Cargill Township carbonatite complex, District of ... - Geology Ontario

Economic Geology
The Cargill Township Carbonatite Complex was examined for its copper-nickel
potential in 1955, 1965, and 1970 by Continental Copper Mines Limited and
Kennco Exploration (Canada) Limited. In 1974 International Minerals and
Chemical Corporation (Canada) Limited discovered accumulations of apatite
residuum overlying the deposit. These residuum deposits are of such a size and
grade as to ensure the likelihood that they will ultimately be commercially ex
ploited (Sandvik and Erdosh 1977). Carbonatite complexes such as the Cargill
Township complex are known to contain favorable lithologies for exploration for
base metals, niobium, uranium, rare earths, vermiculite and apatite. In 1987
Jacobs International Incorporated completed a study of Ontario phosphate re
sources and indicated that the Cargill Township residuum deposits have consider
able economic potential.
PROPERTY DESCRIPTIONS
CONTINENTAL COPPER MINES LIMITED [1955]
The earliest recorded work on this complex was by the Continental Copper Mines
Limited who in 1955 completed seven diamond drill holes totalling 931 m (3,102
feet) that tested magnetic anomalies discovered by a ground magnetometer survey
in search of base metals (Assessment Files Research Office, Ontario Geological
Survey, Toronto). Reports within the files of Kennco Explorations (Canada) Lim
ited indicate that the company also completed a geochemical survey and encoun
tered some copper and nickel mineralization.
KENNCO EXPLORATION (CANADA) LIMITED [1965, 1970]
In 1965 Kennco Explorations (Canada) Limited optioned the property from Con
tinental Copper Mines Limited for the purpose of examining the property for
copper-nickel mineralization. After a brief examination of the property Kennco
dropped the option (private files, Kennco Exploration). In 1970, Kennco again
re-evaluated the available data on the Cargill Township intrusion, and re-op
tioned the ground held by Continental Copper Mines Limited. They staked addi
tional claims, and proceeded with additional testing of the complex's copper-
nickel potential. The company completed assays on soil, rock and Continental
Copper Mines Limited diamond drill core; and drilled six diamond drill holes
totalling 1089 m (3,486 feet) (private files, Kennco Exploration). Minor copper
and nickel mineralization was encountered in the pyroxenide border of the com
plex (private files, Kennco Exploration). Scattered assays by the company in re
ports donated to the Ministry indicate that the copper and nickel contents are
generally less than Q.10%.
INTERNATIONAL MINERALS AND CHEMICAL CORPORATION (CANADA)
LIMITED
In 1974, International Minerals and Chemical Corporation (Canada) Limited, as
part of its exploration program of evaluating carbonatite complexes as a source of
phosphorus, re-evaluated all existing data on this complex (Sandvik and Erdosh
1977). The company optioned the claims held by Continental Copper Mines
Limited and staked additional ground. The company at this time hoped to locate
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