 22F/16).
Manicouagan Minerals Inc. reported encouraging results from the Mouchalagane property (project 39). Channel samples from the Bob showing on the property yielded assays reach- ing 3.21% Ni, 2.33% Cu, 3.7 g/t Pt, and 25.90 g/t Pd over 0.5 m (channel sample no.8). Other occurrences also yielded
mined since 1974 by the Québec Cartier Mining Company (QCMC). Not far from the mine, on the Peppler Lake iron property (project 42), Quinto Technology Inc. completed a drilling campaign (21 drillholes totalling 2,538 m) in order to delineate the extent of the deposit and conduct a feasibility study. Preliminary data released by the company indicates the presence of 250,000 tonnes of reserves at a grade of 28.2% Fe.
Also near the town of Fermont, Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Ltd continued exploration and assessment work on the Bloom Lake property (project 44). The company released a new resource estimate, whereby measured resources are established at 488.5 Mt grading 29.91% total Fe, and indicated resources at 149.2 Mt grading 29.29% total Fe. According to the feasibility study, commercial production could begin in 2008, at an annual capacity of 5 Mt of iron concentrate grading 65% Fe. The iron
were estimated in 1985 at 341 Mt grading 33.35% Fe.
In the Basse-Côte-Nord region, near Baie-Johan-Beetz, Entourage Mining Ltd carried out an extensive exploration program on the Doran uranium property (project 57). Samples from many different zones yielded anomalous grades up to 0.76% U3O8. Overall, uranium appears to be associated with pegmatite dykes and granitic intrusions. In the same area, Starfi re Minerals Inc. conducted radiometric and magnetic geophysical surveys and a sampling program on the Cross- Structure property (project 59). The best assay results from grab samples were 0.09% U3O8. Uranium concentrations are primarily associated with pegmatite dykes cross-cutting rocks of the gneissic Aguanish Complex.
P
l l l l
l
Montréal
Québec
Sept-Îles
Baie-Comeau
Hull Mont Laurier
Chicoutimi FG
Havre-Saint-Pierre
50°
54°
50°
54°
46°
70°
70°
78° 74° 66° 62° 58°
78° 74° 66° 62° 58°
FG
60 57 58
59 54 56
55
61
33 34
45
50 47-48
46 49
35 1 36
37 51
42 41
43 44
38 39
12 13 11
9 17 19
18 16 15
20-21-22 4 5 14
2 3 6-7-8
23 27
25 26 29
28 30 31
52-53
24
32
40
10
1927 boundary by the Privy Council (non definitive)
Parautochthon and External Allochthon
Allochthon
Mont-Laurier Terrane Lelukuau and Tshenukutish Terranes
Gagnon Terrane
Morin Terrane
LITHOTECTONIC LEGEND LITHOLOGIC LEGEND
: Grenville Front : Tectonic Boundary (Ductile shear zone) : Tectonic Boundary (Thrust fault) : Normal Fault
: Mines Charnockite, mangerite,
monzonite and granite Anorthositic suites
Metamorphosed mafic igneous complexes Supracrustal rock belts Eclogitic AMGC suites
Sept-Îles Layered Igneous Complex
Wakeham Group
Labrador Québec
0 50 100 km
Figure 1E. Exploration projects in the Grenville Province for 2006.
TABLE 1E- Exploration projects in the Grenville for 2006 (see figure 1E). Nos.TOWNSHIPSNTSCOMPANIES / PROSPECTORSPROJECTSSUBSTANCESWORKS (1) 1-22 L/15Bitterroot Resources LtdTwinsNi-Cu-PGETE 2Mazenod31 M/03Kinbauri Gold Corp.LanielEGP- DiamondGs(sl), G 3Mazenod31 M/03Ressources d’Arianne inc.MazenodUGpRa 4Atwater, Booth, Gaulin, McLachlin, Villedieu 31 L/15Globex Mining Enterprises Inc. / Noront Resources Ltd Hunters PointU-AuGpRa(A), GpMa(A) 5Booth, McLachlin, Senezergues
31 L/15-16, 31 M/01-02 Mines Aurizon ltéeKipawaU-AuGpRa(A), GpMa(A), GpEm(A), Gs(t) 6Blondeau, La Noue, Gaboury, Guay
31 M/07Géotech Exploration ltéeLac des MoufettesDiamond-Zn-Cr- Ni-U-Th-Au-EGP G, Pr, TE 7Blondeau31 M/07Ressources Covedex inc.Lac PleauDiamond-Zn-Cu- Cr-Co-Fe-Ti-U-REE
G, Pr, TE, Pg 8Guillet, Blondeau, Bellefeuille, La Noue
31 M/07Ressources Covedex inc.Lac DiamantZn-Pb-Cu-Ni-Cr-Co- RRE-U-Th-Au-Ag
G, Pr, Pg, TE, S 9Pontefract31 F/15Aldershot Resources LtdRiveUS, Pr, GpRa 10Grand-Calumet31 F/15Geotest Corp.Grand CalumetUGpMa(G), Gs 11Grand-Calumet31 F/10Golden Calumet Exploration ltéeCalumet MineZn-Pb-Au-AgGpMa, S 12Aldfield, Masham31 F/09Aldershot Resources LtdKertUPr, S, G, GpRa(G) 13Aldfield, Masham31 F/09Aldershot Resources LtdShawvilleUS, GpRa(G) 14Hainaut31 K/15Matamec Exploration inc.VulcainCu-Ni-Co-PGEG, S 15Décarie, Pérodeau31 J/14Ressources Strateco inc.Mont-LaurierUG, GpRa(A), GpMa, S, Pr 16Fontbrune, Major31 J/13Azimut Exploration inc.BaskatongCu-UGs(l), Pr 17Major31 J/11-12-13-14Quinto Technology Inc. / Ressources Appalaches inc.
Bornite HillCu-Ni-Co-AgT, S, D (6:451) 18Sicotte31 J/12Starfire Minerals Inc. / F. YacoubCapriUGpRa(A) 19Brunet, Moreau, Pérodeau
31 J/11-14Golden Dragon Explorations Inc.La CorneUGpRa 20Leman31 J/14Consolidated Pacific Bay Minerals LtdMont-LaurierUPr, S, Gs(sl) 21Leman31 J/14Ressources Antoro inc.Andy LakeUGpRa, GpMa, S, T 22Pérodeau, Leman, Franchère
31 J/14-15Nova Uranium CorporationMont-LaurierUD (60:6500), T, Pr, GpMa(A), GpRa(A)(G), Gs(r), S, G 23Chopin31 O/03Ressources Maxima inc.Mountain RiverCu-ZnD (5:200) 24Chopin, Leman31 O/03-06Uranor inc.Menjo GrenvilleUG, Pr, GpRa(G) 25-31 O/06Ressources Maxima inc.LesueurCu-Au-UG, S 26-31 O/06Ressources Maxima inc.Lesueur / BoisvertCu-Au-Ag-UG, S
TABLE 1E- Exploration projects in the Grenville for 2006 (see figure 1E). Nos.TOWNSHIPSNTSCOMPANIES / PROSPECTORSPROJECTSSUBSTANCESWORKS (1) 27Galifet, La Poterie31 O/01-08, 31 P/04-05
Soquem inc.VermillonCu-Ni-AuPr, GpEm(A), GpMa(A) 28Payment31 P/11Réjean Frigon-Au-CuT 29Bourgeoys, Langelier, Tourouve
31 P/10Normand et Denis FortinBourgeoys, Langelier, Tourouve
Pt-Cu-Ni-PdT, G 30Bickerdike, Gendron31 P/09Société d’exploration minière Vior inc.ÉdouardCu-NiPr 31La Trappe32 H/019144-6883 Québec inc.Lac YenevacNiGp(G) 32-22 E/10Rio Tinto Fer et Titane inc.Zec VarinFe-TiGpEm, GpMa 33Saguenay22 C/04Galaxy Resources Inc.Lac FafardUGpRa, GpMa, S, G, Pr 34-22 F/13Exploration Esbec inc.B-100Cu-Ni-Co-Pt-PdGpMa, T 35-22 K/04Fancamp Exploration LtdLa BlacheFe-TiMet 36-22 K/14, 22 N/03Quinto Technology Inc.Lac GuéretGraphiteD (34:2400) 37-22 N/07Manicouagan Minerals Inc.ManicouaganNi-CuD (9:4321) 38Bernard23 C/04Robert CôtéVictoriaDiamondGp, S 39-23 C/04Manicouagan Minerals Inc.MouchalaganeCu-Ni-Pt-PdS, T, Pr, GpEm, GpMa, G, Gs(r), Gs(sl) 40Berthelet, Brien22 N/09Groupe de prospecteurs et FREMCaniapiscau 2006Ni-Cu-PGEPr, Gs(s) 41Boucault, Thury23 B/05, 23 C/08Azimut Exploration inc.Mont MerryCu-UGs(l), Pr 42Faber, Malapart, Thury
23 B/05-06Quinto Technology Inc.Lac PepplerFeD (27:3230), FM 43Bergeron23 B/06Compagnie minière Québec CartierFire LakeFeD (42:6946) 44Lislois, Normanville23 B/14Consolidated Thompson- Lundmark Gold Mines Ltd Lac BloomFe FM 45Fafard, Franquelin, Godbout
22 G/05-12Ressources Appalaches inc.AshiniUPr, G, T, GpRa, S, Gs(r) 46Beauvais, Flèche22 J/07R. Landry / J. C. RochetteMialiREE, ZnS, Pr 47-22 J/02-10M. Richard / S. LandrySM 12-13 REE, ZnS, Pr 48-22 J/10R. Landry / J. C. RochetteGraupeREE, ZnS, Pr 49-22 J/15R. Landry / J. C. RochetteTomoU-NbS, Pr 50-22 I/13, 22 P/02-03- 05-06-11 Azimut Exploration inc. / Kennecott Exploration Compagny
ManitouCu-UGs(l), Pr, Gs(sl), Pr 51-22 P/06M. MorissetteLac VitalCu-NiGp, GpRa 52Parker12 L/11QIT Fer et Titane inc.Forage Puyjalon 2006Fe-TiD (3:362) 53Parker12 L/11QIT Fer et Titane inc.Forage Grader-Sud 2006Fe-TiD (3:457)
TABLE 1E- Exploration projects in the Grenville for 2006 (see figure 1E). Nos.TOWNSHIPSNTSCOMPANIES / PROSPECTORSPROJECTSSUBSTANCESWORKS (1) 54-12 L/15Azimut Exploration inc.Havre (SW2-SW3)UGs(l), Pr 55-12 M/08-09Azimut Exploration inc.Havre (NW2-NW4)UGs(l), Pr 56-12 M/01Azimut Exploration inc.AguanishCu-UGS(l), Pr 57Costebelle12 L/08Entourage Mining Ltd / F.YacoubDoranUD (16:1200), Pr, S 58-12 L/06-07-08Uracan Resources LtdJohan-BeetzU-ThG, S, GpRa, GpMa(A), GpEm(A), GpRa(A) 59-12 L/08Starfire Minerals Inc. / F.YacoubCross StructureU-ThS, GpRa, GpMa, 60-12 K/16, 12 N/01Azimut Exploration inc.Chevery (SE2-SE3)UGs(l), Pr 61-12 O/06-10-11Azimut Exploration inc.Augustin (NE2-NE3)UGs(l), Pr 1 = See the legend of abbreviations and the signifi cation of bold type in the appendix II.
