Virginia Mines Inc VGMNF

Form 43-101F1

[rolfoto]

sh wouldn't let me post whole thing


ITEM 1 TITLE PAGE
Form 43-101F1
Technical Report
Technical Report and Recommendations
2011 Exploration Program, Coulon Project, Québec
MINES VIRGINIA INC.
November 2011
VOLUME 1 OF 2
Prepared by:
Mathieu Savard, B.Sc., P.Geo.
Senior Project Geologist
Mines Virginia Inc.
and
Louis Grenier, B.Sc., P.Geo
Geologist
Mines Virginia Inc.
Coulon Project November 2011
ITEM 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
ITEM 1 TITLE PAGE ................................................................................................................... I
ITEM 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................. II
ITEM 3 SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................... 1
ITEM 4 INTRODUCTION AND TERMS OF REFERENCE .................................................. 2
ITEM 5 DISCLAIMER ................................................................................................................. 2
ITEM 6 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION ........................................................ 2
ITEM 7 ACCESSIBILITY, CLIMATE, LOCAL RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE
AND PHYSIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................ 2
ITEM 8 HISTORY ......................................................................................................................... 3
8.1. Property ownership ............................................................................................................. 3
8.2. Previous work ...................................................................................................................... 3
ITEM 9 GEOLOGICAL SETTING ............................................................................................. 6
9.1 Regional Geology .................................................................................................................. 6
9.1.1 Brésolles Suite .................................................................................................................... 6
9.1.2 Gayot Complex .................................................................................................................. 6
9.1.3. Aubert Formation ............................................................................................................. 7
9.2. Local Geology ...................................................................................................................... 7
ITEM 10 DEPOSIT TYPE .......................................................................................................... 11
ITEM 11 MINERALIZATION ................................................................................................... 11
11.1 Lens 201 ............................................................................................................................. 11
11.2 Lens 223 ............................................................................................................................. 11
ITEM 12 EXPLORATION WORK ........................................................................................... 12
ITEM 13 DRILLING ................................................................................................................ 12
13.1 Lens 43 ............................................................................................................................... 13
13.2 Lenses 16-17 & 223 ........................................................................................................... 14
13.3 Lens 201 ............................................................................................................................. 15
13.4 Stratigraphic Drillholes ................................................................................................... 18
13.5 Regional Targets ............................................................................................................... 20
ITEM 14 SAMPLING METHODS AND APPROACH ........................................................ 22
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ITEM 15 SAMPLE PREPARATION, ANALYSIS AND SECURITY ............................... 22
15.1. Sample security, storage and shipment ......................................................................... 22
15.2. Sample preparation and assay procedures ................................................................... 23
ITEM 16 DATA VERIFICATION .......................................................................................... 24
ITEM 17 ADJACENT PROPERTIES .................................................................................... 25
ITEM 18 MINERAL PROCESSING AND METALLURGICAL TESTING .................... 25
ITEM 19 MINERAL RESOURCE, MINERAL RESERVE ESTIMATES ........................ 25
ITEM 20 OTHER RELEVANT DATA: LITHOGEOCHEMISTRY .................................. 25
ITEM 21 INTERPRETATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS ...................................................... 25
ITEM 22 RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................................... 26
ITEM 23 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................ 28
ITEM 24 DATE AND SIGNATURE ...................................................................................... 31
ITEM 25 ILLUSTRATIONS ................................................................................................... 33
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LIST OF FIGURES (Item 25)
Figure 1: Coulon Property, Location Map
Figure 2: Property Claims, Coulon Project
Figure 3: Drillhole Location, winter 2011 Program, Coulon Project
Figure 4: Surface Projection of Lens 223
LIST OF SECTIONS
(Note that all sections are at 1:2000 scale and are available in section 25 of this report)
Longitudinal Sections
Lens 43 Long Section
Lens 201 Long Section
Lens 16-17 Long Section
Lens 43 (Section looking N045)
Section 615N – 600W
Section 674N – 550W
Lens 201 (Section looking N360)
Section 2150S
Section 2225S
Section 2350S
Section 2400S
Lens 16-17 (Section looking N360)
Section 400N
Section 450N
Section 500N
Stratigraphic Sections
Section 130N – 800W
Section 1150N – 086E
Regional Sections
Section CN-11-231
Section CN-11-232
Section CN-11-233
Section CN-11-234
Section CN-11-235
Section CN-11-236
Section CN-11-237
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LIST OF TABLES
TABLE 1: SUMMARY OF PREVIOUS WORK IN THE COULON JV PROJECT AREA ................................... 3
TABLE 2. GENERAL INFORMATION OF DRILLHOLES PERFORMED DURING WINTER 2011 DRILLING
PROGRAM. ............................................................................................................................... 13
TABLE 3: SIGNIFICANT RESULTS OBTAINED FROM 2011 DRILLING CAMPAIGN ................................. 19
LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix 1: List of abbreviations used for geological descriptions, Coulon project
Appendix 2: Claim list, Coulon Project 2011
Appendix 3: Assays Certificates
Appendix 4: Drillhole logs
Appendix 5: QC-QA Coulon Drilling Program, winter 2011
Appendix 6: Standard Certificates CDN-SE-1 and CDN-SE-2
LIST OF PICTURES
PICTURE 1:MASSIVE SULPHIDE MINERALIZATION AT 443.15 METERS IN CN-11-223...................... 15
PICTURE 2: DEXTRAL MOVEMENT INDICATED BY GARNET IN DRILLHOLE CN-11-226 AT 396
METERS. ................................................................................................................................. 17
PICTURE 3:MASSIVE SULPHIDE MINERALIZATION IN CN-11-226 AT 560 METERS. .......................... 18
PICTURE 4: EXHALATIVE MINERALIZATION IN CN-11-232@159.50 METERS. ............................... 21
Coulon Project November 2011
ITEM 3 SUMMARY
At the end of 2008, exploration work was considerably reduced on the Coulon project due to the
world financial and economical crisis and the subsequent decrease of base metal prices. In 2009
and 2010, no activities were performed on the Coulon Project due to that unfavourable context.
However, in 2009 P&E Mining Consultants Inc. released a resource calculation in accordance
with the standards required by the NI 43-101providing a resource estimate for the Au, Ag, Cu, Pb
and Zn mineralization present on the Coulon project relying on the 104 397 meters drilled on the
project from 2004 to 2008. It revealed an indicated resource of 3 675 000 mT of 1.27% Cu,
3.61% Zn, 0.40% Pb, 0.25 g/t Au & 37.2 g/t Ag and an inferred resource of 10 058 000 mT of
1.33% Cu, 3.92% Zn, 0.19% Pb, 0.18 g/t Au & 34.5 g/t Ag.
Looking forward to increase the resources on the Coulon project, an exploration program was
undertaken in winter 2011. A total of 7991.8 meters of drilling were completed, while 12
kilometers of ground infinitem were realized and 12 drillholes were surveyed using borehole
infinitem. A gravimetric test survey was also performed over known lenses with a total of 263
stations read.
Most importantly, the winter 2011 program allowed the discovery of a new massive sulphide
lens, named lens 223 and located underneath the well-known lens 16-17. Drillhole CN-11-223
returned values of 3.88% Zn, 0.70% Cu, 0.51% Pb and 75.09 g/t Ag over 44.00 meters
including 12.15 meters returning values of 7.32% Zn, 0.88% Cu, 0.78% Pb and 85.14 g/t Ag.
This intersection is located at vertical depth of 350 meters and is 250 meters underneath lens 16-
17 along the same stratigraphic horizon. Lens 223 is still open at depth and towards south. Lens
223 is believed to represent the faulted extension of lens 16-17.
Drilling performed on lens 201 allowed its extension at depth to the south with drillhole CN-11-
225 returning values of 5.21% Zn, 1.18% Cu and 35.14 g/t Ag over 6.15 meters. However,
additional drilling towards south at depth slightly constrained its extension. Regional drillholes
performed during this campaign failed to outline significant mineralization but helped to refine
the geological model of the project.
In a near future, additional drilling is recommended over lens 223 at depth and towards south.
Follow-up of stratigraphic drillhole CN-11-229 is also required. Other lenses such as Spirit
should also be drilled more intensively.
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ITEM 4 INTRODUCTION AND TERMS OF REFERENCE
Following a few years of inactivity on the Coulon Project, Virginia Mines pursued its exploration
program during 2011, the objective of which was to extend the known massive sulphides lenses
43, 16-17 and 201 and to discover new massive sulphide lenses by drilling regional targets
(figure 3). A total of 7991.8 meters of drilling were performed from January through May 2011.
During that same period, ground infinitem surveys were realized over 12 linear kilometres within
two loops. A gravimetric test survey (263 stations) was also undertaken over known lenses.
This report provides the status of current technical geological information relevant to Virginia
Mines’ last drilling program on the Coulon project in Québec. It has been prepared in accordance
with the Form 43-101F1 Technical Report format outlined under NI-43-101. The report also
provides recommendations for future work.
ITEM 5 DISCLAIMER
Co-author Mathieu Savard, geologist with a B.Sc. in Geology and Virginia's Senior Project
Geologist, oversees the Coulon project and supervises all fieldwork conducted by Virginia Mines
with Vice-President exploration Paul Archer. Co-author Louis Grenier, geologist with a degree in
Geology and project geologist for Virginia Mines was responsible for the completion of the drill
logs and also supervised drilling operations.
ITEM 6 PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION
The Coulon JV project is located 15 km NNW of the Fontanges airport operated by Hydro-
Québec (Fig. 1). This report describes the work done on 650 claims owned at 100% by Virginia
Mines at Coulon (Fig. 4) covering a total of 323 km². The list of claims is available in appendix
2. The camp coordinates and maps covered by the project are:
Latitude: 54o39' North
Longitude: -71o13' West
SNRC: 23 L/05, 06, 11, 12, 13, 14 and M/03 and 04
UTM zone: 19 (nad27)
NTS: 356290 E
6057960 N
ITEM 7 ACCESSIBILITY, CLIMATE, LOCAL RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE
AND PHYSIOGRAPHY
The Coulon camp is located 15 kilometers north of the Fontanges airport (Baie James) and is
accessible by all-season gravel roads. To access the camp, vehicles follow the directions to the
LA-2 dam (Chaumont road) from the Trans-Taiga road. The camp is located 10 kilometers north
of the Laforge-2 power station in a sand pit. All gravel roads are privately owned by Hydro-
Québec and their maintenance is the responsibility of Les Services Naskapi Enr.
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The main lenses 08, 9-25 and 44 are located 16 kilometers NNW of the Coulon Camp, 22
kilometers directly to the North of the Laforge-2 power station and 27 kilometers to the North of
the Fontanges Airport. An Astar BA (Canadian Helicopters) was used for crew transportation
while a winter trail is used for material transportation. All equipment, including fuel and supplies,
were carried directly to the campsite by truck from Chibougamau or the Abitibi region.
Fontanges airport, also accessible by the Trans-Taïga all-season gravel road, is the nearest facility
for aerial transportation.
The landscape of the study area is relatively uneven with altitude ranging from 420 to 580
meters. The hydrographic system includes many large lakes but no major rivers at the 1: 250 000
scale. Vegetation is typical of taiga including areas covered by forest and others, typically at the
top of hills, devoid of trees.
ITEM 8 HISTORY
8.1. Property ownership
Since the first volcanogenic massive sulphide discovery on the Coulon property in 2003, a
considerable amount of work was completed by Virginia and partner Noranda/Falconbridge until
the end of 2005 when Noranda-Falconbridge abandoned the option to acquire a 50% interest in
the Coulon Property. In May of 2006, Virginia signed a new partnership with Breakwater
Resources whereby Breakwater had the option to acquire a 50% interest in the Coulon property
in exchange for payments totalling CA$ 180,000 and spending $7.5 million in exploration work
over a period of 9 years. Breakwater Resources fulfilled the option and acquired 50% of the
Coulon JV property 18 month later. However, in December 2008, following the economic and
financial world crisis, Breakwater Resources sold its 50% undivided interest in the Coulon JV
project in exchange for the issuance of 1 666 666 shares of Virginia Mines to Breakwater.
Virginia Mines thus became the sole owner of the Coulon JV property. That agreement was
concluded on December 12th 2008. The Coulon JV project is now 100% owned by Virginia
Mines Inc.
8.2. Previous work
Table 1 summarises all the work performed in the area of the project to-date.
Table 1: Summary of previous work in the Coulon JV project area
Geological Survey of Canada (1961-63)
- Reconnaissance mapping at a scale of 1: 1 000 000 by Stevenson
Geological Survey of Canada (1966)
- Mapping programs in the areas of Caniapiscau and Fort George Rivers
SDBJ and SERU joint venture (1977)
- Exploration campaign for uranium, partially in 23L (Lac Neret project)
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Geological Survey of Canada (1980s)
- Aeromagnetic survey of the Ungava peninsula
Geological Survey of Canada (1989 to 1992)
- Mapping of a transect of the Ungava peninsula by Percival et al;
Identification of the Goudalie Domain and of the Vizien greenstone belt
Ministry of Natural Resources of Québec (1997)
- Lake sediments geochemical survey of the Ungava peninsula
Ministry of Natural Resources of Québec (1998)
- Geological mapping of the NTS sheet 23M, at a scale of 1: 250 000 (Gosselin and Simard, 2001)
BHP Billiton (1998)
- Regional till sampling program including one line transecting the Coulon belt in a NW-SE direction.
Virginia Gold Mines (1998-2003)
- Several exploration campaigns in the sheet 23M including geological, prospecting and geophysical surveys and
drilling campaigns in joint venture with BHP Billiton
Ministry of Natural Resources of Québec (1999)
- Geological mapping of the NTS sheet 23L, at a scale of 1: 250 000 (Thériault and Chevé, 2001)
Virginia Gold Mines (2000)
Fall
- Reconnaissance mapping in between Gayot and Caniapiscau (sheets 23L/06, 23L/11 and 23L/14)
- Reconnaissance mapping in the Coulon and Pitaval belts area (sheets 23M and 33P)
Virginia Gold Mines (2003)
Summer
- Reconnaissance mapping in the Coulon belt leading to the discovery of Dom showing
Fall
- Helicopter-borne Em-Mag VersaTEM surveys by Geophysics GPR Inc. over the Coulon Property
Virginia Gold Mines (2004)
Winter
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- Grid cutting in the Dom showing area (126 linear km)
- Max-Min and magnetic surveys over Dom area (TMC Geophysics)
- Diamond drilling campaign on Dom and Dom Nord (Savard et al., 2004) (2400 meters)
- Borehole pulse EM (Crone system) in holes CN04-04, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10 and 12
Summer
- Regional reconnaissance mapping over the entire property (Huot et al., 2004)
- Trenching on DOM and DOM Nord (21 trenches, Huot et al., 2004)
- Geophysical surveys (borehole EM, deep EM, done by TMC Geophysics)
- Diamond drilling campaign on DOM and DOM Nord (Huot et al., 2004) (2384 meters)
Virginia Gold Mines (2005)
- Diamond drilling campaign (Chapdelaine et al, 2005) (3360 meters)
- Geophysical surveys (borehole EM, Deep EM, Max-Min and Magnetic surveys done by TMC Geophysics)
- Trenching on regional targets
Virginia Gold Mines (2006)
-Diamond drilling campaign (Savard et al. 2006) (2586 meters)
-Geophysical surveys (Ground Infinitem and Borehole Infinitem surveys conducted by Abitibi Geophysique Inc.)
-Prospecting and Mapping.
-Helicopter-borne EM-Mosquito and Magnetic Survey (Prospectair)
Virginia Gold Mines (2007)
-Diamond drilling campaign (Savard et al. 2007) (40 204 meters)
-Geophysical surveys (Ground Infinitem and Borehole Infinitem surveys conducted by Abitibi Geophysique Inc.)
-Prospecting and Mapping.
-Helicopter-borne Vtem and Magnetic Survey (Geotech).
Virginia Gold Mines (2008)
-Diamond drilling campaign (Savard et al. 2009) (52 557 meters)
-Geophysical surveys (Ground Infinitem and Borehole Infinitem surveys conducted by Abitibi Geophysique Inc.)
-Prospecting and Mapping
P&E Mining Consultants Inc. for Virginia Mines (2009)
-Resources Calculation of Coulon Project.
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ITEM 9 GEOLOGICAL SETTING
9.1 Regional Geology
The Coulon JV project area lies at the junction of four lithotectonic domains, namely the Archean
subprovinces of La Grande, Ashuanipi, Minto (and its Goudalie Domain) and Bienville. The
region is part of the Goudalie-La Grande Assemblage. The area is dominated by tonalite and
granite hosting several Archean greenstone belts of kilometric to deca-kilometric scale (ex.
Venus, Charras, Marylin, Pitaval, and Coulon). Most of these belts are composed mainly of
basalts and felsic tuffs but ultramafic flows and intrusives are also present and are particularly
abundant in the Venus, Marilyn, and Charras belts.
According to Gosselin and Simard (2001), the Vaujours Fault, mapped across the Coulon belt,
marks the limit between the Goudalie-La Grande Assemblage and the Ashuanipi Subprovince. A
reverse movement in a SE direction is inferred for this fault. However, rocks characteristic of the
Goudalie-La Grande Assemblage have also been mapped on the southeastern side of this fault,
which militates against, at least in this area, the existence of a sharp lithotectonic structural break
across this fault. This regional limit is probably delineated by the late monzonitic and
granodioritic intrusions of the Gamart Suite oriented in a NNE-SSW direction (Huot et al, 2004).
For more complete descriptions of the regional geology, the reader is referred to studies by
Gosselin and Simard (2001) and Thériault and Chevé (2001), which deal with sheets 23M (Lac
Gayot) and 23L (Lac Hurault), respectively. A simplified description (mainly taken from these
studies) of the most abundant lithostratigraphic assemblages mapped during our exploration work
is included below. In addition to these assemblages, the Maurel Suite granodiorite and the
Tramont Suite granite and pegmatite were commonly encountered. Proterozoic diabase dykes are
noticeably absent.
9.1.1 Brésolles Suite
Well-foliated tonalitic gneiss of the Brésolles Suite is abundant in the region. This lithology is
considered as the basement upon which supracrustal rocks were deposited. The Brésolles Suite is
particularly abundant NW of the Coulon belt in sheet 23M and west of supracrustal rocks in the
sheet 23L. In the latter sheet, foliated tonalite of the Brésolles Suite forms pluri-kilometric slivers
enclosed in less-deformed tonalitic intrusions of the Favard Suite. A calc-alkaline affinity is
assigned to the Brésolles Suite and its origin may be linked to an island-arc setting.
9.1.2 Gayot Complex
The Gayot Complex is composed mainly of metabasalt with lesser amounts of metasediment,
pyroclastites and iron formation. Minor metre-size rhyolitic lava horizons are also present. In the
Lac Hurault area (23L), two of these metabasaltic units have been identified and are considered
to be the southern extensions of the Pitaval and Coulon belts. Both units are metamorphosed to
the amphibolite facies, with only local upper greenschist facies mineral parageneses being
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present. In the study area, mineral assemblages suggest a metamorphic overprint up to the
granulite facies. Primary textures such as amygdules and pillows are only rarely preserved.
Metabasalts may be derived from the metamorphism of island arc tholeiites to weakly calcalkaline
basalts. An ocean floor origin is also likely but this may conflict with the emplacement
of penecontemporaneous explosive felsic volcanic products. Dacitic to rhyolitic tuffs and
andesites in this complex are clearly calc-alkaline, typical of an arc setting. A tholeiitic affinity is
inferred for ultramafic rocks. This complex is dominant in the northern portion of the Coulon belt
but is volumetrically less important in the southern half. Mafic rocks mapped in the region of
Dom showings may be part of the Gayot Complex.
9.1.3. Aubert Formation
The Aubert Formation stretches in a N-S direction from Fontanges airport up to the Vaujours
Fault. It includes polygenic conglomerates and biotite-hornblende paragneisses in the Lac Gayot
region. In sheet 23L, the existence of granodioritic to tonalitic leucosomes (up to 25% by
volume) in paragneiss are strong evidence that migmatization occurred. Thériault and Chevé
(2001) also described a third unit made up of paragneiss characterized by sillimanite, cordierite,
biotite and muscovite. Sillimanite porphyroblasts are locally present in this unit. Andalusite is
also reported in Gosselin and Simard (2001). This porphyroblastic unit is much less extensive
than the biotite-hornblende paragneiss. The exact protolith to these rocks has yet to be
determined. They may correspond to sediments or felsic tuffs/lavas.
According to Gosselin and Simard (2001) the polygenic conglomerates, made up of fragments of
amphibolitized metabasalt, crystal tuff, tonalitic gneiss and iron formation, lie on top of the
Gayot Complex and Brésolles Suite. Conglomerates could have been formed by the disruption of
the volcanic sequence and tonalitic basement.
9.2. Local Geology
The Main Grid sector corresponds to the region which has been the most intensively worked
since the beginning of the project. It includes five known Zn-Cu-Pb-Ag lenses, namely lenses
16-17, 08, 9-25, 43 and 44.
Dominant lithologies in the Main Grid sector include mafic to intermediate orthogneiss,
sillimanite-bearing quartzo-feldspathic gneiss and paragneiss. Altered rocks, semi-massive to
massive sulphide horizons and exhalites are less common but obviously are of major interest.
Protoliths are difficult to assess because of the metamorphic overprint that reaches the granulite
facies. Local partial melting also occurred in the volcano-sedimentary pile. The descriptions
below include the proposed protoliths for each metamorphic rock, based on our present level of
understanding. The following descriptions of the lithologies encountered on the main grid are
derived from Huot’s 2004 report. These descriptions are still considered to be accurate even if
lithogeochemical work (section 20) defined additional lithologies since these units could not be
discriminated based on texture or macroscopic description on the field.
Rhyolites (±rhyodacites)
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Grey to pinkish fine-grained felsic orthogneiss is interpreted to be metamorphosed lava flows.
Whole-rock chemistry reflects a generally rhyolitic composition (SiO2>73%) with only the
occasional rhyodacite. This type of rock includes abundant quartz and plagioclase with common
biotite and muscovite crystals aligned along weak to strong foliation planes. The occurrence of
potassic feldspar imparts a pinkish colour to the fresh rock surface. Minor felsic schists are
present as well. Local in-situ brecciation, with calcite and chlorite in the matrix, occurs in CN-04-
24 and CN-04-25. The sillimanite-bearing felsic gneiss is interlayered with rhyolitic protoliths
suggesting the sequence represents the build-up of volcanic and volcaniclastic layers. Savard et
al. (2004) suggested that the Dom zone rhyolite has a transitional affinity, which is consistent
with a volcanic arc setting.
Felsic volcaniclastics
Sillimanite-bearing gneiss is common in the main grid area. This type of gneiss resembles those
resulting from the metamorphism of rhyolite and sedimentary rocks in terms of major mineral
phases. It contains abundant quartz and plagioclase with common biotite and muscovite. The
gneiss is composed of more than 73% SiO2. The sillimanite-bearing porphyroblastic gneissic
rocks have a volcaniclastic origin. Fragments were observed on surface and in drillcore. When
sillimanite is present solely as the elongated fibrolite variety, this facies is considered to be a
fine-grained tuff. Fibrolite is also found as rounded and elongated aggregates intergrown with
quartz and/or muscovite. These glomeroporphyroblasts, locally reaching up to 6 cm, represent
intensely altered fragments metamorphosed to the granulite facies. We propose these
porphyroblastic sillimanite gneisses were lapilli tuffs. Rare prismatic crystals of sillimanite have
been observed microscopically in a specimen of hydrothermally altered rock. We consider this
lithology to be the main host rock to the magnesium-rich altered rocks.
Basalts and andesites
Medium- to dark-green orthogneiss is another abundant lithology in the vicinity of drill sites.
These rocks are fine to medium-grained and include hornblende and plagioclase as the dominant
phases. Hornblende is possibly partially replaced by actinolite or actinolitic hornblende since
amphiboles have a greenish rather than a black colour. Some intervals are characterized by
hornblende porphyroblasts, which may reach up to 5 mm and 25 % by volume in undeformed
facies. These large hornblendes recrystallized during the metamorphic overprint but they may
have a magmatic origin. Other minerals, which are not ubiquitously found, include quartz, biotite
and magnetite. This latter phase is finely distributed and may also occur as blebs as wide as 6
millimeters. A summary examination of the geochemical results, compared with the description
of each sample, tends to show that the non-porphyritic variety containing biotite, quartz and
magnetite has an intermediate composition. It is dominantly present in the western part of Dom
zone. Other facies have a more mafic composition. Sulphides are rare and, when present, are
found as disseminations. They include pyrite, pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite.
Savard et al. (2004) described these green rocks as diorites but indicated that some occurrences
may have had a volcanic origin. Huot et al (2004) suggest that they represent basalts and
andesites interlayered with other lithologies in the volcanic sequence. Only minor occurrences
are now interpreted as diorite and gabbro. High-grade metamorphic overprint and deformation
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obliterated all original magmatic features. Deformation features are common and range from a
weak foliation to highly stretched ultramylonites.
The content in major and minor elements suggests that the orthogneiss occurring in the
westernmost portion of lens 08 has an intermediate composition (eg. SiO2 = 53.7-57.0%).
Arenites and wackes
Thick quartzo-feldspathic gneiss has been crosscut in several holes and locally described at
surface. Protoliths are considered to be either arenite or wacke depending on the biotite content
which may reach more than 50%. Based on our interpretation of the protoliths, these rocks do not
contain sillimanite. They may contain some acicular amphiboles (tremolite or anthophyllite) and
magnetite. These accessory acicular amphiboles and magnetite, commonly associated with pale
grey, quartz-rich and biotite-poor portions of paragneiss, could be indicative of a weak alteration
overprint. SiO2 content of this unit ranges from 59.0-65.0%.
The major occurrence of this lithology is an essential part of the central intermediate-mafic unit.
It appears that these sediments are intercalated with thin basaltic flows.
Alteration zones
Drilling, trenching and mapping at surface have outlined a type of lithology characterized by
medium- to coarse-grained minerals such as magnesium-rich amphiboles (anthophyllite,
cummingtonite and tremolite), chlorite, andalusite, garnet, orthopyroxene and quartz. Kyanite
and diopside may be present as accessory phases as well. Chloritoid and pyrophyllite, more
typical of mineral assemblages crystallized under greenschist facies conditions, are not found as
expected. This massive unit commonly contains disseminated to net-textured sulphides (up to 20-
25%). Among them, pyrite and pyrrhotite are the most common but chalcopyrite and sphalerite
may reach significant percentages. This mineral assemblage is reminiscent of an hydrothermal
alteration pipe underlying volcanogenic massive sulphides that was metamorphosed to highgrade
facies. These altered rocks are found adjacent to lenses 16-17, 08, 09-25, 43, 44 and 201.
The magnesium content of rocks in the alteration zones is typically higher than 10%. The Spirit
showing alteration zone and the alteration zone on the Ishikawa grid (drillholes CN-07-081) are
characterized by the presence of silicified zones that are associated with a high content in garnet
and sillimanite that also present disseminated sulphides.
Exhalites
Several occurrences of exhalites are described in drillholes, trenches and outcrops. These
lithologies are characterized by their sulphide and quartz abundances and their laminated aspect.
The thickness of individual layer ranges from the millimetre to centimetre-scale. The most
common type of sulphide is pyrite. Pyrrhotite is also present but chalcopyrite, sphalerite and
galena never form significant quantities. Besides quartz, plagioclase and biotite are also present
as silicate phases. When the content of sulphides is low, exhalites resemble wackes or arenites
depending on their biotite abundance.
Exhalative horizons are either found adjacent to lenses of massive sulphides and/or anthophylliterich
altered rocks or intercalated with basalts and sediments without any significant economic
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grade. They may correspond to distal deposits related to Cu-Zn lenses that are still untested at
depth. A good example of this type of lithology was observed in drillhole CN-07-070 where a
massive sulphide intersection consisting almost solely of pyrite and pyrrhotite occurs 60 meters
above a strongly mineralized intersection. Another example of this type of lithology was noted
within drillhole CN-07-081 where 3-4 meters of massive sulphides were intersected. This interval
consists of pyrite and pyrrhotite and is interpreted to be an exhalite.
Lenses of semi-massive to massive sulphides
Seven (7) significantly mineralized lenses are reported in the Main Grid Sector. They include
lenses 16-17, 08, 09-25 43, 44, Spirit, 201 and 223 (newly discovered). Mineralized zones
contain semi-massive to massive sulphides and gangue minerals such as anthophyllite, quartz and
other minerals commonly found in hydrothermally altered rocks. Sulphides include pyrrhotite
and pyrite with significant sphalerite, chalcopyrite and galena. The abundance of each sulphide
varies relative to others across mineralized horizons suggesting internal zoning. For example,
some mineralized intervals are formed by quasi-massive sphalerite. The general idioblastic aspect
of pyrite crystals shows evidence of recrystallization. Pyrrhotite occurs as either a coarse-grained
phase usually containing pyrite crystals or as fine grains. Sphalerite has a semi-translucid
reddish-brown colour and a recrystallized aspect. Chalcopyrite seems to be a late recrystallizing
phase as it is found in an interstitial position with respect to pyrite, pyrrhotite and sphalerite.
Some samples show chalcopyrite rimming idioblastic crystals of pyrite. Galena, the least
common of the major sulphides, is also a late recrystallizing mineral. It occurs interstitial to all
other four sulphides. Magnetite is also observed locally within massive sulphide zones.
Other lithologies (migmatites and pegmatites)
Most of the rock units on the property have been metamorphosed to temperatures high enough to
initiate partial melting in the volcano-sedimentary package. Some areas are notable for their
abundant migmatites and diatexites in which restites of paragneiss and orthogneiss can be
identified. Rocks in the main grid area escaped this extreme partial melting despite mineralogical
evidence that they were metamorphosed to the upper amphibolite facies. Such evidence includes
the presence of sillimanite, and that of orthopyroxene crystallized after anthophyllite.
Leucosomes in felsic gneiss indicate local partial melting. This melting is particularly evident in
CN04-25 in which a coarse-grained tonalitic rock that crosscuts the massive sulphide lens
contains sulphides (including chalcopyrite) interstitial to quartz and plagioclase. Granoblastic
recrystallisation of felsic and mafic gneisses, which tends to increase grain size, is common.
White to pink pegmatites are common throughout the stratigraphic package. They are
ubiquitously massive and crosscut all types of rocks. Accessory sulphides are locally present in
pegmatites that crosscut mineralized horizons.
Thin mafic sills were intersected locally in the vicinity of the lens 08 and 9-25 but their irregular
and local distribution makes them difficult to interpret.
Virginia Mines Page 10
Coulon Project November 2011
Several drillholes showed that the volcano-sedimentary packages in the Ishikawa and the Spirit
grid are strongly affected by partial melting. Between 5 and 25% leucosomes are observed in the
rocks from these areas.
ITEM 10 DEPOSIT TYPE
The overall context of the Coulon JV project is comparable with that of a VMS-type setting and
presents a very good potential for new base metal discoveries along the 20 kilometre strike length
of favourable stratigraphy. Known iron formation occurrences are also prospective for gold.
Exploration work done since 2003 by Virginia Mines in the area has been successful in finding
several highly mineralized samples typical of VMS-related deposits. Prospecting and mapping on
the main grid area identified the mineralization style and the main lithologies, and confirmed that
the geological context and the metamorphic grade and the alteration are similar to those of
economic VMS deposits such as Geco in Ontario, Canada and Pyhasalmi in Finland. Drilling has
revealed the presence of economic Zn-Cu-Pb-Ag grades that extend the favorable VMS
stratigraphy over a strike length of 20 kilometers.
Besides traditional prospecting, Infinitem, mag and max-min geophysical surveys also proved to
be excellent tools to outline the VMS-related deposits since massive sulphide lenses are
associated with significant geophysical anomalies (conductor or high magnetic anomaly) hosted
by non-conductive and non-magnetic rocks.