The Shipshaw Project is an early-stage rare earth element (REE) and niobium exploration property located in the Saguenay region of Québec, Canada, one of the most mining-friendly jurisdictions globally. The property lies only ~5 km south of the Niobec Mine, one of the world’s few operating niobium mines.
Historical drilling and geophysics indicate that the property hosts carbonatite-related mineralization, the same deposit type responsible for many of the world’s major rare earth and niobium deposits. Several drill holes from prior exploration campaigns intersected REE mineralization up to 3.7% TREE (Total Rare Earth Oxides) in carbonatite units, along with anomalous niobium values.
The project currently has no defined mineral resource, but existing drilling and geophysical anomalies suggest a potentially significant mineralized system that remains largely underexplored.
The Shipshaw Property comprises 9 contiguous mining claims covering approximately 513 hectares located west of Saguenay (Chicoutimi Nord sector).
Key advantages of the location include:
These factors significantly reduce development risk compared with remote exploration projects.
The project lies within the Grenville Province of the Canadian Shield, an area known for alkaline intrusive complexes and carbonatite-hosted mineralization.
Key geological features include:
Carbonatites are globally important because they host many of the world’s:
Exploration of the area dates back to the discovery of the Niobec deposit in 1967 during airborne geophysical surveys conducted by SOQUEM.
The Shipshaw anomaly itself was later identified during reinterpretation of regional magnetic surveys in 2010.
Key exploration milestones:
All drill holes intersected portions of the carbonatite intrusive complex.
Mineralization occurs primarily in carbonatite and syenite intrusive rocks.
Main metals of interest:
Carbonatite systems often host minerals such as:
Historic drilling at the Terres Rompues zone returned several encouraging results.
Notable intercepts include:
These grades confirm the presence of rare earth enrichment within the carbonatite system, although additional drilling is required to define continuity.
The main exploration target is a low magnetic anomaly identified through airborne magnetic surveys.
Low magnetic anomalies often indicate:
The anomaly at Shipshaw has not yet been fully drilled.
Indicated: 25.8 Mt @ 0.186% Nb₂O₅
Inferred: 16.9 Mt @ 0.162% Nb₂O₅
These nearby deposits confirm that the Saguenay region hosts economically viable carbonatite systems.
Important limitations of the project today:
However, these factors also represent the primary exploration upside.
The NI 43-101 report recommends a two-phase exploration program.
Prime Mining Jurisdiction
Tier-1 Geological Setting
Underexplored Carbonatite System
Historic High-Grade REE Intercepts
Excellent Infrastructure
Key Catalysts
Key Risks:
The Shipshaw Project represents a high-potential carbonatite exploration target located in a prolific mining district in Québec. Historical drilling has confirmed the presence of rare earth and niobium mineralization within a large geophysical anomaly that remains insufficiently tested.
Given its proximity to the Niobec Mine, similar geological setting, and historical rare earth intercepts, the project warrants further exploration to determine whether the carbonatite system hosts an economically significant mineral deposit.