Renforth Resources Inc (CSE:RFR, OTCQB:RFHRF) said drilling in March/April at the Victoria mineralized structure at its Surimeau project in Quebec has revealed an increase in the frequency and thickness of mineralized graphitic mudstone layers, reminiscent of Talvivaara and Outokumpu.
The company said the mineralized graphitic mudstone is exposed on surface, south of the previously drilled 2.2 km of Victoria strike, adding that Victoria's geological setting includes graphitic shale, mafic and ultramafic rock, a setting similar to the Outokumpu district in eastern Finland.
Renforth noted that the Outokumpu district encompassed three major deposits mined between 1913-88, resulting in the production of around 50Mt of ore consisting of 2.8 wt.% Cu, 1 wt.% Zn, 0.2 wt.% Co and minor amounts of Ni and Au.
It added that Terrafame’s low-carbon Talvivaara Mine, located just north of the Outokumpu district, boasts reserves of 1 billion tonnes of ore grading 0.22% nickel, 0.13% copper, 0.5% zinc and 0.02% cobalt containing 2.2 million tonnes of nickel, 1.3 million tonnes of copper, 5 million tonnes of zinc and 0.2 million tonnes of cobalt.
Zinc-rich graphitic mudstones are notable at Surimeau and are characteristic of a Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) environment, it said, adding that graphitic mudstone is in direct structural contact with the surrounding ultramafic bodies.
“These wider mineralized areas are priority targets for ongoing exploration at Surimeau,” the company said in a statement.
Renforth said the results of the most recent drilling support the Outokumpu model. Outokumpu is notable with the deposits being polygenetic, formed by structural juxtaposition of two types of mineralization, magmatic Ni-Cu-PGM, and stratabound, syngenetic Zn-Cu VMS types. Additionally, in the Outokumpu mines, black graphitic schist hosts the deposits.
Renforth said Talvivaara may eventually be a relevant model, noting that Talvivaara operates as a heap leach mine, with production from two small open pits, that produce battery chemicals as the primary products.
“Renforth looks to this operation as inspiration for Surimeau's future and an example of how mining can be done better. Of course, at this time Surimeau is not a mine, a deposit nor does it have proven economic value; however, the aforementioned deposit-type examples provide models for our ongoing efforts to achieve this goal.”
Currently, Renforth is proceeding with several desktop-based exercises for Surimeau, the company noted.
Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com