Jan 10 2011
NQ EXPLORATION INC. (TSX VENTURE:NQE) has announced that it has started a major drilling program on the Carheil property, located 6 km southwest of the old Selbaie Mine (historical production of 53 million tonnes at 1.0% Cu, 1.9% Zn, 41 g/t Ag and 0.6 g/t Au, ref. activity report DV-2005-01).
A total of 5,000 metres will be drilled on the NORDEST polymetallic showing, which returned a grade of 1.59% zinc and 524 g/t silver over a true width of 7.3 metres last winter from Hole CA2009-05.
This is the third drilling program carried out by NQ on the Nordest showing of the Carheil property. In early 2009, the Company drill-tested polymetallic mineralization associated with the top of intermediate-to felsic units lying parallel to and on top of the host rock of the old Selbaie mine. This mineralization was identified by drilling in the 1990s by the consortium of Billiton Metals Canada Inc. and James Bay Development Corporation. The best intersection was 3.67% Zn over 2.4 metres in Hole B-906. The holes drilled at that time were very shallow, and were aimed at locating a new near surface polymetallic deposit.
The mineralization intersected is similar in nature to the Selbaie mine ore, but is associated with a different volcanic cycle. Very little exploration has been done on this cycle to date. The three holes drilled by NQ in early 2009 tested this showing at a vertical depth of about 200 metres, and showed that the grades, thickness of the mineralized envelope and intensity of the alteration increase with depth.
Encouraged by these results, the Company carried out a second program in late 2009-early 2010. NQ tested the depth extensions of this copper, zinc, silver and gold mineralization and discovered that all the geological parameters favourable to a volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit are present and improved at depth, below the 400 m level. These parameters include:
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The presence of a felsic agglomerate (proximal volcanism)
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The appearance of massive black chlorite alteration (proximal alteration)
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An increase in grade and thickness of the sulphide veinlets (alteration pipe)
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Economic grades of silver, copper, zinc or gold over significant widths.
These new intersections from the NORDEST showing confirm the similarity with the ore at the old Selbaie mine, in terms of the style of mineralization and grades. All the grades obtained are associated with a sulphide stockwork belonging to an alteration pipe; no massive sulphide zones associated with this pipe have yet been discovered. Structurally, the showing is located in a separate volcanic cycle overlying the one related to of the old mine. NQ now controls nearly 8 km of this favourable, still relatively unexplored and poorly understood horizon. Another felsic unit favourable to the deposition of VMS-type deposits was also identified recently directly west of the properties and could extend onto both the Carheil property and the Brouillan West property, held under option from Arianne Resources (northwest of Carheil). A compilation is underway to define drill targets on the two properties (totalling 4784.6 hectares).
NQ's top priority is to continue drilling the NORDEST showing. The NQ team is therefore launching a 5,000-metre drilling program to continue outlining the polymetallic mineralization. The Company has opted for a 50-metre by 50-metre drill grid to properly delineate the mineralization around the best intersections obtained to date. The extension at depth will be prioritized as all the geological indicators point in this direction. Down-hole geophysics will be performed if necessary. Drilling will continue until March 2011, and will be supervised by geologist Guy Parent.
Source: NQ EXPLORATION INC.