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Noble Mineral Exploration Inc.(TSXV: NOB – OTCQB – NLPXF), is a Canadian-based junior exploration company holding several highly prospective properties in some of Canada’s most prolific mining jurisdictions. Operating as a project generator, Noble de-risks projects through data compilation and exploration in order to generate option agreements and joint venture exploration programs to benefit shareholders. Projects include;
In addition to the exploration assets, Noble also holds various royalties and interests in other companies and projects within the mining and exploration sector. Operating under a project generator model has allowed The Company to capitalize on projects through JV’s and spin outs that result in Noble having a robust portfolio of equity positions.
For the purpose of this article, the focus will be on the Nagagami Niobium and Rare Earth Minerals Project
Nagagami is a Niobium / Rare Earth minerals project located 65 kilometers Northwest of Hearst, Ontario. The project is comprised of 716 claims covering over 14, 600 hectares. Historically, there has been very little exploration work carried out on the property apart from some holes drilled in the 1960’s by Algoma Ore Properties. However, it’s important to note that the holes drilled by Algoma were aimed at the highly magnetic ring structure wrapped around a low mag structure first identified through an airborne magnetic survey searching for iron deposits geophysics.
Interestingly, while drilling in the wrong geology for niobium and rare earth metals, one of the Algoma drillholes returned 0.3% Nb205 from a grab sample of syenite taken at 230 feet downhole. Fluorite was also noted in one drill hole as red-brown, waxy hydronephelite (an alteration form of nepheline) comprising 5-10% of the rock thus giving the indication of the complex being that of a carbonatite.
The project sat idle for many years and no follow up work was done to drill test the low mag structure and suspected carbonatite.
In December 2021, Noble acquired the Nagagami complex and began a detailed analysis of the project using available data and noted that there are several similarities between the niobium producing Niobec Mine and the Nagagami Complex (See Figures 1 & 2). The Niobec Mine now owned by Magris Performance Materials started commercial production of niobium pentoxide in 1976. It is one of the largest sources of niobium in the world and North America’s only source of pyrochlore. It currently produces around 10% of the niobium used globally but it also has a resource of other rare earth metals.
A study of the magnetic data for the Nagagami Complex and the Niobec Mine both indicate a donut shaped structures with syenitic rocks forming the circular magnetic high with carbonatitic rocks forming the central magnetic low. At Niobec, it is in the central magnetic low where the Niobium and Rare Earth mineralization is hosted similar to what is being observed at Nagagami.
Figure 1 – Magnetic map of the Niobec Mine near St Honore, Quebec. Green circles indicate drilling in the central magnetic low where niobium and rare earth mineralization is found.
Figure 2 – Magnetic map of the Nagagami Carbonatite Complex located northwest of Hearst, Ontario. Note the magnetic high ring and the central magnetic low similar to the Niobec Mine at St Honore Quebec.
Additionally, 4.5 kilometers to the south of the Nagagami Complex, Zenyatta Ventures is developing the Albany graphite deposit. The Albany deposit is classed as one of the largest known hydrothermal graphite deposits in the world. Hydrothermal graphite is the purest, but also the rarest, form of graphite. The graphite mineralization here appears to be related to the emplacement of the Nagagami complex resulting in the possible occurrence of similar mineralization and geology on the Noble property.
Upon acquiring the project, Noble immediately began negotiations with First Nations and applied for permits while the got to work compiling data. In doing so, the company was able to complete a fall drill campaign whereby the company would drill 2 holes into the suspected carbonatite. Focused on the Mag low portion of the geophysical anomaly at Nagagami, the Company set out to confirm the presence of niobium and other rare earth minerals.
Watch this short video which was filmed on site during the drill campaign to learn about the program.
A total of 1,302 meters were drilled in two vertical holes to test their theory that Rare Earth Element and Niobium mineralization could be found in the Nagagami Carbonatite Complex. The target of the drilling was a magnetic low in the centre of the Nagagami Complex that is geologically comparable to niobium- and rare earth-bearing complexes discovered and mined elsewhere. In this case the complex is not exposed in outcrop as it is covered by overburden and Paleozoic sediments and requires geophysical data be used to place the drill holes. However, these two holes really helped the team get a handle on the geology of the complex.
Results came back in early December with the announcement of a new discovery of rare earth mineralization.
Highlights included;
Anomalous REE values were encountered in both holes, the best results were obtained from hole NG-22-02. Between 373 and 434m, for a total of 61.0 metres, the mineralized zone has an average grade of 0.554% Total Rare Earth Oxide (TREO) and 0.098% Nd2O3. It also includes a 17.0 metre long zone with average TREO and Nd2O3 grades of 0.665% and 0.118%, respectively. These grades are 20% higher than those of the 61.0 metre* intercept.
Total Rare Earth Oxides = Ce2O3+Dy2O3+Er2O3+Eu2O3+Gd2O3+Ho2O3+La2O3+Lu2O3+Nd2O3+Pr2O3+Sc2O3+Sm2O3 +Tb2O3+Tm2O3+Yb2O3+Y2O3
The best niobium (Nb) intersection was also encountered in Hole NG-22-02 (155 metres below REE values) between 582 to 587 metres*, 0.05% Niobium (Nb) (150)
*true width not known at this time
Although this niobium result was lower than anticipated, geological evidence indicates that carbonatite complexes tend to be zoned and the location of REE mineralization does not necessarily coincide with the Nb-bearing zones. The St Honore deposit in Quebec has both a rare earth zone (REE) and a separate niobium (Nb) zone.
Additional work being undertaken on the Nagagami project include; geophysical surveys to identify the rock units in the core of the carbonatite complex; studying the area around the property to identify a possible location for a new road to facilitate mobilizing a diamond drill onto the property via ground rather than using a helicopter; meetings in communities near Hearst to share Noble’s planned exploration program with the public; and litho-geochemical and mineralogical studies to characterize the wallrocks that host the mineralized zone(s) and identify the TREO-bearing minerals.
The next phase of exploration on the project will consist of:
Updates will be provided as they occur.
Disclosure
At the time of creation, Noble Mineral Exploration is a client of Insidexploration Analytics Inc.
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