The Marten (South) phosphate occurrence is located on a southeast-facing slope, north of Michel Creek and approximately 3.8 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.

Historical work in the early 1930s indicates an average grade of the basal phosphorite horizon of 15 per cent P2O5 across 1.2 metres for a total of 500 000 tonnes (Assessment Report 35130).

In 2014, three samples from the upper inclined shaft area yielded from 20.34 to 24.44 per cent P2O5, while two samples from the main trench area, near the lower inclined shaft, yielded 22.51 and 25.90 per cent P2O5, respectively (Assessment Report 35130). Also at this time, a 1000 tonne bulk sample, averaging 21.05 per cent P2O5, was excavated from the upper shaft area (Assessment Report 35314). Drilling at this time yielded intercepts of 23.10 per cent P2O5 with 0.014 per cent cerium, 0.024 per cent lanthanum and 0.064 per cent yttrium over 0.6 metre (12.80 to 13.40 metres down hole) in hole M-14-05, 24.80 per cent P2O5 over 0.63 metre (14.20 to 14.83 metres down hole) in hole M-14-06 and 22.49 per cent P2O5 over 0.96 metre (22.80 to 23.76 metres down hole) in hole M-14-07 (Assessment Report 35314). Cerium, lanthanum and yttrium values were not reported for hole M-14-06 and -07.

Work History

During 1926 through 1930, Cominco Ltd. conducted programs of geological mapping, hand trenching and geochemical sampling on the area. Also during this time, two shallow inclined shafts were sunk, and two small prospect tunnels were driven, along with a 61-metre-long drift.

In 2014 and 2015, Fertoz International Organic Inc. conducted programs of prospecting geological mapping, rock sampling, trenching, seven diamond drill holes, totalling 297.0 metres, and a 1000-tonne bulk sample on the Marten property. In 2020 and 2021, Fertoz International Organic Inc. completed a program of geochemical (rock and water) sampling, trenching and a 5950 tonne bulk sample. In 2022, a further program of rock and bulk sampling was conducted in the north zone.