Dr. Simon Jones, sediment-hosted copper (SHC) specialist at iCRAG, has worked copper systems on three continents: from the Zambian Copperbelt to the deposits of Kazakhstan and Poland’s Kupferschiefer. 
Now, he’s turning his attention to Labrador.

“It’s the uncertainty that excites me most,” Jones says. “Geological uncertainty — of the technical kind — is actually an opportunity. We’re looking at a basin that has dozens of copper showings but no modern geological model. That’s rare.”

This summer, Jones and the Viridian team will embark on a transect through the heart of Canada’s Seal Lake Basin, a remote and underexplored region where early signs point to the potential for large-scale copper mineralization. It’s part of an ambitious collaboration between academia and industry, with Viridian Metals investing in cutting-edge research as a foundation for smart, long-term exploration.

A Basin Full of Questions

Sediment-hosted copper systems don’t come with a checklist. That’s one of the key lessons Jones has taken from 20 years of global experience. The key to success, he believes, is to “let the rocks tell their story.”

Instead of applying a fixed model to Seal Lake, Jones is starting with fundamental questions: How did this basin form? Where are the faults? How did the environment evolve over time? Is this a closed basin or one that was connected to the ocean?

To find out, the team will construct a detailed stratigraphic and structural model of the Sedna Project area which is a first for this region.

“We’re building a new 3D picture of the subsurface,” Jones says. “That means documenting sedimentary facies, mapping deformation patterns, and understanding the architecture of the basin. These are all pieces of the puzzle when it comes to copper systems.”

Canada’s Untapped Potential

Despite its mining pedigree, Jones says Canada remains underexplored for SHC systems — especially in the Mesoproterozoic basins that dominate the Shield.

“Many of these basins haven’t had a second look, let alone been appraised for SHC potential,” he says. “When you compare that to what we know about similar-aged basins around the world, it’s clear the opportunity is there.”

He points to analogues like Michigan’s Midcontinent Rift — which contains more than 10 million tonnes of copper — as a model worth investigating.

From Showings to Systems

Past explorers drilled shallow holes into visible copper showings. It was expensive and limited in scope. Jones’ approach is different — it’s grounded in modern mineral systems thinking.

“We start with the ‘why’ and ‘how’ before we get to the ‘where,’” he says. “What are the fluid pathways? What are the sources and traps? If you can answer those questions, you’re in a much better position to drill smart.”

That kind of integrated thinking is exactly why Viridian Metals sought out the iCRAG team. For Viridian, placing science at the heart of exploration isn’t just a strategy — it’s a philosophy.

A Model for Industry-Academia Collaboration

The partnership between iCRAG and Viridian is built on a shared understanding: discovery takes time, rigour, and open-minded thinking. For Jones, it’s been a refreshing collaboration.

“The Viridian team understands that this won’t be solved overnight,” he says. “They’ve made a real commitment to doing it right — to building a holistic understanding before rushing to drill.”

In an era when green metals are vital and capital is cautious, that approach may well be the new gold standard.

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Further reading on the Seal Basin:

• Cupriferous shales of the Adeline Island Formation, Seal Lake Group, Labrador (S.S. Gandhi A.C. Brown, 1975)
  
• Geology of the Seal Lake Area, Labrador (J.J Brummer E.L. Mann, 1961)