Ferguson Lake (Kivalliq Region)

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This article is about Ferguson Lake in the Kivalliq Region. For lakes with the same name in other locations, see Ferguson Lake.

Ferguson Lake
Location	Kivalliq Region, Nunavut
Coordinates	62°54′46″N, 96°53′29″WCoordinates: 62°54′46″N, 96°53′29″W
Primary outflows	Ferguson River
Basin countries	Canada
Max. length	17 mi (27 km)
Max. width	3 mi (4.8 km)
Surface elevation	114 m (370 ft)
Islands	several
Settlements	Baker Lake 160 kilometres (99 mi) Rankin Inlet 241 kilometres (150 mi) Whale Cove 250 kilometres (155 mi) Arviat 241 kilometres (150 mi)

Ferguson Lake is located 150 kilometres (93 mi) north of the tree line, midway between Yathkyed Lake and Qamanirjuaq Lake ("Kaminuriak") in Nunavut's Kivalliq Region. It is within the northern Hearne Domain, Western Churchill province of the Churchill craton, the northwest section of the Canadian Shield.^[1] The lake's outlet is to the east, opening into the Ferguson River, which flows eastward through several lakes, emptying into northwestern Hudson Bay between Rankin Inlet and Whale Cove. The closest community is Baker Lake, 160 kilometres (99 mi) to the north.^[2]

The lake was discovered by Canadian Arctic explorer Joseph Tyrrell's Geological Survey of Canada 1894 canoe expedition that included Robert Monro Ferguson, Scottish sportsman and aide-de-camp to Lord Aberdeen, Governor General of Canada. Ferguson became the namesake of the lake and the river.^[3]^[4]^[5](Hodgins, 1994, pg. 109)

The lake has an irregular contour with deep bays, long points, grassy slopes, terraces underlain with sand and gravel, and rocky narrows. Dwarf birch, Labrador tea, lichen and moss predominate. There are several rocky, gray gneiss, dark-green diorite islands, one large enough to accommodate a +1 km airstrip. A prominent area feature directly east of the lake is Uligattalik Hill 62°55′40″N 96°34′19″W / 62.92778, -96.57194.

The subarctic climate and Barrenlands terrain support Barren-ground Caribou, grizzly bear, Arctic Hare, and Arctic Fox. The lake's fish include searun Arctic char.^[6]

[edit] Mineral exploration

History

In 1953, commercial area mineral exploration found copper-nickel. Further exploration in 1987 found cobalt-palladium-platinum. Starfield Resources drilled at least four holes in 1999 to a targeted anomaly.^[7]

Current decade

Commercial drilling began on the lake's east side in 2004 as part of a massive sulphide project exploration for nickel-copper-cobalt-platinum-palladium.^[8] By 2007, the Starfield commercial exploration 62°55′00″N 97°00′″W / <span class="geo-dec geo" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for 62.916667 Expression error: Unexpected / operator">62.916667, Expression error: Unexpected / operator^[9] became notable for the possibility of developing into Nunavut's largest ongoing base metal and precious metal project. Some of the research is funded by McGill University.^[10]

The Nunavut Impact Review Board was contacted in early 2007 by the Ferguson Lake Natives, and the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board (BQCMB). The Ferguson Lake Inuit, now residing in Baker Lake, Nunavut, addressed issues of concern with the Starfield Resources-Ferguson Lake Project report, requested copies of the Project's 2005 and 2006 reports, and sought assurance that they be included in the planning stage of commercial mineral exploration that includes the lake's archaeological, cultural or traditional sites.^[11] The BQCMB addressed its concerns on behalf of the area's caribou population.^[12]

In March 2008, Starfield announced positive indications of rhodium:^[13]

"The indications of rhodium at Ferguson Lake are significant because of the very strong price of this commodity. We very much need to evaluate our large land holding over the next two years to determine its value for further expenditures or joint venture opportunities. Nonetheless, we consider the Ferguson Lake deposit our crown jewel and it will remain our major focus." (André Douchane, President/CEO, Starfield, March 13, 2008)

The following week, on March 20, Starfield announced that its scoping study yielded positive results with anticipation of economical operations, 27% IRR, plus enough cobalt, copper, and nickel mineral resources for operations through 2030. The study includes assumptions of a Ferguson Lake open pit mine, a later underground mine, and an on-site processing plant. Additional assumptions include a slurry pipeline to Rankin Inlet, along with ship loading and port facilities there.^[14]