Melkior Resources (MKR-V) has recovered a “significant” number of kimberlitic indicator minerals from glacial overburden samples collected from its Otish Mountains claims last October and November.
The 50 indicator minerals come from five separate magnetic anomalies and several show little sign of abrasion due to glacial transport. Some also have preserved coatings of perovskite, a calcium titanium oxide, which Melkior says indicates a proximal source.
Microprobe analysis of selected grains has confirmed the presence of pyrope garnet, picroilmenite, eclogitic garnet and high magnesium olivine and pyroxene of possible mantle origin.
More than 40 picroilmenites were recovered from one sample taken some 500 metres down ice of one magnetic anomaly. The data indicate that many of these grains are compositionally zoned with the rims enriched in magnesium and chromium. The magnesium content of the grains averages about 11% MgO.
The same sample also surrendered four high chromium pyrope garnets (averaging about 10% Cr2O3) with preserved kelyphitic rims and original garnet surface textures.
Another target yielded four eclogitic garnets confirmed by microprobe.
Sampling in areas down-ice from several other magnetic anomalies turned up 14 eclogitic garnets; one a high-magnesium olivine and another a high-magnesium orthopyroxene. The composition of several grains suggests a mantle or kimberlitic source.
About 25% of the samples remain to be examined.
A recently completed airborne magnetic survey over Melkior’s claims identified more than 30 discrete isolated targets. The company holds 233 claims in the region and is awaiting confirmation of another 142 claims, which would boost the company’s landholdings in the area to about 198 sq. km.
Melkior plans to follow-up with more overburden sampling on the targets and new magnetic targets not yet tested. A program of ground geophysical surveying will be followed by drill testing.
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