Nov 9 2010
Canadian International Mineral Inc. (CIN - TSX.V) and Commerce Resources Corp. (CCE - TSX.V) has updated the current and ongoing diamond drill program on their Carbo Rare Earth Element property.
CIN is earning a 75% interest in the property from Commerce Resources Corp. (CCE), and is meeting all conditions of the agreement to earn their interest. Drilling is currently on the eighth diamond drill hole (DDH). Total core as of late November 6 was 1226 meters. Drilling will continue until weather dictates the end of safe and cost effective working conditions.
Core is flown out daily to a staging area about 1km from the drill site and trucked to a secure core processing and storage facility in Prince George. There it is logged and sawn by Mackevoy Geosciences Ltd. personnel and shipped to ALS Chemex via DHL. Samples are pulverized, split and analyzed using Au FA ICP-AES finish (gold fire assay), Whole Rock ICP-AES, 38 element fusion ICP -MS (includes all REEs) and trace lead and zinc packages. No assays have been received and first results are anticipated in two weeks.
The Carbo property comprises 7 claims totalling an area of 2,778.63 hectares and is accessible by all weather gravel roads. It is located in the emerging Wicheeda REE carbonatite camp approximately 80 km north east of Prince George, B.C., on the western margin of the Rocky Mountain trench, a major continental geologic feature which is now recognized as the locus of numerous potentially economic concentrations of rare metals. Much of this terrain has seen very little exploration incorporating current models and modern technology. It is adjacent to and contiguous with Spectrum Mining's Wicheeda rare metals discovery, as described in B.C.G.S. Assesement Report # 30873. The Carbo drill targets are within 900 meters of Spectrum's 2009 drilling.
The region has garnered significant attention due to the discovery of significant REE mineralization associated with the Wicheeda Carbonatite-Syenite Complex. The Carbo Property covers in excess of 6 km strike length of the complex, which is manifested as an elongate, northwest to southeast trending geophysical anomaly.
A geological synopsis has been provided by Allison Brand, M.Sc. Mackevoy Geoscience Ltd. as follows.
The area currently undergoing diamond drilling corresponds to a distinct airborne geophysical anomaly and coincident soil sample assays from several locations with anomalous rare earth elements and pathfinders. Diamond drill core from the initial five holes has been examined and all holes intersect sections of carbonatite, associated alkaline dykes and metasomatic alteration. Assays are expected shortly from all drill core in the first two drill holes.
Carbonatite intersections can be thin to several tens of metres in thickness, and are generally planar and parallel to host rock (siltstone/phyllite) fabric, which is consistently subvertical. Occasionally the carbonatite is transitional to some of the alteration styles or occurs as crosscutting dikes or veins. Interfingered layering and breccia matrix infill of fine-grained, carbonatite material occurs near or at carbonatite contacts. Carbonatite is typically a combination of crystalline calcite, dolomite, and/or ankerite, accompanied by a variety of rare element accessory minerals. The host rocks around the intrusive are altered in a variety of modes, to varying degrees. The alteration variably consists of bleaching, hornfelsing, pyritization, Na-K-carbonate metasomatic halo, and flooding of grey-blue feldspar-feldspathoid proximal to carbonatite. In addition, carbonate-bearing alkaline dikes that crosscut the host rocks are sulphide-rich (sphalerite, pyrite, pyrrhotite and galena).
Several research samples were chosen to elucidate the composition and identities of accessory minerals in carbonatite and its associated alteration zones. These samples were investigated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) by Prof. Lee Groat, Dr. Jim Evans, and Dr. Leo Millonig of the University of British Columbia's Mineralogical Research Group. Most significantly, REE-carbonate phase(s) were identified in carbonatite, and likely correspond to a combination of bastnae-sitesynchysite-parisite. Where concentrations of this mineral assemblage were reported they were noted to be up to 50% of the interval by mode. Sphalerite, strontianite (strontium carbonate), an unknown Ni- Fe-Cr oxide, barite, columbite((Fe, Mn)(Nb, Ta)2O6) and Nb-rich rutile were also identified. Significant sulphide is also present in deeper carbonatite intervals: phases identified in core include sphalerite, galena, pyrite, pyrrhotite, and chalcopyrite. The SEM investigation also confirmed the presence of feldspathoid and feldspar phases in alteration zones.
The style of mineralization thus far observed, is consistent with known occurrences of REE mineralization within the region. As previously stated, all core from the first two holes is currently being assayed.
CIN and CCE are proud to be sponsors of the upcoming International Workshop on the Geology of Rare Metals in Victoria November 9-10 organized by the British Columbia Geological Survey, Geological Survey of Canada and the Pacific Section of the Geological Association of Canada. We are also honored that five of our consultants or members of CINs advisory board are presenting or authored papers for the workshop. They are Professor Lee Groat, Ph.D., and David Turner, M.Sc. (University of B.C., Mackevoy Geoscience Ltd.), Professor Anton Chakhouradian Ph.D. and Ryan Kressell M.Sc. (University of Manitoba) and Professor Roger Mitchell Ph.D. (Lakehead University).
Source: Canadian International Mineral Inc.