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Introduction
Noble Mineral Exploration Inc. 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 Buckingham Graphite Project
The Buckingham graphite property is located in Southern Quebec in the Outaouais area of the Grenville Sub province. The property consists of 30 claims that cover 1803 hectares and are contiguous to Gratomic’s property. (See Figure 1) Additionally, the project is located 1.7 kilometers north of the historic Walker Graphite Mine that covers the northern extension of a graphitic zone beginning on the Buckingham Property.
Although the nature of the graphite on the Buckingham Property has not been determined, graphite concurrences in this area are normally coarse grained, flake graphite. This is the most desirable of the naturally occurring types as they are primarily used to produce lithium-based batteries.
Figure 1 – Buckingham Graphite occurrences and claim boundaries.
There are 3 separate graphite occurrences on the Buckingham property.
The first and main occurrence, (McGuire) was worked by Stratmin Inc. in 1985-86 when a ground electromagnetic survey was done following a regional airborne survey. Three diamond drill holes were completed to intersect the electromagnetic anomalies, 2 of which intersected graphite mineralization.
Hole Graphite Length
86-40 10.9% 2.00m*
86-45 9.1% 3.65m*
86-41 – *Did not intersect the electromagnetic anomaly but additional visual estimations of the graphitic horizons were noted in the log descriptions. Samples were not analyzed for graphite.
Hole Interval(m) Width(m) Visual Graphite (Gp)
86-40 11.3-12.95 1.65* 10-15% Gp
86-40 13.9-14.05 0.15* 8-10% Gp
86-40 18.25-18.75 0.50* 5-10% Gp
86-40 21.2-21.35 0.15* 12-15% Gp
86-40 21.6-21.95 0.35* 10% Gp
86-45 66.35-66.55 0.20* 10-12% Gp
86-45 67.65-68.10 0.45* 3-6% Gp
* (True width not known at this time)
The second graphite occurrence, (Cummings) is described as “a deposit in the form of narrow bands of graphite occurring in gneiss and marble over a length of 300 m and a width of 30 m. The graphite occurs in several irregular bands within the 30 m zone.”
The Cummings Occurrence is located 1.5 km southeast of the McGuire Occurrence.
The third graphite showing on the property is called the Robidoux Occurrence and is located about 4 km east of the McGuire Occurrence. It was described by the Quebec Superintendent of Mines in a 1910 report as a “partially uncovered graphitic bed over a length of about forty feet. Some shallow pits have also exposed graphitic outcrops, presumably of the same bed, for an additional distance of 75 to 100 feet. The bed where exposed by the main stripping is about four feet thick and dips into the side of a low hill at an angle of 40 to 50 degrees.” It was also noted that “the graphite ore contains over 30% carbon.”
(Note: the exploration work, descriptions and analysis are historic and not 43-101 compliant)
In 2014, A trenching program was initiated based on the airborne survey results and limited ground geophysics. Trench T1 measured approximately 48 meters in length and 2.5 meters in width. Twenty-five channel samples were collected from the stripped area. All samples returned graphite mineralized intersections with a best result of 8.2% Cg (total carbon in graphite form) over 4.75* meters, including 12.1% Cg over 1* meter and 12.5% Cg over 3.5* meters. (Figure 1). Trench 22C was excavated about 75 m NE of Trench T1. Thirty-nine channel samples were collected of which 35 returned Cg contents above 8%. One section yielded 21.6% Cg over 14.5* meters and 16.8% Cg over 3.9* meters (Figure 1). (*-True widths not known at this time.)
Figure 2 – Location of NNE Conductor and Surface Trenches. Pink to purple shading identifies areas of airborne conductivity. Adapted from Robillard (2017): Technical Report on the Buckingham Graphite Project, Buckingham Township, Quebec, Canada
In 2015, a 20-kilogram bulk sample was taken from Trench 22C and subjected to initial flotation testing for graphite. These tests were carried out by SGS Canada Inc. of Lakefield, Ontario. The bulk sample was submitted to a simple flotation test, without process optimization or chemical treatment, such as addition of acid leach or alkaline roast. The sample head grade was 20.7% Cg and returned an overall combined flotation concentrate purity of 94.8%. The results of the testing indicated 32% of the flakes were large (+65 mesh) to jumbo (+28 mesh) in size and the purity obtained in these large fractions ranged from 94.8 to 96.1%.
Three phases of diamond drilling were completed on the property from November 2015 to December 2016 for a total of 3,782 meters. Results of the respective drill programs can be viewed in Tables 1 and 2. A photograph of semi-massive graphite mineralization can be seen below.
Figure 3 – Location of Diamond Drill Holes on the Buckingham Property. All holes are located on the Noble Minerals Property except for BH16-6, 7, 9 and 12. Adapted from Robillard (2017).
Table 1 – Significant drill hole intersections from the historical 2015 Diamond Drilling Program
Table 2 – Significant Diamond Drill intersections from the historical 2016 Drilling Program (Please note that drill holes BH16-6, 7, 9 and 12 are not located on the Noble Minerals Property)
Figure 4 – Semi-massive graphite mineralization from Hole BH16-4 drilled on the Noble Minerals Property (Adapted from Robillard, 2017)
In June 2021, Noble acquired the Buckingham graphite property and in July they acquired additional claims in the vicinity of Buckingham and with this addition of the 2 map-staked claims, it brings the Buckingham Property total to 32 claims or 1,923 hectares.
The additional 2 claims cover the Buck Graphite Occurrence that has been explored as recently as 2016. In 2013, a high-resolution heliborne magnetic (MAG) and time domain electromagnetic (TDEM) survey covered the area surrounding and the newly acquired claims. One anomaly outlined a 1-kilometer-long conductor historically known to host graphite mineralization.
Buckingham Graphite Project highlight video
The 2022 field work program consisted of a two-phase program including:
Phase 1
Phase 2
A total of 13 grab samples were taken from various locations on the property during their ground truthing campaign. Some of the highest values were from a section of the property that had not been previously drilled. Across the program Graphitic Carbon values varied from 13.84 to 86.52%.
Table 3: Lab certificate with Graphitic Carbon values for grab samples from Buckingham Graphite Property
Figure 5 – Graphitic sample from the Buckingham Graphite Property
In January 2023, Isabelle Robillard MSc. P. Geo was commissioned to update a 43-101 report on the Buckingham Graphite Project which should be available by the end of March 2023. Ms. Robillard was responsible for the planning, execution and monitoring of the drilling programs conducted in 2016 for Ashburton Ventures. The author has also supervised the splitting and sampling of the core material for Ashburton.
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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