Activation Laboratories Ltd.

1336 Sandhill Drive

Ancaster, Ontario

L9G 4V5 CANADA

Phone: (905) 648-9611

Fax: (905) 648-9613

Expanding the horizons of exploration

Soil Gas HydrocarbonsSoil Gas Hydrocarbons

E-mail: ancaster@actlabsint.com

Website: www.actlabs.com

Soil Gas Hydrocarbons (SGH)

Our Soil Gas Hydrocarbon (SGH) analysis has

successfully shown the presence of deeply buried

mineral or petroleum deposits. In a Canadian Mineral

Research Organization (CAMIRO) project initiated in

1997, nine of ten mineral deposits were successfully

detected at study sites that were specifically chosen

where other geochemical methods were previously

unsuccessful. The study sites included magmatic Ni-

Cu sulphides, VMS, Gold, Uranium and

The SGH technique involves collection of soil samples

in the field and then desorbing the weakly bound

heavy hydrocarbons in the C5-C17 carbon series

range (pentane through to heptadecane) at the

laboratory. Using a new technology developed by

Porphyry

Copper. In the follow up CAMIRO Project 01E02,

Kimberlites, IOCG, Sedex, more magmatic Cu, Ni and

VMS deposit types were successful at identifying the

deposit and provided a unique fingerprint.

Actlabs, the desorbed organic compounds

arecol lected and int roduced into a Gas

Chromatograph / Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS) where

over 160 of these heavier hydrocarbon compounds

are measured. Heavy hydrocarbons are used instead

of light hydrocarbons (C1-C4 or methane through to

butane) as they are much less affected by decaying

biogenic material and diurnal variability. SGH is also

more robust in terms of sample collection, shipping

and storage conditions. Detection limits at low ppt

(pg/g) levels are possible by this technology which

allows background levels to be readily determined.

Actlabs’ research and development into the

applicability of SGH for exploration has resulted in the

availability of a cost-effective method which can be

used in tandem with geophysics to improve your

success rate.

Soil samples are taken in a grid or in line transects with sampling locations

accurately recorded. The suggested sampling design for a single transect

would have 25 metre spacing over a single target to be tested. Samples

should be taken to a distance the full width of the target and on either side,

e.g. a 200 m diameter target would have samples taken 200 m further on

each side of the target. There should also be 2 additional samples at 50 m

spacing at the ends of the transect, further into background on either side.

Thus, a 200 m target would have a transect about 800 m long with a total of

about 28 samples. Two intersecting transects in a cross formation provides

for a significantly better interpretation than from a single transect.

Sampling & Analysis

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SGH is capable of analyzing soil, rock and core (after milling), peat, vegetation, waters and even fully submerged

lake sediments from a variety of climates (glaciated to arid).

It is far more important to take a complete sample transect or grid then to skip samples due to different sample

media. The most ideal sample is still believed to be soil from the “Upper B-horizon”. If a B-horizon is not able to be

collected,

is advised.

Only one trip to the field is necessary to locate and collect the samples. Samples may be drip-dried in the field.

Samples are collected in canvas, Kraft or Ziploc bags. Apply the Sample ID with a permanent marker. No other

preservation is needed for shipping.

Samples are air dried at < sieved to -80 mesh.

A sub-sample is accurately weighed and an extraction is done analogous to a weak leach.

The extracted samples are analyzed by a Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS).

This GC/MS method is highly specific and highly sensitive. Each compound has a “Reporting Limit” of 1 part-per-

trillion (ppt).

Each sample is analyzed for 162 target hydrocarbons that have been specifically picked to define a buried

mineral or petroleum signature. The selection of compounds also eliminates interferences from sampling,

shipping, handling and from general cultural activities.

then it is advised to try and obtain samples with some consistency in colour and texture from a

consistent segment of the soil profile in the study area. Only a "fist" size sample is needed for

preparation and analysis.

40°C and

Heavy AliphaticsVery Wide Halo Anomaly

NS

VectorVector

Alkylated Polyaromatic ClassWide Halo Anomaly

S N

VectorVector

Medium Polyaromatic Class - BHalo Anomaly

S N

Vector Vector

Medium Polyaromatic Class - ANarrow Halo Anomaly

S N

VectorVector

Light Aliphatic HydrocarbonsDirect Apical Anomaly

S N

Vector Vector

Geochromatographic Vectoring

Kimberlite Case Study

Samples were taken over a kimberlite pipe in the Abitibi

region. These samples were taken in a straight line

over a distance of 400 metres with two background

samples taken 500 m away. The sample spacing was

20 m.

This kimberlite pipe is known to be diamondiferous with

45 m of varying cover comprised of organic-rich peat

and glaciolacustrine clays.

After this interpretation was submitted, the location of

the kimberlite pipe was revealed to us by the client and

is defined by the area in the green bracket.

This case study is clearly shown to vector to the buried

kimberlite from a series of compound classes that

developed wide halo anomalies to predictably

narrower halo anomalies and to potentially an apical

anomaly directly over the buried target.

It is suggested that a sampling grid is used. Sampling

transects can be used in parallel or a cross formation.

If only a single transect is used then it is suggested that

it consist of at least 45 samples at 25 to 50 m spacing

for small targets such as narrow ore veins or kimberlite

deposits. For larger targets it is important that the

target area (one- third of the samples) is bracketed by

samples that extend out into background areas (one-

third on each side of the target area).

What is the source of these hydrocarbon anomalies?

It was proposed in the fall of 2000 that the SGH

hydrocarbons might be related to bacterial processes.

Dr. Gordon Southam and associates at the University of

Western Ontario conducted bacteriological experiments

in support of CAMIRO 01E02.

Result: Bacteria leach and metabolize components from

the deposit. When the bacteria die, their cell membranes

rupture and the hydrocarbons measured by the SGH test

are released.

SGH – A Redox Cell Locator

The Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) has commented

that SGH appears to be an excellent tool for identifying

reduced areas in overburden and possible

microbiological activity at depth that are related to

buried kimberlite pipes and sulphide mineralization.

(personal communication between Dale Sutherland,

Actlabs’ Organics Department Manager and Stewart

Hamilton, Nov. 2004)

What does an SGH signature look like?

This SGH sample signature containsa “visible” portion of the buried VMStarget signature.

soil

Pattern in red is the

mineral signature

MGS Ruttan

Consistent SGH target signatures.

Similar signatures are in the as inthese VMS rock specimen samples fromdifferent locations and of various ages.

ore

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"Modern " Zn-Cu Deposit#3

"Modern " Zn-Cu Deposit

#6

"Pre-Cambrian " Zn-Cu DepositKidd-Creek

"Pre-Cambrian " Zn-Cu DepositMattabi

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"Modern " Zn-Cu Deposit#3

"Modern " Zn-Cu Deposit

#6

"Pre-Cambrian " Zn-Cu DepositKidd-Creek

"Pre-Cambrian " Zn-Cu DepositMattabi

Mattabi

Kidd-Creek

Black Smoker

Black Smoker

SGH target, different location?

Another SGH sample signature thatcontains the same “visible” portion of theburied VMS target signature.

soil

Noranda - Gilmour

OverviewSGH is a dual purpose method that canlocate a buried target as well as identifythe type of target present. A patternrecognition approach to the data hasresulted in defining specific SGHsignatures for various types of targets.The SGH signatures in surveys overGold, Nickel, VMS, SEDEX, Uranium,Copper, Diamond targets as well asPetroleum and Gas plays have beenextensively studied.

� SGH - A geochemical analysis researched and

developed since 1996. Backed by almost 30 years

experience in GC/MS related research and development.�

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Organic Hydrocabons are adsorbed on near surface soil

or other sample types which act as a long-term collector

of the soil gas flux.

Only one trip to the field is necessary.

The laboratory procedure detects 162 specific organic

compounds in the C5 - C17 carbon series range at the low

ppt range by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

(GC/MS).

e.g. C5 = Pentane - a compound made up of a

straight chain of 5 carbons

SGH covers several organic compound classes; 75% of

the list are robust compounds.

SGH are not gaseous compounds at room temperature

but may migrate to the surface by various processes and

may be in a vapour form at depth.

SGH is essentially a that only extracts the

surficial bound hydrocarbon compounds from the

sample particulate that are mobile and have moved

upward from depth.

Compounds in the C5 - C17 carbon range are less

affected by weathering by bacterial and UV degradation,

or by seasonal water washing. It is thus a significant

improvement over previously used soil gas tests using CO ,

O , and C1through C4 compounds.

“Aromatic”

weak leach

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SGH distinguishes different targets in ageologically complex area

Very HighProbabilityKimberlite

High ProbabilityKimberlite

Good ProbabilityKimberlite

Low Probability KimberlitePetroleum/Gas Target

Tulliby Lake AlbertaComplex, YarloResources Ltd.

SGH distinguishes different targets in ageologically complex area

Very HighProbabilityKimberlite

High ProbabilityKimberlite

Good ProbabilityKimberlite

Low Probability KimberlitePetroleum/Gas Target

Tulliby Lake AlbertaComplex, YarloResources Ltd.

SGH is a used to vector to the

location of a target through Geochromatography and

used to confirm the identity of a target through the

specific mix of SGH classes found.

DUAL purpose tool