Pharand IHistory
In carrying out research on the Ontario Geological Survey Assessment Files, I was unable to find any previous exploration work, that was done exclusively on RT Minerals's Pharand I property. The closest property to Pharand I, where initial work was done, was to the west, on the east shore of Akweskwa Lake (which I'll call the Akweskwa Lake East property), where Dunvegan Resources drilled 15 shallow holes on a peridotitic intrusive in 1957. They intercepted lots of pyrrhotite, some pyrite and some chalcopyrite (42A04NW0158/42A04NW0158). It is not known if the drill core was assayed for nickel.
In 1984, Bearcat Exploration Ltd carried out a DIGHEM airborne EM, Magnetic and VLF survey (42A04NW0137/42A04NW0137) that covered the Akweskwa Lake East property, but not the Pharand I property.
In 1994, C.J. Bradbrook carried out an IP survey (42A04NW0068/42A04NW0068) over a portion of the same property as Bearcat Exploration.
A number of other companies were also involved in the same area as well. Besides nickel, some were also looking for gold, copper and zinc. Anomalous gold values were intercepted within shear zones, within the felsic tuffs and the sericitic felsic tuffs. However, east-west shear zones within the peridotite intrusive may also be good targets for gold too, especially if they are located near cross-cutting structures.
I have pointed out some of the above geological background for the Akweskwa Lake East property, because there may be some similarities with the rock types within the Pharand I property, particularly with ultramafic and gabbroic sills (cumulate-textured ultramafic bodies). Again, there appears to have been no previous exploration work carried out exclusively on RT Mineral's Pharand I Property.
Geology
Referring to Map 2231, light coloured chlorite-tremolite metavolcanics and dark coloured actinolite-hornblende schistose and gneissose metavolcanics is located just to the west of the Pharand I property. This would place these rocktypes within the northern half of the Pharand I property. The southern half of the property may be underlain with biotite trondbjemite gneiss. If the higher intensity magnetic feature represents ultramafic intrusive rocks, they would be located on or near the contact of the aforementioned rocktypes. Map P0465 shows the same rock types.
Map 2627 shows mafic metavolcanic rocks to the north and tonalite, quartz diorite, diorite to the south.
Map P. 3511 indicates mafic (to intermediate) metavolcanic rocks/intrusions. So take your pick!!
Again, referring to the area just to the west of the Pharand I property, Map P. 3841 shows that diorite and gabbro, along with felsic porphyry rocks could run along the north half of the Pharand I property, while chlorite bearing mafic metavolcanic rocks could be traversing through the southern half of the property.
Just off the west end of the Pharand I property, Map 32d indicates 'mostly altered pyroxenite'. It looks like there could be both peridotite and pyroxenite coinciding with the high intensity magnetic feature, where the latter could be the alteration of the peridotite.
Just off the east end of the Pharand I property, there is a major NW/SE fault zone that could have played a role in the deposition of hydrothermal fluids with precious metals.
Eastmain Resources has a large area, west of the Pharand I property, on one of their maps, indicated to be underlain with quartz feldspar porphyry (42A04NW0074/42A04NW0074). Is it possible that this rock type may be within the Pharand I property? Pelangio Exploration has the same ground today.
Further geological interpretations will be mentioned later, under the heading Airborne Geophysics.