NI 43-101 Technical report, Surface diamond drilling ... - Iamgold

R a r e E a r t h E l e m e n t E x p l o r a t i o n P r o g r a m M a r c h - 2 0 1 3
W i n t e r - S u m m e r 2 0 1 2 P a g e | 110
Item 21. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS
21.1 Geological compilation:
The large 2012 drilling program bring new geological information about the REE zone. A
complete compilation of the historical data was done in 2011 and not repeated in 2012. The
new data was merged into the global data base. In the well-known Saint-Honoré carbonatite
complex context, the anterior version of the geological model was judged enough realistic for
the purpose of this report. The geological model will be actualised in 2013 by interpreting
the high definition magnetic survey and the new drilling information.
The 2012 definition program focused on the carbonatite complex. The REE mineralization is
limited to the REE Zone which corresponds to the central core of the carbonatite complex.
The main REE minerals are: bastnaesite and synchysite, both disseminated in the
ferrocarbonatite. It is accompanied with hematitic and /or chloritic alteration in the breccia
facies but also find as centimetre scale, reddish coloured clusters in the massive facies. The
change of textures, from breccia to massive, are often but the mineralisation contain is
homogeneous.
21.2 Drilling
IAMGOLD drilling 2012 campaign (33 holes totalling 23, 851 m) tested the REE zone to a
vertical depth of 1,200 m. This drilling campaign, defined the tridimensional shape of the
REE zone, detailed the resources model and proved the mineralization continuity down to
±1,200m.
It is important to notice that this drilling campaign used a N031°grid orientation (to keep the
same orientation as the mine grid) and completed a 100m X 100m grid down to 350m below
surface. From 350m to 700m, the drilling grid is spaced to 100m x 200m. This new spacing
allowed to transform the 2011 inferred resources into indicated resource and stretched the
grade interpolation at depth.
The 2012 drill campaign, drill core handling, logging and sampling protocols were improved
and are according to conventional industry standards and conform to generally accept best
practices.
21.3 Mineral resources estimation – REE zone
This report include a new resource estimate based on 2012 REE exploration and definition
update. The drilling added in 2012 increased the confidence level of the block model
interpolation and double the resource estimation compared to last year. The REE resource
corresponds to an enriched zone of REEs mineral which is characteristic of this annular
carbonatite type.
3400, chemin du Columbium, St-Honoré-de-Chicoutimi, QC G0V 1L0 Canada – tel. : 418 673-4694 Fax : 418 673-3179
E-mail : info.niobec@iamgold.com www.niobec.com