The mineralization consists in a meta-pyroxenite with about 15% disseminated pyrrhotite and 3% pentlandite that returned 1.07% Ni, 0.24% Cu, 0.09% Co and 4.5% S from a grab sample from outcrop (note that grab samples are selective by nature and values reported may not be representative). Another outcrop of meta-pyroxenite located about 100 metres from the first sample location also returned 0.46% Ni with a low sulfur value of 1.11% in a grab sample. The new showing is located about 12 km southeast of the Clearwater Au deposit and 25 kilometers east of Hydro-Quebec's Eastmain-1 dam.
The new nickel-copper-cobalt showing is located in an area that was previously mapped as a large, km-scale dioritic intrusion (Casey batholith). However, preliminary field observations suggest that a large part of the intrusion is in fact composed of primitive gabbros. No prior exploration work is reported in government files in the immediate vicinity of the new discovery.
Following the discovery, Midland and Altius acquired 104 new claims ("Moria" project") over the interpreted extent of the mafic intrusive rocks hosting the mineralization. Midland and Altius consider the discovery of this nickel showing to indicate strong Ni-Cu-Co potential for the area and are presently designing a follow up exploration program for the claims.
At the same time, Midland is very pleased to announce the nomination of Mr. Sylvain Trépanier as Vice President Exploration, James Bay and North of Quebec.
Mr. Trépanier holds a bachelor's degree in geology, a master's degree in earth science and a bachelor's degree in computer science and software engineering from UQAM. Sylvain began his career for Noranda in 1995 and worked on various projects in Quebec until 2001.
From 2004 to 2012, he worked has a research geologist at CONSOREM. During his years working at CONSOREM, he has carried out numerous research projects applied to Mineral exploration and has developed expertise recognized in Quebec in various fields related to exploration: lake-bottom, streams and tills sediments geochemistry, alterations lithogeochemistry, statistical data processing and potential mineral evaluation by artificial intelligence. He is the author of several scientific articles, research reports and public presentations.
He designed and developed the Lithomodeleur software for geochemistry treatment, which is now widely used in Quebec by exploration companies, governments and universities. From 2012 to 2016, he worked for Virginia Mines and Osisko Gold Royalties as Senior Research Geologist and was involved in most of the company's projects in James Bay and the Labrador Trough. He is co-recipient of the QMEA Jean-Descarreaux Award in 2011 with the CONSOREM team. Mr. Trépanier joined the Midland team in November 2016.
