EMinar 3.23: Hannah Peterson - Comparison of airborne EM data over two magmatic nickel deposits

Historic exploration for economical nickel (Ni) mineralization has often targeted magmatic sulfide deposits in extensional settings. However, convergent margin hosted Alaskan-type complexes represent a potentially underexplored source of Ni. Case studies of the geophysical responses associated with two magmatic-Ni deposits, one typical and one associated with an Alaskan-type complex, are presented and the results compared. Data was assessed from historic and newly acquired airborne geophysical data collected over the Mayville property in southeast Manitoba and the Turnagain property in northern British Colombia, explored by Mustang Minerals Corporation and Giga Metals Corporation, respectively. Airborne electromagnetic (EM) and magnetic data were utilized to make comparisons of the two properties and the mineralized zones specifically. The review showed that the Mayville magmatic sulfide deposit was directly detectible with electromagnetic methods, with passive and active source methods being complimentary to one another. The EM data did not directly detect the Turnagain Alaskan-type deposit, but the magnetics data proved to be successful in defining the geological framework. Implications for future targeting and exploration for economical Ni mineralization are considered.