Exploration is the science and process of discovering and delineating new mineral resources at Thor. Taranis has undertaken exploration at Thor since 2006 almost every year during the field season from June through October. Tabulate below is a list of exploration that has been completed on the project, but is by no means definitive!
Drilling - Lots and lots of drilling, in fact over 250 drill holes completed by Taranis. All of the drilling is carefully supervised by 'Qualified Persons" as outlined under NI 43-101 regulations. This drilling has been undertaken on a 1.5 km long stretch of the Thor deposit and has been spaced at 40 m section spacing.
Trenching and Channel Sampling - Again, many channel samples designed to delineate the deposit at surface. Included in this is underground back sampling that is able to document the tenor and widths of mineralized zones underground. This data is also NI 43-101 compliant and is being used to create a second NI 43-101 compliant Resource estimate.
Geophysics - One of the greatest challenges of drilling-out an ore deposit is trying to ascertain the extents and limits of the deposit. Ore deposits typically have physical characteristics that can be used to locate other portions of the deposit using geophysics, and even map out surrounding rock types that have importance to the ore deposit. Taranis has completed numerous geophysical surveys at Thor including electromagnetics, surface and borehole magnetics, and resistivity surveys. Very Low Frequency ("VLF") electromagnetic surveys and resisitivity profiling surveys have had the most success in directly locating mineralization. Ground magnetics have been useful in mapping a very important rock unit at Thor called the Green Tuff.
Mapping - Geological mapping has proven to be invaluable at Thor, and can be used to map a large anticline structure that controls much of the Thor deposit. Using geological mapping, exposures of the Sharon Creek and Broadview Formations can be located to precisely ascertain the location of the mineralized zone at Thor. In addition to lithological mapping, structural mapping is used to map the location of folds by mapping S0 (primary bedding surfaces), and a prevalent schistosity (S1) that is related to folding of the rock units. A lineation (L1) is also present and is formed by the intersection of the S0 and S1 planar surfaces. This lineation is very pronounced and mimics the geometry of the actual deposit. There are also two periods of folding at Thor, and these are designated F1 and F2. The F1 folds are the oldest and plunge steeply to the southeast, and the F2 are by far the most common and are related to the major Thor Anticline and have had the most pronounced impact on the folding of the Thor deposit.
Ground Geochemistry - In addition to the above, Taranis also conduct detailed ground soil sampling surveys and rock sampling surveys, since these provide inexpensive methods of indirectly locating other areas of mineralization.
Drilling - Lots and lots of drilling, in fact over 250 drill holes completed by Taranis. All of the drilling is carefully supervised by 'Qualified Persons" as outlined under NI 43-101 regulations. This drilling has been undertaken on a 1.5 km long stretch of the Thor deposit and has been spaced at 40 m section spacing.
Trenching and Channel Sampling - Again, many channel samples designed to delineate the deposit at surface. Included in this is underground back sampling that is able to document the tenor and widths of mineralized zones underground. This data is also NI 43-101 compliant and is being used to create a second NI 43-101 compliant Resource estimate.
Geophysics - One of the greatest challenges of drilling-out an ore deposit is trying to ascertain the extents and limits of the deposit. Ore deposits typically have physical characteristics that can be used to locate other portions of the deposit using geophysics, and even map out surrounding rock types that have importance to the ore deposit. Taranis has completed numerous geophysical surveys at Thor including electromagnetics, surface and borehole magnetics, and resistivity surveys. Very Low Frequency ("VLF") electromagnetic surveys and resisitivity profiling surveys have had the most success in directly locating mineralization. Ground magnetics have been useful in mapping a very important rock unit at Thor called the Green Tuff.
Mapping - Geological mapping has proven to be invaluable at Thor, and can be used to map a large anticline structure that controls much of the Thor deposit. Using geological mapping, exposures of the Sharon Creek and Broadview Formations can be located to precisely ascertain the location of the mineralized zone at Thor. In addition to lithological mapping, structural mapping is used to map the location of folds by mapping S0 (primary bedding surfaces), and a prevalent schistosity (S1) that is related to folding of the rock units. A lineation (L1) is also present and is formed by the intersection of the S0 and S1 planar surfaces. This lineation is very pronounced and mimics the geometry of the actual deposit. There are also two periods of folding at Thor, and these are designated F1 and F2. The F1 folds are the oldest and plunge steeply to the southeast, and the F2 are by far the most common and are related to the major Thor Anticline and have had the most pronounced impact on the folding of the Thor deposit.
Ground Geochemistry - In addition to the above, Taranis also conduct detailed ground soil sampling surveys and rock sampling surveys, since these provide inexpensive methods of indirectly locating other areas of mineralization.
In conclusion, Taranis geologists are always trying to gain a better understanding of the deposit using a variety of established exploration methods. One of the best ways to gain an understanding of the deposit is to use the data collected from exploration and incorporate it into software that is able to analyze the data in three dimensions!