Canada
Fertoz holds the mineral rights to two rock phosphate mining projects: Wapiti & Fernie.
These are strategically located near conventional and organic agricultural regions, and adjacent rail and road infrastructure provides access within Western Canada and the United States.
Fertoz is currently preparing applications for mine production permits following successful bulk sample extraction at both projects to move into commercial production following strong demand from our initial production volumes in the market.
Fernie
The Fernie Mining Project is made up of groups of claims at Marten, Barnes Lake, Crowsnest/Pump Station, Mt. Lyne, Graves/North Alexander, Alexander, Bighorn, Lodgepole and Lizzard. The sites are located near Sparwood, the second largest Elk River community in British Columbia, and totals approximately 10,000 hectares. Adjacent to the project lies road and rail transportation to Canada’s west coast ports, as well as major rail and road systems of North America.
Surveys and field work at Marten and Barnes have revealed extensive sedimentary deposits on surface containing rock phosphate associated with the base of the Jurassic Fernie Formation. The potential strike length of the phosphate-bearing horizon on Fertoz claims exceeds 60km.
The Marten project provides shallow phosphate deposits spanning 1,739ha and links with Crowsnest project to combine exploration funds and pool resources. It is 20km southeast of Sparwood and links with the Crowsnest mining project to combine exploration funds and pool resources.
Fertoz started exploration on the Marten mining project in October 2014 and gained approval for the extraction of a bulk sample up to 10,000 tons, which was completed in 2022. Results of this bulk sample were successfully trucked, crushed and were well received by our initial customers. Work on an industrial mineral quarry permit is underway.
The Marten project benefits from experienced mining suppliers, and ready labour in the nearby communities of Sparwood and Fernie. Support infrastructure is in place including road and rail access for bulk materials and logging road access to the areas of the claim that are of interest.
The Barnes Mining Project in the Fernie Basin covers 2,702.61 hectares, situated 32km south of Sparwood, BC and 27km east of Fernie, BC. It consists of a series of broad, open fold structures within a well-defined stratigraphic sequence ranging from the Triassic to Cretaceous age. The basal Fernie Formation comprises extensive pelletal phosphorite, phosphatic shales, siltstone, and sandstone. Previous trenching and drilling activities at the Barnes Project yielded results ranging from 20.9% to 32% P205. A trenching analysis demonstrated the continuity of phosphorites and consistent grade along the strike.
Fertoz initiated initial exploration in 2012, followed by trenching and drilling in 2017 and 2018. Applications for an initial bulk sampling and preliminary work on an industrial mineral quarry application are currently underway. As the project is situated in a dip slope that runs parallel to the topography, it is suitable for open-cut mining and offers significant potential for economic development into a production quarry.
As with all Fertoz ore resource holdings, the phosphate is of high quality, low in metals, and ideal for organic rock phosphate products.
Wapiti
The Wapiti Mining Project encompasses an area of approximately 12,000 hectares containing extensive rock phosphate zones located 70km south of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. Forest Service and sealed roads allow for easy access to the work site, and the Canadian National Railway runs through Tumbler Ridge. Surveys and field work indicate a phosphate-bearing horizon on surface which suggests continuity of strike length for up to 39km.
Exploration at Wapiti includes 81 diamond drill holes, multiple trenches and surface samples from 1978 to 2016. This data was utilized by J. Shearer, M.Sc., P.Geo. to estimate a mineral resource. The combined Inferred and Indicated resource of 1.54Mt @ 21.6% P2O5 (at a 7% cut-off) has been calculated to a depth of 30m along a strike length of 12.5km (Shearer, 2014 JORC Compliant Report.)
