Nordic Mining has entered into agreement with landowners and secured exclusive rights for investigation and development of a quartz deposit in Kvinnherad municipality in Hordaland country in Norway. Preliminary mapping, analysis and processing test show that the deposit is a massive ore of high purity quartz interesting for several specialized marked applications.
The scoping study for the Kvinnherad Quartz project is availiable here.
As explained in the stock exchange release 20.12.2012 certain parts of the study is excluded in the published report for commercial reasons.
21.02.2013 Mona Schanche, exploration manager held a presentation at a meeting in Kvinnherad municipal council. See the Norwegian presentation here.
GEOLOGY
The Nesodden deposit consists of hydrothermal quartz situated in Proterozoic basement rocks south of the Hardanger Fault Zone. The quartz vein is about 600 meter long and on average 15 meters wide. A cross-cutting of the hillside shows that the deposit continues to at least 150 metres depth.
Nesodden Quartz vein, in photo Prof. Geol Rune B. Larsen
A preliminary estimate made of the deposit indicates approximately 2.7 million tons of hydrothermal quartz. The deposit has an attractive logistical location in a hilly terrain close to county road and adjacent to the sea.
Topographic map showing the Nesodden Quartz deposit (red)
HIGH PURITY QUARTZ
Quartz is a raw material for a range of products depending on the level of purity. For example is high-purity quartz (HPQ) used in high-tech and value added products. There is a growing demand for HPQ in industry applications such as in semiconductors, telecommunication, optics, electronics and solar silicon.
Nordic Mining has initiated a comprehensive analysis and test program at Dorfner Anzaplan’s laboratory in Germany. Dorfner ANZAPLAN, is an internationally accredited German laboratory with extensive experience in high purity quartz (HPQ) processing and analysis. The chemical results for two bulk samples of white quartz are shown in the table below. The content of impurities was analyzed at low detection limits and show that the quartz has a high purity.
Click here to see table
The level of impurities has been further reduced through advanced processing by Dorfner ANZAPLAN. The tests involved various separation methods to remove contaminants, including mechanical separation and acid leaching techniques. Concentrates with a total level of impurities less than 15 ppm was produced. In resent advanced processing tests the total level of alkalis (K, Na, Li) was reduced to 0.3 ppm. This is in the range of ”Iota 6” which is one of the highest grade products on the market. Melting tests has also demonstrated that the bubble content in glass products are at an acceptable level.
White Quartz from Nesodden deposit (Dorfner ANZAPLAN 2011)
Nordic Mining has established contacts with industrial companies in different market segments and is aiming at testing the quartz for various applications. Specifications and the quality level for quartz products vary between different applications and producers. While unprocessed quartz from Nesodden seems to meet specifications for solar silicon production, it may be further processed to meet the requirements for high purity markets such as optical glass, lamp tubing, crucibles, semiconductors and microelectronics.
Nordic Mining will do further geological investigations of the deposit, i.a. with the purpose to verify homogeneity and processing properties based on several samples. Further, the company will start preparations for an industrial area plan related to possible future production from the deposit. Contacts with potential customers and stakeholders will be continued. For more information see Company press releases and presentations.
GEOPHYSICAL MEASUREMENTS SHOW UPSIDE POTENTIAL
Nordic Mining has carried out a magnetic survey of the quartz deposit in Kvinnherad. The results from the survey give increased confidence in a sizable quartz deposit in Kvinnherad and indicate a larger depth continuation than the preliminary estimate of 2.7 million tonnes of quartz (not JORC compliant).
NGU’s preliminary estimate is based on field mapping of a 12 meter wide, 600 meter long and 150 meter deep quartz vein. The magnetic survey supports this estimate and indicates an even larger extension of the quartz vein both horizontally and vertically. Depth interpretations of the magnetic data show that it is likely that the vein extends to at least 150 meters below surface. There are also indications of a possible further continuation to about 300 meters depth.
The indicated wider parts of the quartz vein will be further investigated by surface mapping. The actual depth of the vein and the down dip quality will be verified by drilling and analysis.
The Swedish company GeoVista AB has executed the survey. The full report from the magnetic survey is available on this link: Magnetic Survey at Nesodden –survey and interpretation report.
Related articles from media (some of them are in Norwegian):
Nesodden quartz. Article published in Industrial Minerals, February 2011
Exploring quartz deposit. Article published in Grenda, January 2011
Quartz deposit in Kvinnherad. Article published in Kvinnheringen January 2011
Pictures from Nesodden deposit
Exposed quartz in waterfall
Approximate position of the North Eastern vein
Massive white quartz. Orange colour caused surface weathering