Commerce Resources (TSX.V: CCE, Frankfurt:D7H) has concluded a successful exploration and development programme at the Company's Blue River Tantalum and Niobium Project in east-central British Columbia. It has indeed been a busy summer for CCE during which a total of 131 HQ diameter drill holes, totalling 26,281 m, were completed. In addition, a bulk sample of approximately 2,000 tonnes of material from the Upper Fir Carbonatite was collected and stockpiled on the property. Regional exploration conducted during 2008 identified several new tantalum-niobium, rare earth (REE), and/or carbonatite occurrences on the property.
Concerted efforts at the Upper Fir Deposit
Much of the focus has been at the Upper Fir Carbonatite where CCE has completed 118 drill holes totalling 23,724 m, to both infill and expand upon the existing tantalum and niobium resource base. Approximately 4,663 m of carbonatite was intersected by this drill programme with one half of the core sampled sent for analysis to ACME Analytical Laboratories Ltd. in Vancouver. Upper Fir has seen considerable development efforts so far as CCE has already completed 40 holes totalling 8,558 prior to 2008.
The drill programme was marked with encouraging results as 139.86 m of carbonatite was intersected in hole F-08-88 and 96.77 m, of continuous carbonatite was intersected in hole F-08-111 (thickness is apparent). In addition, 70.08 m true thickness of carbonatite was intersected in hole F-08-153, which represented a potentially new and significant zone south of the main deposit.
During the bulk sampling programme which accompanied the drill programme some 2,000 tonnes of carbonatite was extracted from 17 benches at three different sample pits, which were also sent for further analysis. The work will extend the characterisation programme previously completed leading to information that will support the development of a preliminary flow sheet for a pilot plant programme.
But not limited to the upper Fir
CCE 2008 drill campaign was not entirely focused on the Upper Fir deposit but also included Switch Creek Carbonatite (3 drill holes), Hodgie Rare Earth Zone (4 drill holes) and Lower Gum Creek Zone (6 drill holes). At the Switch Creek, total of 486.33 m was drilled, with approximately 55.52 m of carbonatite intersected.
Exploration conducted during 2008 at Hodgie Rare Earth Zone confirmed the significance of a rare-earth element (REE) occurrence identified during the later part of 2007 and named the 'Hodgie Zone'. Prospecting within the Hodgie area suggests that rare-earth mineralization may be comprised of several zones extending at least 2,000 meters along strike. A total of 84 grab samples were collected from float and outcrops within the area with seven samples returning total REEs + Y(yttrium) greater than 2.0% to a high of 11.1%. Results of several samples are still outstanding.
Meanwhile in the Lower Gum Creek Zone was identified by a series of niobium-in-soil anomalies discovered during the 2007 regional exploration programme. No significant intervals of carbonatite were intersected during the 2008 drill programme. It is believed that the source of the niobium mineralization may lay further upslope and to the east of the area drill tested.
As regional exploration discovers several new carbonatites…
Further underpinning CCE’s resource base, the company’s exploration programme has led to the discovery of several new carbonatites, as well as the extension of two carbonatites previously discovered within the existing property boundaries. Thirteen new claims have been staked along the southeast margin of the existing claim block to ensure full coverage of the newly discovered Felix Carbonatite. Sampling and mapping have been completed to allow further evaluation of all the carbonatite bodies.
In addition to the carbonatite discoveries, several areas have been identified containing elevated levels of REEs. Preliminary results reveal an area north east of Mud Lake, approximately 15 km south of the Hodgie Zone, as an anomalous area indicative of ultramafic geology. The data is currently being compiled and analysis is ongoing.
… environmental and regulatory programmes take off
In addition to drill programmes CCE is advancing environmental and regulatory programmes to position the Blue River Tantalum and Niobium to enter the environmental assessment process once a development decision is made. Field programmes, which were completed on time and on budget, include surface and groundwater sampling, hydrology, wildlife, and fisheries work.
CCE thus marks a successful 2008 drill campaign and the market turmoil has failed to dent the company’s development endeavours. CCE remains well-financed and has no intention of slowing down according to the management. With the closure of Wodgina mine by Talison Minerals, CCE’s march towards a producing company comes as no surprise. Wodgina is the world’s largest tantalum operation which supplied over 30 percent of the World’s tantalum demand in 2008.