CANADIAN AND WORLD MINERAL DEPOSIT DATABASES
Geological Survey of Canada


 
Database name: Canadian Iron Formation
Custodial agency: Geological Survey of Canada
Compilers: G. A. Gross and E. M. Hillary
Release date: 2014-08-21
   
Deposit name(s): Mary River - No. 1 (occurrence)
Longitude / Latitude: -79.24157 / 71.32382
Political location(s): Canada; Province or state: Nunavut; Subprovince or locality: North Baffin Island
NTS map data: 037G05
Deposit clan (type): iron formation
Deposit (sub) types: Algoma type; Reference: Watts Griffis and McOuat Ltd., 1983: A Summary Report on the Mary River Deposit of Baffinland Iron Mines Ltd. (062161); Mineral Assessment Report, Baffinland Iron Mines Ltd., Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Publication code 062161
Deposit status: feasibility study; Size category: significant
Geologic province: Canadian Shield
Geologic subprovince: Rae craton
Geologic district: Committee belt
Deposit object located: centre of mineralized zone
Commodities: Fe
Geological ages: Archean (mineralization)
Archean (host rocks)
Host rocks: (1) sedimentary; iron formation; Metamorphic grade: amphibolite - lower; Component: mineralization zone
External host rock forms:tabular sedimentary body
Internal host rock structures:massive
banding
Individual lithologies:iron formation - oxide
Host rock stratigraphy:Mary River group
Metallogenic signatures: Fe
Mineralogy: (mineralization - massive / mineralization zone): magnetite, hematite
Deposit shape: tabular; Component: mineralization zone
Deposit dimensions:length: 8,200 ft
width: 450 ft
Qualified comments: (Applies to: mineralization) This showing consists of steeply dipping, banded magnetite-hematite iron formation which is 60 metres thick and extends for 2.7 kilometres. Deposit No 1 shows complete transition from magnetite to hematite, and is unique in the world in this respect. This is the largest deposit found in the area. The deposit outcrops continuously for a 8200 foot strike length and total width of 450 feet, though the exposed width is only 100 feet. The Southern extension of the orebody is >1600 feet long. These dimensions are evaluated from more than 5000 feet of drilling. Structurally the deposit is a folded tabular body into a 'L' shape. the axial plane of the synform plunges 70 degrees to the east and the limbs are inclined between 65 to 80 degrees to the east.

(Applies to: discovery and development) The showing was discovered in July 1962. Airborne magnetometer surveys were followed by ground magnetometer surveys, geological mapping, prospecting and diamond drilling from 1963 to 1966. Engineering, economic feasibility and metallurgical studies were made prior to the start of mining. On No.1 deposit 26 diamond drill holes totaling 10,886 feet were drilled and the orebody was investigated up to a depth of 600 feet.

(Applies to: reserve/resource descriptions) Drill proven reserves estimated from 26 diamond drill holes totaling 10,886 feet over a strike length of 5,000 feet at 250 to 500 foot intervals to an average depth 600 feet were 48,396,759 long tons average grading 67.27 % Fe. Drill indicated reserves based on a 500 foot spacing are 92,985,680 long tons of 67.31 % Fe. Total reserve with lean ore was estimated to be 141, 382,439 long tons of 67.30 % Fe, whereas excluding lean ore the reserves were 130,647,343 long tons of 68.20 % Fe. An additional open-pittable probable or potential reserves of 121 million tons up to a 400 foot depth are indicated by geology and mag anomaly considerations.

(Applies to: location and access) The iron formation is located in northwest Baffin Island, 150 kilometres SSW of Pond Inlet. Access to the property is either by float plane or ski-equipped fix-winged aircraft onto one of several large lakes in the area. A dirt airstrip, condition and length unknown, exists 4.5 kilometres W of Mary River.
Links to other databases: NUMIN; Key value: 037GSW0002
Geophysical-chemical signature: Signature type: Airborne Magnetometer; Response type: positive (very strong)
Signature type: Ground Magnetometer; Response type: positive (very strong)
References:
Gross, G. A., 1966
The origin of high grade iron deposits on Baffin Island, N.W.T.
Canadian Mining Journal, Volume 87, p. 111 - 114

Hahn, J., 1966
Feasibility Study and Cost Estimate, Baffinland Iron Mines Limited, Mary River Area, Franklin (062243)
Mineral Assessment Report, Baffinland Iron Mines Limited, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Publication code 062243

Neczkar, E.; Westervelt, R. D., 1963
Engineering Field Report No 1 on Mary River Iron Deposits (017056)
Mineral Assessment Report, Baffinland Iron Mines Ltd, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Publication code 017056

Sangster, D. F., 1998
Mineral deposits compilation and metallogenic domains, northern Baffin Island and northern Melville Peninsula, Northwest Territories
Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 3635, Scale 1:1000000

Wahl, G. H.; Gharapetian, R.; Jackson, J. E.; Khera, V.; Wortman, G. G., 2011
Mary River, Baffin Island, Canada: Mary River Iron Ore Trucking
NI 43-101 Technical Report, AMEC Americas Ltd, Baffinland Iron Mines Corp., Publication code 2011-01-13, 240 p.

Watts Griffis and McOuat Ltd., 1983
A Summary Report on the Mary River Deposit of Baffinland Iron Mines Ltd. (062161)
Mineral Assessment Report, Baffinland Iron Mines Ltd., Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Publication code 062161

Resource data:
Disclaimer - Reserves/Resource Data

Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Natural Resources (NRCan) does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy, completeness or fitness for any purpose of Reserve and Resource information (Data) contained in this database, including whether the Data is compliant with any securities regulations or standards, and NRCan does not assume any liability with respect to any damage or loss incurred as a result of the use made of the Data.

Resource and reserve figures are historical in nature. The Data source provided with each set of figures should be cited if the Data are re-reported.

Estimate date: 2010-12-30; Component: proposed open pit; 207 million metric tons ore; Combined with production?: no; Provisional entry?: no; Resource category: measured resource
Grade-commodity information:Fe: 66.3 percent
MgO: 0.93 percent
SiO2: 2.71 percent
Al2O3: 1.2 percent
S: 0.19 percent
Cutoff grade-commodity:Fe: 59 percent
Reference: Wahl, G. H.; Gharapetian, R.; Jackson, J. E.; Khera, V.; Wortman, G. G., 2011: Mary River, Baffin Island, Canada: Mary River Iron Ore Trucking; NI 43-101 Technical Report, AMEC Americas Ltd, Baffinland Iron Mines Corp., Publication code 2011-01-13, 240 p.
Percent weights allocated to deposit: 100.0%


Estimate date: 2010-12-30; Component: proposed open pit; 211 million metric tons ore; Combined with production?: no; Provisional entry?: no; Resource category: indicated resource
Grade-commodity information:Fe: 66.3 percent
MgO: 0.98 percent
SiO2: 2.54 percent
Al2O3: 1 percent
S: 0.26 percent
Cutoff grade-commodity:Fe: 59 percent
Reference: Wahl, G. H.; Gharapetian, R.; Jackson, J. E.; Khera, V.; Wortman, G. G., 2011: Mary River, Baffin Island, Canada: Mary River Iron Ore Trucking; NI 43-101 Technical Report, AMEC Americas Ltd, Baffinland Iron Mines Corp., Publication code 2011-01-13, 240 p.
Percent weights allocated to deposit: 100.0%


Estimate date: 2010-12-30; Component: proposed open pit; 213 million metric tons ore; Combined with production?: no; Provisional entry?: no; Resource category: inferred resource
Grade-commodity information:Fe: 66.9 percent
MgO: 1.03 percent
Al2O3: 0.9 percent
SiO2: 1.87 percent
S: 0.43 percent
Cutoff grade-commodity:Fe: 59 percent
Reference: Wahl, G. H.; Gharapetian, R.; Jackson, J. E.; Khera, V.; Wortman, G. G., 2011: Mary River, Baffin Island, Canada: Mary River Iron Ore Trucking; NI 43-101 Technical Report, AMEC Americas Ltd, Baffinland Iron Mines Corp., Publication code 2011-01-13, 240 p.
Percent weights allocated to deposit: 100.0%

Generated 2014-09-03 13:02:21 with GQuery -- 3.7 ADO (3.19..3.22 -- 2008-12-16)
GlobalDB System, Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada