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| | September 30, 2009
Canadian International Minerals targets hi-tech metals/minerals
Publisher: Resource World Magazine
Author: Dorothy Hoffert
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| | Canadian International Minerals Inc. [CIN-CNSX] is focused on the discovery and development of minerals and metals used in industrial and technical applications. Michael Schuss, CEO, an experienced prospector, has guided the company toward his vision of being a major player in the exploration for silicon, rare earth elements (REE's), tantalum and niobium.
CIN has a large land position in a well known quartzite belt located two kilometers northeast of the town of Golden in east-central British Columbia. The Solar claims are 1,315 hectares in area and cover six kilometres of the favourable Mt. Wilson Formation consisting of fine grained white quartzites with widths of up to 500 metres. The Mt. Wilson Formation is recognized for hosting world class quartzite deposits of greater than 99.5% silicon dioxide (SiO2).
This material, known as High Purity Quartz (HPQ), is presently in short supply worldwide as most known sources face depletion or mine closures. Silica exploration in the Golden region is relatively simple as the formations are continuous and in strata that are easily recognizable. The topography of the claim group is moderate and is accessible by existing roads. The Solar claims are strategically situated between two permitted silica producers. The Golden quartzites are known for their purities to host premium feedstock for the production of silicon metal.
The town of Golden is a regional transportation centre located on the Trans Canada Highway and the CP Rail mainline. Excellent infrastructure required for a bulk tonnage mining operation exists in the immediate area of the claims. High purity quartz is in demand by producers of solar grade metal. Entek International was a recent recipient of US $299 million from the U.S. Department of Energy for development of its silica-based technical applications for batteries used in hybrid and electric cars. Silicon-based products impact our lives every day and its applications are found in computers and electronics, automobiles, textiles, household products, building construction and the aerospace industry, to name a few.
In February 2009, CIN entered into an option agreement with Commerce Resources Corp. [CCE-TSXV] to acquire a 75% interest in the Carbo claims located 80 kilometres northeast of Prince George, BC. Exploration conducted by Teck in the late 1980s led to the discovery of mineralization identified as carbonatite plugs, dykes and sills prospective for rare earth elements. A sampling program was conducted by Commerce in 2006. Out of 40 samples taken, 36 contained anomalously high concentrations of rare earth elements. A program of geological mapping, soil and rock sampling and trenching was completed this year. Results are pending.
CIN has retained Mackevoy Geosciences Ltd. to advise on its exploration programs for REE's in B.C. Heading the exploration team is Professor Lee Groat, Director of Integrated Sciences at the University Of British Columbia Faculty Of Earth Sciences, who is a specialist in rare and exotic minerals and metals. In retaining Professor Groat, CIN is capitalizing on a unique and limited pool of expertise in a relatively obscure branch of mineral exploration which has recently been recognized by resource sector investors.
CIN can also acquire a 100% interest in the Deadhorse Creek REE project. The property consists of 52 units located in Walsh Township, in the Thunder Bay Mining Division, 25 kilometres northwest of Marathon, Ontario. Exploration conducted in the 1980s indicated the presence of several different geological formations on the property that host various degrees of rare earth elements and associated minerals, including other valuable metals such as yttrium, zirconium, beryllium, niobium and uranium.
The company has completed a 400.3 line-km AeroTEM III helicopter airborne survey over its 100%-owned copper-gold-silver Copper Mountain property near Princeton, BC. Several known indicator and mineralized formations in the survey area were flown to provide signatures for large areas covered by overburden which in the past has hindered traditional exploration methods. Targets identified by this program will be followed up with ground work which may include trenching and 3D IP. The Copper Mountain property directly adjoins Mitsubishi and Copper Mountain Mining Corp.'s project that is completing final mine design and is scheduled for production in 2011. This mine produced 1.7 billion pounds of copper up until 1996 and has a current resource of about 5 billion pounds of copper. It is estimated that the mine will produce 1.47 billion pounds of copper, 452,000 ounces of gold and 4.5 million ounces of silver over a 17 year mine life. |
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