New targets for diamond exploration in the Mattawa-Cobalt corridor have been identified through a newly released stream sediment survey undertaken by the Ontario Geological Survey (OGS).
The Mattawa-Cobalt corridor stream sediment sampling survey outlined a number of sites with significant numbers of kimberlite indicator minerals, important in the search for kimberlite rock, which can host diamonds.
"Some of the samples collected contain anomalous numbers of rare mineral grains such as G10 garnets, chromites, magnesium ilmenites and chrome diopsides,” says Janet Reid, OGS geologist. "The results are significant in terms of the numbers of grains recovered and their geochemistry. This warrants further investigation for diamond bearing rocks.”
This study is one of more than two dozen ongoing OGS field projects investigating Ontario’s geology and mineral potential. This year, the OGS will invest $7.8 million on a total of 90 geoscience projects across Ontario. Independent studies show that each $1 million of government investment in geological survey activities will trigger $3 million to $5 million of private sector exploration expenditures over the long term.
