A brief regional reconnaissance conducted during 2006 confirmed the presence of significant percentage iron values associated with the inferred continuous banded iron formation (BIF). The BIF horizons are represented by Itabirite, with a varying amount of quartz and hematite-magnetite, vuggy and banded magnetite with varying amounts of hematite and compact specular hematite. Results of initial samples all recorded significant Iron mineralization up to 69% Fe (see Figure 2).
Figure 2 – High Grade Massive Specular Hematite from Parmegiana Project.
Based on a LandSat interpretation the main identified BIF’s units and possible new similar horizons were delineated on a preliminary geological map that was generated in order to provide information about the aerial distribution of the Fe-rich horizons (see figure 3). This interpretation shows a possible presence of five distinct BIF’s horizons, informally termed as; Southern limb, Northern limb, Parasite horizon, Escondido horizon and Croado horizon.
The Southern limb is the most expressive with a strike length of 20.4 kilometres and a predominant trend of 295 degrees. The horizon dips from 20° to 70° SW. The Northern limb extends for about 11.0 kilometres with a sub-parallel trend (295 degrees) in respect to the Southern limb. Both horizons are separated by 3.2 kilometres. No outcrop has been found in the southwestern trend but taking into consideration the dips of the metasediments, it is assumed that the trend has a general steep dip to the SW. Therefore; the two iron formations (Southern and Northern limbs) are forming an inverted synclinorium structure.
The Parasite horizon is located on the eastern extreme of northern limb and represents a subparallel unit. It shows a discontinuous strike length of 2.4 kilometres.
The Escondido horizon is located 3.2 kilometres south of the Southern limb with a strike length of 6.2 kilometres, trending 295 degrees. This horizon was not checked during the reconnaissance phase but it is believed that it could represent the southern limb of a possible inverted anticlinorium structure.
The Croado horizon is located further to the SW (1.6 kilometres) of Escodido with a discontinuous strike length of 3.8 kilometres. This horizon was also not submitted to a field check and is purely interpretative.
The Eastern horizon is located 1.4 kilometres south from Southern limb and can represent a fault displaced extension of the referred one. It trends 270 degrees on the east side changing to 295 degrees on the west side with along of a total strike length of 6.6 kilometres.
Together, all the five horizons comprise a total of 50.4 kilometres of Fe-rich BIFs. However, as a consequence of the deformation process which generated open folds, these horizons can be related to just one folded horizon. In this case, the potential can be bigger assuming a series of repeated slice of the same horizon.
