Information
REGIONAL GEOLOGY
The Beaufor mine is located in the northeast periphery of the Bourlamaque batholith. This calc-alkaline intrusion is made of a quartziferous diorite. The batholith was formed in volcanic rocks of the Malartic Group.
GEOLOGICAL DEPOSIT
Two mineralization events took place at the Beaufor mine. The first event was the latter phase of crystallization of the Bourlamaque batholith. A magmatic hydrothermal mineralization is found in the centimetric veinlet of quartz-chlorite-pyrite-chalcopyrite-molybdenite. Occasionally, these veins are located in corridors a few metres thick and are strongly chloritized. Their orientation is approximately north-east with a vertical dip. The gold grade of these structures is inferior to 5 g/t gold. Exploration work done to identify economic copper concentration did not produce positive results.
The second event of mineralization is associated with auriferous veins. These are generally made of quartz, tourmaline (5-80%), carbonates (10%), and a small percentage of sulfide (pyrite and chalcopyrite). Gold is directly associated with pyrite that is in idiomorphic centimetric crystals. Gold is generally found inside pyrite grains (Figueiredo, 1997).
There are four groups of veins associated with this event.
Type 1 is associated with east-west shears, strongly pitched. Mafic dykes are also present within these poorly mineralized structures.
Type 2 corresponds to shears oriented approximately 115 degrees North with 25-55 degrees dip. The structures with dips of 40-55 degrees make up the main mineralized zones. The thickness of these zones varies from 3 m to 10 m (10 ft to 33 ft) with an average of 5 m (16 ft). Mafic dykes are generally associated with these structures. Zones 32 B and C are the better examples of these structures. Locally, shears can be very discreet, especially for the low dip structures.
Type 3 corresponds to sub-horizontal sigmoïd veins associated with Type 2. The north-south extension of these structures is generally limited to 10 m (33 ft).
Type 4 consists of north-south sub-horizontal extension veins with an approximate 20-degree dip to the west. These veins may form decimetric plans.
Attached Documents
Information
Bousquet 2 mine consists in a gold-silver-copper deposit associated with various pyritiferous facies within intermediate to felsic highly sericitized rocks, these contain the characteristics of a volcagenic massive sulphide deposit of high sulphidization type. The mineralized lens of zone 3-1 consists of gold-bearing disseminated pyritiferous facies, and significant quantities of silver and some copper, within mafic to intermediate sericitized rocks similar to the old Bousquet 1 mine. Mining operations at Bousquet 2 started in 1989. The mining is actually accomplished at periphery of the deposit in Hw (hanging wall) and Fw (footwall) massive zones as well as Fringe and Breccia zones. Mining operations at Zone 3-1, located at 1 kilometre (0,62 miles) west of Bousquet 2 mine, started in 1999; the mining is concentrated mostly in Hw zone and locally in Fw zone.
The Bousquet 2 and zone 3-1 deposits are associated with an assemblage of mafic (andesite) to intermediate (dacitic tuff) rocks overlain by a felsic pyroclastic sequence from Blake River Group; the sediments from Cadillac Group overlies this stack. A regional schistosity strikes east-west and dips steeply to the south (80 to 85 degrees). A stretching lineation of orebodies of 70 degrees southwest was observed.
MINERALIZATION AND ALTERATION
Bousquet 2: All mineralized zones are located within an alteration corridor of sericite schist, up to 80 m (262 ft) thick. This corridor reveals, in some areas, a high argillic alteration caused by the occurrence of andalusite porphyry and where all economic mineralized zones are internally found. These zones can be divided into three types:
- Lenses of massive to semi-massive pyrite band of 3 m to 10 m (10 ft to 33 ft) thick, typical of the Hw and Fw massive zones.
- Stringer mineralization containing 5% to 25% pyrite, typical of Fringe zones.
- Pyritic matrix breccia containing 50% to 80% of siliceous rounded fragments.
Zone 3-1: All mineralized zones are located within an alteration corridor of sericite schist, up to 30 m (100 ft) thick. This alteration corridor is andalusite free. The mineralization is of disseminated pyrite type (5% to 10%) with veinlets.
Information
Mouska's orebody is part of the mesothermal gold narrow-vein design associated with quartz veins. Its characteristic is specific to that found at the Bousquet mining camp, that is, rich in sulphide.
The Mouska mine began operations in the mafic volcanic rock band north of the Mooshla intrusive. Lenses 07, 08, 15, 20, 22 and 30 are mainly concentrated in the andesites and pillow or massive basalts. Lens 07 is located in the western expansion of the old Micmac mine. Since 1996, expansion of the east mining opening has allowed the development of economical lenses in the Moosha intrusive. Located in the dioritic phase, north of the pluton, lenses 40, 45, 50 and 60 are confined in altered and decimetric deformed zones.
The actual reserves are essentially localized in the Mooshla intrusive. The dioritic phase, in the pluton's northern part, consists of massive and competent rocks beneficial for the formation of auriferous veins (quartz veins). The chute (gully) of Zone 50 has an overall orientation of 110 degrees N at a sub-vertical dip. It corresponds to narrow deformed parallel zones covering a 50-m wide (164 ft) band. The economical sectors consist of a 30-cm (12 in) thick quartz vein composed of 5 to 15% pyrite-pyrrhotite and 5 to 10% chalcopyrite. The walls are highly silicified and high in biotite. The structure shows a lateral economical continuity of approximately 300 m (984 ft) by 400 m (1312 ft) vertical. The ore limit shows a stair-like shape. Lens 60b has the same characteristics as Lens 50.
Attached Documents
Information
GEOLOGY
The Doyon mine is located at the west end of Bousquet camp, approximately 40 kilometres (25 miles) east of Rouyn-Noranda. The property is located within the Blake River Group, northerly and southerly bordered with sedimentary rocks from the Kewagama and Cadillac Groups. The Bousquet camp is comprised of many mining operations (Bousquet, Doyon, Mouska and LaRonde) and several significant ore indicators (Westwood, Warrenmac and Ellison).
The Blake River Group occupies the major part of the Doyon property and is characterized by a bimodal volcanism where the mafic lava at the bottom is covered by fragmental rocks of andesitic to rhyolitic composition. The north part of Blake River is composed of massive and pillow basalt lava alternation. This basaltic unit is intersected by a felsic band characterized by quartz crystals occurrence.
The basaltic horizon is followed by a series of volcaniclastic intermediary to mafic rocks of 300 m (984 ft) thick. These volcaniclastic rocks are followed southerly by volcaniclastic rocks containing felsic with a schist to sericite unit. These horizons constitute the host rocks from the mineralized zones, No.1 and No. 2, and reveal the highest level of deformation and alteration. Finally, the south part of Blake River is composed of pyroclastic felsic rocks containing polygenic rhyolitic fragments.
One portion of the Blake River Group is intersected by the MOOSHLA intrusive complex corresponding to a synvolcanic differentiated intrusion partly synchronous with the deformation composed of tonalite (diorite) and leucotonalite (alaskite). All units are struck by a regional schistosity, 80-degree Northwest to 120-degree North with a southerly dip angle between 65 degrees and 75 degrees. The faults of Doyon and the Bousquet river, northeast-southwest direction, alter the position of different geological units. All units are intersected by a 40-degree north-westward diabase dykes.
Regions related to narrow veins, Fx6 and Fx9:
- Depth: 200 m to 600 m (656 ft to 968 ft).
- Length: 10 m to 100 m (33 ft to 328 ft).
- Vein thickness: 1 cm to 20 cm (0.39 in to 7.9 in).
- Dip: 80 degrees.
- RQD: between 80% and 100%.
Attached Documents
Information
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEPOSIT
The geology of the deposit can be summarized in a sequence of volcano-sedimentary rocks crossed by a felsic intrusive complex and by post-mineralisation mafic dykes. The volcano-sedimentary assemblage forms a homoclinal sequence orientated East-West with a strong southward dip. The description of each lithotypes present in the deposit is given by Gaboury (1995, 1996).
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GEOMETRY OF THE MINERALIZED BODY
The economic gold-bearing lens occurrence is confined in the volcano-sedimentary sequence at the north and south of the central dacitic intrusion. In proportion to the mine, the mineralized zones are distributed in space within a surface of 1 square kilometre (0.39 square mile).
Concerning the gold-bearing veins, substantial differences in altitude and in dimension characterize the veins according to their position with reference to the dacitic intrusion. At the north, the veins are oriented East-West with an abrupt southward dip of 65 m to 75 m (328 ft to 656 ft). At the south, a complex system composed of four groups of veins demonstrates a progressive change in altitude and connections with other veins of different altitudes. These veins are less continuous than those of the north and a lot less extensive. Their dimensions vary between 50 m and 100 m (164 ft and 328 ft) laterally and less than 200 m (656 ft) vertically.
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PARTICULARITIES OF THE DEPOSIT
In proportion to the deposit's size, the geometry of the mineralized body becomes more complex southward, toward the paleosurface. Gaboury theorized that the emplacement of the mineralization occurred at a depth relatively low, explaining the unusual monitoring of auriferous mineralization. On-site, veins can be found in all directions with low tonnages in the southern part of the mine; while in the northern part, if new lens are found, their tonnage could definitely be more significant.
No other gold-bearing deposit in Abitibi has the geological characteristics seen at the Sleeping Giant Mine. Its origin differs from other narrow-vein synorogenic auriferous mineralizations.
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GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATION
The Sleeping Giant property is located 80 kilometres (50 miles) north of Amos (Quebec) at the intersection of the Maizeret, Glandelet, Soissons and Chaste Townships. The Provincial highway 109 connecting Amos and Matagami is at less than 1 kilometre (0.6 mile) east of the mine site. The ground is a slightly uneven, wooded and bordered, west and south, with the Harricana and Coigny rivers. The thickness of the burden varies between 15 m and 60 m (49 ft and 197 ft), located generally at 30 m (98 ft).
The property includes two entities, Sleeping Giant and the Domex Project. The Sleeping Giant property comprises a mining lease 0785 and 51 claims surrounding the mining infrastructures.
The gold is processed on the site. The mill has a capacity of 850 t/day.
The exploration leading to the discovery of the mine began in 1976 with Mattagami Lake Exploration. In 1983, Perron Gold Mines Limited acquired the interests of Mattagami Lake Mines Limited. Following an intense exploration, development and construction, production began in May 1988 to end in 1991. During the year 1990, a joint venture was agreed between Aurizon Mines and Cambior and the production resumed in 1993. Both companies share equally the interests in the property and Cambior stands as operator.
The actual reserves of 350 000 tonnes at a grade of 10.0 g/t are mined at a rate of 850 t/day.
The Sleeping Giant deposit is a gold mineralization mainly found within quartz veins characterized by a high sulphide content. In proportion to the mine, the mineralized zones are distributed in space within a surface of 1 square kilometre (0.39 square mile). At the north, the veins are oriented East-West with an abrupt dip of 65 to 75 degrees towards the south. They are characterized by a vertical continuity of more than 700 m (2297 ft) and a lateral continuity between 100 m and 200 m (328 ft and 656 ft). At the south, a complex system composed of four groups of veins demonstrates a progressive change in altitude and connections with other veins of different altitudes. These veins are less continuous than those of the north and a lot less extensive. Their dimensions vary between 50 m and 100 m (164 ft and 328 ft) laterally and less than 200 m (656 ft) vertically.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE MINING OPERATION
The deposit is accessed by a four-compartment shaft of 835 m (2740 ft) deep. The levels are spaced every 60 m (197 ft). At the beginning of the mining operation, cut-and-fill stoping was mainly used, followed by shrinkage stoping and some areas were mined using room-and-pillar stoping. Pursuant to the joint venture and the re-opening of the mine in 1993, the shrinkage stoping was mostly used. During the last two years, a new mining method was tested, namely sub-level stoping with longhole retreating method. The results were conclusive. Furthermore, for the low dip areas, the panel method is used.
Conventional equipment are used to blast the stopes and for the development.
Hauling: LM56 muck machine on rail, Cavo 320 muck machine converted for remote control use, Cavo 310 muck machine, scraping hoist with two pneumatic drums of 30 HP and 15 HP, 5 t Granby mine cars and 3.5 t Atlas locomotive.
Drilling: Long Tom drill carrier with Secan 250 drill, Secan 250 jackleg, Secan 250 stoper, longhole drill (BAR and ARM) BBC-120 on a three-wheel carrier, S-36 longhole drill on a four-wheel carrier C-Mac, and gear truck.
Attached Documents
Information
DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATION
The Joe Mann mine is located 60 km (37 miles) south of the town of Chibougamau, in Northern Quebec, and produces gold that is then brought to and transformed at the mill located at Campbell Point near Chibougamau. Active production began in 1956 but was abandoned in 1960 for a period of 13 years. The project was then taken over by the Chibex Mines Company between 1973 and 1975. Finally, the current operator, Campbell Resources inc., took over the operations in 1987. The reserves of some 3.2 million tonnes are presently being mined at a rate of 600 tonnes per day with an average grade of 8.5 g/t.
The deposit comprises three sub-vertical veins with variable widths from 15 cm to 1.5 m (6 to 59 in) for an average of 75 cm (2.5 ft). These veins are approximately 50 m (164 ft) apart; the main vein, located at the centre, spreads laterally on a distance of 914 m (3000 ft). The vertical extent starts at the surface to reach the final level located 1050 m (3445 ft) underground, and the zone remains open in depth. Laterally, the ground conditions are quite even throughout the mine; the RMQ rating is around 80 and the Q rating is around 25. However, the ground quality decreases in depth since the stress state is increasing (Q rating = 3 between levels 540 m and 706 m (1772 and 2316 ft).
The deposit is accessible by a 4-compartment shaft (shaft #2), 1145 m (3756 ft) deep. The levels are spaced every 46 m (150 ft) in the upper part and every 53 m (175 ft) in the lower part where the active levels are currently found.
The shrinkage stoping is used for the upper part of the deposit (surface to level 2175 ft). Given the good ground conditions in these sectors and the narrowness of the vein, this method always served the production requirements. However, in the lower part, in order to increase both productivity and security in the stopes, the operators tried to replace the shrinkage stoping by longhole stoping. Following the strong dilution caused by the degradation of the walls, this method was temporarily abandoned. In some areas, the longhole stoping was recently used more successfully, due to more appropriate parameters.
In depth, the shrinkage stoping was abandoned because of the deterioration of ground conditions. Following a production shutdown, mining restarted with the cut-and-fill method. Because hydraulic fill is unavailable, sand is used to backfill the stopes. During our visit, the cut-and-fill method was being tested; this method seemed to correspond to the characteristics of the deposit, but it was cancelled since the expected level of productivity has not been obtained.
This mining operation has always tested mechanized equipment, but the past experience has always demonstrated that it was better served by equipment that is said to be more conventional than mechanized. This is mainly due to the narrowness of the deposit and the need for selectivity during ore extraction.
Handling equipment: 40 HP electric scraper, Cavo 310, LM56 mucking machine and 2 cubic yard scooptram.
Drilling equipment: Jackleg and stoper Secan 250. Two-boom Long Tom drill carrier specially made by Maclean Engineering for the Meston mine operation.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE DEPOSIT
The deposit comprises three veins.
The "North vein" is a quartz vein in a lightly altered gabbro massive. The stopes are rarely more than 30 m (100 ft) long. The vein has an average width of 60 cm (2 ft).
The "main vein" is continuous in lateral and vertical extension beyond 914 m (3000 ft). The width varies between 15 cm (6 in) and 1.5 m (5 ft), for an average of 75 cm (2.5 ft) with a sub-vertical dip. Occasionally, a multitude of parallel veins is found, allowing a more important mining thickness (3 m to 4.6 m [10 ft to 15 ft]).
The "South vein" is a shear zone in altered rhyolite. The quartz veinlet system in the shear varies in width from a few centimetres to 1.5 m (few inches to 5 ft), for an average of 60 cm (2 ft) with a sub-vertical dip. The lateral extension is 914 m (3000 ft).
Surveyings were taken underground in the mined zones (east and west) to ascertain the fracturing and quality general conditions of the rock mass. According to this study, the ground conditions are rather even throughout the mine. The RMQ rating is approximately 80, and the Q rating is approximately 25. However, the ground quality decreases in deeper levels.
Surface and level 305 m (1000 ft): Q rating = 25.
Between level 305 m and 549 m (1000 ft and 1800 ft): Q rating = 12.
Between level 549 m and 716 m (1800 ft and 2350 ft): Q rating = 3.
Attached Documents
Information
The Seabee property comprises eight dispositions and has a total area of 4658 hectares or 11575 acres. The shear zone cuts through a sequence of Precambrian (Churchill Province) Basic igneous rocks, with sedimentary horizons. Free gold and gold associated with sulphides occur in boudinaged, pod shaped and deformed quartz-tourmaline veins and lenses hosted by shear zones. These rocks are now metamorphosed. The zone 2 and zone 5 are the better known mineralized systems on the property. There are three main zones within zone 2: B, C and H. The main zone B is the most important.
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ZONE 2
The zone 2 extends up to 10 metres (32.8 ft) wide and has been surveyed on a distance of about 400 metres (1312 ft). Quartz feldspar porphyry occurs on the hanging wall and is thought to have possibly controlled the mineralization. The zone comprises a complex, deformed system of quartz-tourmaline veins and lenses enveloped by potassic alteration. Individual quartz bodies range up to about one metre wide and are boudinaged both vertically and horizontally. They constitute up to 5% of the zone width. There is some indication that the quartz content decreases with depth, with large numbers of quartz stringer becoming the dominant structure. Gold occurs locally throughout the quartz. The degree of the deposit, taken from the distribution of sample values, appears to be N30°E/75°-80° NE.
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ZONE 5
The zone 5 extends up to 3.8 metres (12.5 ft) wide and has been surveyed on a distance of 365 metres (1197 ft). It is hosted by a banded sequence of volcanogenic tuffs and metasedimentary rock with garnet porphyroblasts. Unlike similar lithologies elsewhere on the property, it is possible to correlate this sequence between drill holes along most of the zone's length. Quartz occurs in discontinuous, pod-like bodies containing up to 20% tourmaline. Wall rocks are rich in biotite. The best gold values have been found associated with irregular blebs and stringers of sulphide.
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ZONE 2b
Depth: 420 m (1378 ft). Length: 200 m (656 ft). True width: 2.5 m (8.2 ft). Dip: 85 to 90 degrees. Continuity: Good. Wall quality: RQD = 75 to 90.
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ZONE 2c
Depth: 400 m (1312 ft).
Length: 400 m (1312 ft).
True width: 3 m (9.8 ft).
Dip: 85 to 90 degrees.
Continuity: Excellent.
Wall quality: RQD = 75 to 90.
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ZONE 2d
Depth: 290 m (951 ft).
Length: 200 m (656 ft).
True width: 3 m (9.8 ft).
Dip: 85 to 90 degrees.
Continuity: Good.
Wall quality: RQD = 75 to 90.
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ZONE 5-1
Depth: 240 m (787 ft).
Length: 300 m (984 ft).
True width: 2 m (6.6 ft).
Dip: 85 to 90 degrees.
Continuity: Good.
Wall quality: RQD = 75 to 90.
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ZONE 5-2
Depth: 100 m (328 ft).
Length: 100 m (328 ft).
True width: 2 m (6.6 ft).
Dip: 85 to 90 degrees.
Continuity: Fair.
Wall quality: RQD = 75 to 90.
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ZONE 161
Depth: 325 m (1066 ft).
Length: 65 m (213 ft).
True width: 5 m (16.4 ft).
Dip: 85 to 90 degrees.
Continuity: Fair.
Wall quality: RQD = 75 to 90.
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ZONE 153
Depth: 325 m (1066 ft).
Length: 100 m (328 ft).
True width: 3 m (9.8 ft).
Dip: 85 to 90 degrees.
Continuity: Fair.
Wall quality: RQD = 75 to 90.
Information
Fraser Mine - Copper Zone (formerly Strathcona Mine) is situated in Levack Township on the north range of the Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC), 56 km (35 miles) by road from the city of Sudbury. Originally held by Strathcona Mines Limited, the property and adjoining claims were acquired by Falconbridge Nickel Mines Limited between 1928 and 1944. Surface diamond drilling began in 1951 and by 1955 had outlined a low-grade mineral body above the 600 m (1968 ft) level. The full potential of the deposit was indicated when the first hole of the second stage exploration program intersected 19.4 m (64 ft) of 1.75% Ni and 0.66% Cu at a depth of 728 m (2388 ft). Surface drilling was completed in 1960 and work began on a 1000 m (3280 ft) exploration shaft. Underground drilling began in 1963 and production in 1968. By the end of 2001, production from Fraser Copper totalled 34.1 million tonnes grading 1.03% Ni and 1.65% Cu. Current production comes entirely from narrow, copper precious-metal-rich vein systems located in the footwall of the original deposit. The first vein system was intersected during shaft sinking and was later outlined by diamond drilling beginning in 1976.
The mineral zones at Fraser Copper Zone are associated with a large embayment of sublayer rocks intruding the footwall gneisses below the Sudbury Igneous Complex. Concentrations of nickel-copper sulphides occur as irregular ore lenses in the sublayer mostly as blebs and dissemination in the matrix of a dark norite breccia. Below the sublayer, the most common host of mineral at Fraser Copper is located in the Footwall Breccia or Late Granite Breccia as it is called locally. The sulphides occur as blebs and stringer in the breccia matrix or as rocky massive sulphide lenses. There are also some occurrences of sulphide ore in the footwall gneisses below the Breccia. Here concentrations of sulphides form networks of veins. Near the breccia contact, the sulphides in the veins are mostly made up of nickel bearing minerals, but often with higher concentration of this metal than in the mineral in the breccia above. However, as the distance from the intrusive increases the character of the mineral, bearing minerals changes to more copper rich concentrations. This is the mineral type remaining to be mined at Fraser Copper, which comprises of a complex network of highly irregular massive sulphide veins hosted by genetic footwall rocks and/or Sudbury Breccia units in the footwall 200-600 m (656-1968 ft) below the contact of the SIC. Individual veins vary in thickness from a few mm to 6 m (few inch fraction to 20 ft). The veins exhibit highly variable strike and dip, but generally constitute zones, which plunge to the southwest mirroring the trend of the sublayer embayment. The main sulphides in the nickel-copper ore are pyrrhotite, pentlandite and chalcopyrite with accessory pyrite and magnetite. But the copper rich veins in the footwall are predominantly composed of chalcopyrite, cubanite and pentlandite with lesser amounts of pyrrhotite, millerite, bornite and magnetite. A number of precious metal minerals have also been identified in small grains enclosed within the sulphides and adjacent wall rocks. The concentrations of Platinum Group Elements such as gold and silver are sometimes significant and overall make up about one quarter of the value of the mineral. Studies of sulphide and metal zonation at Fraser Copper, both at a deposit scale and within individual zones, indicate that the sulphides were introduced through a process of fractionation of a sulphide melt into areas where favourable conditions existed for deposition.
Attached Documents
Information
GEOLOGY AND MINERALIZATION
The gold deposits of the Hoyle Pond, Owl Creek and Bell Creek mines are located in the southwestern Abitibi Greenstone Belt of the Superior Province in the Canadian Shield. They occur 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) north of the Destor Porcupine Fault zone, which marks a regionally extensive and economically important structural break that extends from the Timmins area into northwestern Quebec. Rocks hosting the gold deposits on the Kinross property are correlated with the lower part of the regional Tisdale Group. The volcanic stratigraphy in the mine area consists of Archean aged (2703 to 2698 Ma) komatiitic flows defining the core of a large antiformal structure. Flanking the ultramafics are 200-600 meters (656-1968 feet) of massive to pillowed tholeiitic basalts. The volcanics are bounded to the north and south by thin graphitic sediments grading outward to intercalated argillite and greywackes of the Porcupine Group. These units generally contain a northeast (70 degrees) striking and steeply north dipping S2 foliation, parallel to regional structures throughout the Porcupine Camp. Intrusive rocks are limited to quartz and quartz-feldspar porphyry bodies and, late, north trending diabase dykes, which crosscut all units.
The Hoyle Pond main zone and 1060 zone deposits, both of which are presently in production, occur on opposite limbs of an open, northeast plunging F2 antiformal structure, hosted within carbonatized north dipping tholeiitic basalts. The 7 vein system occurs in a series of stacked, flat to gently northeast dipping veins into the nose of the antiformal structure. Mineralization occurs as coarse free gold in white to grey-white quartz veins with a variable ankerite, tourmaline, pyrite and local arsenopyrite content. Alteration halos are generally narrow, consisting of mainly grey zones (carbon, carbonate, sericite, cubic pyrite) in the Hoyle Pond system and carbonate-sericite, plus fuchsite with pyrite, arsenopyrite and trace chalcopyrite, sphalerite within the 1060 structure.
The Hoyle Pond main zone includes a series of generally northeast striking, linked quartz vein zones (at least 11 veins of economic significance), folded on a small scale with moderate west and northeast plunging axis. The 1060 zone consists of at least five main vein structures (1060 B1, B2 and B3 zones, A zone and Porphyry zone) with orientations ranging from north to northeast and generally subvertical dip. The veins are strongly boudinaged with the long axis of the boudin oriented subhorizontal to shallow west-southwest plunging.
A series of mineralized zones occurs long what is termed the south trend, stretching from the Bell Creek deposit in the west for 6.4 kilometers (4 miles) to the 1060 zone (includes Blackhawk-Vogel deposit, Owl Creek West, Owl Creek, Owl Creek East and the 950 zone). Mineralization in these zones consists of quartz-ankerite veining with varying amounts of pyrite, pyrrhotite and free gold. Alteration includes carbonate, sericite, carbon and hydromuscovite.
Attached Documents
Information
GEOLOGICAL SETTING
Sigma-Lamaque Complex lies in a group of shear-zone related quartz-tourmaline vein deposits occuring north of the Cadillac Tectonic Zone (Malartic Group, formation of Val-d'Or). The deposit consists mostly of mafic lava with pyroclastic rocks with dioritic intrusions and feldspar porphyry dykes.
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STRUCTURAL
Three phases are present, the most important being D2, a penetrating schistosity oriented east-west, sub-vertically.
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MINERALIZATION
Three types of narrow veins:
- Quartz-tourmaline sub-vertical vein in shears.
- Quartz-tourmaline sub-horizontal tension vein.
- Quartz-tourmaline veinlet (Stringer) associated to dykes.
The known depth of the deposit is 1818 m (5965 ft).
On the average, at the #2 shaft (24 first levels from surface at 960 m or 3150 ft), the thickness of the vein is 1.5 m (5 ft) and the dip is 80 degrees.
On the average, at the #3 shaft (levels 24 to 40, 960 m to 1818 m [3150 ft to 5965 ft]), the thickness of the vein is 3 m (10 ft) and the dip is 65 degrees.
The shear zones are continuous but inside the shear; the economic sectors occur in quartz lenses of variable size and continuity.
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GEOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MAIN GEOLOGICAL UNITS:
Four rock units were studied. The main geomechanical characteristics are:
- 1- Diorite (porphyry C): 148 C(Mpa), 70 000 E(Mpa), 0,27 V.
- 2- Dyke (G dike): 184 C(Mpa), 82 500 E(Mpa), 0,26 V.
- 3- Vein: 98 C(Mpa), 56 000 E(Mpa), 0,28 V (quartz-tourmaline).
- 4- Diabase: 243 C(Mpa), 114 300 E(Mpa), 0,16 V.
C(Mpa) = Uniaxial Compression
E(Mpa) = Young's Modulus
V = Poisson's Ratio
Attached Documents
Information
GEOLOGY OF CON MINE
Con Mine is located in the Yellowknife volcanic belt comprising tholeiitic basalts of the Archean Kam group. The belt trends north-south over a distance of 40 km (25 miles) and averages 3 km (1.8 miles) wide. It is bounded on the west by intrusions of the Western Plutonic Complex and on the east by sediments of the Burwash Formation. All rocks in the area are cross-cut by a series of northwest striking, left-lateral Proterozoic faults.
Ore occurs in shear zones which cut the Kam Formation, approximately a 9-km (5.5 mi) thick volcanic sequence. The formation is composed of massive, pillowed, and variolitic pillowed basalts, inter-layered with tufaceous and cherry tuff beds. Intruding these rocks are numerous Archean gabbro dykes and sills. The last rock forming event was the intrusion of Proterozoic diabase dykes which cut all rocks including the shear zones. In the vicinity of the Con Mine, the stratigraphy strikes northeast and dips 65 degrees southeast.
Ore has been mined from 3 shear zones, the Con, Rycon-Negus and the Campbell shears, as well as several small isolated quartz veins. The Con and Campbell shears are the major ore bearing structures, both strike north-northwest and dip 50 to 65 degrees west. The Rycon-Negus shears lie between the Con and Campbell shears. These shears strike north and dip 55 to 65 degrees west and intersect the Con shear to the north and Campbell shear to the south. The Campbell is the only shear currently being mined.
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THE CON SHEAR ZONE
Ore bodies in the Con Shear comprise tubular quartz zones within sericite-chlorite-carbonate schist. The ore zones rake steeply to the south. Ore bodies vary from 1 m to 12 m (3.28 ft to 39.3 ft) in thickness, extend 15 m to 100 m (49 ft to 328 ft) along strike and as much as 600 m (1968 ft) down dip conforming to the attitude of the enclosing shear zone.
Individual quartz veins lie in the schistosity which dips slightly steeper and strike more easterly than the shear zones. Individual quartz veins are distributed in echelon within a larger ore body. Closely associated with the quartz and carbonate are sphalerite, scheelite, sulfosalts and gold. Pyrite and arsenopyrite, the two most abundant sulphides are not restricted to the ore bodies.
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THE RYCON-NEGUS SHEAR ZONE
The Rycon and Negus Shear Zones contain a number of narrow, quartz and quartz plus carbonate-filled breccia-zones (Boyle, 1961). These shear zones range up to 8 m (26 ft) in width, but average less than 1.5 m (5 ft) and tend to conform, in strike and dip, to the borders of metagabbro and metadiabase dykes. Shear zones consist of grey, green or buff, flaky chlorite-sericite schist which grades sharply to the unsheared rock (Lord, 1951) and contain tubular ore bodies as much as 120 m (393 ft) in strike length and 300 m (984 ft) long down dip. Widths range up to 4 m (13 ft) but average about 0.75 m (2.5 ft).
Gold-bearing quartz veins are bounded by narrow zones of sericite schist or massive sericite-carbonate rock. Pyrite, the most abundant mineral, is associated with arsenopyrite, sulfosalts, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and gold. Scheelite is abundant in places and the ore may carry as much as 3% tungsten trioxide (WO3). ___________________________________________________________
THE CAMPBELL SHEAR ZONE
Ore bodies occur primarily in the thicker, more northerly striking portion of the Campbell Shear Zone. Ninety-five percent of the ore mined to date is found where the Campbell Shear Zone is greater than 45 m(147 ft) thick. Ore bodies are tubular and vary from 1.5 m to 18 m (5 ft to 59 ft) in thickness, 15 m to 180 m (49 ft to 590 ft) along strike and up to 180 m (590 ft) down dip. The ore bodies commonly rake steeply to the south.
Ore bodies occur primarily in the thicker, more northerly striking sericite-chlorite-carbonate schist. The veins appear as single veins or veinlet swarms which have been intensely folded, brecciated and boudinaged during repeated movement along the shear zone. The quartz grades from fine to coarse grained and ranges in colour from white, light grey to dark grey and pink. Vuggy quartz is extremely rare.
Gold is concentrated along vein contacts, the axial region of folded veins and occasionally in the schist at vein contacts. Gold also occurs at mineral grain boundaries as small irregular shaped nuggets, or thin plates and films on fracture planes. Below the 3100 level, the ore is free-milling, but at higher levels, the gold was primarily refractory, being associated with arsenopyrite. Silver is present in the bullion produced from the mine, at a ratio gold:silver of 4:1.
Minor mineral constituents of ore bodies include pyrite, pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, scheelite, tourmaline and several sulfosalts. Pyrite is ubiquitous, but the other minerals occur in erratic, highly variable concentration. There is generally a positive correlation between gold and arsenopyrite, sphalerite, galena and sulfosalts. Total sulphide content does not exceed 15% and is generally less than 8%.
Near the ore bodies, the chlorite schist has undergone varying degrees of alteration and the quartz veins are in contact with schists that consist of different combinations of chlorite, sericite, ankerite and quartz. The relationship between quartz veins and sericite suggests that the alteration is a result of the formation of the quartz veins.
The ore bodies exhibit several mineral zonation trends, all apparently related to depth. Ore changes gradually from refractory on the upper levels to free milling on the lower levels. The refractory ore gold is intimately associated with arsenopyrite which is less abundant at depth. The alteration halo adjacent to the ore bodies decreases in thickness with depth. On the upper levels, the halo can be up to 6 m (20 ft) while on the lower levels, it is only centimeters thick and not uniformly distributed. Both the arsenopyrite and ankerite content decrease with depth while pyrrhotite appears to increase with depth.
Information
The Hemlo Deposit is a world class gold orebody shared by three mining operations, William Mine, Golden Giant and David Bell.
Ore occurs in association with the Moose Lake Porphyry, (MLP), with the principal ore host (Main Zone) lying on the north side of the porphyry. In general, grade decreases and ore width increases to the west across the section below.
The MLP is a highly sheared and altered schistose rocks. It is variably altered to quartz-feldspar porphyritic sericite schists and feldspathic schists. These rocks are closely associated, in the Golden Giant area, with a mafic "fragmental" unit which is interpreted by some as a hydrothermal breccia related to the MLP itself. The "fragmental" unit frequently carries 1 to 2 g/t gold values and occasionally makes ore itself. The MLP package is set within variably altered laminated clastic sedimentary rocks, locally calc-silicate rich near the intrusive contacts, with pelitic interbeds. Both intrusive and pyroclastic origins are ascribed to it, and its origin remains controversial. Mineralization associated with the MLP occurs in a variety of rock types, with felspathic quartz-microcline granofels and sericitic schists being the most common. Ore units generally carry up to 10% pyrite, 1 to 3 % green vanadian mica, and 0.1% molybdenite. Barite is common. Gold content increases with the proportion of vanadian mica and molybdenite. Gold values generally decline with the percentage of pyrite or barite, and pyrite is not a good indicator of gold grade throughout the camp.
The main ore zone, which accounts for 95% of the ore at Golden Giant, lies on the north side of the MLP and averages 20 m(65 ft) in width, ranging from 3 m to 40 m (10 ft to 131 ft). The Lower zone lies on the south contact of the MLP and average 3 m (10 ft) in width. The Main and Lower zones currently average approximately 10 g/t in grade. A third zone, the Central zone, lies within the outline of the MLP. This zone is marginal but some reserves have been developed in it at Golden Giant. The Block 5, which is part of the Lower zone, is narrow and is discordantly cut by a porphyry sill. This creates a hanging wall and a foot wall zones which are planned to be mined separately.
Attached Documents
Information
GEOLOGY
Dome Mine lies on the south limb of the Porcupine Syncline in an area where the Keewatin volcanic rocks are overlain by the Timiskaming metasedimentary slates and conglomerates. Gold mineralisation is found in a number of different structural settings. Mineralisation in the district is commonly associated with the northeasterly plunge of the Porcupine syncline.
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ORE ZONES
Mineralisation occurs mainly in association with structurally controlled quartz and quartz-ankerite veins. Principal orebodies can be classified into three main types: Long narrow veins in shear and stockworks of veins; and disseminated mineralisation, in which the gold is associated with pyrite and/or pyrrhotite and little or no vein material is present.
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MINERALOGY
Free gold occurs within veins containing accessory pyrite and pyrrhotite. Chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena are less abundant and are indicators of gold mineralisation. Silver is recovered as a by-product at a ratio of one ounce of silver to six ounces of gold.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Of all the mineralized zones discovered on the Francoeur property, the #3 deposit is the most important by its volume. The mineralized section ranges from the surface to level 17 (exceeding 800 m [2625 ft] vertically, or exceeding 1200 m [3937 ft] along the dip of the Francoeur-Wasa shear zone) and remains open in-depth. On a same level, the mineralized section was not exploited on more than 275 m (902 ft) longitudinally. The thickness of the ore mass is extremely variable, from less than 1 metre (3.3 ft) to more than 15 m (49 ft) in some areas.
As for the deposits #1 and #2, the ore of deposit #3 is entirely hosted by the sheared and altered rock of the Francoeur-Wasa shear zone. In the deposit #3, the average dip is 45 degrees northward with a horizontal thickness of 40 m to 60 m (131 ft to 197 ft). Above ground, the shear walls are volcanic amygdaloidal mafic rock and, in some areas, fragmentary volcanic rock. In depth, the shear cuts the southern limit of a gabbro-diorite intrusion that surface outcrops at the centre of the Francoeur property.
The #3 Francoeur deposit comprises five distinct mineralized zones located in the Francoeur-Wasa shear zone: the Main zone (or South zone), the 11-20 zone, the North zone, the South-South zone and the West zone. Although the geological environment is slightly different from one zone to another, their main characteristics are very similar except for the South-South zone. This zone is the extension, in depth, of the South zone. Its orientation is the same but the dip is inverted at approximately 75 degrees.
LITHOLOGY
In the #3 deposit area, there are four distinct lithologies. There is a mafic volcanic rock frequently amygdaloidal, of quartz gabbro-diorite, red-colored felsic dykes and biotite phenocryst mafic dykes. The first two lithologies comprise the major part of the Francoeur-Wasa shear zone. In the upper levels of the Wamasac #2 shaft, as well as the lower level of the #7 shaft, the shear cuts into the south contact of a gabbro intrusion, so that the top is in the gabbro and the bottom remains in the mafic volcanic rock.
Within the shear zone, two types of intrusive rocks were also observed. The most important intrusive rocks give form to red-coloured felsic dykes of centimetres and decimeters thickness. These dykes cut across, according to a low dip, the internal foliation of the shear zone and are typically injected of numerous extension veins filled with quartz and carbonate rocks.
The second type of intrusive rock is more unusual, that is, very deformed biotite phenocryst mafic dyke. Three of these dykes were observed only in the North zone.
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SOUTH ZONE
Depth: 305 m (1000 ft).
Dimension: 122 m x 610 m (400 ft x 2000 ft).
Power: 3.66 m x 4.6 m (12 ft x 15 ft).
Dip: 30 to 50 degrees.
Continuity: Good.
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NORTH ZONE
Depth: 518 m (1700 ft).
Dimension: 457 x 457 m (1500 ft x 1500 ft).
Power: ± 2.7 m (± 9 ft).
Dip: 35 to 50 degrees.
Continuity: Good.
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SOUTH-SOUTH ZONE
Depth: 610 m (2000 ft).
Dimension: 76 m x 122 m (250 ft x 400 ft).
Power: 3.66 m (12 ft).
Dip: 70 to 80 degrees (75 degrees).
Continuity: Good.
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ZONE # 7
Depth: 152 m (500 ft).
Dimension: 244 m x 137 m (800 ft x 450 ft).
Power: ± 2.7 m (± 9 ft).
Dip: 50 to 80 degrees (69 degrees).
Continuity: Medium to good.
Attached Documents
Information
The Eagle River orebody is a shear zone hosted, quartz vein, lode gold deposit. It occurs within volcanic and intrusive rocks along the south limb of the Archean-age Mishibishu greenstone belt. The ore zones are vertically dipping, plunging moderately to steeply east and display mineable widths of 1.5 m to 10 m (5 ft to 33 ft). They occur as clusters of tabular lenses. Ore reserves occur along a 2.8-km (1.75 miles) strike length and deep drilling has identified ore grade gold mineralization to depths up to 550 m (1805 ft) below the surface. The exploration potential is excellent both at depth and elsewhere on the large property, where many gold showings have been identified to date.
A detailed mapping of a drift done by Noranda Mineral in 1989 in the exploration phase of the deposit showed that visible gold occurs with galena, sericite, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite. Gold is most commonly associated with galena and sericite; however, sphalerite and chalcopyrite are important indicators of minerals. Visible gold is localized within or about thin sericite laminations. These laminations are mappable for tens of metres but tend to be gold bearing on an average of five metres along strike.
There are four (4) main zones presently defined:
ZONE 2
Depth: 250 m (820 ft).
Length: 250 m (820 ft).
Width: 10 m (33 ft) shear **.
Dip: 75 to 80 degrees.
Continuity: Good.
Wall stability: Good.
ZONE 6
Depth: 600 m known (1969 ft).
Length: 300 m (984 ft).
Width: average 2 m (6.6 ft).
Dip: 80 degrees.
Continuity: Good. Wall stability: Good.
ZONE 7
Depth: 100 m (328 ft).
Length: 50 m (164 ft). Width: 5 m (16.4 ft).
Dip: 45 degrees.
Continuity and Wall stability: vein is in a pipe shape.
ZONE 8
Depth: 330 m known (1083 ft).
Length: 1400 m (4593 ft).
Width: 1.5 m to 8 m (5 ft to 26 ft).
Dip: 80 degrees.
Continuity: Good.
Wall stability: Good.
**: quartz vein 1 cm to 2 m (0.39 in to 6.6 ft).
Attached Documents
Information
The Hemlo Gold Deposit is located in a major ductile dextral shear zone, within the late Archean Hemlo-Heron Bay Greenstone Belt. The Hemlo-Heron Bay Greenstone Belt is a sequence of highly deformed, upper amphibolite grade metamorphosed volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks. The Pukaskwa Gneissic Complex to the south appears to have imparted a penetrative foliation on the micaceous units in the mine area, along with a 5:1 flattening. The history of regional deformation is quite complex, with at least two (2) deformational events and two (2) periods of regional metamorphism. The deposit dips to the north at 45 to 70 degrees and has an East-Southeast strike.
The Main Ore Zone (A Zone) is located within the Moose Lake Formation, a narrow band situated between the Hanging wall Cedar Creek Formation and the Footwall Rule Lake Formation. Similarities between the Cedar Creek and Rule Lake formations have been noted by mine staff and have been supported by petrographic analysis. A smaller ore zone, the C zone, is located within the Rule Lake Formation, about 80 m (263 ft) to the south of and parallel to the A Zone. The D Zone is located about 15 m (49 ft) to the north of the main A Zone.
ZONE A
Depth: 1200 m (3937 ft).
Length: 1200 m (3937 ft).
Width: 3.43 m (11.25 ft).
Dip: 60 degrees.
Continuity: Continuous to discontinuous.
ZONE C
Depth: 1200 m (3937 ft).
Length: 600 m (1969 ft).
Width: 3.38 m (11.09 ft).
Dip: 60 degrees.
Continuity: Continuous.
ZONE D
Depth: 800 m (2625 ft).
Length: 600 m (1969 ft).
Width: 3.93 m (12.89 ft).
Dip: 60 degrees.
Continuity: Discontinuous.
Attached Documents
Information
The New Britannia gold deposit is located within the Aphebian Flin Flon-Snow Lake Greenstone Belt, an assemblage of polydeformed volcano-sedimentary supracrustal sequences intruded by pre- and sin-tectonic ultramafic and mafic intrusions and sin- to post-tectonic granitoid.
The gold deposit consists of quartz-carbonate alteration zones emplaced in a simple intercalated sequence of altered felsic and mafic volcanics and pyroclastics. The host rocks are altered and include varying proportions of quartz and carbonate. The contacts of the mineralized zones are often gradational, however, sharp shear and fault contacts are noted. A biotite alteration halo occurs within a few feet of the mineralized zone.
The New Britannia Mine is located in the Lower Proterozoic, Flin Flon-Snow Lake greenstone belt. At the New Britannia Mine, the gold mineralization is hosted in a poly- deformed assemblage of mafic to felsic meta-volcanics known as the Amisk Group. There are numerous mineral localities including the Main Mine, the Boundary Zone, No. 3 Zone and the Birch Zone.
These mineralized locations are structurally controlled, mostly occurring along curvilinear fault - shear zones. The fault - shear zones cross cut foliation surfaces formed earlier in the poly-deformational history of the rocks, suggesting that the gold mineralization is epigenetic. It is further likely in such settings that the gold has been remobilized a number of times and is now found in these structural traps.
The mineralized zones are composed of variable proportions of quartz - feldspar - carbonate - biotite - amphibole and contains 1 to 5 % granular and acicular arsenopyrite. The gold mineralization is invariably associated with the arsenopyrite, especially the fine acicular variety.