Norcangeo
Redrawing the Map of Mineral Exploration

Innovation often begins where a shortfall meets necessity—a realization that something better must be possible.

For Garry Thorne, P.Geo., president of Norcangeo, that moment came in Manitoba’s Thompson Nickel Belt (TNB), a region dominated by peat bogs, lakes and thick lacustrine sediments and glacial till. In these conditions, where bedrock remains buried and outcroppings are found only along riverbanks or lakeshores, mineral exploration was more guesswork than geology. Conventional prospecting methods that rely on exposures proved inadequate.

Years of sampling these fleeting windows into the subsurface revealed the need for a new tool: a lightweight, rugged drill that could be hauled by an ATV in summer and a long-track snowmobile in winter. It would have to bore through 15 meters of clay and till, produce high torque at low speeds and then shift to higher speeds with lower torque for efficient rock coring.

No existing solution offered this combination, so Thorne built one, drawing on nearly three decades of geoscience experience, including his time at Atomic Energy of Canada.

That breakthrough became the foundation of Norcangeo’s approach to exploration. The Geologic All-Terrain (GAT) Drill enables access to areas once considered too remote or costly, expanding exploration potential across the TNB and similar terrains. For smaller resource companies, that kind of access can reshape opportunity.

“Thanks to the GAT Drill, we’ve accessed and evaluated ground previously out of reach. As a result, we’ve identified and secured mineral properties with high potential for nickel, copper, cobalt and platinum group elements in the TNB,” says Thorne.

One Drill, Two Pathways

Norcangeo’s GAT Drill opens new ground in more ways than one. Its compact, lightweight design eliminates the need for heavy machinery and enables crews to reach remote regions using small helicopters. Once on-site, an ATV or a long-track snowmobile can transport it. This reduces fuel use, lowers logistical costs and minimizes environmental impact, critical in areas where exploration is tightly regulated.

“In northern Canada, for example, exploration is restricted to certain times of year,” says Thorne. “Indigenous communities want low-impact exploration and Norcangeo’s compact setup meets that standard.”

The drill’s adaptability supports two operational models. Norcangeo sells the GAT Drill to major mining firms under licensing agreements that protect the design. Companies like Rio Tinto, Wyloo and Agnico Eagle—equipped to scale deployment across their projects—have already shown interest.

For junior miners and smaller exploration teams, Norcangeo offers a full-service model. Rather than investing in capital equipment, clients contract Norcangeo to lead geochemistry programs to uncover mineralization buried beneath overburden.

That process starts well before any drilling. Thorne works closely with exploration teams to review historical claim data and geophysical surveys. Using glacial movement patterns as a guide, he sets up auger grids and identifies optimal sampling points—typically down-ice from potential conductors—where mineralized fragments may have traveled. These flakes or grains, eroded from buried bedrock, offer early clues to deeper deposits.

“The idea is to use till geochemistry as a vector,” says Thorne. “It helps narrow down where to drill before committing to the high costs of diamond drilling.”

Once collected, samples undergo inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to detect trace elements like nickel, copper, cobalt and chromium—key indicators of mineralized systems. In regions where bedrock lies buried beneath lake sediment and glacial till, till samples often provide the only window into subsurface geology.

From there, Norcangeo begins layering additional datasets. Historical airborne surveys, new ground-based geophysics and till chemistry are combined to build a multidimensional view of the target zone. In some areas, this includes legacy data, such as the 3,500-line kilometers of airborne geophysics imaging once flown by a British multinational mining company over what is now Norcangeo’s region. Airborne electromagnetic (EM) and magnetic surveys can provide valuable geological data on conductor zones covered by mineralized overburden.

To manage this data and speed up analysis, Norcangeo partners with VBKOM—a mining-focused consulting firm—to generate detailed maps, overlays and visual outputs that guide decision-making in the field.

Combined with geological mapping, resource estimation, environmental consulting and regulatory support services, Norcangeo delivers everything junior explorers need to move strategically and sustainably from concept to discovery.

Where Data Becomes Direction

One of the clearest validations of Norcangeo’s exploration method comes from Thorne’s work across the eastern extension of the TNB. Tasked with advancing multiple claim areas blanketed by overburden, Thorne turned to the same tools and techniques now offered to clients, starting with a systematic till geochemistry campaign.

Over 300 boreholes were augured and sampled across his Thompson East and Bryce Bay claims. The results were telling. In one area, assays revealed elevated nickel concentrations of up to 135 ppm down-ice from a known conductor. On the Bryce Bay claims, till sampling uncovered arsenic values 100 times above background, alongside elevated gold, silver and palladium levels. This geochemical signal triggered a focused follow-up up-ice mapping, ultimately revealing a massive sulfide vein. Channel sampling returned copper concentrations of 8,500 ppm and cobalt values up to 1,610 ppm.

The methodology also proved helpful in correcting earlier missteps. According to post-drill geophysical readings, a borehole had been drilled just below the mineralized target, missing it by roughly 40 meters in a separate zone. Rather than rely on limited surface cues, Thorne launched a tighter till geochemistry campaign of 80 new auger holes, followed by ICP-MS assays and contour mapping. The resulting plots helped pinpoint concentration zones and guide the subsequent drill location with far greater accuracy.

"We use that information to vector in future boreholes,” says Thorne. “Where there’s no outcrop, no visual cues, the till geochemistry and the maps give you your best chance.”

A Small Team with Big Reach

Though Norcangeo operates with the precision of a larger firm, its foundation is tightly focused and founder-led. Thorne leads much of the work himself and behind every field breakthrough and successful presentation is a small, trusted group of collaborators who make progress possible.

Among them is Jerry Bennett, a lifelong friend who has played a valuable role in the development of Norcangeo’s core technology. From overseeing the machining of drill components to assisting with drill assembly, Bennett’s hands-on involvement continues as he updates CAD drawings to refine the design.

Another key contributor is Bob Southern, a seasoned core logger and rock expert in the Thompson area. Years of experience, including contract work for Vale—Bob, brings deep geological insight to Norcangeo’s projects. Now semi-retired, he accompanies Thorne in the field, often alongside his wife, who assists with in-field data reduction and interpretation.

“Bob knows the rocks up there better than anyone I’ve met,” says Thorne. “Having him in the field adds a layer of confidence you can’t buy.”

Another key contributor is Jeremy Potvin, a young geologist who has worked in the TNB and recently assisted Thorne at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC). His technical knowledge and field familiarity make him a valuable addition to future client projects and service contracts.

Beyond Canada, Norcangeo benefits from the analytical expertise of the VBKOM team in South Africa. Over the past year, Maria Antoniades, Eduan Pieterse and Jani van Rensburg have provided data reduction, analysis and presentation support. Antoniades played a key role in transforming complex field data into polished visuals for Thorne’s conference presentations in Winnipeg and at PDAC in Toronto.

When Thorne exhibited at PDAC—managing a trade show booth, a live drill demo and a presentation at the Investors Forum—van Rensburg and Pieterse helped staff the booths and kept things running smoothly. The attention Norcangeo received was impressive. The patented GAT Drill attracted serious interest and Thorne continues to follow up on leads from the event.

“PDAC was a major moment for us,” Thorne says. “We had people asking about the drill and the services. We even signed a non-disclosure agreement with a large Canadian contractor that wants to use the drill to explore in permafrost zones.”

One relationship that stands out is less about data and more about the heart. A Cree couple, Gina and Leon Brightnose, from northern Manitoba—long-time residents of the TNB—have provided Thorne a place to stay and more. For years, he has relied on their trapper’s cabin near his mineral claims for a winter base. They’ve also offered him hot meals and the use of laundry facilities during long stretches in the field.

“When I got there after a long drive, supper was already packed and ready. The cabin was warm. Everything was taken care of,” Thorne recalls. “It may seem small, but those gestures keep you going in this work.”

Looking Beneath the Surface

When Thorne attends industry events like PDAC, it’s not just investors and contractors who stop by. His booth draws university students and future geologists eager to learn. With maps laid out and contour plots on display, he walks them through how Norcangeo collects samples, runs assays, interprets data and ultimately identifies high-value drill targets.

“They’re always excited,” he says. “But often, I think the universities don’t stress surficial geology enough. Most of the training focuses on exposed hard rock, but mineralization hidden under soils and sediments represents a much larger footprint.”

That gap in understanding is where Norcangeo’s approach—and the GAT Drill—play a critical role. Being able to auger through lake sediments and sample the till directly over bedrock isn’t just a technical challenge; it’s a scientific gateway.

“If you can’t sample the till efficiently, then you’re never going to advance your understanding of these areas,” explains Thorne.

He’s not alone in that view. Researchers at the Geological Survey of Canada have also called for a deeper focus on overburden-covered regions. Their studies, particularly those on the TNB, have shaped Thorne’s exploration strategy. The insights in those journal papers reinforce what Norcangeo has demonstrated in the field; buried mineralization can be found, understood and accessed, if you know how to look for it.

And sometimes, looking starts with listening—to the land, the data and the experts who’ve spent decades exploring what lies beneath.

For further inquiries, please contact Norcan Geophysical at norcangeo@shaw.ca, call 204-669-5586, or visit norcangeo.com