Ontario Geological Survey
Permanent Link to this Record:
MDI42M14NW00008
| Record Name(s) | Norton Lake Cu-Ni-PGE Deposit - 1988, Wasabi Resources Cu-Ni Deposit Anomaly U - 9999, Norton West - 2008 |
|---|---|
| Related Record Type | Simple |
| Related Record(s) | |
| Record Status | Developed Prospect With Reported Reserves or Resources |
| Date Created | 1996-Dec-16 |
| Date Last Modified | 2023-Oct-04 |
| Created By | |
| Revised By |
Primary Commodities: Copper, Nickel, Platinum Metals
Secondary Commodities: Silver, Cobalt
Township or Area: Norton Lake Area
Latitude: 51° 54' 2.67" Longitude: -87° 25' 22"
UTM Zone: 16 Easting: 470912 Northing: 5750083 UTM Datum: NAD83
Resident Geologist District: Thunder Bay North
NTS Grid: 42M14NW
Point Location Description: N/A
Location Method: Data Compilation
Access Description: Located 59 km northeast of Fort Hope First Nation, 50 km southeast of Lansdowne House and approx. 200 km north of Nakina. Accessible by float plane or helicopter from Nakina, Armstrong or Pickle Lake.
1970: EM (INPUT) and MAG - via Questor Surveys for Umex and Imperial Oil. 1971-72: 3 ddh, 1980-81: Wasabi Resources Ltd. conducted ground geophysics, geochemistry, basal till sampling, geological mapping, and a 58 ddh program totalling 6975.7 m. A Questor IMPUT Mark VI airborne magnetometer - EM survey was flown. 1986: Duration Mines Ltd. conducted a helicopter - borne EM, MAG and VLF-EM survey and geological survey. Drill core from Wasabi Resources Ltd program was re-logged, re-sampled and assayed. 1987: Locator Expl. Ltd drilled 22 ddh totalling 3563 m. 1989: C. Lance staked mining claims and transferred them to Joutel Resources Ltd. 1990: Joutel conducted Ground MAG and VLF-EM Surveys. 2001: East West Resources purchased a claim covering the zone from R. L. Duess and R. B. Durham, then staked a number of other claims along trend. A due diligence review and reassaying of historic DDH core was conducted. 2002: soil samples were collected, ground and borehole geophysical surveys including magnetometer, VLF-EM, IP and mis-à-la-masse were completed. A 17 DDH program totalling 1600.42 m was drilled. 2003: East West - EM and magnetic surveys flown. A 3 DDH program totalling 124.97 m was drilled in the late summer. As part of an M.Sc thesis, geological mapping and a mineralogy study looking at the relationship of the PGE values to Ni-Cu on the Norton property was carried out by J. Johnson at Lakehead University. October 2003 – two claims optioned to Cascadia International Resources Inc. 2004: Cascadia completed an airborne geophysical survey, ground and borehole geophysical surveys and a 9 DDH program totalling 1740.40 m. 2005: A 19 DDH program was completed, totalling 5191 m. A mineral resource estimate was prepared by Caracle Creek International Consulting Inc for Cascadia. 2007: Cascadia contracted high-resolution magnetic and time-domain electromagnetic surveys to be flown as well as a ground gravity geophysics survey. 2009: transferred to White Tiger Mining Corp. New NI 43-101 technical report released. White Tiger drilled 4 DDH totalling 1444.75 m. 2012: White Tiger conducted a soil geochemical survey.
| Office File Number | Online Assessment File Identifier | Online Assessment File Directory |
|---|---|---|
| 2.37459 | 20000002750 | 20000002750 |
| 2.9846 | 42M14NW0005 | 42M14NW0005 |
| 2.26318 | 42M14NW2003 | 42M14NW2003 |
| 42M15NW0004 | 20000005128 | 20000005128 |
| 2.26319 | 42M14NW2004 | 42M14NW2004 |
| 2.52561 | 20000007383 | 20000007383 |
| 2.24537 | 42M14NW2001 | 42M14NW2001 |
| 2.32143 | 20000001568 | 20000001568 |
| 2.4671 | 43D02SW8058 | 43D02SW8058 |
| 63.3980 | 42M16NW0001 | 42M16NW0001 |
| 2.13202 | 42M14NW0001 | 42M14NW0001 |
| 2.37396 | 20000002732 | 20000002732 |
| 2.6991 | 42M14NW0006 | 42M14NW0006 |
| 2.50828 | 20000006574 | 20000006574 |
| 2.24631 | 42M14NW2002 | 42M14NW2002 |
| 2.28799 | 42M14NW2005 | 42M14NW2005 |
Province: Superior
Subprovince: Uchi
Terrane: North Caribou
Domain: Uchi
Belt: Miminiska-Fort Hope
Geological Age: Mesoarchean Geochronological Age: 2896 to 2939 Ma Geochron. Age Ref.: Johnson (2005)
Jul 17, 2006 (C Salo) - The Norton Lake Cu-Ni-Co-PGE deposit is located in the northeastern portion of the Fort hope-Miminiska Greenstone Belt. The deposit is hosted in a mafic to ultramafic intrusion that is comprised dominantly of pyroxenite with subordinate gabbro and leucogabbro phases. the intrusion is located near the contact between metasedimentary and mafic metavolcanic dominated rock sequences, and has been interpreted by Johnson (2005) to be related to a series of relatively small mafic to ultramafic intrusions that have been mapped in the area. The host intrusdion has been described by Jobin-Bevans and Kelso (2005) as a discrete stock-like mafic-ultramafic body. The mafic metavolcanic sequence that overlies the deposit is dominated by pillowed and massive flows and hosts a significant iron formation unit. The sedimentary sequence that underlies the deposit consists largely of argillites and sandstones (based on limited exposure and diamond drill core). Adjacent to the deposit the metasedimentary rocks have been described as quartzite and amphibolite tuff. The amphibolite has been alternatively interpreted by Jobin-Bevans and Kelso (2005) as sheared pyroxenite. The major structural feature of the area is a large antiformal fold (overturned syncline) with an east-plunging axis. This folding is illustrated by the magnetic response of the banded iron formation unit in airborne magnetometer data. Magnetometer survey data also indicate a number of north-northwesterly trending faults. Foliations in the vicinity of the deposit generally strike approximately east-west with steep dips toward the north. The rocks of this area have previously been interpreted by Stott and Corfu (1991) to be stratigraphically equivalent to the Northern Pickle Assemblage of the Pickle Lake Greenstone Belt. Recent geochemical and geochronological data collected by Johnson (2005) appear to be consistent with this interpretation (tentative age determination of 2896 to 2939 Ma). The deposit is considered to have been emplaced in a back-arc tectonic setting.
| Rock Type | Rank | Composition | Texture | Relationship | Mafic lava flow-unsubdivided | 1 | Adjacent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pyroxenite | 1 | Pyroxenite | Host | |
| Terrigenous-Clastic-Unsubdivided | 2 | Adjacent | ||
| Ironstone-unsubdivided | 2 | Iron Formation | Near |
| Rank | Mineral Name | Class | Economic Mineral Type | Alteration Mineral Type | Alteration Ranking | Alteration Intensity | Alteration Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pyrite | Economic | Ore | ||||
| 2 | Pyrrhotite | Economic | Ore | ||||
| 3 | Sphalerite | Economic | Ore | ||||
| 4 | Chalcopyrite | Economic | Ore | ||||
| 5 | Pentlandite | Economic | Ore | ||||
| 6 | Violarite | Economic | Ore | ||||
| 7 | Arsenopyrite | Economic | Ore |
Jul 17, 2006 (C Salo) - The ore body (Norton Zone) consists of two lenses that average approximately 7 m thick and have been traced over a strike length of approximately 300 m and to a depth of up to 400 m. The deposit strikes between 250 to 270 degrees and dips approximately 60 degrees to the north. The western limit of the deposit is defined by a fault interpreted from airborne electromagnetic data to trend at 107 degrees. The limits of the deposit are currently open to the northeast. The ore body consists of semi-massive to massive sulphides (average of 30-35% by volume) within a mafic to ultramafic matrix. The ore is commonly brecciated, with fragments of host rock in a deformed sulphide-bearing matrix. The breccia zones also contain cherty fragments that have been interpreted to be fragments of local iron formation. The major mineralogical components of the deposit include pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, pentlandite and pyrite. Minor to trace components include magnetite, ilmenite, violarite, molybdenite, galena, sphalerite, skutterudite and various platinum group and silver minerals. Johnson (2005) has suggested two stages of mineralization, with the first resulting from sulphide saturation of the intrusion through assimilation of a previously-existing iron formation, and the second involving hydrothermal remobilization and enrichment of copper and PGE values. The observation of brecciated cherty fragments supports the iron formation assimilation hypothesis, while the presence of later cross-cutting chalcopyrite veins provides evidence of sulphide remobilization. A second occurrence referred to as the South Zone has been identified immediately south of the Norton Zone and is interpreted to be the fault-displaced western extension of the deposit. A deposit with the following reserve characteristics has been delineated as of December 2005 (Jobin-Bevans and Kelso, 2005). The sum of measured and indicated reserves based on a 0.3% nickel cut-off grade are 2,258,654 tonnes averaging 0.67% Ni, 0.61% Cu, 0.03% Co and 0.46 g/t PGE.
Jan 23, 2015 (Therese Pettigrew) - Reassaying of historic drill core showed significant concentrations of Co and PGEs. Elevated cobalt values up to 24. Lb/t Co, PGE concentrations up to 4.38 g/t Pt+Pd (DDH U-12), and copper values up to 1.6% Cu were reported. In general, Co was found to correlate with Ni, and ratios of Pd:Pt are between 3:1 and 4:1, excepting drill hole U-12 which had a 5:1 ratio for Pt:Pd (Jobin-Bevans and Kelso, 2005). Sulphide mineralization is hosted within a sheared amphibolite unit located between an upper basalt and a lower sedimentary unit. The sulphide mineralization is dominated by semi-massive to massive pyrrhotite and subordinate pentlandite in irregular stringers, veins and patches forming 10-75% of the rock volume and averaging 30-35%; chalcopyrite is erratically distributed in grains, patches and seams. Pentlandite and violarite are the primary nickel-bearing minerals and localized sphalerite and arsenopyrite were noted (2009 NI 43-101 report).
| Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| 1 | Mafic-Ultramafic Intrusion |
| Rank | Characteristic |
|---|---|
| 3 | Intrusive |
| 1 | Massive |
| 2 | Stratabound |
| Shape | Length | Thickness | Depth | Strike | Dip | Plunge | Trend | Age | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 300 | 7 | 260 | 60 |
| Zone | Year | Category | Tonnes | Reference | Comments | Commodities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norton Lake | 2023 | Inferred Mineral Resource | 562000 | Copper Lake Resources 2023 NI 43-101 report | Open pit & Underground, containing 8.2 Mlbs of Ni, 7.8 Mlbs of Cu, 0.38 Mlb Co, 8.99 Koz Pd, and 2.59 Koz Pt. | Cobalt 310 ppm, Copper 0.63 %, Nickel 0.67 %, Palladium 0.5 g/t, Platinum 0.14 g/t |
| Norton Lake | 2023 | Measured + Indicated Resource | 1795000 | Copper Lake Resources 2023 NI 43-101 report | Open pit & Underground, containing 28.3 Mlbs of Ni, 27.3 Mlbs of Cu, 1.3 Mlb Co, 30 Koz Pd, and 10 Koz Pt | Cobalt 339 ppm, Copper 0.69 %, Nickel 0.72 %, Palladium 0.52 g/t, Platinum 0.17 g/t |
| Norton Lake Ni-Cu-Co Deposit | 2009 | Inferred Mineral Resource | 198571 | 2009 NI 43-101 report by CCIC | 0.3% Ni cutoff | Cobalt 0.03 Percent, Copper 0.61 Percent, Nickel 0.71 Percent, Palladium 0.47 Parts Per Million |
| Norton Lake Ni-Cu-Co Deposit | 2009 | Measured + Indicated Resource | 2258654 | 2009 NI 43-101 report by CCIC | 0.3% Ni cutoff | Cobalt 0.03 Percent, Copper 0.61 Percent, Nickel 0.67 Percent, Palladium 0.46 Parts Per Million |
| Norton Zone | 2005 | Inferred Mineral Resource | 198571 | Jobin-Bevans and Kelso (2005). | 0.3% Ni cutoff | Cobalt 0.03 Percent, Copper 0.59 Percent, Nickel 0.66 Percent, Platinum Metals 0.47 Parts Per Million |
| Norton Zone | 2005 | Measured + Indicated Resource | 2258654 | Jobin-Bevans and Kelso (2005). | 0.3% Ni cutoff | Cobalt .03 Percent, Copper .61 Percent, Nickel .67 Percent, Platinum Metals 0.460 Parts Per Million |
| Norton Zone | 1981 | Unclassified | 944500 | McLeod, 1981 assessment report 42M16NW0001 | Copper 0.56 Percent, Nickel 0.72 Percent |
Mono - Mineral Occurrences and Prospects in the Fort Hope-Winisk Area
Publication Number: OFR5926 Date: 1995
Author: Mason J.K., White G.D.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
Map - Operation Fort Hope, Attawapiskat River sheet, districts of Kenora (Patricia Portion) and Thunder Bay
Publication Number: P0563 Scale: 1:126,720 Date: 1997
Author: Thurston P.C., Carter M.W.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Map - Fort Hope-Lansdowne House sheet, geological compilation series, Cochrane, Kenora, and Thunder Bay districts
Publication Number: M2237 Scale: 1:253,440 Date: 1972
Author: Thurston P.C., Carter M.W., Riley R.A.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines and Northern Affairs
Location:
Thesis - Mineralization and Tectonic Setting of the Norton Lake Region, Uchi Subprovince.
Publication Number: MSc Thesis Date: 2005
Author: Johnson, J.R.
Publisher Name: Lakehead University.
Location: Thunder Bay RGP
Map - Geological Compilation of the Miminiska-Fort Hope Area, Eastern Uchi Domain
Publication Number: P3611 Scale: 1:250,000 Date: 2009
Author: Madon Z.B., McIlraith S.J., Stott G.M.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
Mono - Operation Fort Hope
Publication Number: MP042 Date: 1970
Author: Thurston P.C., Carter M.W.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines and Northern Affairs
Location:
Book - Canadian Mines Handbook 1983-84
Publication Number: CMH 1983-84 Date: 1983
Author:
Publisher Name:
Location: Thunder Bay RGP
Publication - Independent Mineral Resource Estimation: Norton Lake Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Deposit. For Cascadia International Resources Inc.
Publication Number: 2005 43-101 Date: 2005
Author: Jobin-Bevans, S. and I. Kelso (2005).
Publisher Name: Caracle Creek International Consulting
Location: Thunder Bay RGP
Publication - Independent Technical Report: Norton Lake Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Deposit
Publication Number: 2009 43-101 Date: 2009
Author: Jobin-Bevans, S., Middleton, R.S., Ronacher, E., McKenzie, J.
Publisher Name: Caracle Creek International Consulting for White Tiger Mining Corp.
Location: SEDAR
Publication - Mineral Resource Estimate and Technical Report for the Norton Lake Ni-Cu-Co-Pd-Pt Property
Publication Number: 2023 NI 43-101 Date: 2023
Author: Jobin-Bevans, S., Mortimer, S., Siriunas, J.
Publisher Name: Caracle Creek for Copper Lake Resources
Location: SEDAR
We are continuously updating our assessment file / technical report information. If you notice errors in the data, please contact us.
Please review our Terms of Use agreement for this data product.
For detailed information regarding this mineral record please contact the Thunder Bay North Resident Geologist District Office