Nemegosenda
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The Nemegosenda property comprises approximately 4800 acres (1800 patented, and an additional 3000 contiguous acres staked later in 2008) in Northern Ontario. The property is easily accessible off of Highway 101 between Timmins and Chapleau, Ontario (Chewett and Collins Townships). The patented claims were purchased in January 2008 for $380,000 Canadian -- payable over a four-year period -- and 2% royalty concessions on all mineral and/or metal production from the property. Sarissa Resources, however, retained the right to repurchase 1.5% of the royalty concessions at any time in the future for a predetermined price.
Niobium
Niobium, also known as columbium, is a rare exotic soft metal that is primarily obtained from pyrochlore; a mineral found occurring in carbonatites. Well known for its corrosion resistant and highly conductive properties, niobium's melting point of 2,468°C enables the metal to maintain its qualities at very high temperatures. Approximately 89% of worldwide niobium consumption is dedicated to the production of steel; while 9% is used in the production of "superalloys" and the final 2% is used in the development of superconductor applications within the technology, electronics and medical industries.
Property Details
The Nemegosenda Property (map) was identified in the mid-nineteen fifties through aeromagnetic surveys conducted by Gulf Minerals Canada Limited. Subsequent exploration and testing, as summarized in the Ontario Geological Survey study 34 by R.P Sage (click to read the full report) in 1987, highlighted a number of "higher grade niobium zones." Of particular note, Zone D indicated "20,000,000 tons of 0.47 percent Nb2O5 material in a block 600 by 800 feet in size and to depths up to 600 feet," based on Gulf's drilling and a 580 foot adit which penetrated 235 feet into the zone. Based on this historic (non-NI-43-101-compliant) data (Pg 34), this indicates the potential for approximately 9.4 pounds of Nb2O5 per ton of ore in situ. The original drill logs from Gulf can be viewed here.
Other zones within the property have also indicated smaller, but meaningful niobium mineralization. Another area of mineralization of Niobium and rare earths called the ‘South-East’ Area was previously outlined on the property. It occurs 1500 metres south east of the Hawke zone (formerly called ‘D’ Zone). From the 1955 and 1956 drilling program by Dominion Gulf, plus re-assaying of nine drill holes by Musto Explorations in 1988 which covered this area, a historical resource of Niobium mineralization was indicated to exist within an area of some 700m x 250m to a depth of 200m having a weighted average from the assays of all drill holes of 0.35% Nb2O5.
By comparison, the world's largest niobium deposit, located at Araxa, Brazil, is operated by CBMM, and averages between 2.5% and 3.0% Nb205. Two other currently operating pyrochlore mines are the Anglo American Brasil Mineracao (Brazil), grading at 1.34% niobium oxide and the Iamgold-owned Niobec (Quebec) at their St. Honore deposit, grading at 0.67% niobium and mined underground. Niobec was previously a joint venture owned 50% by Teck Corporation and 50% by Cambior Inc.
Exploration Progress
In February 2008, Sarissa engaged the services of Hawk Exploration Consultants, an independent and highly-regarded Toronto-based geological consulting firm to conduct a preliminary assessment report on the property. The report was commissioned to complete an independent review of the historical work done on the property and to assess the compliance with NI 43-101 of Dominion Gulf's historical reserve estimates. This report was completed in May 2008 and can be read here (PDF). A summary follows below:
Based on an analysis of the available data and on a site visit conducted by the author, the Sarissa Resources Inc. Nemegosenda Lake Property is considered a property of merit. The historical work done to date is detailed and of high quality. The mode of emplacement is well understood and the potentially economic D Zone has been well outlined. The Nemegosenda deposit appears to be of the strata bound type and consequently, the lateral and vertical extensions for the areas of mineralization could be extensive, particularly in the East Zone. The detailed work of the OGS in the 1970's and 80's has largely confirmed the interpretations and the historical exploration work of Parsons and the Dominion Gulf Company.
The D Zone historical reserve estimate of 20,000,000 tonnes grading 0.47 % Nb2O5 is within the range currently considered economic in carbonatite-alkalic rock complex literature for commercial production. Tantalum and REE are commonly associated with these niobium occurrences. Therefore the economic potential of the Nemegosenda complex could be substantially greater than what has historically been inferred by the presence of tantalum, REE and uranium.
The East Zone has seen a lot less drilling and has only been partially explored. Numerous radioactive boulders and soils are present here and their presence originally stimulated interest in this area. Parsons reported that the amount of drilling here was insufficient to provide a reserve estimate or to outline the higher grade zone niobium zones. Also the East Zone area has good potential to substantially increase the overall reserves of the property.
The author obtained a copy of the Ontario Department of Mines and Northern Development Mineral Resources Circular 14 entitled "Columbium (Niobium) Deposits in Ontario" by Stewart Ferguson, 1971. The circular reported that approximately 1,000 tons of mineralized material was mined from the D Zone, of which 40 tons were shipped for metallurgical pilot plant testing. The results of the test yielded 90% recovery of niobium.
It is recommended that additional drilling and evaluations be conducted on the property to obtain a 43-101 compliant reserve estimate. In addition, it is recommended that an exploration program be conducted in the southeast area of the Sarissa property to expand known niobium occurrences there. Also, exploration work should include analyses for tantalum, uranium and rare earth elements such as lanthanum (La), neodymium (Nd) and cerium (Ce).
Sampling
In June 2008, 15 chip samples were taken from the adit into the main D Zone deposit. The results from all 15 samples taken and assayed confirm the presence of niobium mineralization, tantalum mineralization and rare earth elements ("REE") mineralization within the deposit. The samples were taken over a 300-foot length of the adit, beginning at the face.
Highlights include: niobium (Nb) concentrations of up to 5820 ppm; tantalum (Ta) concentrations of up to 193 ppm; and in the REE's, Neodymium (Nd) concentrations of up to 184 ppm. While the niobium values returned, (equivalent Nb2O5 average of 0.52% over 15 samples), were as expected based on historical work, the samples provided confirmation of the presence of tantalum, uranium, and REE mineralization within the D Zone. The assay results are summarized in the following table.
Note: 1,000 ppm is equivalent to 1 Kg. per tonne; 10,000 ppm is equivalent to 1%.
The samples were assayed at Activation Laboratories Ltd. in Ancaster, Ontario. Full analytical details of the samples can be viewed here.
Follow-up work will include diamond drilling in the D Zone for grade and tonnage calculations; and further sampling in the East Zone where historical trench samples reported anomalous mineralization (non NI 43-101 compliant).
2008-2009 Drill Program 1st Phase
During late 2008 and early 2009 Sarissa drilled nine diamond drill holes in the D Zone portion of the property, totaling 1,842 metres, to seek confirmation and depth extension of the niobium mineralization previously identified by Dominion Gulf Company ("Gulf"). Notably, all the holes returned significant niobium mineralization, averaging 0.4% Nb2O5 over the entire 1,728 metres that were sent for assaying (Table 1 below).
It should be noted that the drilling program successfully confirmed both the mineralized zone data historically reported, and that the mineralization continues below what had previously been identified as the depth of the mineralized zone. It has also demonstrated that the mineralized zone increases in grade and depth towards the eastern portion of the zone.
The three drill holes on the eastern end of the current drill sections returned:
DDH-09-73 at 344,525E 5,320,425N includes 194m to 239m = 45m @ 0.77% Nb2O5
DDH-09-74 at 344,550E 5,320,475N includes 167m to 179m = 12m @ 0.71% Nb2O5
Note: DDH-9-74 was stopped at 197m.
DDH-09-77 at 344,575E 5,320,525N includes 131m to 260m = 129m @ 0.56% Nb2O5
For detailed graphs of all drilling holes to date, click here.
Table 1: Drill Hole Summary
Drill Hole Total Nb2O5% Nb2O5%
Metres Weighted Including Weighted
Length Assayed Average (Metres) Average
----------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------
DDH 08-69 200 186 0.46 145.5 0.53
----------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------
DDH 08-70 245 231 0.33 138 0.43
----------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------
DDH 08-71 200 186 0.22 64.5 0.44
----------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------
DDH 08-72 209 203 0.42 117 0.54
----------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------
DDH 09-73 254 245 0.44 189 0.51
----------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------
DDH 09-74 197 182 0.42 87 0.56
----------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------
DDH 09-75 98(Fault) 81 0.48 51 0.56
----------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------
DDH 09-76 137(Fault) 123 0.5 78 0.58
----------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------
DDH 09-77 302 291 0.43 231 0.5
----------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Totals 1840m 1728m 0.40% 1101m 0.51%
----------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------The following table provides summaries of the 1955/56 drilling program, the 2008/2009 program, and the summary from both programs. During the 1955/56 drilling program only 67% of the drill core was selectively assayed, whereas in the 2008/2009 drilling program 94% of the drill core was assayed.
D Zone Drill Holes - 1955/56 Program
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Total metres Drilled 6724.7
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Total metres Assayed 4542.8
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Weighted Average Nb2O5% 0.44
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Total of Included metres 2121.4
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Weighted Average Nb2O5% 0.56
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Ratio of All Assayed/Includes 46.70%
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D Zone Drill Holes - 2008/2009 Program
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Total metres Drilled 1840
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Total metres Assayed 1728
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Weighted Average Nb2O5% 0.4
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Total of Included metres 1101
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Weighted Average Nb2O5% 0.51
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Ratio of All Assayed/Includes 63.72%
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D Zone Drill Holes - All
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Total metres Drilled 8566.69
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Total metres Assayed 6270.76
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Weighted Average Nb2O5% 0.43
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Total Included metres 3222.44
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Weighted Average Nb2O5% 0.55
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Ratio of All Assayed/Includes 51.39%
---------Sarissa's current drilling program has increased the confidence level in the historic exploration and subsequent evaluation to the point that an indicated resource may now be calculated for the D Zone. Drill hole intersections, with a weighted average grade of 0.43%, are located within a surface area of some 76,250 square metres and to a depth of at least 200m. In 1958 an adit was driven 580 feet into the D Zone where historic sampling indicated that the average grade contains a weighted average of 0.57% Nb2O5.
In July 2009, Sarissa announced the completion of an independent technical report on its 100% owned niobium property in northern Ontario. The report was prepared by John C. Archibald, P. Geo. of Billiken Management Services Inc. of Toronto, and was prepared to standards as outlined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards and Disclosures for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). The full report can be read here.
Excerpts from the report include:
"... 2008 & 2009, Sarissa carried out another drilling program over the same 'D' Zone centering their nine drill holes within the 'D' Zone mineralization. A block model of the results from these nine drill holes indicates a resource of some 11,000,000 tonnes of 0.46% Nb2O5 (12,127,500 tons at 0.46% Nb2O5)."
"Sarissa's re-estimation (2009) using just the 'D' Zone block modeling by Alan A. Hawke BSc./MSc., of 45,265,343 tonnes grading 0.43% Nb2O5 of which 46% of the calculated blocks contained greater than 0.50% Nb2O5 for a minimum of 20,022,058 tonnes (translated to tons this drill inferred resource compares to 49,905,041 tons at 0.43% Nb2O5 and 22,074,319 tons at 0.50% Nb2O5 respectively (see Table 6 - "Resource Workings - Dominion Gulf" in the Appendices of this report)). Mr. Hawke's grade calculations compares favorably to the initial tonnage calculations by Dominion Gulf and strengthens the position that there is definitely a consistent Niobium resource to be found with the 'D' Zone area of the property."
2008-2009 Drill Program 2nd Phase
This program involves further diamond drilling to continue to expand on the mineralized niobium resource in the Hawke (D) Zone. It is targeted to test the eastern extension, and is conducted under the guidance of Hillar Pintson M.Sc., P.Geo. The cores from 3 drill holes have been logged and split, and samples have been sent for assay.
In addition the Company has opened up 4 trenches in the SE Zone. Scintillometer readings taken within the trenching area have provided significant readings. The trenching program was conducted initially under the supervision of the late Alan Hawke, and followed up on by geologist Hillar Pintson. It was conducted in the middle of the SE Zone, where forty-nine 2.5 metre continuous channel samples were collected along the northern side of trench 09-5A and submitted for assaying. The average grade over the full 122.5 metre length of the trench was 0.35% Nb2O5. In the 49 samples submitted for assay, highlights included 2 samples of greater than 1% Nb2O5 and 10 samples greater than 0.5% Nb2O5. As well as the significant Nb2O5 results, the samples returned anomalous values of tantalum and uranium, along with 2 samples of greater than ten thousand ppm total rare earth elements.
Complete trench 09-5A assay results for Nb2O5 and REE's (click to open).
Of additional significance is that this trenching program was carried out in an area of the SE Zone that had not previously been drilled, so continues to expand the area of potential mineralization in this area. A follow-up drilling program has been initiated to test the areas underneath the zone exposed during the trenching program.
Metallurgical Testing
A further aspect of this program will entail beginning metallurgical studies. SGS Lakefield Research Ltd. has been retained to conduct a Proof of concept program, which will focus on the recovery of niobium compounds. The multi-disciplinary approach will fully characterize the ore, investigate if physical ore upgrading is feasible by standard ore beneficiation processes, and develop a hydrometallurgical method for the extraction and selective recovery of (initially) the Nb phase. The investigation should be considered as a scoping or pre-feasibility study to establish a baseline flowsheet for targeted product recovery.
So far the first phase of metallurgical testing has been completed and no barriers to extraction have been identified. This correlates well with the previous $1,000,000 of metallurgical research conducted by Dominion Gulf Company in conjunction with the Colorado School of Mines Research Foundation in 1959-1960. The next stage metallurgical testing will focus on a more detailed mineralogical study.
References:
Parts of the following publication were used:
Sage R.P. 1987: Geology of Carbonatite - Alkalic Rock Complexes in Ontario: Nemegosenda Lake Alkalic Rock Copmplex, District of Sudbury; Ontario Geological Survey, Study 34, 132 p."