"Minerals - seven years exploring and mapping Peace River volcanic ashes."

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Peace River volcanics and diamond indicators

note ash layer in Upper Shaftsbury shales

Reconnaissance, magnetic survey, mapping, photos, sampling, bagging, assessment, reporting.

Diamond Exploration

an exacting and painstaking process.

identify targets - topographical or geochemical

survey and delineate - magnetic survey or geochem

map and plan - geophysical, topo maps, air photos

access and locate - surface permits and GPS to location

drill, excavate, sample

observations - accurate and complete field notes

sample - bags, buckets, security, inventory

transport and deliver

Volcanics and the Peace River Arch

In 1993 there was little or no mention of volcanics, kimberlites or diamonds in the Peace River Country of Alberta. There was only passing mention of bentonites and possibly volcanically derived clays in the area south of Peace River Town, made by geologist L.A. Bayrock in 1957. In the 90s, there were rumors of an outcropping tuff cut by the highway a few miles south of Peace River Town.

Now, between Peace River Town and Valleyview, kimberlites have been discovered. These twin kimberlite pipes are known as the Mountain Lake diatremes. West of Peace River, there are ashes and diamond indicator minerals in Many Islands Creek and Montagneuse River.

Northwest of Peace River Town is the world's 6th largest iron ore deposit where micro-diamonds have apparently been recovered. These and other mineral deposits in the Peace River District are linked to deep faults. On-trend and northeast of Peace River are the diamondiferous Buffalo Hills kimberlites and the barren Legend Lake kimberlites.

Ashes and bentonitic soils of the Peace River Arch are associated with Late Cretaceous volcanic events and the emplacement of kimberlite pipes (Mountain Lake) and related host rocks in diatremes (Buffalo Head Hills).

The Whitestone Maker

Bentonite soils of Peace River Country may be from proximal events. The Whitestone Marker is a stratigraphic layer that lies above the Upper Shaftsbury, above and possibly within the Dunvegan Formation. They are associated with Dunvegan derived fluvial sands. Occurences seem to be within radial centers on the Peace River Arch near Hines Creek, Many Island Creek and possibly outcrop at Notikewan Hill.

A stratigraphic marker indicates the top of what I call the AWT sequence (Ash-Whitestone-Tertiary), an overlaying ash-bentonite or tuff associated with diamond indicator minerals. The marker occurs in the Many Islands Creek and Montagneuse River Valley area in thicknesses up to 7 meters. High pyroxene mineral counts (diopside, chrome diopside) are reported and can be seen as a green tinge in certain sand layers. Nearby, high-quality mantle indicators such as chrome pyrope, eclogitic garnet and chromite have been discovered.

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Arriba Land & Minerals Corp., 195, 132-250 Shawville Blvd. SE, Calgary, T2Y 2Z7 E-mail

Disclaimer: This article is for information and educational purposes only and neither the author nor Arriba are responsible for interpretation or misinterpretation of the information provided and direct the reader to articles and publications relating to this page for updated and current information. Arriba is a petroleum and minerals land company and acts on behalf of clients by contract in that capacity.