Tanqueray hits titanium at Harp Lake

Drilling near Harp Lake in north-central Labrador, Tanqueray Resources (TQY-A) has hit titanium-rich rocks.

The company has been drilling to test a geophysical anomaly over its wholly owned Ross Lake property, 300 km northwest of Happy Valley-Goose Bay.

Five vertical holes were drilled into three separate magnetic targets. Two holes drilled into the primary target intersected massive-to-disseminated, ilmenite-bearing magnetite, with significant values of chromium and vanadium.

The mineral ilmenite contains 32% titanium by mass.

At the 26.4-metre mark, the first hole intersected 11 metres of 15.9% titanium oxide, 0.125% chromium oxide and 0.202% vanadium. At the 27.4-metre level, the second hole hit 13 metres of 21.49% titanium oxide, 0.158% chromium oxide and 0.24% vanadium.

The other three holes, drilled into two separate targets, intersected thin bands of disseminated ilmenite-bearing magnetite, have not been assayed.

According to a Tanqueray news release, the deposit appears to be comparable to Allard Lake, the world’s largest titanium deposit, which lies 480 km south of Ross Lake.

Tanqueray will resume drilling at Ross Lake as soon as additional ground geophysical surveying is complete.

Titanium has a wide range of applications, including paints, pigments and steel alloys. Chromium is used in chemical pigments and refractories.

Vanadium is used as an additive to strengthen steels and as a component in catalytic converters.