The Marten North phosphate occurrence is located on the north side of a small knoll, north and east of Michel Creek and approximately 5 kilometres north-northwest of Mount Taylor.

Regionally, the area is underlain by dolomitic carbonate rocks of the Pennsylvanian to Permian Rocky Mountain Group, fine clastic sedimentary rocks (mudstone, siltstone and shale) of the Triassic Spray River Group, undivided sedimentary rocks of the Jurassic Fernie Formation and undivided sedimentary rocks of the Jurassic to Cretaceous Kootenay Group.

Locally, thin phosphoritic beds occur at the base of the Jurassic Fernie Formation shales and above the basal contact with the Triassic Spray River Group over a thickness of approximately 1.1 to 2.1 metres. Beds are thin but persistent oolitic sandstones.

In 2014, seven samples from the occurrence area yielded from 20.65 to 32.65 per cent P2O5 (Assessment Report 35130). Also at this time, diamond drilling yielded intercepts of up to 26.40 per cent P2O5 with 0.020 per cent cerium, 0.033 per cent lanthanum and 0.079 per cent yttrium over 0.3 metre (56.16 to 56.46 metres down hole) in hole M-14-02 and 29.60 per cent P2O5 with 0.018 per cent cerium, 0.032 per cent lanthanum and 0.083 per cent yttrium over 0.3 metre (14.20 to 14.50 metres down hole) in hole M-14-03 (Assessment Report 35314).

In 2022, a cross-section sample (WP758) from the bulk sample area averaged 22.29 per cent P2O5 over 1.30 metres (Assessment Report 40710).

Work History

During 1926 through 1930, Cominco Ltd. conducted programs of geological mapping, hand trenching and geochemical sampling on the area. A shallow, inclined shaft and prospect tunnel were also driven during this period.

In 2014 and 2015, Fertoz International Organic Inc. conducted programs of prospecting geological mapping, rock sampling, trenching and seven diamond drill holes, totalling 297.0 metres, on the Marten property. During 2020 through 2022, Fertoz International Organic Inc. completed programs of geochemical (rock and water) sampling, trenching and bulk sampling, totalling 2000 tonnes.