Grant: Alliance Grants

The Ring of Fire in Northern Ontario represents a significant mineral resource for a variety of critical metals. The development of geochemical, mineralogical, and structural vectors which guide efficient, low impact exploration will enhance sustainable resource development strategies. This study will investigate the magmatic and structural architecture, petrography, and alteration chemistry of a portion of the Ring of Fire in Northern Ontario to better constrain the Ni-Cu-PGE mineralization and to develop a better understanding of the belt as a whole. The principal methods employed in this study will be fundamental geological mapping and logging, combined with traditional and state-of-the-art analytical techniques, which will characterize the structures, mineralization, and paragenesis of the study area. The research will be completed by three highly qualified personnel (2 master's students and one postdoctoral fellow), who will be trained to use modern digital field methods and high-quality microanalytical instruments, making them highly skilled assets for industry, academia, or government surveys. Overall, this project will help improve exploration confidence and success in the quest for new discoveries of metal resources in Canada. This study has the potential to lead to new discoveries by developing enhanced deposit models that can be applied elsewhere within Canada and by Canadian companies working overseas. At a broader scale, the tools generated within this project will help Canadian mining companies enhance exploration efficiency and reduce both the time and capital cost for the discovery of mineral resources.