Here is some more information from a continuation of discussion with Mr. Rohtert yesterday, again organized into Q and A format, and not a verbatim transcript since the conversation was not recorded:
Q: Sixteen of eighteen of the Fiskenaesset ruby occurences are "metasomatic", such as Siggartartulik and Upper Annertusoq. Could you explain and contrast how metasomatic ruby deposits form as opposed to magmatic-metamorphic deposits such as Qaqat Aqulerit or hydrothermal such as Aappalutoq?
A: These differences in geological processes relate to differences in temperature, pressure, and water activity. Magmatic-metamorphic deposits form at very high temperatures with the driest conditions. The results of this tend to be larger, but opaque crystals and in the case of Qaqat Aqulerit the colour is completely and remarkably uniform. Hydrothermal deposits form at much lower temperatures with a high degree of aqueous activity circulating the mineralizing fluids and allowing the crystals to form. This type of deposit creates large, transparent crystals that are the highest quality. Metasomatic is in between in temperature and vapidity and is actually a common geological type. The word metasomatic comes from the Latin - "meta" - to change, and "somatic" - body. What we have is rock being altered and water at very high temperatures becomes an "ionic plasma" whereby magical things happen -- a high speed diffusion of mineralization throughout the rock. Coincidentally, a student working at our camp named Meghan Ritchie from Leeds University in England, is doing a Ph.D thesis that should determine the exact temperature and pressure range that the metasomatic ruby deposits formed at.
Q: What do you think of the prospectiveness of more discoveries at Fiskenaesset?
A: I am very excited. One year ago I was excited and we had just basically looked at one occurence and little was known about the others. Now in one year's time we have knowledge of eighteen occurences. The famous ruby occurences of Asia are metasomatic to hydrothermal and we have these at Fiskenaesset. I'm sure that with more work we are going to find a lot more things out there. I could be working anywhere in the world if I wanted to but I have decided to work in Greenland because of the importance of what is there.
Q: The 43-101 report mentions other gemstone and mineral occurences such as spinel, kornerupine, and sapphirine. Are these crystals good quality and economic?
A: There are indeed good quality crystals, but I didn't want to shift the focus of our work -- it is on rubies. These other minerals are sort of the sprinkles on the icing of the cake. There are very rare minerals, and although some of these have fetched large sums as mineral specimens, they are not well known to the public and there is really very little market as compared to our other gemstones, thus we are not going to divert our focus much for them.
Q: The 43-101 report mentions prospecting for diamonds as well. Is this due to the fact that the area is prospective for diamonds in a general sense and it is worth looking for both given you are looking for rubies already, or do you have indicators that you think are worth following up on in a more specific sense for the diamonds?
A: To answer this, you need to be aware that there was a rumour circulating at Fiskenaesset that the area had had diamonds discovered decades ago. It was actually originating from people in the Danish government. I believe I have confirmed the source of the rumour, plus the location of the "discovery". What they in fact referred to was a discovery of diamond in a sample of alluvium from glacial till. This is really not so surprising since there is kimberlite around in Greenland for it to originate from. I actually have spent half my career prospecting for diamonds and am very familiar with this field. There is very prospective work on diamonds going on in Greenland, such as with Hudson Resources further north up the coast.
Q: What about other minerals in Greenland?
A: For more background on Fiskenaesset, the area was actually examined very closely for economic chromite starting in the 1960's and extensively in the 1970's, and many of the sites we've been at show this activity. While examining this chromite it was also discovered that many of their samples had platinum, and the rubies were showing up as well. Recently we've noticed that the land all surrounding our properties has been staked by other parties. We don't know who has done it or why, but expect that it is to look for platinum. Note that parties doing exploring in Greenland are actually like a small, friendly family with no secrets since it has such a tiny population. True North holds the exploration license for gemstones for all of the south-west coast, so if anyone finds gemstones in the surrounding properties, they will be obligated to report them to the government and they will be ours. In like kind, if we find any metals in our work, we will report them, and they will belong to other parties. By the way, Greenland is already producing gold from a company called Crew Gold on the southern tip of the island, and one day I believe they may well be producing platinum and diamonds in addition to our rubies. Go Greenland!
Q: Any other comments on the geology of the rubies?
A: We are understanding the geology and formation of these rubies better. As you are aware, the Fiskenaesset anorthosite intrusion is layered, with the rubies having formed in the upper layer. Platinum and chromite settled in lower layers, but where we find rubies we typically notice geomorphic displacement -- faults, deformation, etc where material has come from below to provide the chromium source for the rubies. Also significant is that at the ceiling of the anorthosite complex we hypothesize that metaevaporitic / metasedimentary layers have wrapped into the amphibolite. The best ruby deposits in the world form interacting with this type of rock content -- limestone and marble, and for example at Aapalutoq, we find rubies surrounded by dolomite which is a type of marble. If a person had to choose only one best deposit at Fiskenaesset it would likely be Aapalutoq.
The emeralds are economical but no one in Columbia is going to lose any sleep worrying about competition from the Yukon, the sapphires are going to be lucrative and they cover a large area but are one deposit only, and the rubies are not just one deposit but nine separate deposits, and these rubies are going to set the world ruby industry on its ear, changing it forever.
Q: What else can you say about optical scanning technology?
A: I was skeptical about this technology when I first heard about it last year. Since the beginning of time, people have been hand-sorting gems. When I saw the results of the scanning, I was absolutely blown away, it is so effective. I've talked to other gemstone colleagues and a half dozen of them have made the pilgrimage to Germany to see it for themselves because it is so hard to believe. This is going to totally transform the industry -- optical scanning will become as routine for diamonds and coloured gemstones as dense media separation. Note that True North did its high volume sorting in England with an older commercially available scanner. Finer grain sorting was done in Germany with a recent version, and there is an even later technology currently under development -- the one with two cameras and two light sources, maybe available by the fourth quarter this year. These Germans are really doing very precise and advanced work.
True North is progressing at a very exciting and challenging time -- investors need to appreciate all the things swirling around this little company -- discovering many new deposits at the same time as the industry is on the threshold of a complete transformation!
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I should mention some other information I forgot to mention from my last conversation with William. A one tonne/hour gravity wash plant has already been imported into Greenland. The plan is to get a 90% weight reduction of material from bulk samples this year and air lift it to Europe for optical sorting. |
