IEP collaborates with MERC, Newmont and Pan American Silver
News Release 2020-09-17
MERC leads fall geophysical survey in Timmins-Cochrane region.
Laurentian University’s Mineral Exploration Research Centre (MERC) is leading a geophysical survey in the Timmins and Cochrane area from October 7 to November 15, 2020. The goal is to advance geoscientific knowledge about the underlying geologic architecture, structures, and mineral resource potential of the Earth’s crust approximately 30 kilometres below the surface.
The project is part of MERC’s $104 million Metal Earth project, which is Canada's most extensive exploration research program and involves a consortium of industry partners.
Quantec Geoscience will use electromagnetic technology, specifically magnetotelluric (MT) and audio magnetotelluric (AMT) instruments, to survey selected stations within a corridor of approximately 130 kilometres by 50 kilometres. The corridor stretches from Highway 11 in the north to 50 kilometres south of Timmins. Surveyors will be active in some residential areas. Interactive maps of the area and proposed stations are available at https://merc.laurentian.ca/TimminsMT.
High-resolution AMT surveys in the Timmins gold camp are made possible with consortium partner support. Newmont Corp is funding surveying from Tisdale to Matheson townships. International Explorers and Prospectors Inc. and Lake Shore Gold (a subsidiary of Pan American Silver) are funding surveys from Loveland to Thorneloe townships, west of Timmins.
MERC associate director, Dr. John Ayer, an expert in the region’s geology, is leading the project. Ayer said the fall survey adds data to previous seismic and ongoing MT and AMT surveys conducted through the Metal Earth project in Ontario and Quebec.
“Seismic surveys were completed as part of the Discover Abitibi project, managed by the Timmins Economic Development Corporation, in 2004," Ayer explained, adding that MT and AMT surveys were not previously conducted in the planned survey area.
"This fall’s surveying will create unique regional and high-resolution images integrated with seismic, gravity, and magnetic data to better evaluate the geology and economic potential of an historic and world-class gold camp," Ayer said.
All data collected will be made publicly available, providing a richer understanding of the region's resources and geologic structure. Members of the public and media are encouraged to visit merc.laurentian.ca/TimminsMT for details about the project.
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'IEP is excited to participate in this cutting edge research' says Lionel Bonhomme. ' This survey should be able to help us unlock the sources of the many base metal deposits we have been exploring west of Timmins in the Blake River Assemblage. As well, the survey could help unlock the gold potential of the Hoyle Pond Mine extension on our Matheson Twp JV property.'