QIMC Unveils Landmark Geophysical Survey Findings in its natural hydrogen Ville Marie project
Lachute, Quebec–(Newsfile Corp. – October 24, 2024) – Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. (CSE: QIMC) (FSE: 7FJ) (“QI Materials”, “QIMC” or the “Company”), is proud to announce the very successful results of the non-invasive geophysical surveys conducted in the St-Bruno-de-Guigues area of Témiscamingue. These surveys were commissioned by QIMC to its partner the INRS following the detection of high hydrogen soil-gas anomalies during its summer soil sampling covering an area of 80km2.
CEO of QIMC, said:
We are thrilled with the outcome of these geophysical surveys on the first 3 lines measured, said John Karagiannidis,
” The results are in line with our expectations and further confirms Professor Marc Richer-Lafleche hydrogen model of a deep seated hydrothermal source. Even without drilling data, the anomalies seen in the imagery along line 1 suggest a break in the clay horizon’s integrity, potentially allowing hydrogen to migrate to the surface. Also, the disturbances on line 3, combined with strong hydrogen soil anomalies, point to the likely presence of gas in the sediments. This geophysics data provides a clear and detailed understanding of the Quaternary geology underlying the hydrogen anomalies and the reservoirs. These findings are critical for future exploration and natural hydrogen development in our natural hydrogen Ville Marie project, as they provide a comprehensive understanding of the area’s geology, faulting and gas seepage dynamics reservoir structures”
To document the characteristics of the terrain beneath these high hydrogen soil anomalies, QIMC partnered with the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) to carry out cutting-edge geoelectric tomography (GTS). This technique allows for the detailed mapping of subsurface geological features without the need for invasive stratigraphic drilling.
Surveys
The first survey (figure 1), carried out in October 2024, involved the production of sub-surface imagery with very high spatial resolution (inter-electrode distance spacing of 5 m). This will be followed, in November 2024, by a geoelectric tomography survey with a vertical penetration of the order of 350 m (inter-electrode distance spacing of 20 m), and subsequently by an audiomagnetotellurics (AMT) survey with high vertical penetration of the kilometer order. Being particularly sensitive to the presence of electrical discontinuities associated with faults, this method should make it possible to locate and prioritize the importance of faults associated with the Témiscamingue graben. Concurrently with these surveys, a gravity survey (50m stations) is being currently carried out to document regional variations in the thickness of the sedimentary rock basin.
Objective
One of the objectives of INRS and QIMC is to identify areas of maximum thickening of the sedimentary rock sequence overlying the Archean basement in order to identify the most likely places for the reservoirs. This objective should be easy to achieve, given the difference in density between the Proterozoic and Ordovician sedimentary rocks and the volcanic and intrusive rocks of the Baby Group (greenstone belt).
The data generated by the galvanic and electromagnetic geoelectric surveys will also be used to optimize the injection and recording parameters for the electromagnetic data (TDEM) to be measured in winter 2024 going into early 2025. The latter will be acquired using a mobile ground-based system capable of producing electrical resistivity and electrical chargeability sections with vertical penetration of the order of 100-200 m and horizontal resolution of the order of 15 cm. This system is essential for locating fractures and faults masked by glaciolacustrine deposits, and for distinguishing Ordovician sedimentary rocks (less resistive) from Proterozoic sedimentary rocks (more resistive).
Geoelectric tomographic survey
The INRS team carried out a very high-resolution geoelectrical tomography (electrical resistivity and chargeability) survey to produce electrical resistivity and chargeability imagery along lines 1 and 3Est and north of line 3E. The objectives of the survey were to: 1) provide imagery to assess overburden thickness variability, 2) clarify the stratigraphy of Quaternary sediments overlying sedimentary rocks, and 3) verify that the strong hydrogen anomalies detected during the Soil-Gas survey are not associated with simple sulfide weathering processes.
This last point is critical, notes Professor Marc Richer-Laflèche, head of INRS’ Applied Geoscience Laboratory,
“as the aim of the project is to locate hydrogen anomalies originating from deep-seated sources, rather than small local anomalies associated with the weathering of sulphides located at the contact between mineralized bedrock and local groundwater. “
The survey was carried out using a Terameter LS (10 channels) and multi-connector cables. Acquisitions were carried out in gradient mode. Zond RS2D software was used for quality control, data inversion and 2D imaging.
Professor Richer-Laflèche, states :
The results obtained indicate that geoelectrical tomography is an effective method that works remarkably well in the electrically conductive terrain of St-Bruno-de Guigues
“In the very high spatial resolution acquisition mode, the method reveals the presence of several sedimentary horizons in the Quaternary sequence, and pinpoints the position of the contact with the rocks of the sedimentary basin.”
Section along line 1 (rte du quatrième rang): This survey was carried out in the area of the first hydrogen anomaly discoveries (July 2024) in the northern part of St-Bruno-de-Guigues. The section clarifies the contact between bedrock (between I and II) and the Quaternary sequence, comprising some 5 units (II: sand and gravels; III: clays; IV: sands; V: clays and silty sands at the top)(Fig. 2 a).
Professor Richer-Laflèche, notes :
The imagery obtained along line 1 also shows significant heterogeneity, particularly affecting horizon III, which according to our model would be a low-permeability clay-rich horizon (Fig. 2b)
Professor Richer-Laflèche, continues:
Despite the absence of drilling in this area, we believe that this anomalous domain marks a break in the tightness of a clay horizon,
“allowing gases such as hydrogen to ascend to the sub-surface and soils.”
Section north of line 3E
This 1500m-long section was laid parallel to line 3E to avoid electrical interference associated with a transmission line located along chemin du Quai (line 3E). Note that the Soil-Gas survey for line 3E reported very strong hydrogen anomalies that could not be explained by surface observations.
Professor Richer-Laflèche, states :
The section shows a more complex geological and topographical context than line 1 (Fig. 3a). In the central part, the bedrock becomes sub-outcropping sub-flush (I) (Lorrain Fm sandstone) and shows more conductive sub-vertical anisotropies, which we interpret as major fractures that could be important in the process of hydrogen transfer to the surface(VI and VII)
“Note that these fractures (or faults) affect sub-horizontally dipping sedimentary rocks. As with the Line 1 section, it shows the presence of sandy-gravelly (III and IV) and silty-clay (V) sediments (Fig. 3a), which also appear disturbed in sectors VIII and IX (Fig. 3b and C). Despite the absence of drilling data at present, we interpret these disturbances as electrical resistivity anomalies related to the probable presence of gas in the sediments, as they are located in an area characterized by strong hydrogen anomalies in the soils (ref. Soil-Gas survey on line 3 East).”
Probable origin of disturbances observed in high-resolution ERT imagery
The presence of sub-vertical electrical resistivity anisotropies, affecting glaciolacustrine sediments, could be explained by different geological processes. Given the seismic context of the region, the increase in electrical resistivity values in silty clays could be explained, among other things, by the emplacement of non-cohesive sand dykes in cohesive silty-clay sediments. In fact, an earthquake-related sand eruption was observed in the Témiscamingue graben Northeast of New Liskeard (Doughty et al., 2010).
Professor Richer-Lafèche, states :
We believe that the presence of sub-vertical sandy dykes (more porous and permeable) could promote the ascent of hydrogen through the clay-silt cover (impermeable) and thus produce hydrogen anomalies in the soils.
“Also, locally, if the gas flow is significant (advective flux sectors), subvertical resistive anomalies could be linked to the presence of significant quantities of gas, thus explaining a localized increase in electrical resistivity values.”
This will be further confirmed by geotechnical drilling planned for Spring 2025.
Professor Richer-Laflèche, notes :
Deeper data, located in the sandstone horizon of the Lorrain Formation (Cobalt Gp), suggest that despite the sub horizontal nature of the stratification of the sandstone units, these rocks appear fractured and probably faulted,
“This is underlined by a sharp drop in electrical resistivity values. This type of rock discontinuity could be an exploration vector for advective gas flow zones in Proterozoic, Ordovician and Silurian sedimentary rocks of the Témiscamingue graben.”
John Karagiannidis, president of QIMC, continues :
The successful results of these surveys mark a significant step forward in QIMC’s efforts to explore and harness Ville Marie’s natural hydrogen resources in a responsible and sustainable manner.
The data collected from the geophysical surveys will be further analyzed and integrated into QIMC’s ongoing exploration strategy for the region, ensuring that future developments are grounded in sound geological understanding.
QIMC will continue to engage with local stakeholders and provide updates as the project progresses. The company is committed to maintaining transparency and fostering positive relationships with the community throughout this process.
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QIMC Unveils Landmark Geophysical Survey Findings in its natural hydrogen Ville Marie project, source
