Since the 1990s, the area has been the subject of mapping and prospecting work, as well as some local airborne and ground geophysics surveys. SOQUEM and its partners at the time also conducted several brief drilling programs on a few showings.
The Rex South component of the most recent exploration program (the SOQUEM-funded summer 2021 Nunavik Alliance program) consisted of diamond drilling (738 m in 5 holes), geophysics (IP and magnetics) and channel sampling (PR of September 15, 2021). The latest set of acquired data is being reviewed.
Azimut’s 2019 work program focused on the eastern claim block. A total of 320 grab samples were collected primarily from outcrops. A heliborne Mag-EM(HELITEM)-spectrometric survey (4,611.7 line-km) was flown over the property. The work led to the discovery of a new mineralized zone with grades up to 3.07% Cu, and the extension of previously known zones. The most important are described in the sections below (PRs of September 4 and November 25, 2019).
Overall, the Rex South property shows evidence for two types of district-scale mineralized systems:
- Intrusion-related polymetallic system associated with an oval (5 km by 15 km) fluorite-topaz-bearing A-type intrusive complex (the Qalluviartuuq Intrusive Complex: “QIC”). This includes the Augossan, Anorthosite, Copperton, Dragon, Lebreuil and Boreal zones and the Pegor and Ferrus prospects. Considerable additional exploration potential exists along the 30-km contact between the QIC and the volcano-sedimentary host rocks, as well as within the intrusion itself. The Aura-Pegor and Lebreuil zones may represent a less eroded part of the system (possible roof zones) along the extensions of the trend. The QIC mineralized system has several features in common with the Breves deposit in Brazil (see PR of April 4, 2012).
- IOCG mineralization associated with brittle structures and copper-dominant values (Jemima Zone, Sombrero Prospect, Impact Prospect). Mineralization is accompanied by magnetite, hematite and pervasive potassic alteration.
Mineralized zones
Augossan Zone
The Augossan Zone represents a large polymetallic envelope (Au, Ag, Cu, W, Sn, Te, Bi, Rb, Mo) about 8 km long by 100 to 350 m wide at the contact between the QIC and volcano-sedimentary rocks. The zone remains open in all directions, notably toward the intrusion. Grab samples returned grades of up to 47.2 g/t Au, 90.0 g/t Ag, 2.56% Cu, 60.8 g/t Te, 4.62% W, 7.53% Sn, 0.36% Mo, 0.77% Bi, and 0.25% Rb in grab samples. Channel sampling yielded 7.53% Sn, 0.72% W and 0.14% Cu over 2.7 m. RC drilling highlights include: 0.14% W over 15.24 m, 0.12% W and 0.35% Cu over 7.62 m; 1.28 g/t Au, 8.41 g/t Ag and 0.12% Cu over 6.1 m; 1.10 g/t Au and 2.60 g/t Ag over 9.14 m. Augossan represents the first reported occurrence of significant tungsten grades in the Nunavik region.
Copperton Zone
The Copperton Zone, 3.5 km long by 20 to 100 m wide, is hosted in a variably sheared, steeply dipping feldspathic intrusion and amphibolites and gneissic metasediments. Mineralization is disseminated to semi-massive chalcopyrite, pyrite and pyrrhotite. The best grades were 9.56 g/t Au, 82.7 g/t Ag, 9.56% Cu, 38.4 g/t Te and 0.23% W in various grab samples.
Dragon North Zone
The Dragon North target zone, 450 m long by 90 m wide, is hosted in foliated mafic and felsic volcanics striking NW and dipping to the NE. Mineralization is mainly chalcopyrite accompanied by lesser pyrite and magnetite. The best grab samples are 4.05% Cu, 0.6% Mo and 2.78% Cu, 0.13% Mo. Alteration is mainly silicification.
Dragon Zone
The Dragon Zone, roughly 2 km in strike length, is hosted in felsic orthogneiss. Mineralization occurs as chalcopyrite in quartz veins and veinlets associated with tourmaline. Alteration is marked by epidote and hematite. The best grades from grab samples are 3.67% Cu, 11.2 g/t Au and 48.5 g/t Te.
Anorthosite Zone
A few reconnaissance holes and the prospecting data for this gold-copper-tungsten zone have outlined a preliminary envelope 4 km long by 200 m wide, with Au, Ag, Cu, W and Te mineralization.
Aura–Pegor Zone
The Aura–Pegor Zone, 2 km long, is characterized by disseminated pyrite and strong alteration, including tourmaline in veinlets or stockworks accompanied by silica and albite. Grab sample grades range from 0.5 g/t Au to 11.75 g/t Au, with anomalous values of other elements up to 0.37% Cu, 0.06% W, 0.14% Bi and 34 g/t Te.
Jemima Zone
The Jemima Zone, 2 km long by 30 to 100 m wide, is characterized by disseminated to semi-massive chalcopyrite and bornite associated with hematite-magnetite in veins, veinlets or breccia cement, accompanied by strong pervasive potassic alteration, silica, chlorite and epidote. Grab samples assayed from 0.5% to 2.86% Cu, with up to 0.17% Mo and 0.422 g/t Re.
November 23, 2022
Azimut to Present at the Quebec Mines + Énergie Conference on the Rex and James Bay Nickel Projects
September 15, 2021
Azimut and SOQUEM Drill the District-Scale Rex and Rex South Copper-Gold Properties in the Nunavik Region of Quebec
September 1, 2020
Azimut Provides an Update on its Exploration Programs
January 7, 2020
Azimut further Proves the AZtechMine™ Expert System as an Efficient Discovery Tool for Mineral Exploration
November 25, 2019
Azimut and SOQUEM Report Encouraging Copper-Gold Results from the Rex South Property, Nunavik Region, Quebec
September 4, 2019
Azimut and SOQUEM near completion of $4 Million Gold-Copper Exploration Program over the Rex Trend in Nunavik, Northern Quebec
May 15, 2019
Azimut and SOQUEM Sign Final Strategic Alliance Agreement
January 16, 2018
Azimut: Strategic Update
September 9, 2014
Azimut delineates major gold-polymetallic prospective zones at Rex South, Nunavik, Northern Quebec
October 4, 2012
Azimut strengthens the Augossan Zone (Cu-W-Au-Ag) on its Rex South property, Nunavik, Quebec
September 13, 2012
Azimut obtains encouraging Copper-Gold results from the Copperton Zone on the Rex South property, Nunavik, Quebec
September 11, 2012
Azimut completes exploration program along the Rex Trend in Nunavik, Northern Quebec
April 4, 2012
Azimut reports district-scale Gold-Copper-Tungsten results at Rex South, Nunavik, Northern Quebec
November 29, 2011
Azimut wins Quebec Prospector of the Year Award
October 31, 2011
Azimut and Aurizon expand district-scale polymetallic discovery at Rex South, Nunavik, Quebec
October 13, 2011
Azimut and its partner Aurizon complete major exploration programs in Nunavik, Northern Quebec
May 17, 2011
Azimut announces the start of ground geophysics on the Rex and Rex South properties in Nunavik, Quebec
March 31, 2011
Azimut controls a 330-kilometre Copper-Gold trend in Nunavik, Quebec
February 22, 2011
Azimut further defines major Copper and Gold exploration targets at Rex South, Nunavik, Quebec
February 15, 2011
Azimut and Aurizon re-evaluate tungsten values on the Copper-Gold Augossan Zone at Rex South, Nunavik, Quebec
January 12, 2011
Azimut’s partner Aurizon accelerates exploration at Rex South (Gold-Silver-Copper-Tungsten) in Nunavik, Quebec
December 20, 2010
Azimut reports major progress in Nunavik
November 8, 2010
Azimut and Aurizon discover major polymetallic porphyry-type mineralization (Gold-Silver-Copper-Tungsten) at Rex South, Nunavik, Quebec
October 7, 2010
Azimut and Aurizon complete comprehensive work program at Rex South, Nunavik, Quebec
May 26, 2010
Azimut and Aurizon sign a Letter of Intent for the Rex South Property (Gold-Copper-Rare Earth Elements), Nunavik, Quebec
May 18, 2010
Azimut stakes a large Gold-Copper-Rare Earth Element exploration target in Nunavik, Quebec