Juniors trying to develop industrial mineral deposits (June 18, 1990)

It may not garner as much news coverage as the exploration for precious and base metal deposits, but the search for industrial minerals is a serious undertaking of more than a few mining companies. Teams of geologists have been probing various rock formations of Canada and other countries for signs of various minerals, including wollastonite, magnesium, graphite, ferrochrome, peat, iodine, tin, antimony, talc and diamonds.

Wollastonite appears to have gathered a following, the mineral finding application in the filler and ceramic markets and as a substitute for asbestos.

In Nevada, for example, Sikaman Gold Resources (TSE) uncovered wollastonite mineralization while exploring its Gilbert property for gold, and has since decided to concentrate on evaluating the wollastonite showing. Vancouver-based junior White Plains Resources (VSE) has an option to acquire an additional 25% interest (it currently has a 25% interest) in the Gilbert property.

Another wollastonite project is situated in Marmora Twp. in eastern Ontario, where Platinova Resources (TSE), with a 49% interest, and Cominco (TSE), with a 51% interest, have been proving up reserves. Pilot-plant testing has been undertaken.

Magnesium has application in the production of alloys, as a reducing agent and as a reactant. As an alloying agent with aluminum, for example, magnesium adds, among other qualities, tensile strength and superior corrosion resistance compared with unalloyed aluminum.

Investigating a possible joint venture for property with magnesium potential in Riggs Twp. near Algoma, Ont., are Quote Resources (VSE) and Watson Lake Mines (ASE). A deposit of olivine gabbro has been uncovered on the property which may contain commercially significant quantities of the mineral.

In Quebec, Noranda Inc. (TSE) and Lavalin Industries are seeking another partner or two to help in the financing of a plant to be used to extract magnesium from asbestos mine tailings in the Thetford Mines area.

One of the higher profile industrial minerals of late has been graphite, which has various applications, including in the refractory, aeronautic, automotive and steel-making industries. Common uses of the mineral include in batteries, brake linings and pencils.

Flake graphite is currently produced in Canada by one company, Stratmin (ME), at milling facilities about 100 miles north of Montreal. Another graphite project in Quebec gearing for production is the Lac Knife deposit of Societe d’Exploration Miniere Mazarin (ME) in the Fermont area near the Quebec-Labrador border.

North of Huntsville, Ont., Cal Graphite (VSE) began turning over its graphite mill in late winter. The initial production rate is 3,000 tons of graphitic material per day. All going well, President John Stirling said he hopes to boost that daily rate to 5,000 tons, possibly by the end of the year.

Other graphite projects under development, all in Ontario, include the property of Stewart Lake Resources (TSE) in the Kingston area, the deposit of Victoria Graphite (COATS) near Portland, and the prospect of Black Hawk Mining (TSE) and Lodi Metals (VSE) near Perth.

In the Thetford Mines area of Quebec, Ressources Minieres Coleraine (ME) is evaluating a ferrochrome deposit, while in Montana, near the Stillwater platinum group metal project, Boulder Gold of Australia is optimistic its Mountain View chromite property will become the first ferrochrome producer south of the 49th parallel. Ferrochrome enjoys wide use in the steel industry.

The peat bogs of northern Ontario have Peat Resources (COATS) eyeing a commercial venture. Dried peat has potential as a fuel; the main customer would be electrical utility Ontario Hydro. A pilot plant for the Thunder Bay area has been considered. Financial backers to date have been Inco (TSE), Corona (TSE) and the government of Ontario.

In northern Chile, Kap Resources (VSE) and Atacama Resources (VSE) are exploring property which may yield a commercial supply of iodine. Iodine has a variety of applications, including in animal feed, pharmaceuticals and photography.

The Mount Pleasant property in New Brunswick has returned values of a variety of minerals — tin, tungsten, molybdenum and bismuth — in drilling by NovaGold Resources (TSE). Mount Pleasant was mined for two years during the first half of the 1980s. NovaGold is working the property under option from LAC Minerals (TSE) and Billiton Metals Canada.

In central Newfoundland, at the GRUBLine joint venture project of Noranda Exploration and Noront Resources (VSE), antimony mineralization is indicated in ore grade values over appreciable widths at the Beaver Lake property, the companies report. Use of metallic antimony in the storage battery industry appears to be on the wane. Conversely, end-uses for antimony compounds, in particular antimony oxides, is picking up; use in flame retardants, mainly for plastic materials, is one application.

Near Boston Bar in central British Columbia, Pacific Talc (VSE) has had a feasibility study completed on a talc deposit. The company plans to produce a “wettable” talc product which would be sold to the pulp and paper industry as a substitute for kaolin clays. That industry uses kaolin clay as a filler and brightener in paper production.

Quiet of late has been the search for diamonds in northern Saskatchewan, where less than two years ago Monopros, a De Beers subsidiary, announced the discovery of diamondiferous kimberlite. Among the companies identified as taking part in the provincial diamond hunt were Corona, Claude Resources (TSE), Cameco and Uranerz Exploration. Last year Corona said it was dropping its property option agreement with Claude. Recently, Cameco terminated an option with Claude to earn an interest in diamond exploration properties near Sturgeon Lake, Sask.

It may not garner as much news coverage as the exploration for precious and base metal deposits, but the search for industrial minerals is a serious undertaking of more than a few mining companies. Teams of geologists have been probing various rock formations of Canada and other countries for signs of various minerals, including wollastonite, magnesium, graphite, ferrochrome, peat, iodine, tin, antimony, talc and diamonds.

Wollastonite appears to have gathered a following, the mineral finding application in the filler and ceramic markets and as a substitute for asbestos.

In Nevada, for example, Sikaman Gold Resources (TSE) uncovered wollastonite mineralization while exploring its Gilbert property for gold, and has since decided to concentrate on evaluating the wollastonite showing. Vancouver-based junior White Plains Resources (VSE) has an option to acquire an additional 25% interest (it currently has a 25% interest) in the Gilbert property.

Another wollastonite project is situated in Marmora Twp. in eastern Ontario, where Platinova Resources (TSE), with a 49% interest, and Cominco (TSE), with a 51% interest, have been proving up reserves. Pilot-plant testing has been undertaken.

Magnesium has application in the production of alloys, as a reducing agent and as a reactant. As an alloying agent with aluminum, for example, magnesium adds, among other qualities, tensile strength and superior corrosion resistance compared with unalloyed aluminum.

Investigating a possible joint venture for property with magnesium potential in Riggs Twp. near Algoma, Ont., are Quote Resources (VSE) and Watson Lake Mines (ASE). A deposit of olivine gabbro has been uncovered on the property which may contain commercially significant quantities of the mineral.

In Quebec, Noranda Inc. (TSE) and Lavalin Industries are seeking another partner or two to help in the financing of a plant to be used to extract magnesium from asbestos mine tailings in the Thetford Mines area.

One of the higher profile industrial minerals of late has been graphite, which has various applications, including in the refractory, aeronautic, automotive and steel-making industries. Common uses of the mineral include in batteries, brake linings and pencils.

Flake graphite is currently produced in Canada by one company, Stratmin (ME), at milling facilities about 100 miles north of Montreal. Another graphite project in Quebec gearing for production is the Lac Knife deposit of Societe d’Exploration Miniere Mazarin (ME) in the Fermont area near the Quebec-Labrador border.

North of Huntsville, Ont., Cal Graphite (VSE) began turning over its graphite mill in late winter. The initial production rate is 3,000 tons of graphitic material per day. All going well, President John Stirling said he hopes to boost that daily rate to 5,000 tons, possibly by the end of the year.

Other graphite projects under development, all in Ontario, include the property of Stewart Lake Resources (TSE) in the Kingston area, the deposit of Victoria Graphite (COATS) near Portland, and the prospect of Black Hawk Mining (TSE) and Lodi Metals (VSE) near Perth.

In the Thetford Mines area of Quebec, Ressources Minieres Coleraine (ME) is evaluating a ferrochrome deposit, while in Montana, near the Stillwater platinum group metal project, Boulder Gold of Australia is optimistic its Mountain View chromite property will become the first ferrochrome producer south of the 49th parallel. Ferrochrome enjoys wide use in the steel industry.

The peat bogs of northern Ontario have Peat Resources (COATS) eyeing a commercial venture. Dried peat has potential as a fuel; the main customer would be electrical utility Ontario Hydro. A pilot plant for the Thunder Bay area has been considered. Financial backers to date have been Inco (TSE), Corona (TSE) and the government of Ontario.

In northern Chile, Kap Resources (VSE) and Atacama Resources (VSE) are exploring property which may yield a commercial supply of iodine. Iodine has a variety of applications, including in animal feed, pharmaceuticals and photography.

The Mount Pleasant property in New Brunswick has returned values of a variety of minerals — tin, tungsten, molybdenum and bismuth — in drilling by NovaGold Resources (TSE). Mount Pleasant was mined for two years during the first half of the 1980s. NovaGold is working the property under option from LAC Minerals (TSE) and Billiton Metals Canada.

In central Newfoundland, at the GRUBLine joint venture project of Noranda Exploration and Noront Resources (VSE), antimony mineralization is indicated in ore grade values over appreciable widths at the Beaver Lake property, the companies report. Use of metallic antimony in the storage battery industry appears to be on the wane. Conversely, end-uses for antimony compounds, in particular antimony oxides, is picking up; use in flame retardants, mainly for plastic materials, is one application.

Near Boston Bar in central British Columbia, Pacific Talc (VSE) has had a feasibility study completed on a talc deposit. The company plans to produce a “wettable” talc product which would be sold to the pulp and paper industry as a substitute for kaolin clays. That industry uses kaolin clay as a filler and brightener in paper production.

Quiet of late has been the search for diamonds in northern Saskatchewan, where less than two years ago Monopros, a De Beers subsidiary, announced the discovery of diamondiferous kimberlite. Among the companies identified as taking part in the provincial diamond hunt were Corona, Claude Resources (TSE), Cameco and Uranerz Exploration. Last year Corona said it was dropping its property option agreement with Claude. Recently, Cameco terminated an option with Claude to earn an interest in diamond exploration properties near Sturgeon Lake, Sask.