Mineral Exploration Activity in Nova Scotia, 1999

By P. D. McCulloch, mccullpd@gov.ns.ca

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Mineral Exploration Activity in 1999
  • Industrial Minerals
  • Base Metals
  • Gold
  • Coal

Introduction

Monitoring of mineral exploration activity in Nova Scotia is coordinated through the Geoscience Information Services Section of the Geological Services Division by the author, who works out of the regional office in Stellarton, Pictou County. Regional Geologists of the Regional Services Branch offices in Coxheath (Don MacNeil), Truro (Ian Lawyer) and Bridgewater (Sandra L. Marshall) assist in the field monitoring of mineral exploration activity in their respective regions.

The monitoring process covers exploration activities throughout the province and consists of visits to company offices and exploration sites, liaison with industry personnel and review of current assessment reports and other material submitted by industry. Liaison with industry allows the department to maintain an awareness of current exploration activities throughout the province. Assistance or advice is provided as necessary, and any drill core generated by mineral exploration activity is recorded as part of the monitoring process. This core may be recovered for archiving in the Drill Core Library in Stellarton when no longer required by the companies.

The Exploration Monitoring geologist is also responsible for the auditing of confidential assessment reports that are submitted in the support of the renewal of exploration licences. In 1999, 104 assessment reports were received and audited for compliance with the Mineral Resources Regulations.

Mineral Exploration Activity in 1999

In 1999, mineral exploration in Nova Scotia continued at approximately the same level of activity as in 1998. Field exploration expenditures have generally decreased over the past two years, with field expenditures expected in the range of $4-5 million for 1999, compared with $5.6 million in 1998 and $6.7 million in 1997 (Table 1, Fig. 1). Exploration was carried out for industrial minerals, base metals, gold and coal in a variety of geological environments throughout the province.

Table 1. Details of exploration and development activity in Nova Scotia, 1990-1999 is large and presented as a separate web page.

Figure (Not presently available)

Figure 1. Exploration expenditures in Nova Scotia, 1990-99.

Preliminary figures for the total number of general claims staked in 1999 show a moderate increase of 19.7% from the previous year to 13,067 (Table 1, Fig. 2). A preliminary total of 13,937 claims for all commodities were in effect at the end of 1999, represented by 652 exploration, coal, tailings and special licences covering an area of 225 612 ha or 2 256 km², approximately 4.1% of the total area of the province. The amount of exploration drilling increased moderately in 1999 with a preliminary estimate of 13,300 metres drilled compared with 10 300 metres in 1998 and 24 500 metres in 1997.

Figure (Not presently available)

Figure 2. Claim staking in Nova Scotia, 1990-99.

Approximately 236 companies and individuals held exploration interests (licences or options) in Nova Scotia in 1999 including 8 major, 7 junior and 45 private companies (Table 2, Table 3 and Table 4). In addition, several mining lease holders carried out exploration on their leases or on unclaimed ground where these commodities did not require licences (e.g. limestone, gypsum). Organizations actively engaged in exploration during 1999 included 6 major, 2 junior and 20 private companies (Fig. 3, Table 5), as well as a number of individuals.

Figure (Not presently available)

Figure 3. Mineral exploration programs in Nova Scotia, 1999.

Industrial Minerals

Exploration and development work for industrial minerals was highlighted by the continuation of interest in several commodities including kaolin, silica sand, limestone, gypsum, zeolites, titanium and barite. Work continued to focus on the exploration and development of extensive Cretaceous kaolin and silica sand deposits in central mainland Nova Scotia, and the titanium-bearing heavy mineral sand deposits along the Shubenacadie River and in the Cobequid Bay area.

Kaoclay Resources Incorporated continued a detailed evaluation of Cretaceous kaolin and silica sand deposits in the Musquodoboit and Shubenacadie valleys of central mainland Nova Scotia. The company carried out extensive process testing on large-diameter core samples and completed additional diamond-drilling in the Middle Musquodoboit area. Black Bull Resources Incorporated, under an option agreement with CAG Enterprises Limited, continued a detailed exploration program for kaolin along the Tobeatic Fault Zone on the southern margin of the South Mountain Batholith in the Flintstone Rock area, Yarmouth County. Work consisted of trenching and diamond-drilling. Hibernia Minerals Incorporated also completed a drilling program for kaolin along the northern margin of the South Mountain Batholith at West Paradise, Annapolis County.

C₂C Mining Corporation are continuing a detailed evaluation of the zeolite potential of Triassic amygdaloidal basalts along North Mountain in western Nova Scotia. The company completed geological mapping, diamond-drilling, and extensive analytical work on several properties in the area and recently carried out a bulk sampling program and process testing on a zeolite occurrence in the Stronach Mountain area.

NAR Resources Limited, under an option agreement with Titanium Corporation of Canada Limited, initiated a detailed evaluation of the titanium potential of heavy mineral sands in the Shubenacadie River near South Maitland, Hants County, in 1998. The company continued detailed work on the property in 1999 including extensive drilling and mineralogical analyses of the titanium-bearing sand deposits. Mr. Martin Roche, in association with Hansone Limited, initiated a detailed evaluation of the heavy mineral potential of sand deposits in the Cobequid Bay area near Maitland, Hants County, and in the Avon River area near Windsor, Hants County. Detailed mineralogical studies and drilling were continued on the two properties in 1999.

Exploration drilling for limestone was carried out during the year by Lafarge Canada Incorporated in the Hardwoodlands area in Hants County, and the Brentwood and Beaver Brook areas in Colchester County. Shaw Resources also completed a diamond-drilling program in the Hardwoodlands area, Hants County, and Kelly Rock Limited completed additional work on the Glendale limestone deposit in Inverness County, consisting of trenching and detailed rock sampling.

A diamond-drilling program was completed by Mr. Robert MacDonald at Lochside, Richmond County, to evaluate the resource potential of the former Novex Mining Pine Brook barite deposit.

Base Metals

Exploration for base metals continued at approximately the same level of activity as in 1998 and focused primarily on areas of known mineral occurrences in several areas of the province.

A diamond-drilling program was undertaken by Mount Cameron Minerals Limited to evaluate the base metal potential of skarn zones associated with Precambrian carbonates in the Georges River and Mount Cameron areas of the Boisdale Hills in Cape Breton County. Savage Resources Canada Limited completed geophysical survey work on the company's Glenmore property in Halifax County to evaluate the Pb-Zn potential of underlying Lower Carboniferous Windsor Group carbonates. Geosearch completed detailed geochemical work on a base metal prospect near Lower Burlington, Hants County, and Gold 'n Crystal Minerals completed additional work to evaluate the gold and base metal potential of the Triassic volcanics at Cap d'Or, Cumberland County.

Gold

The lower Paleozoic Meguma Group of southern mainland Nova Scotia continued to be a focus for gold exploration in the province. The level of activity for gold exploration has declined significantly since 1997.

A diamond-drilling program was undertaken by Newfoundland Goldbar Resources Incorporated in the vicinity of the former Dufferin Gold Mine at Dufferin Mines, Halifax County, to evaluate the potential for gold-bearing saddle reef structures to occur at depth. Indocan Resources Incorporated conducted an exploration drilling program for gold on the North Star gold mine property at Isaacs Harbour, Guysborough County. The company also re-opened and rehabilitated the former #2 access ramp into the old workings. A number of small exploration programs were also completed on several properties throughout the Meguma Group by various individuals and private interests.

Coal

Exploration for coal continued in the Carboniferous rocks of northern mainland Nova Scotia and eastern Cape Breton Island. Berichan Resources Limited continued a detailed evaluation of coal resources in the Cottam Settlement area east of Debert, Colchester County, and began mining operations on the property in June 1999. Brogan Mining Company Limited completed a bulk sampling program for coal at Little Pond, Cape Breton County, early in the year.

About the Mineral Resources Branch

• Home Page
  
• What's New
• Organization Chart
• Staff List
• Core Library
• Registry of Mineral and Petroleum Titles
• Regional Geologists
• How to Find Us
• Nova Scotia Location Maps

Publications, Maps and Digital Data

• Assessment and Property Reports Information
• Assessment and Property Reports for Free Download (PDF)
• Digital Products
• Publications and Maps Information
• Publications and Maps Database (NovaScan)
• Geoscience Maps for Free Download (PDF)
• Land Use Information
• Newsletter
• Mineral Policy for Nova Scotia
• Release Notice

Geology, Minerals and Mining Topics

• Advantage Nova Scotia
• Mineral Exploration Activities
• Mining Activities
• Mining Matters Conference
• Mineral, Mining and Geology Topics
• Virtual Field Trip
• Related Links

Upcoming Events