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Could there be diamonds in Chapleau?

Central Timmins Exploration finds kimberlite pipe north of Borden Lake mine
Central Timmins 3
(Central Timmins Exploration photo)

Central Timmins Exploration has identified a potential kimberlite pipe near Chapleau in northeastern Ontario.

In a Nov. 18 news release, the Toronto-based junior miner called it a “pleasant surprise” that occurred during their search for copper and zinc in Bonar Township, 45 kilometres north of Newmont Goldcorp’s Borden Lake Gold Mine and 90 kilometres north of the town.

The results of a helicopter magnetic survey indicate two magnetic anomalies, a kilometre apart, that appear to be “steeply dipping pipes.” One of the anomalies follows the model of being a possible diamond-bearing kimberlite pipe.

Kimberlite pipes are an indicator of the presence of diamonds. They’re formed by deep volcanic eruptions beneath the Earth’s surface. Only a small percentage of the kimberlite pipes discovered actually contain economic concentrations of diamonds.

The company said the possibility also exists that it’s a magnetic carbonatite pipe, potentially rich in rare earth elements.

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Company president Charles Gryba said in the release that the area was explored for carbonatites in the 1960s.

Geologically, this area is known geologically as the Kapuskasing Structural Zone. It was sampled for diamond indicator minerals in 2001 during Operation Treasure Hunt, a government program designed to stimulate mineral exploration in Ontario through the releasing a large volume of new geoscience data.

A regional airborne survey of the Chapleau portion of this zone was funded in 2002. Two interesting magnetic anomalies were found in Bonar Township.

Gryba sampled this area in 2007 while with Claim Post Resources. He returned and re-staked the claims earlier this year.

Gryba said the possible pipe is accessible by road and appears to be close to the surface.

Central Timmins operates mainly in the Timmins mining camp with a stable of prospective gold and base metal properties, totalling 13,500 hectares.