Midland Exploration Inc. has resumed drilling along the extensions of the new Santos nickel-copper (Ni-Cu) discovery on the Tête Nord property in Quebec, Canada.
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The property is subject to an option agreement with Rio Tinto Exploration Canada Inc. (RTEC). The drilling follows the approval of permits, and the property is located near the town of La Tuque, Quebec. Refer press release by Midland dated December 2, 2021.
The new drilling program at the Santos zone comprises four drill holes totaling 1,150 m. The primary objective is to test new conductors identified at depth on the Santos zone, based on downhole and ground-based electromagnetic surveys.
The Santos Ni-Cu zone was discovered in early 2023 after drill testing an electromagnetic VTEM anomaly. The discovery hole (MDLD0015) encountered several layers with Ni-Cu mineralization within altered gabbro horizons, ranging from 14 m to 80 m downhole depth. Notably, from 20.11 to 22.79 m, the drill hole intersected 1.10% Ni and 0.71% Cu over 2.68 m. At a deeper level, from 33.02 to 43.39 m, a mineralized interval graded 0.45% Ni and 0.18% Cu over 10.37 m.
In July 2023, a second shallow hole was drilled approximately 50 m west of the Santos zone's discovery hole. After penetrating 11.66 m of overburden, MDLD0018 intersected a mineralized zone grading 0.33% Ni and 0.12% Cu over 39.73 m, ranging from 11.66 to 51.39 m downhole depth.
This interval displayed significant magmatic breccias with decimeter-scale semi-massive sulfide zones, indicating a dynamic magmatic system at Santos. Both drill holes, MDLD0015 and MDLD0018, commenced directly in the mineralized zone, and the total thickness of this zone is yet to be determined, remaining open in all directions.
A target named Santos South is located 770 m south of the Santos discovery. This target exhibits a subtle airborne electromagnetic anomaly situated in a fold structure similar to that of the Santos occurrence. To investigate this target, one drill hole, totaling 300 m in length, will be drilled.
Additional targets are identified for the next phase of drill testing, which is scheduled for early 2024. This phase will involve drilling 5-7 holes in the Bonhomme and Cutaway-East areas.
Provincially, the new Santos Ni-Cu zone is constructively located along an N-S-trending structure, approximately 8 km north of the former Lac Edouard Ni-Cu mine.
About the Tête Nord Ni-Cu Property
This property hosts a few mineral occurrences, including the Savane showing located approximately 25 km south of the former Lac Edouard mine.
This Ni-Cu showing was discovered by prospecting in 1995 when grab samples collected in a pyroxenite yielded historical values of 1.80% Ni and 0.20% Cu. Another grab sample from a sub-cropping boulder also yielded grades of 1.98% Ni and 0.46% Cu about 250 m north of the Savane showing.
Source: https://midlandexploration.com/en/