Mr. John Karagiannidis reports

QIMC UNVEILS LANDMARK GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY FINDINGS IN ITS NATURAL HYDROGEN VILLE MARIE PROJECT

Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. has released the results of the non-invasive geophysical surveys conducted in the St-Bruno-de-Guigues area of Temiscamingue. These surveys were commissioned by Quebec Innovative to its partner, INRS, following the detection of high hydrogen soil-gas anomalies during its summer soil sampling covering an area of 80 square kilometres (km).

"We are thrilled with the outcome of these geophysical surveys on the first three lines measured," said John Karagiannidis, chief executive officer of Quebec Innovative. " The results are in line with our expectations and further confirms Prof. 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, Quebec Innovative 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, carried out in October, 2024, involved the production of subsurface imagery with very high spatial resolution (inter-electrode distance spacing of five metres (m)). This will be followed, in November, 2024, by a geoelectric tomography survey with a vertical penetration of the order of 350 m (interelectrode 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 Temiscamingue graben. Concurrently with these surveys, a gravity survey (50-metre 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 Quebec Innovative 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 to 200 metres (m) and horizontal resolution of the order of 15 centimetres (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 sulphide weathering processes. "This last point is critical, 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," noted Prof. Marc Richer-Lafleche, head of INRS's applied geoscience laboratory.

The survey was carried out using a Terameter LS (10 channels) and multiconnector cables. Acquisitions were carried out in gradient mode. Zond RS2D software was used for quality control, data inversion and 2-D (two-dimensional) imaging.

"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," states Prof. Richer-Lafleche. "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 quatrieme 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 approximately five units (II: sand and gravels; III: clays; IV: sands; V: clays and silty sands at the top). "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," notes Prof. Richer-Lafleche. "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 subsurface and soils," continues Prof. Richer-Lafleche.

Section north of line 3E

This 1,500-metre-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.

"The section shows a more complex geological and topographical context than line 1. In the central part, the bedrock becomes suboutcropping subflush (I) (Lorrain Fm sandstone) and shows more conductive subvertical anisotropies, which we interpret as major fractures that could be important in the process of hydrogen transfer to the surface(VI and VII)," states Prof. Richer-Lafleche. "Note that these fractures (or faults) affect subhorizontally dipping sedimentary rocks. As with the line 1 section, it shows the presence of sandy-gravelly (III and IV) and silty-clay (V) sediments, which also appear disturbed in sectors VIII and IX. 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 (soil-gas survey on line 3 East)."

Probable origin of disturbances observed in high-resolution ERT imagery

The presence of subvertical 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 dikes in cohesive silty-clay sediments. In fact, an earthquake-related sand eruption was observed in the Temiscamingue graben Northeast of New Liskeard (Doughty et al., 2010). "We believe that the presence of sub-vertical sandy dikes (more porous and permeable) could promote the ascent of hydrogen through the clay-silt cover (impermeable) and thus produce hydrogen anomalies in the soils," states Prof. Richer-Lafeche. "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.

"Deeper data, located in the sandstone horizon of the Lorrain Formation (Cobalt Gp), suggest that despite the subhorizontal nature of the stratification of the sandstone units, these rocks appear fractured and probably faulted," notes Prof. Richer-Lafleche. "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 Temiscamingue graben."

"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," continues John Karagiannidis, president of Quebec Innovative. The data collected from the geophysical surveys will be further analyzed and integrated into QIMC's continuing exploration strategy for the region, ensuring that future developments are grounded in sound geological understanding.

Quebec Innovative 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.

About Quebec Innovative Materials Corp.

Quebec Innovative Materials is a mineral exploration, and development company dedicated to exploring and harnessing the potential of Canada's abundant resources. With properties in Ontario and Quebec, Quebec Innovative is focused on specializing in the exploration of white (natural) hydrogen and high-grade silica deposits, Quebec Innovative is committed to sustainable practices and innovation. With a focus on environmental stewardship and cutting-edge extraction technology, it aims to unlock the full potential of these materials to drive forward clean energy solutions to power the AI (artificial intelligence) and carbon-neutral economy and contribute to a more sustainable future.

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