The Courvosier silica occurrence is situated primarily within the Alberta Plateau Region of the Interior Plains physiographic subdivision and the Fort Nelson Lowland, about 71 kilometres northeast of Fort Nelson near Courvoisier Creek.

Regionally, the area is underlain by mudstone, siltstone, shale and fine clastic sedimentary rocks of the Cretaceous Fort St. John Group and coarse clastic sedimentary rocks of the Upper Cretaceous Dunvegan Formation.

There are three glacial systems that influenced the property area. Surficial geological mapping led to the distinction of two diamict units (glacial and glaciofluvial), each containing sand, gravel and two silt and clay packages. All surficial units overlie bedrock.

The Courvosier Property contains glaciofluvial delta deposits containing granular silica sand and gravel. The geological conditions and weathering process that created these deposits provided natural mechanical sorting and rounding of silica grains, offering potential for a viable granular silica deposit for use as proppant. Prospecting and geological survey determined that a silica deposit is present on the property. An analysis of grain size, sphericity and roundness indicate that the silica is potentially viable for use as hydraulic fracture proppant.

Work History

In 2018, Sil Industrial Minerals, on behalf of 543077 Alberta Ltd., completed a program of surficial geological mapping, test pitting and sampling on the area as the Courvoisier property. The primary focus of work was to evaluate the potential of silica deposits for industrial purposes, specifically for use as a hydraulic fracture (fracking) proppant. Analysis of glaciofluvial deposit material showed that silica grain size, sphericity and roundness is potentially viable for use as a hydraulic fracturing (fracking) proppant. Nine vertical auger holes were completed, with total depths ranging from 0 to 2.5 metres and thirteen samples were collected. Testing of the silica sand indicated that it contains minor impurities (10 to 30 per cent) with a moderate roundness of 5 to 6, a high sphericity of 6 to 9 and 59 per cent grain size within the desired 40/70 and 100 mesh size range (Assessment Report 37921).