Saqqaq Gold
The Saqqaq subarea of the licence 2008/27 on the southern Nuussuaq peninsula contains a gold mineralisation discovered by GEUS in 1989 and subsequently followed up by NunaMinerals in the late 90’s. The gold is mineralized in sulfidic cherts in a shear zone contained within an Archean supra-crustal sequence of sediments and volcanics. Thickness varies from 1 to 5 meters and has a strike length of up to 8 km. The downdip extension is presently unconstrained.
Saqqaq belongs to a broad classification of shear-zone hosted orogenic gold deposits that are widespread and account for about 14 % of world’s gold production and reserves. These are the biggest contributors of gold production after the dominating Witwatersrand placers of South Africa. Examples of gold provinces with abundant shear-zone hosted deposits are the Yilgarn Craton in Australia (e.g. Golden Mile, Kalgoorlie) and the Mother Lode of California. Many deposits in the Slave and Superior cratons of northern Canada are also comparable.
The previous estimates of Saqqaq’s economic potential have used grade averaging procedures that do not account for the heterogeneous nature of grade distribution in gold deposits generally, and which is a factor that has important consequences for mining economics.
The objective in 2008 was to extend the area of known mineralization along strike, to locate previously reported high grade (20 g/t) zones and to gather structural data that can assist in defining a drill strategy and be applied to constraining the economic parameters. The existing mineralisation is known over 1.8 km of strike length out of a potential total strike length of 8 km. Chip samples and grab samples were collected from various locations for analysis at Actlabs in Greenland and Canada. Initial results confirm the previously documented mineralisation and suggest extension along strike. A comprehensive series of helicopter supported stereo photography was acquired for detailed geological mapping and structural analysis.
The overall aim of this program is to build an advanced exploration strategy involving drilling in 2010.
