Knowledge and Methods in Mineral Exploration in Quebec: New Research Results from CONSOREM
November 17 2025, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(Offered only in French)
Room 309B
Regular rate: $250
Student rate: $50
Workshop Organizer: Benoit Lafrance et Angélique Longtin (CONSOREM-UQAC)
This workshop presents the results of research projects carried out in 2024-2025 by CONSOREM (Consortium de recherche en exploration minérale) researchers. CONSOREM is a pre-competitive applied research partnership dedicated to producing cutting-edge knowledge and methods for mineral exploration in Quebec, as well as training and knowledge transfer. The results of 8 projects will be presented, covering a broad spectrum of mineral exploration themes:
1- Lithium in Quebec: mineral potential and exploration tools – phase 2;
2- Identification of synvolcanic hydrothermal discharge faults and their fertility;
3- Fault association, orogenic sedimentary basin and intrusions for gold exploration in contexts other than southern Abitibi – phase 2;
4- Normative calculations from ICP-ES or ICP-MS multi-element analyses with 4-acid extraction;
5- Typology of Archean metasedimentary basins and impact on metallogenic potential, phase 1 : Northern Abitibi Volcanic Zone;
6- Potential of LIDAR for mineral exploration;
7- Biogeochemistry and mineral exploration in a boreal context – phase 3;
8- Systematic geochemical classification of felsic to intermediate intrusions in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory.
9 a.m. – Welcome Address – Benoit Lafrance (CONSOREM-UQAC)
9:15 a.m. – Lithium in Québec: Mineral Potential and Exploration Tools—Phase 2 – Morgane Gigoux (CONSOREM-UQAC)
This collaborative project has made it possible to continue the work aimed at gaining a better understanding of the structural controls at two distinct scales, as discussed in phase 1 of the project. The role of the James Bay metamorphic domes is thought to be an important factor in the development of LCT pegmatites on a regional scale. Several fundamental observations emerge: 1) LCT pegmatite fields are synkinematic and late-tectonic, associated with minor deformation; 2) tensional fracturing is ubiquitous; 3) the role of pulsatile structural permeability is highlighted by rock textures; 4) pegmatites are opportunistic and take advantage of local openings related to minor movements on fabric inherited from bulging (TTG or other intrusions) and regional shortening. These inherited fabrics constitute a strong rheological anisotropy, which leads to wide inflection zones of the fabric being highly conducive to the development of local openings during late ductile-brittle phases, in transpression or transtension. At the same time, the physical, morphological and chemical parameters of the lakes were analysed to facilitate and optimize the identification of anomalies from lake-bottom sediment analyses. The classification of sediment typology proved to be particularly useful in identifying anomalies on a local scale. The statistical method adopted, combining multiple spatial regression and U statistics, has enabled the identification of anomaly groupings in lakes near all known lithiniferous deposits.
9:45 a.m. – Recognition of synvolcanic faults of hydrothermal discharge and their fertility – Philippe Robidoux (CONSOREM)
Within the context of the Archean greenstone belt of Abitibi, particularly the Matagami mining camp, a multivariate analysis method is proposed to distinguish and model in 3D the hydrothermal discharge and recharge faults of ten of the most studied Cu-Zn deposits. The approach combines geochemical methodologies and tools with multivariate analysis and the assignment of hydrothermal components. It finally proposes three-dimensional mapping tools which allow recognizing 37 synvolcanic faults and establish a link with the hydrothermal signatures typical of recharge and discharge zones along the southern flank of the Matagami mining camp. According to the association of hydrothermal components, the methodology can be exported to other mining camps in Abitibi. It can be exported elsewhere internationally in similar contexts and confirms geometries similar to the boundaries specific to known polymetallic VMS deposits.
10:30 a.m. – Break
10:45 a.m. – Fault Association, Orogenic Sedimentary Basin, and Intrusions for Gold Exploration in Contexts Other than the Southern Abitibi — Phase 2 – Lucille Daver (CONSOREM)
11:15 a.m. – ICP-MS and ICP-ES Multielement Normative calculations from 4-acid digestion – Édouard Côté-Lavoie (Gold Fields)
This project aims to improve the lithogeochemical interpretation of ICP data obtained through four-acid and aqua regia digestion, two methods commonly used in mineral exploration. Four-acid ICP allows for near-complete dissolution of major elements (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na), but excludes silica (SiO₂) and loss on ignition (LOI), and does not fully dissolve certain trace elements such as Zr, which are contained in refractory phases. Among these elements, Ti, Nb, Cr, Y, and Th are generally usable (>80% dissolution) for petrogenetic classification and hydrothermal alteration indices. Aqua regia ICP effectively dissolves sulfides, carbonates, and certain silicates such as chlorite and biotite, but does not include SiO₂ and LOI analyses.
Two new normative mineral calculations are proposed:
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- Four-acid ICP norm: Adaptation of CONSOREM tools to calculate normative minerals and a normative SiO₂. The results are reliable except in the presence of large amounts of carbonates, which bias the SiO₂. Alteration indices (ALT_CHLO, ALT_SER, etc.) remain robust, as do those calculated from major elements.
- Aqua regia ICP norm: Based on the SV350 standard, it allows estimation of normative carbonates, sulfides, and chlorite. Two simplified indices (chlorite and carbonates) are also proposed. Finally, a new La/Y index is introduced to estimate calc-alkalinity: an evaluation of classical indices shows that some (Zr/Y, La/Yb) are unsuitable for four-acid ICP.
A case study in the Urban-Barry area illustrates the power of these tools to conclude the demonstration.
12 p.m. – Lunch
1:30 p.m. – Typology of Archean Metasedimentary Basins and Implications for Metallogenic Potential, Phase 1: Northern Abitibi Volcanic Belt – Lucille Daver (CONSOREM)
2 p.m. – Potential of LIDAR surveys for mineral exploration – Jérôme Lavoie (MRNF)
LiDAR surveys have become essential in mineral exploration, particularly for topography, geomorphology, and structural analysis. Following promising results from the CONSOREM 2023-08 project, and thanks to the collaboration of LiDAR specialist (Dave Munger, MRNF) and Quaternary specialist (Hugo Dubé-Loubert, MRNF), the project entered a second phase with two main objectives: (i) the creation of a LiDAR survey user guide, and (ii) the development of a methodology to identify potential outcropping to sub-outcropping zones in lacustrine and marine deposit contexts.
The methodology was tested in an area between the towns of Malartic and Val-d’Or (NTS 32D01 and 32C04) using a MRNF LiDAR survey (5 pts/m² density), combining layers derived from the digital terrain model (rugosity, geomorphology, moisture index, deposits, drainage) with SIGÉOM vector data (outcrops, samples, drill holes). A probability map of outcropping to sub-outcropping zones was generated, identifying priority zones covering 12% of the study area. These results are encouraging for regions with low outcrop density.
Next steps include refining the processing and conducting tests in lesser-known areas and different glacial contexts, such as the Eeyou Istchee Baie-James territory. While the results may be less groundbreaking for a mature region like Abitibi, they are promising for underexplored zones, where each additional surface outcrop could be a game changer for geological understanding and mineral exploration.
2:45 p.m. – Break
3 p.m. – Biogeochemistry and Mineral Exploration in a Boreal Context: Application to CSMs—Phase 3 – Morgane Gigoux (CONSOREM-UQAC)
The main objective of the third phase of this project is to validate the method in a lithiniferous context. An acquisition survey was carried out in early October 2024 on the Cadillac project (Wells-Lacourcière showing, Vision Lithium), located in the Pontiac Subprovince. The survey included 75 sampling stations where spruce trees (bark, twigs and needles) and soils (humus and B horizon) were sampled where possible. All anomalies identified in the initial transect analysis (soils and spruce) are located to the NE of the survey area, predominantly in till and/or rock within the pegmatite walls or slightly further away (in the case of humus). The two directions of N-S and NE-SW glacial flow in the area are responsible for the crag-and-tail morphology of the dykes, which is typical of the passage of a glacier. The anomalies are located either in the glacial train in the till or along the dyke walls. There are two types of anomalies: 1) local clastic anomalies located just behind the relief of the dykes and 2) relatively proximal hydromorphic anomalies along the walls associated with the hydraulic transport of elements leached by rainfall and surface runoff. The presence of distal exotic deltaic deposits to the SW of the survey means that anomalies cannot be discerned from material transported locally by the glacier.
3:30 p.m. – Systematic Geochemical Classification of Felsic to Intermediate Intrusions in the Eeyou Istchee Baie-James Territory – Sylvain Trépanier (Exploration Midland)
This project’s goal was to classify the various intermediate and felsic plutonic suites found in the Eeyou Istchee Baie-James territory into 18 distinct groups. This was done using a systematic approach based on the geochemistry of major and trace elements. The methodology used was inspired by a targeted study on granitoid intrusions in the Yilgarn Craton in Australia, recently completed by Lowry et al. (2023), combined with studies by Laurent et al. (2014) and those of CONSOREM.
The data used in this study comprises over 7,621 analyses from the La Grande, Opinaca, Opatica, and Némiscau sub-provinces. This data was extracted from the SIGÉOM (Quebec’s geoscientific information system) database and came from rock samples labeled as “intermediate” and “felsic.”
The systematic geochemical classification into 18 different groups allows for greater discrimination of the lithogeochemical trends observed in the studied region. This large-scale classification and the analysis of the spatial distribution of the different groups are very promising for increasing our knowledge of the spatial and temporal evolution of the crust and magmatic sources in the Eeyou Istchee Baie-James region. The classification also helps to identify certain families of intrusions based on their metallogenic potential for various substances.
4:30 p.m. – End of workshop