LETTER TO THE EDITOR — Voisey Bay story recalls Harp Lake exploration

Recent issues of The Northern Miner have made reference to copper-nickel discoveries by Kennco in the Harp Lake intrusion in the early 1970s. Readers may be interested in the extent of this early exploration, which predates current activities by 20-25 years.

While employed with Kennco, I had the good fortune in 1969 to visit the Palabora mine in its carbonatite complex and many mines within the famed Bushveld Igneous Complex in South Africa. Among the products derived from the Bushveld Complex were platinum, nickel, chrome, iron, vanadium, magnetite, tin and fluorspar, with a strong control in deposition from layering within the complex.

Research by Kennco in 1969 and early 1970 led to a week-long reconnaissance of the 500-sq.-km Kiglapait complex in 1970 using helicopter support.

Although copper-nickel concentrations were not sufficient to justify further work, we

were nevertheless encouraged enough to carry out a reconnaissance program of the 10,000-sq.-km Harp Lake intrusive complex in 1971. The Harp Lake complex lies about 150 km south of Kiglapait; the Voisey Bay discovery occurred about midway between the two intrusions. Of 37 color anomalies detected, 13 contained mineralization of further interest, with 15 remaining to be investigated.

The results were considered encouraging, and the Newfoundland government was approached with the intention of obtaining a concession over the Harp Lake complex.

In June, 1972, the government approved Kennco’s application for a concession over a reserve area of 12,160 sq. km for a 4-year period. However, Kennco’s budget for the 1972 program was not approved, and I arranged to have a joint-venture proposal offered to 17 companies. Chevron Oil and Selco Mining each agreed to provide $50,000 to earn a 25% interest in the concession within a 2-year period ending Dec. 31, 1973.

Exploration was carried out in 1972 and 1973 from a base camp established at Dave’s Pond in the east-central part of the intrusion.

I left Kennco in January, 1974, to form an exploration group for DuPont Canada. I never learned at what stage the joint-venture agreement on the Harp Lake project was terminated. However, it was probably in the 1974-1975 period.

Every exploration program is routinely evaluated. The law of diminishing returns resulting from time and expenditures spent without sufficient encouragement generally leads to abandonment. However, in many cases, interest may be held for decades with cash-in-lieu payments or minimum work requirements.

Perseverence pays off — and mineral discoveries such as Eskay Creek, Lac de Gras and Voisey Bay provide good illustration of the adage, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” These discoveries show that incredible potential returns can be derived from prospecting and surface sampling by those individuals fortunate enough to be at the right place at the right time.

David Barr, West Vancouver, B.C.