Unveiling Hidden Resource Treasures of Quebec
Quebec’s rich mineral endowment has long driven its economy. Recently, the gold mining sector flourished with record-high spot prices, drawing interest towards active junior exploration companies. Enriched deposits bearing precious and base metals, industrial minerals, and exotic elements, have been outlined. In 2021 gold claimed the title as Canada’s most valuable commodity, with Quebec being the second-largest domestic gold producing region. The province was also the nation’s leader in terms of overall mining activity, with exploration spending exceeding $988 million.
Exploration and mining, centered on favourable geology, have contributed to infrastructure development in local communities servicing mining centers. The provincial government’s proactive policies and financial incentives encourage further activity, consistently ranking Quebec among the world’s top gold-producing jurisdictions worldwide due to its mining-friendly policies.
The history of mining in Quebec goes back to the discovery of North America, ingraining the industry in the province’s cultural identity. The province encourages exploration, discovery and deposit appraisal of Quebec’s mineral resources, supporting the growth of the gold mining sector, all while remaining committed to sustainability and environmental protection.
Prospective Geology of Mineral Deposits
Favourable circumstances contribute to Quebec’s successful mining track record. Economic gold mining relies on various factors, starting with prospective geology. Quebec hosts some of the planet’s oldest rock formations. Extensive fault structures in ancient rock act as plumbing systems, transporting minerals and metals along a geological convection cell. Successful gold mining districts concentrate along structural corridors, where natural processes create valuable deposits. Favourable host rock adjacent to the main structural corridors yields additional mineral wealth including nickel, copper, iron and zinc.
Rich deposits clustered within established mining districts attracted major international mining companies to Quebec. Among them, Rio Tinto holds a Canadian subsidiary, operating in aluminum, minerals processing, and titanium production. Glencore PLC operates the Raglan nickel mine in northern Quebec. Moreover, Quebec houses the largest open-pit gold mine in Canada, Agnico Eagle’s Malartic Mine and the LaRonde mine, the deepest underground gold mine in Canada. Dozens of other mines are in operation or are under development in Quebec.
Junior explorers like Troilus Gold, promote the mining sector with exciting discoveries in a gold-producing district. Troilus Gold’s historic mining project, which now hosts over 11.21 million ounces of gold equivalent ounces (Indicated) and 1.8 million ounces (Inferred)*, is a testament to Quebec as a world-class gold mining jurisdiction.
* Indicated: 508.3 Mt at 0.69g/t AuEQ; Inferred: 80.5 Mt at 0.69g/t AuEQ. Cut off grades are based on $US 1850/oz Au, $4.25/lb Cu, and $23/oz Ag with a currency exchange rate of US$1.00 : CAD$1.30. Recoveries varied with an average of 90% gold, 92.5% silver and 91.8% copper, not including consideration from other metals.
Technological Advancements and Innovations to Improve Efficiency
Paving the way for more successful exploration activity, new technology is constantly being developed and implemented, upgrading the potential to unveil a mineral discovery. Geophysical surveying is one proven method to gain insights into characteristics of host rock formations, often with the capacity to interpret data down to several hundred meters below the surface. Given the enormous area of Quebec that is prospective for gold mining and other mineral resource development, employing the most up-to-date and effective exploration techniques is a prerequisite to narrow the focus.
In past years, geophysical surveys have involved helicopters flying grid patterns with a deployed sensor array. Newer innovations now permit for more cost-effective options by attaching sensors to smaller airborne drone units. Flight patterns can be coordinated using GPS tracking.
Resource modelling software has been developed to compile widespread data intervals and then interpret these results into a three-dimensional image of a deposit. The image may be used to highlight potential ‘gap zones’ where additional resources may have been overlooked. The technology can also be tuned to assist with planning and optimization for mine development. Troilus Gold is one of several Quebec explorers employing resource modelling software to better understand its mineral deposits and help identify future potential mining targets.
The landscape of Quebec gold exploration opportunities remains at least as attractive today as it has been since the early prospecting years that established the province as one of the most productive mining centers in the world. Technological refinements continue to enhance efficiency for the active players at all phases of development. Advances for successful exploration in previously overlooked regions of Quebec will eventually lead to more prosperous gold mining in the years ahead.
