Exploration History and Mineral Potential of the Central Arctic Zn-Pb District, Nunavut

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Exploration in the central Arctic Zn-Pb District took place in five phases: 1) an initial exploration period (1960 -70), during which most surface showings on Cornwallis and Little Cornwallis islands were found; 2) a discovery period (1971 -79), during which the buried Polaris ore body was discovered and its feasibility and viability established, new showings were found farther afield, and many showings received limited drill testing; 3) the production period , dominated by drilling at Polaris Mine; 4) an ore-replacement exploration period (1989 -2001), during which showings close to Polaris were extensively drilled, showings on Cornwallis Island drill tested, and new showings found and drilled farther away; and 5) a reclamation period (2002 -05), during which the infrastructure was removed and the mine site restored. Factors affecting the timing and rate of exploration were generally intrinsic to the region: 1) discovery of showings in 1960, 2) discovery of the Polaris ore body in 1971, 3) declining reserves between 1989 and 2002, 4) closure of the mine in 2002, 5) the short exploration season and difficult logistics, and 6) lack of competition. The external drivers of exploration were 1) oil-related exploration that led to the discovery of the Polaris showings, 2) the onset of regional exploration coinciding with spikes in the price of zinc, and 3) the surge in scientific interest in carbonate-hosted Zn-Pb deposits in 1967. Probabilistic, discovery-time curve analysis indicates that over 50 showings remain undiscovered. Because logistics controlled the target selection, the standard assumption of a logical discovery process (from largest target to smallest target) is likely invalid. This means that large, untested targets may still exist in the district.

Geophysical Investigation of the Pb–Zn Deposit of Lontzen–Poppelsberg, Belgium

“…At Pyramid, the massive ore presented a tabular shape located at near surface (<10 m) within a sedimentary host rock composed of shales, sandstones, and dolostones [12]. The Polaris deposit was made up of massive breccia-fill and veins of Pb-Zn ore in a carbonate environment [50]. A Bouguer anomaly map that was obtained by a minimum curvature interpolation ( Figure 10) showed that the anomalies were mostly parallel to the fault planes.…”

Limnological Characteristics Reveal Metal Pollution Legacy in Lakes near Canada’s Northernmost Mine, Little Cornwallis Island, Nunavut

“…Rich in natural resources, Canada's North has a long history of mining activities (Silke, 2009;Keeling and Sandlos, 2015). For example, the discovery of lead-zinc ores on Little Cornwallis Island (Nunavut, High Arctic Canada) in the 1960s led to the establishment of the Polaris Mine (75.39˚ N, 96.94˚ W) in the early 1980s (Dewing et al, 2006). This site became the world's northernmost base metal mine, with underground operations lasting for two decades (1981-2002Donald, 2005;Dewing et al, 2006).…”

“…For example, the discovery of lead-zinc ores on Little Cornwallis Island (Nunavut, High Arctic Canada) in the 1960s led to the establishment of the Polaris Mine (75.39˚ N, 96.94˚ W) in the early 1980s (Dewing et al, 2006). This site became the world's northernmost base metal mine, with underground operations lasting for two decades (1981-2002Donald, 2005;Dewing et al, 2006). The operational history of the Polaris Mine has been presented by Nassichuk (1987) and Dewing et al (2006).…”

A fluid inclusion study of diagenetic fluids in Proterozoic and Paleozoic carbonate rocks, Victoria Island, NWT

“…), which includes the Polaris deposit (mined 1976–2002, production approximately 20 million tonnes at approximately 17% Zn+Pb; Dewing et al . , ,b). Proterozoic and Paleozoic carbonate strata on Victoria Island contain multiple generations of cement that offer the opportunity to study their diagenetic history and may help illuminate the area's economic potential.…”