Survey hits strong anomaly in unexplored area of Gaspe

The GSC says it received several requests from exploration companies to release the results from its heavy mineral geochemical survey in the Lower St. Lawrence region.

Partial results were released recently. They indicate a number of heavy metal anomalies within the survey area, situated south of the village of St. Fabien, Que.

A final, detailed report containing results for all 37 elements analyzed is expected later this summer or fall.

The preliminary report contains data for barium, lead, antimony and tungsten.

The results reveal a strongly anomalous zone of lead, antimony and tungsten near the villages of l’Esprit-Saint and Trinite-des- Monts, 25 km south of Rimouski. The highest lead-antimony values were found in samples taken near Trinite-des- Monts and Esprit-Saint with the best results as follows: Sample Lead Lead Antimony Tungsten No ppm % ppm ppm 310 13,962 1.4 1,403 25 317 154,839 15.4 2,145 25 320 10,300 1.0 102 80 329 27,105 2.7 5,105 289 333 4,633 0.5 1,246 25

The information was released “to allow exploration companies to take full advantage of the 1989 field season and follow-up these interesting results,” the GSC says.

The anomaly extends over an area measuring 10-20 km long with a northeast-southwest orientation, parallel to the regional geological structure.

According to the GSC’s Yvon Maurice, who conducted the study, “It is quite possible that these anomalies reflect undiscovered epithermal mineralization.”

Geologically, the area is underlain by highly metamorphosed sediments of Cambrian to Ordovician age, says Maurice. While there are no magnetic anomalies associated with the high geochemical values, the area has apparently never been tested for electromagnetic conductors.

A spokesman from the local office of Quebec’s Ministry of Energy and Resources says there has been some staking activity in the area involving 20-30 lots.

A couple of companies have already inquired about the survey results, including Falconbridge Ltd. (TSE), he says.

Mining company’s are required to obtain permission from the local municipalities before staking claims in the area. This complication makes acquiring ground in the survey area a slow process.

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