Vulcan explores titanium showings in Labrador

Some long-forgotten titanium showings in central Labrador have caught the attention of Vulcan Minerals (VUL-A).

At the Goose South project, 50 km southeast of Goose Bay, a geological crew from Vulcan has confirmed a defunct private company’s 6-year-old reports of a large magnetite-ilmenite body. Twenty grab samples of

disseminated-to-semi-massive and gossanous magnetite/ilmenite were selected for assays to determine titanium dioxide and iron oxide content.

Only one whole rock geochemical analysis has been received to date. It indicated a total iron oxide content of 26.76% and titanium dioxide content of 3.91%. Assays on the 20 samples for pure titanium (as opposed to titanium dioxide) ran from 0.57% to 3.55%, which is expected to equate to 1-6% titanium dioxide when the whole rock geochemical assays are received. Vulcan will release further assay results upon receipt.

Given the gossanous and weathered condition of the samples, the prospects for higher-grade material on the property are considered excellent. Vulcan believes that if the deposit is found to have an overall titanium-iron grade greater than 30% (combined Fe-TiO2), it could have significant economic value, if sufficiently large tonnage is in place. Initial field observations indicate the deposit is at least 600 metres wide, and field analysis of the deposit, combined with regional geophysical data, indicates large-tonnage potential.

“It’s certainly not copper-nickel-cobalt, but, in its own right, it has value,” says Vulcan President Patrick Laracy, adding that geological mapping will soon get under way.

Once that work is complete, Vulcan will conduct geophysical surveys of the property and, where warranted, diamond drilling. Laracy says drills could be turning as early as this fall.

Vulcan holds a 100% interest in the property, with no royalties payable, but Laracy says he would like to team up with a partner to develop it.

Goose South is a magmatic iron-titanium oxide deposit hosted by anorthosite.

The deposit was sampled for a length of 850 metres and it remains open along strike to the north and south. Mineralization was observed to be continuous along the wall of a river valley that cuts 50 metres into the deposit.

Regional aeromagnetic data released by the Geological Survey of Canada in 1970 indicate that the magnetic anomaly immediately associated with the deposit is 4 km long and 1.5 km wide.

Ilmenite is smelted to form high-grade titanium dioxide slag, which is used to manufacture titanium dioxide pigment. More than 90% of all titanium ore is refined to produce titanium dioxide pigment, which itself is used in paint and other industrial products. Titanium dioxide pigment averages $1 per lb.

in price, while titanium dioxide slag concentrated to 80-85% TiO2 is valued at $325-350 per tonne.