Nickel Royale Property
Location and Access
The Nickel Royale property consists of 119 claim units and is located in the western portion of the Hemlo-Schreiber greenstone belt approximately 185 kilometers east of Thunder Bay. Access is afforded by an old back road extending north of the town of Schreiber for approximately 9 kilometers to reach the eastern part of the property. An alternative route is to take the Winston Lake mine road north for roughly 5 kilometers to just south of Sammy's Lake, and then head approximately 6 kilometers to the east along an old drill road to reach the central part of the property. The drill road can be driven by 4 x 4 from the mine road east for approximately 3 kilometers from which point the road can only be driven by quad runner.
Geology
The property covers the contact zone of the Schreiber greenstone belt with the Crossman Lake granitic batholith. The property is host to the 'Nicopor Prospect', a high-grade nickel-copper showing, although mineralization on the property is found in a number of host rocks. In the vicinity of the Nicopor prospect, recent mapping has indicated base metal sulphides occur as massive to vein-like and net-textured aggregates in a narrow, linear zone that follows the contact between a metagabbro and a granite. This mineralized zone has developed an extensive gossan that obscures host rock and sulphide relationships. The sulphide zone on surface ranges up to 7 feet in width and rapidly grades outwards into disseminated mineralization in both the gabbro and granite. The sulphide zone on surface consists mainly of semi-massive, net-like veinlets of pyrrhotite, with minor chalcopyrite and isolated porphyroblasts of pyrite. Pentlandite, the nickel-bearing sulphide phase, is visible in cut and polished slabs and accounts for up to 15% of the sulphides in polished section.
Previous Work
Consolidated Mining & Smelting (Cominco) reportedly drilled 3 holes in the mid 1930’s, but no record remains of their work. New Athona Mines drilled 4 holes (1,693 feet) in 1956 on various anomalies, but not the main zone, but again the results are unknown. Zenmac Metal Mines drilled 5 short holes (200 feet) on the main zone in 1965 indicating a width of 5-10 feet and a grade of 1.0% nickel and 0.3% copper over a length of 100 feet at 30 feet in depth. Their results are as follows:
| Hole # | From | To | Width (ft) | Nickel (%) | Host Rock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 0.13 | Gabbro |
| 7.5 | 15.0 | 7.5 | 0.20 | Gabbro | |
| 15.0 | 18.5 | 3.5 | 0.23 | Gabbro | |
| 18.5 | 22.0 | 3.5 | 0.72 | Gabbro | |
| 22.0 | 25.0 | 3.5 | 0.50 | Granite | |
| 25.0 | 28.0 | 3.0 | 0.59 | Granite | |
| 2 | 2.5 | 10.0 | 7.5 | 0.54 | Gabbro |
| 10.0 | 13.5 | 3.5 | 1.28 | Gabbro | |
| 13.5 | 16.0 | 3.5 | 0.85 | Granite | |
| 16.0 | 19.0 | 3.5 | 0.47 | Granite | |
| 3 | intersected a feldspar porphyry that truncates the ore zone | ||||
| 4 | 2.5 | 5.0 | 2.5 | 0.21 | Gabbro |
| 7.3 | 22.5 | 15.2 | nil | aplite dyke | |
| 22.5 | 25.0 | 2.5 | 0.92 | Gabbro | |
| 25.0 | 29.0 | 4.0 | 1.00 | Granite | |
| 5 | 0.0 | 24.3 | 24.3 | nil | feldspar porphyry |
| 24.3 | 27.8 | 3.5 | 0.44 | Gabbro | |
| 27.8 | 30.3 | 2.5 | 0.93 | Gabbro | |
Zenmac Metal Mines drilled an additional 8 holes (2,107 feet) in 1969 at 100-foot intervals on the main zone indicating a zone varying from 5-20 feet thick to at least 400 feet down dip where the zone lengthens to 300 feet. Their results are as follows:
| Hole # | From | To | Width (ft) | Nickel (%) | Host Rock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 170.0 | 175.0 | 5.0 | 0.17 | Gabbro |
| 175.0 | 180.0 | 5.0 | 0.18 | Gabbro | |
| 180.0 | 186.0 | 6.0 | 0.20 | Gabbro | |
| 186.0 | 187.0 | 1.0 | 0.20 | Gabbro | |
| 187.0 | 192.0 | 5.0 | 0.34 | Gabbro | |
| 192.0 | 197.0 | 5.0 | 0.75 | Gabbro | |
| 197.0 | 202.0 | 5.0 | 0.83 | Gabbro | |
| 202.0 | 206.8 | 4.8 | 0.25 | Granite | |
| 2 | 203.4 | 208.4 | 5.0 | 0.29 | Gabbro |
| 208.4 | 213.4 | 5.0 | 0.27 | Gabbro | |
| 213.4 | 218.4 | 5.0 | 0.34 | Gabbro | |
| 218.4 | 223.4 | 5.0 | 0.35 | Granite | |
| 223.4 | 227.0 | 3.6 | 0.52 | Granite | |
| 3 | 140.7 | 145.7 | 5.0 | 0.19 | Gabbro |
| 145.7 | 150.7 | 5.0 | 0.20 | Gabbro | |
| 4 | 165.0 | 170.0 | 5.0 | 0.40 | Gabbro |
| 170.0 | 172.0 | 2.0 | 1.00 | Gabbro | |
| 172.0 | 174.0 | 2.0 | 0.85 | Granite | |
| 174.0 | 176.0 | 2.0 | 0.30 | Granite | |
| 5 | No results | ||||
| 6 | 272.0 | 277.0 | 5.0 | 0.36 | Gabbro |
| 277.0 | 282.0 | 5.0 | 1.30 | Gabbro | |
| 282.0 | 284.0 | 2.0 | 0.91 | Granite | |
| 284.0 | 289.0 | 5.0 | 0.34 | Granite | |
| 289.0 | 294.0 | 5.0 | 0.20 | Granite | |
| 7 | 240.0 | 245.0 | 5.0 | 0.23 | Gabbro |
| 245.0 | 250.0 | 5.0 | 0.62 | Gabbro | |
| 250.0 | 255.0 | 5.0 | 1.56 | Granite | |
| 255.0 | 260.0 | 5.0 | 0.79 | ||
| 260.0 | 265.0 | 5.0 | 0.30 | Granite | |
| 265.0 | 270.0 | 5.0 | 0.14 | Granite | |
| 270.0 | 274.0 | 4.0 | 0.13 | Granite | |
| 8 | 211.0 | 216.0 | 5.0 | 0.22 | Gabbro |
| 216.0 | 221.0 | 5.0 | 0.41 | Gabbro | |
| 221.0 | 226.0 | 5.0 | 0.66 | Gabbro | |
| 226.0 | 230.0 | 4.0 | 0.61 | Gabbro | |
| 230.0 | 235.0 | 5.0 | 0.30 | Granite | |
A 1970 annual report of Zenmac Metal Mines Ltd. describes the deposit and their drill program results:
“The deposit known before this (1969) program was estimated to contain 185,000 tons grading 0.49% nickel and 0.26% copper to the 300 foot horizon in a zone 300 feet long, 22 feet thick and dipping 40 degrees. Three holes have intersected the deposit at greater depth to at least 600 feet and indicate an additional 190,000 tons grading 0.40% nickel and 0.12% copper. The grade of the central core of the deposit was calculated to be about 1.0% nickel and 0.3% copper over 5 to 15 feet.”
Nicohal Mines Ltd. drilled 9 holes (4,040 feet) in 1970 just east of the main showing. Their results are as follows:
| Hole # | From | To | Width (ft) | Nickel (%) | Host Rock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 301.0 | 305.0 | 4.0 | 0.56 | Gabbro |
| 305.0 | 308.5 | 3.5 | 0.27 | Gabbro | |
| 308.5 | 312.0 | 3.5 | 0.09 | Granite | |
| 10 | 319.0 | 324.0 | 5.0 | 0.08 | Gabbro |
| 328.0 | 332.5 | 4.5 | 0.11 | Gabbro | |
| 332.5 | 337.0 | 4.5 | 0.18 | Gabbro | |
| 337.0 | 340.0 | 3.0 | 0.08 | Gabbro | |
| 340.0 | 345.0 | 5.0 | 0.21 | Granite | |
| 345.0 | 350.0 | 5.0 | 0.13 | Granite | |
| 350.0 | 353.0 | 3.0 | 0.12 | Granite | |
| 11 | No results | ||||
| 12 | No results | ||||
| 13 | No results | ||||
| 14 | 502.0 | 507.0 | 5.0 | 0.21 | Gabbro |
| 507.0 | 512.0 | 5.0 | 0.05 | Gabbro | |
| 512.0 | 517.0 | 5.0 | 0.14 | Gabbro | |
| and | |||||
| 541.0 | 546.0 | 5.0 | 0.09 | Gabbro | |
| 546.0 | 551.0 | 5.0 | 0.27 | Gabbro | |
| 551.0 | 556.0 | 5.0 | 0.34 | Gabbro | |
| 556.0 | 559.5 | 3.5 | 0.41 | Gabbro | |
| 559.5 | 562.5 | 3.0 | 0.28 | Gabbro | |
| 15 | 542.5 | 547.5 | 5.0 | 0.18 | Gabbro |
| 547.5 | 554.5 | 7.0 | 0.14 | Gabbro | |
| and | |||||
| 558.0 | 563.0 | 5.0 | 0.62 | Gabbro | |
| 563.0 | 568.0 | 5.0 | 0.61 | Gabbro | |
| 568.0 | 573.0 | 5.0 | 0.29 | Gabbro | |
| 573.0 | 578.0 | 5.0 | 0.37 | Gabbro | |
| 578.0 | 583.0 | 5.0 | 0.27 | Gabbro | |
| 583.0 | 588.0 | 5.0 | 0.11 | Gabbro | |
| 588.0 | 593.0 | 5.0 | 0.82 | Gabbro | |
| 16 | No results | ||||
| 17 | 419.5 | 424.5 | 5.0 | 0.63 | Gabbro |
| 424.5 | 429.5 | 5.0 | 0.13 | Gabbro | |
| 429.5 | 434.5 | 5.0 | 0.07 | Gabbro | |
| 434.5 | 439.5 | 5.0 | 0.11 | Gabbro | |
| 439.5 | 444.5 | 5.0 | 0.33 | Gabbro | |
| 444.5 | 449.5 | 5.0 | 0.77 | Gabbro | |
| 449.5 | 454.5 | 5.0 | 0.40 | Gabbro | |
| 454.5 | 459.5 | 5.0 | 0.17 | Gabbro | |
Grab samples taken by the MNDM in 1992fromthe Main Zone returned:
Sample #1 - 197 ppb Pd
Sample #2 - 107 ppb Pd
Sample #3 - nil
Sample #4 - 99 ppb Pd
Sample #5 - 387 ppb Pd
Sample #6 - 193 ppb Pd
Sample #7 - 456 ppb Pd
Grab samples taken from the property in 1997 by Brian Fowler, assayed as high as 5.7% Nickel, 1.3% copper, 0.09% cobalt, 0.44 g/t palladium and 0.11 g/t platinum. The results of Fowler's sampling is as follows:
97-09- 36 ppb Au, 158 ppb Pd, 60 ppb Pt, (0.254 g/t PGE), 0.78% Cu, 2.92% Ni (3.70% Cu + Ni)
97-10 - 24 ppb Au, 442 ppb Pd, 30 ppb Pt, (0.496 g/t PGE), 0.09% Cu, 5.70% Ni (5.79% Cu + Ni)
97-11 - 56 ppb Au, 194 ppb Pd, 50 ppb Pt, (0.300 g/t PGE), 1.26% Cu, 1.44% Ni (2.70% Cu + Ni)
97-12 - 64 ppb Au, 124 ppb Pd, 110 ppb Pt, (0.298 g/t PGE), 1.01% Cu, 0.60% Ni (1.61% Cu + Ni)
97-13 - 36 ppb Au, 186 ppb Pd, 40 ppb Pt, (0.262 g/t PGE), 0.66% Cu, 1.55% Ni (2.21% Cu + Ni)
97-14 - 32 ppb Au, 242 ppb Pd, 50 ppb Pt, (0.324 g/t PGE), 0.11% Cu, 0.66% Ni (0.77% Cu + Ni)
97-15 - 24 ppb Au, 236 ppb Pd, 70 ppb Pt, (0.330 g/t PGE), 0.09% Cu, 3.27% Ni (3.36% Cu + Ni)
In 2004, NovaWest Resources completed 11 diamond drill holes (4,926 feet: 1,502 metres) on the Nickel Royale property, east of Thunder Bay, Ont. Eight of the 11 diamond drill holes intersected disseminated to semi-massive (10-15 per cent) sulphide mineralization (pyrrhotite-pyrite-chalcopyrite). The sulphide mineralization occurs as blebs or clots associated to a magnetic pyroxenite unit that is believed to have intruded the granitic rocks. Company geologists believe the sulphide clots or blebs noted within the pyroxenite dike material are from settling or coalescing, which could create significant accumulation. This type of mineralization will be the target of future exploration on the Nickel Royale. The better intersections are tabulated below:
| Hole No. | From (ft) | To (ft) | Length (ft) | Nickel % | Copper % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03 | 174.4 | 189.6 | 15.2 | 0.55 | 0.23 |
| 04 | 156.0 | 184.0 | 28.0 | 0.39 | 0.33 |
| 09 | 165.0 | 194.5 | 29.5 | 0.23 | 0.21 |
| 10 | 134.0 | 149.6 | 15.6 | 0.22 | 0.13 |
The program was designed to test the down dip projections of copper and nickel-bearing sulphide mineralization and to determine the relationship of the sulphide-bearing rocks and the granites.
Conclusions
In addition to the Nicopor Deposit, two other showings have been reported to lie within or near the property boundary. The 'Northwest Showing', approximately 200 meters north west of the Nicopor Main Zone returned 2.55% nickel, 2.4% copper and .03% zinc from a grab sample of granite. A second outcrop known as the 'East Showing', located about 1.3 kilometers east of the main Nicopor showing, reportedly hosts nickel and copper values as well, however assays are not available.
Further, the Ansell Lake Copper Occurrence lies within the property. The occurrence was first discovered and explored with surface work in 1921. Several test pits by previous operators have revealed base metal mineralization over an area of approximately 120 by 180 m in size. In 1950, sampling of a 15 meter long trench averaged a grade of 1.06% Cu (Robertson and Hainsworth). In 1998, the main trench and several old pits were re-sampled by Brian Fowler. The main trench exposes a 15 meter section of pyritized rhyolite which appears to contain a uniform abundance of finely disseminated chalcopyrite. The rhyolite abuts a quartz porphyry along its western contact. Assays from samples that Fowler took from the main trench returned values as high as 1.7% copper and 15.2 grams/ton silver.
The Nickel Royale project covers 13 kilometers of strike length of gabbro and other favourable rock units. The adjacent claims to the south of the property are owned by Xstrata Canada and cover highly prospective VMS alteration. The mineralized zone encompassing the Nicopor showing is still open at depth and along strike, a more scrutinizing effort needs to be made to increase the zone’s potential. Aside from the small drill program by Novawest in 2004, there has been no exploration activity on this property in almost 40 years. The Ansell Lake copper occurrence has shown impressive widths of copper and silver mineralization yet has seen limited work. As a result, the Nickel Royale Project has good potential for numerous deposits within the 13 kilometer length of the property.
The property is currently under option with Apella Resources. Apella is actively seeking a joint venture partner to explore the claims.
