Marum Resources Inc - Chinchaga diamond project progress
Marum Resources Inc
MMU
Shares issued 23,627,616
1998-07-13 close $0.13
Tuesday Jul 14 1998
Also Micrex Development Corporation (MIX)
Also Caribgold Resources Inc (CG)
Mr. Richard Boulay reports
Marum Resources has provided the following report on the progress on
its 100 per cent Marum, Marum/Caribgold and Marum/Micrex diamond
exploration joint ventures (totalling approximately 925,000 acres) in the
Chinchaga area of northwestern Alberta.
Geochemical Sampling Program
Apex Geoscience carried out a helicopter supported geochemical
sampling program in late 1997. Samples were collected from all three
Marum projects in the Chinchaga area. Geochemical indicator minerals
that suggest a kimberlite origin have been recovered. These include
chrome diopsides; G3, G5 and G9 pyropes; and one G11 pyrope with an
unusually high chrome content of 13.76 per cent.
Reconnaissance Drilling Program
An 11 hole reconnaissance coring auger drill program was completed on
the Marum/Caribgold joint venture in March 1998. Basal glacial tills
were sampled in some of the holes. Green volcanic ash material was
encountered in all of the drill holes. A green sandy unit, essentially a
sandy tuff formed by the clumping of wet volcanic ash dust into small
ball-shaped particles, was encountered in two holes on one target. An
abnormally thick accumulation of volcanic ash was encountered at one
of the drill targets at approximately the same stratigraphic level as the
Ashton pipes. All of the samples of volcanic ash and sandy tuff contain
abundant shards of volcanic quench glass.
The samples were processed at Saskatchewan Research Council in
Saskatoon and at Overburden Drilling in Ottawa. Microscope and
microprobe analyses of the samples indicate that the volcanic ash and
sandy tuff may have been ejected from a nearby kimberlitic volcanic
pipe. This diagnosis is based on the recovery of a broad range of
indicator minerals from core samples, including some indicators that are
considered exclusive to a kimberlite source. These include pristine,
black, high-titanium biotite crystals and altered olivine in the volcanic
ash. Also, abundant chrome-bearing picro-ilmenites were recovered
from the green sandy tuff. Some of the picro-ilmenites are encrusted
with perovskite, a calcium titanium oxide. The presence of perovskite
reaction rims on picro-ilmenite grains is specifically indicative of a
kimberlite origin since the perovskite reaction rims actually formed in
the rising kimberlite magma. The volcanic ash also yielded a fragile
fragment of a mantle derived ascent granulite containing two types of
pyroxene and a garnet. This provides an independent confirmation of a
nearby deeply sourced volcanic pipe. The thin glacial till cover in the
drill holes also yielded an encouraging assortment of indicators,
including chrome-bearing picro-ilmenites, eclogitic garnets and chrome
diopsides with chrome content high enough to indicate a mantle origin.
The discovery of volcanic ash and tuff layers that contain fragile olivine,
perfect high-titanium biotite crystals and picro-ilmenite grains with
perovskite reaction rims suggests the presence of nearby kimberlite
intrusions.
High Resolution Airborne Survey
Immediately following the completion of the March 1998 drill program,
a 7,000 line kilometre, 200 metre line spacing, aeromagnetic survey was
completed. The survey was flown by Spectra Geoscience and covers
approximately 11 townships, including Marum/Caribgold joint venture
land, Marum 100 per cent land and Marum/Micrex joint venture land.
The aeromagnetic survey has revealed approximately 40 high intensity
point targets that are separate from the original 600 metre survey
targets. These new targets are powerful enough to be visible on the raw
total field magnetic dataset and are spatially related to prominent
basement magnetic highs. The character and quality of most of these
anomalies are similar to the magnetic signatures associated with the
diamondiferous Monopros Mountain Lake kimberlite and several of
Ashton's Buffalo Head Hills kimberlites.
1998 Reconnaissance Mapping and Sampling Program
Upon receipt of the preliminary aeromagnetic dataset in June, Marum
personnel undertook a two week sampling program. Approximately 60
soil, stream and basal till reconnaissance samples were taken in the
vicinity of some of the new anomalies. Samples are currently being
prepped for analysis.
Exploration Plans
The Chinchaga diamond exploration program has been conducted in a
systematic and cost effective manner. The next step is to validate and
prioritize high intensity 200 metre aeromagnetic anomalies for drilling.
The summer exploration program on Marum and Marum/Micrex joint
venture land will consist of a helicopter supported anomaly investigation
program. This program will consist of surface mapping, ground
magnetics and basal till sampling down ice of anomalies. The objective
is to generate two classes of drill targets; targets which can be drilled
during summer or autumn; and targets which are more effectively drilled
during winter. Caribgold Resources, the operator of the
Marum/Caribgold joint venture, is currently evaluating exploration
recommendations proposed by the project consultant, Apex Geoscience.
(c) Copyright 1998 Canjex Publishing Ltd.
canada-stockwatch.com |
