Since you asked so nicely..... ;-)
The FWR NR is just amazing, from just the sheer prospective potential being revealed.
The Black Label discovery seems to have been purely serendipity. They were drilling a series of conductors, hopefully containing Ni/Cu dominant sulphides, with partitioned PGEs as gravy. Because chromite is not susceptable to electro-magnetic impulses, it could block or inhibit propogation of a signal from true conductors. So far, the conductor has not yet been identified, except for small blobs of pretty excellent grade Ni/Cu. In other words, the Black Label deposit might turn out to be more similar to Eagle 2/Blackbird 1 than to Black Thor. But they haven't ruled out conductive deposits at Black Thor, either. More on that in a moment.
I think it's also really significant that the stratigraphy, the original deposit layering, seems to be intact in the region encompassing the NE extension of the Black Label/Black Thor deposits. Some crude trigonometry on hints given in the report suggest the orientation (about 100 degrees or so rotation) are quite similar for both deposits. That suggests that the modelling of the processes occurring during deposition that geologists use to predict how the different metals behave can be applied for the purposes of further drilling. Faulting does not seem to be a factor limiting that approach in this region of the claims. Note, I'm very conservative with respect to issues of continuity between drill holes. I need continuity to be proven. I never assume it to be the case. With this continuity, they can now better predict where the nickel might go, if there is any, based on prior discoveries. Where the PGEs might be. You get the picture.
I still have some caution, with respect to faulting, however. From the Feb. 5 NR, about the F2 deposit, they said: "The disrupted and fragmented nature of the intrusive rocks hosting mineralization at the F2 target resemble magmatic breccias, indicative of a dynamic or active environment." Now, faulting just means the rock is cracked, simply put. The scale of the faulting determines how significant it is. The ROF concept is predicated on a very large fault line (the red line on all the maps). I think of that as a regional fault. Within the region, there are many more faults, both large and small. One of the larger ones, IMHO, is responsible for the fact that hole 08-04 was a miss, just 100 metres away from a great hit at Black Thor. Smaller faults yet might not yield significant displacement, but the fracturing itself does indicate that some substantial forces were acting on the deposit. Some of those forces may include high pressures/deformation associated with later intrusive events. I think that's what Mac's suggesting here, but who knows.
The Black Thor results are truly amazing, IMHO. As I've already mentioned, I don't assume continuity. Especially when I already know that significant regional faulting and displacement is already clearly demonstrated. You'll note from the map of the new chromite intercepts that the yellow bars represent new intercepts for which assays are pending. The length of the bar is proportional to the depth of the intercept. I'm eyeballing the depth of holes 19/20 at greater than 150 metres, and 23/24 at 130 metres or so. Clearly there are zones within the deposit with huge tonnage. And good continuity is looking more and more likely.
It's also important to note that they're testing for conductors (hopefully revealing Ni/Cu down the road) associated with Black Thor. Crone pulse EM is, as far I know, strictly a downhole technology. With multiple holes, it allows you to triangulate on conductors in three dimensions, similar to the way they locate a cell-phone based on cell tower positions in all those cop shows. It will give a pretty good idea of where to put the drill bit. And the third drill coming online can only be a good thing.
Just a general comment, too. Aerial, surface and down-hole geophysics are merely suggestive of what lies below the surface. Just consider the drill results obtained by Probe, FNC, and BMK. One method of analysis of which I have not yet seen any mention is aging the various rocks pulled up in the cores. If, for example, the age of the intrusion at Eagle 1 or 2 is found to correspond with the age of some deposits elsewhere in the ROF, it might yield certain inferences about the nature of the events taking place. We know that there is a time sequence to these depositions....I posted a new regional geology map a few days ago on the NOT board that indicates that the north and east rims of the ROF were subject to deposition events somewhat later than was the region stretching SW from FWR, through Noront's hits, and well to the SW from there, including TME's Fishhook. It is so early in the process of discovery. So much to learn. Let's not forget, they're still exploring the Sudbury basin, 100 years on.
My computer is crashing.....friggin microsoft....I can't copy the link to that map
Lar
