Montem’s Chinook Project is located in the Crowsnest Pass of southwest Alberta. The project is made up of two large areas, Chinook Vicary (north of Coleman) and Chinook South (south of Coleman), over approximately 40km of strike length.
The Chinook Project covers an area of approximately 10,000 ha, and contains three significant historical underground mines (Vicary, McGillivray and International).
The main rail line, operated by Canadian Pacific Railway, travels through the project and provides direct access to coal export terminals in Vancouver.
Montem purchased the Chinook Project in 2016 and has been utilizing historical information from the previous mines to update historical resource estimates and complete preliminary engineering studies.
In 2019, Montem completed a concept study, known as a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) to guide the strategic development of this potentially large-scale project. The PEA identified the most prospective areas for mine development at Chinook Vicary and Chinook South.
Documents
Chinook Project 2020 JORC Report
Geology
The Mist Mountain Formation of the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Kootenay Group is the main coal bearing formation in the region. Coals of the Mist Mountain Formation outcrop at Chinook in a general north-south direction for a strike length of approximately 40km. Depending on the area of the project there are up to five major economic coal horizons in the Mist Mountain Formation at Chinook. The principal coal seams, in descending order are the number 5, 4a, 4, 3 and 2 seams at Chinook South and the number 5, 4a, 4 and 2 seams at Chinook Vicary.
Estimated resources total 149Mt, with an additional 190 – 575Mt exploration target (JORC).
Chinook Project Location
Exploration and Planning
Over the next two years, Montem plans to undertake extensive drill programs at both Chinook Vicary and Chinook South. The exploration will be designed to facilitate a Preliminary Feasibility Study. Concurrent to the exploration, Montem is conducting engineering and environmental studies that will guide the strategic development of the project.
In the fall of 2020, Montem completed a successful 13 drillhole exploration program at Chinook Vicary to gather information on coal seam thickness and structure, coking coal quality and to guide mine design.
Baseline environmental studies provide a thorough understanding of the existing environmental conditions of the project. Assessments include air quality, noise, surface and ground water, local vegetation, soil, land resources, and recreational infrastructure and opportunities. Local fish and wildlife and their habitats are part of the focus, including sensitive species such as Westslope Cutthroat Trout, Whitebark pine, and native fescue grasslands, among others.
Chinook Project JORC Coal Resources |
||||
| Measured (Mt) |
Indicated (Mt) |
Inferred (Mt) |
Total (Mt) |
|
| Chinook Vicary | – | 52.6 | 32.2 | 84.8 |
| Chinook South | – | 51.2 | 13.1 | 64.3 |
| Total | – | 103.8 | 45.3 | 149.1 |
Mineral Resources have been estimated according to JORC 2012 standards
Chinook Project JORC Coal Exploration Target |
|
| Exploration Target (Mt) | |
| Chinook Vicary | 125 – 450 |
Chinook Vicary Exploration Target upper range (larger tonnage) generated using a 20:1 stripping ratio cut-off; lower range (smaller tonnage) generated by restricting the upper range to a 300m depth cut-off.
The Exploration Target has been defined for Chinook Vicary in areas where there is insufficient data to estimate a Mineral Resource. The potential quantity and grade of the Exploration Target is conceptual in nature and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of Mineral Resources. The Exploration Target is not reported as part of any Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves.
