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Surface rock chip and grab samples are collected by Antares field-personnel using hammer and chisels. Rock chips are immediately placed into cloth or plastic sample bags, secured with a plastic zip tie, and labelled with a unique Antares sample number. Most of the rock chip samples are semi-continuous chip channel samples and are typically two (2) metres in length, but this depends upon the nature of the outcrop and/or road cut being sampled. The bagged samples are then transported to the nearest Antares field camp, by Antares personnel, where they were stored in a secure area pending shipment to a certified laboratory sample prep facility.
Talus debris or float samples are collected in those areas of low outcrop density or cover. Many of the areas in which Antares works are covered with a thin veneer of rock talus or float; however this float material has not been transported very far and is basically a result of in situ weather and erosion of the bedrock. Therefore, the objective of collecting this type of sample is to test if it would be useful in the identification of thinly buried/covered mineralization.
Trenches are typically excavated to bedrock with an average depth of 0.5-2.0 metres and a width of 1-1.5 metres, using a large excavator. If bedrock is not encountered within approximately 2 metres, then for safety reasons the trench is discontinued. All loose rock is cleared away from the floor of the trench to expose a clean smooth bedrock surface. Sample intervals, typically two (2) metres in length, but variable depending upon the nature of the bedrock, are then marked by an Antares geologist.
Channel samples are then cut with a portable, gas-powered, water-cooled, diamond channel saw. Two parallel cuts are made approximately 5 cm apart and to a depth of 3 to 4 cm. Samples are then extracted by Antares field personnel with the aid of a hammer and chisel; with emphasis on constant sample volume for the length of the sample interval. Rock chips are immediately placed into a plastic sample bag, secured with a plastic zip tie, and labelled with a unique Antares sample number. The sample site is then marked with a metal tag inscribed with the unique Antares sample number. The bagged samples are then transported to the nearest Antares field camp, by Antares personnel, where they were stored in a secure area pending shipment to a certified laboratory sample prep facility.
Reverse circulation drill samples are collected immediately at the drill-hole site. Reverse circulation drilling is completed with dry conditions; however if water is encountered, the drilling method is converted to diamond drill core to insure sample integrity. Dry drill sample cuttings are collected in a cyclone over a two (2) metre sample interval and then passed through a riffle splitter to sequentially reduce the sample size. One-eighth of the sample (9-10 kg) is then placed into a pre-labelled plastic bag, sealed with a plastic zip tie, and identified with a unique Antares sample number. The bagged samples are then transported to the nearest Antares camp, by Antares personnel, where they are stored in a secure area pending shipment to a certified laboratory sample prep facility.
The remaining seven-eighths of the sample are then stored in a large, labelled plastic bag at the drill site for future reference. The reference samples from mineralized intervals are transported to the nearest Antares camp, by Antares personnel. A small representative sample of the rock cuttings from each interval is placed into a plastic sample tray for subsequent geological logging of the hole by an Antares geologist.
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Rock drill core obtained from diamond drilling are taken from the drill core barrel and immediately put into wooden boxes, marked with the drill-hole number and depth information, as provided by the drill contractor under the supervision of Antares personnel. The filled core boxes are then transported to the nearest Antares camp, by Antares personnel, where they were stored in a locked room dedicated to drill core storage.
The core is then measured, sample intervals marked, and photographs taken of each individual box. In addition, core recovery and RQD information is taken before the core is cut and sampled, as well as a “quick log” of the core, completed by an Antares geologist; noting the sample quality, main rock types, main alteration, and main character of the mineralization (i.e., oxide versus sulphide, etc.).
Antares support staff then sawed the core in half lengthwise; one half of the sampled core interval is returned to the core box, while the other half of the sampled core interval is placed into a plastic bag labelled with a unique Antares sample number and then sealed with a plastic zip tie. The sealed bags are then returned to the secure storage area pending shipment to a certified laboratory sample prep facility.
A more comprehensive geological log of each drill hole is subsequently completed from the remaining half of the drill core stored in the boxes, or RC cuttings. Upon completion of the drill program, the drill core boxes are carefully transported to a more permanent and secure warehouse facility controlled by Antares.
Samples are assembled and stored in a dedicated, secure storage area at the nearest Antares camp pending shipment to a certified laboratory sample prep facility. For shipment, several individual sealed samples are placed into larger, labelled and sealed rice bags. Shipment is typically by contract truck transport, with all necessary authorizations, directly from the Antares field camp to the certified laboratory sample prep facility. On occasion samples may be transported by Antares vehicles, from the field locality to the nearest Antares office and then shipped directly to the nearest certified laboratory sample prep facility.
All sample preparation is completed at an internationally certified laboratory sample prep facility (i.e., international standards ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 17025:1999). Surface rock and drill samples are dried and entirely crushed to -10 mesh size (70% of the sample smaller than 2mm) and then a 250 gm split is pulverized to -200 mesh (85% or the sample smaller than 75 microns) to produce a sample pulp; which are then analysed for various elements according to project specifications.
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