41 Shallmar Blvd., ft ASSOCIATES CONSULTANTS 010 HARTE RESOURCES LIMITED PRELIMINARY GEOLOGICAL REPORT ON THE CRESCENT LAKE PROPERTY OBOSHKEGAN TOWNSHIP, NIPIGON DISTRICT THUNDER BAY MINING DIVISION, ONTARIO MARCH 15, 1985 RECEIVED MINING LANDS SECTION Avrom E. Howard, B.Sc., F.G.A.C. 41 ShalImar Blvd., AVROM HOWARD & ASSOCIAHS 1111111111111111111111111111111111 42L04NE0060 2.6666 OBOSHKEGAN CONSULTANTS .. HARTE RESOURCES UMrrED PREUMINARY GEOLOGICAL REPORT ON THE CRESCENT LAKE PROPERTY OBOSHKEGAN TOWNSIUP, NIPIGON DISTRICT THUNDER BAY MINING DIVISION, ONTARIO MARCH 15, 1985 .'RECEIVED NOV 29 1985 MINING LANDS SECtiON Avrom E. Howard, B.Sc., F.G.A.G. 010
GEOL SURV RPTCRESCENT LAKE PROPERTY
MARCH 15, 1985
41 ShalImar Blvd.,
AVROM HOWARD & ASSOCIAHS
CRESCENT LAKE PROPERTY
MARCH 15, 1985
010
Page
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5
ACCESS, PHYSIOGRAPHY, LOCAL RESOURCES. . . . . . . . . . . .
8
REGIONAL GEOLOGY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10
GOLD POTENTIAL OF THE CRESCENT LAKE PROPERTY. . . . . . . .
22
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
26
APPENDIX ONE: CANDELLA DEVELOPMENT CO. DRILL LOGS. . . . . i
APPENDIX TWO: NORANDA EXPLORATION CO. LTD. - GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
DATA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES
TABLE 1: Table of Lithologic Units for the Tashota Area . . . . . .
. . 11
Figure 1: Property Location Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
Figure 2: Claim Map. . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . , . . . . . . .
7
Figure 3: Geology of the Redmond Area, (1917) . . . . . . . . . . .
. 15
Figure 4: Exploration History Compilation Map - Crescent Lake
Property. . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . 20
Figure 5: Geology of the Redmond Area, (1973) . . . . . . . . . . .
. 21
Figure 6: Regional Geological Compilation Map . . . . . . , . . . .
. 25
Avrom Howard A Associates
SUMMARY. . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . . · . . . . . . .
INTRODUCTION AND TERMS OF REFERENCE. . . . . . . . .
· . . . . 'PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION •••••••
REGIONAL EXPLORATION IUSTORY. •
. . . . . . · . . . · . . · . . . . . . · . .
PROPERTY GEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION HISTORY • · . . · . . . . GOLD
POTENTIAL OF THE CRESCENT LAKE PROPERTY. · . · . . CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS · . . · . . . . . REFERENCES • • • • • • • •
•
CERTIPICATE OF THE AUTHOR •
APPENDIX TWO: NORANDA EXPLORATION CO. LTD. - GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
DATA. • • • • • • • • • · . . . . . . .
LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES
TABLE 1: Table of Lithologic Units for the Tashota Area · • · · · •
Figure 1: Property Location Map · . · · · · · · · • · • Figure 2:
Claim Map. . . . • . · • · · · • • · • • • • • • • · Figure 3:
Geology of the Redmond Area, (1917) • • • • • · · • · • · •
Figure 4: Exploration History Compilation Map - Crescent Lake
Property. · · · • · • · · • · • • •
Figure 5: Geology of the Redmond Area, (1973) · · · · • • · • · ·
Figure 6: Regional Geological Compilation Map • · · • • · • • · • ·
·
Page
1
3
5
8
10
12
16
22
26
29
31
ii
11
4
7
15
20
21
25
010C
SUMMARY
Harte Resources Limited has recently acquired twenty contiguous
claims in north- central Oboshkegan Township, District of Nipigon,
Thunder Bay Mining Division, Ontario. The property is located
approximately 90 kilometres (56 miles) northwest of the town of
Geraldton, and just over l kilometre south-southeast of Redmond
Station, a maintenance stop along the Canadian National
Transcontinental rail line. Ground access is available to the
property by skidder or snowmachine from Redmond Station during the
winter months, but either helicopter or fixed wing aircraft are
required during other months of the year. Dry-weather road access
is currently available to as close as Tashota Station, 10
kilometres (6 miles) by rail to the west.
Gold was first documented on the Crescent Lake Property in 1917 by
a government geologist who visited the property which at the time
was being evaluated as a pyrite prospect. A 3 foot chip sample in a
trench cutting pyrite replacing magnetite, yielded 0.11 oz Au/ton.
In 1953, Candella Development Co. drilled two holes on the property
in their search for pyrite, and in hole no. l intersected two l
metre sections yielding 0.005 oz Au/ton, stratigraphically
overlying the afore mentioned trench. Intensely sheared and
silicified porphyry and quartzite were encountered along with
several bands of sulphide (pyrite, pyrrhotite, magnetite) bearing
iron formation. In 1973, Noranda Exploration Co. Ltd. conducted
ground geophysical surveys across the southwestern part of the
property in their search for base metals. Follow up work was
recommended but never carried out.
The Crescent Lake Property is underlain by a diverse group of rock
types including, quartz-feldspar porphyry, agglomerate, quartzite,
oxide and sulphide facies iron formation, gabbro, and
biotite-hornblende quartz monzonite. These rocks occur within the
Wabigoon Greenstone Belt, a regionally extensive Archean volcano-
sedimentary terrane. Several types of chemical/mineralogical
alteration commonly associated with Archean lode gold deposits,
have been documented on the Crescent Lake Property and surrounding
area. Shearing, locally intense, has been documented in the
property area and regionally as well.
Avrom Howard A Associates
Harte Resources Limited has recently acquired twenty contiguous
claims in north-:
central Oboshkegan Township, District of Nipigon, Thunder Bay
Mining Division,
Ontario. The property is located approximately 90 kilometres (56
miles) northwest
of the town of Geraldton, and just over 1 kilometre south-southeast
of Redmond
Station, a maintenance stop along the Canadian National
Transcontinental rail line.
Ground access is available to the property by skidder or
snowmachine from
Redmond Station during the winter months, but either helicopter or
fixed wing
aircraft are required during other months of the year. Dry-weather
road access is
currently available to as close as Tashota Station, 10 kilometres
(6 miles) by rail to
the west.
Gold was first documented on the Crescent Lake Property in 1917 by
a government
geologist who visited the property which at the time was being
evaluated as a
pyrite prospect. A 3 foot chip sample in a trench cutting pyrite
replacing
magnetite, yielded 0.11 oz Au/ton. In 1953, Candella Development
Co. drilled two
holes on the property in their search for pyrite, and in hole no. 1
intersected two 1
metre sections yielding 0.005 oz Au/ton, stratigraphically
overlying the afore
mentioned trench. Intensely sheared and silicified porphyry and
quartzite were
encountered along with several bands of sulphide (pyrite,
pyrrhotite, ! magnetite)
bearing iron formation. In 1973, Noranda Exploration Co. Ltd.
conducted ground
geophysical surveys across the southwestern part of th~ property in
their search for
base metals. Follow up work was recommended but never carried
out.
The Crescent Lake Property is underlain by a diverse group of rock
types including,
quartz-feldspar porphyry, agglomerate, quartzite, oxide and
sulphide facies iron
formation, gabbro, and biotite-hornblende quartz monzonite. These
rocks occur
within the Wabigoon Greenstone Belt, a regionally extensive Archean
volcano
sedimentary terrane. Several types of chemical/mineralogical
alteration commonly associated with Archean lode gold depOSits,
have been documented on
the Crescent Lake Property and surrounding area. Shearing, locally
intense, has been documented in the property area and regionally as
well.
~-------------------- Avrom Howard & Associates-----i
Gold deposits in the area include the Paul-Pic deposit (Canamax)
just north of Tashota, with published reserves as of May, 1983, of
212,000 tons associated with iron formation grading 0.209 oz
Au/ton, and the Lake Osu deposit (Consolidated Louanna) located on
the west shore of O'sullivan Lake, 38 kilometres (24 miles) to the
northeast. The latter is associated with small porphyry intrusives,
and has published reserves, as of 1984, of 113,000 tons grading
0.30 oz Au/ton to the 300 foot level. These two deposits, numerous
gold showings, several small and larger felsic intrusive bodies,
and the area encompassed by the Crescent Lake Property which itself
contains gold-bearing iron formation, all fall within a grossly
linear trend which may possibly indicate the presence of a regional
tectonic structure.
In order to evaluate the gold potential of the Crescent Lake
Property, which in spite of two separate documentations of gold has
yet to be done, a comprehensive two phase exploration program is
recommended. Phase One should consist of cutting a reference
control line grid to be followed by detailed geological mapping and
prospecting of the entire area. A magnetometer should be used to
trace iron formation in unexposed areas which may then be sampled
biogeochemically. Based upon data obtained in Phase One, Phase Two
should consist of 2,500 feet (760 m) of diamond drilling in order
to test zones of surface mineralization and magnetic anomalies at
depth. Dependant upon the results of these efforts, further work
may be warranted.
Avrom Howard A Associates
• -2- .
Gold deposits in the area include the Paul-Pic deposit (Canamax)
just north of
Tashota, with published reserves as of May, 1983, of 2U,000 tons.
associated with
iron formation grading 0.209 oz Au/ton, and the Lake Osu deposit
(Consolidated Louanna) located on the west shore of O'Sullivan
Lake, 38' kilometres (24 mUes) to
the northeast. The latter is associated with small porphyry
intrusives, and has published reserves, as of 1984, of 113,000 tons
grading O.SO oz Au/ton to the 300
foot level. These two deposits, numerous gold showings; several
small and larger felsic intrusive bodies, and the area encompassed
by the Cresc,ent lAlke Property
which itself contains gold-bearing _ iron formation, all fall
within a grossly linear
trend which may possibly indicate the presence of a regional
tectonic structure.
In order to evaluate the gold potential of the Crescent Lake
Property, which in
spite of two separate documentations of gold has yet to be done, a
comprehensive two phase exploration program is recommended. Phase
One should consist of
cutting a reference control line grid to be followed by detailed
geological mapping and prospecting of the entire area. A
magnetometer should be used to trace iron
formation in unexposed areas which may then be sampled
biogeochemically. Based
upon data obtained in Phase One, Phase Two should consist of 2,500
feet (760 m) of
diamond drilling in order to test zones of surface mineralization
and magnetic anomalies at depth. Dependant upon the resUlts of
these efforts, further work may
be warranted.
INTRODUCTION AND TERMS OF REFERENCE
This research report on the Crescent Lake Property a 20 claim block
in the District of Thunder Bay, Ontario, has been prepared for
Harte Resources Limited at the request of M. Klyman, director. The
purpose of this report is to review the geology, mineral deposits
and mineral exploration history within and around the property
area, in order to gain whatever preliminary knowledge available,
and in the process verify and illustrate the merit of a proposal,
contained herein, to conduct a program of mineral exploration on
the property. Details and costs involved in such a program, which
is anticipated to cost CDN $143,000, are also discussed.
Information contained in this report is derived from several
published sources of information and the provincial Assessment
Files (Thunder Bay and Toronto offices). Snow conditions as of
February, 1985, precluded any meaningful, preliminary geological
studies from taking place, and as a result a personal property
visit was not carried out.
In view of the fact that this study has been prepared as a
geologist's report on a mining property for submission to the
Ontario Securities Commission, I hereby consent to the inclusion of
my name and any part or parts of this report as is deemed
necessary, in a prospectus and/or other publication dealing with
Harte Resources Limited and the Crescent Lake Property.
ipectfully,
INTRODUCnON AND TERMS OF REFERENCE
This research report on the Crescent Lake Property a 20 claim block
in the District
of Thunder Bay, Ontario, has been prepared for Harte Resources
Limited at the
request of M. Klyman, director. The purpose of this report is to
review the geology, mineral deposits and mineral exploration
history within and around the
property area, in order to gain whatever preliminary knowledge
avaUable, and in
the process verify and illustrate the merit of a proposal,
contained herein, to
- conduct a program of mineral exploration on the property. Details
and costs
involved in such a program, which is anticipated to cost CDN
$143,000, are also
discussed. Information contained in this report is derived from
several published
sources of information and the provincial Assessment Files (Thunder
Bay and
Toronto offices). Snow conditions as of February, 1985, precluded
any meaningful, . -
preliminary geological studies from taking place, and ~s a result a
personal
property visit was not carried out.
In view of the fact that this s~udy has been prepared as a
geologist's report on a
mining property for submission to the Ontario Securities
Commission, I hereby
consent to the inclusion of my name and any part or parts of this
report as is
deemed necessary, in a prospectus and/or other publication dealing
with Harte Resources Limited and the Crescent Lake Property.
spectfully,
O 100 ISO Kllomvtr**
•
•
/" ,,/
/' ,/
/ ,/'
/' /
/'
I :
I
PROPERTY
'/ 0*
Timmin. 0
-5-
r PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION
The Crescent Lake Property consists of twenty (20) contiguous
unpatented claims comprising a total of approximately 324 hectares
(800 acres). The claims are located in north-central Oboshkegan
Township, District of Nipigon, Thunder Bay Mining Division,
Province of Ontario. The property surrounds Crescent Lake, located
centrally within at 633632 on the U.T.M. Universal Transverse
Mercator Grid reference system on the Elbow Lake Sheet (42L/4),
1:50,000 series (see Fig. 2). Harte Resources Ltd. retains one
hundred percent exclusive mineral rights to the property, as
defined in the Ontario Mines Act. The property is located within
the boundaries of Claim Map No. G-173 (Oboshkegan Township),
consisting of the following claims:
Claim No:
27,1985
e
-5-
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION
The Crescent Lake Property consists of twenty. (20) contiguous
unpatented claims
comprising a total of approximately 324 hectares (800 acres). The
claims are
located in north-central Oboshkegan Township, District of Nipigon,
Thunder Bay
Mining Division, Province of Ontario. The property surrounds
Crescent Lake,
located centrally within at 633632 on the U. T.M. Universal
Transverse Mercator
Grid reference system on the Elbow Lake Sheet (42L/4), 1:50,000
series (see Fig.
2). Harte Resources Ltd .. retains one hundred percent exclusive
mineral rights to
the property, as defined in the Ontario Mines Act. The property is
located within
the boundaries of Claim Map No. G-173 (Oboshkegan Township),
consisting of the
following claims:
-6-
The Canadian National Railroad line passes through the area in an
east-west direction 1.6 kilometres (l mile) north of the northern
boundary of the property. Redmond Station, a former C.N.R.
maintenance station, and an abandoned forest fire lookout tower are
located at this point along the rail line which connects to the
town of Nakina 43.2 kilometres (27 miles) to the east. Armstrong,
the nearest town along the rail line to the west, is approximately
125 kilometres (78 miles) distant. The town of Geraldton which is
the nearest major urban centre, is approximately 90 kilometres (56
miles) to the south-southeast, and the city of Thunder Bay which is
where the adminstrative headquarters for the region are located, is
approximately 224 kilometres (140 miles) southwest of the
property.
Avrom Howard A Associates
-6-
The Canadian National Railroad line passes through the area in an
east-west
direction 1.6 kilometres (1 mile) north of the northern boundary of
the property.
Redmond Station, a former C.N.R. maintenance station, and an
abandoned forest
fire lookout tower are "located at this pOint along the rail line
which connects to the town of Nakina 43.2 kilometres (27 miles) to
the east. Armstrong, the nearest
town along the rail line to the west, is approximately 125
kilometres (78 mUes)
distant. The town of Geraldton which is the nearest major urban
centre, Is
approximately 90 kilometres (56 miles) to the south-southeast, and
the city of
Thunder Bay which is where the adminstrative headquarters for the
region are
located, is approximately 224 kilometres (140 miles) southwest of
the property.
L-_____________________ Avrom Howard & Associates --.....
(^
ACCESS, PHYSIOGRAPHY, LOCAL RESOURCES
Due to the crescent shape of Crescent Lake it is not accessible by
fixed-wing aircraft which can, however, fly in and out of Lac Ste.
Marie 600 metres (approximately 2,000 feet) south of the southern
boundary of the Crescent Lake Property. Aircraft may be charted at
Nakina, Armstrong, Jellicoe and Geraldton. As previously mentioned,
the C.N.R. line passes through the area and VIA Rail service is
available to Redmond Station, 1.0 kilometres (3,300 feet) north of
the northwestern corner of the property. Although air charter will
provide the best means of access during the surface phases of
exploration on the Crescent Lake Property, rail access will
constitute the same during the diamond drilling (and/or additional)
phases. Automobile access in the area is improving yearly as
logging roads are developed further northward, and is currently
available year-round to the village of Auden, also on the rail
line, approximately 29 kilometres (18 miles) to the west of the
Crescent Lake Property. A dry-weather road reaches Tashota, yet
another rail line station approximately 10 kilometres (6 miles)
west of the property, from the former Tashota-Nipigon Mine 13
kilometres (8 miles) to the south, which in turn connects to an
all-weather road heading west then south to Highway No. 801
terminating at the Trans-Canada Highway (No. 11), a further 84
kilometres (40 miles) travel.
The physiography of the Crescent Lake Property area is typical of
the Canadian Shield; broad expanses of marsh, bog, and spruce
forest occasionally interrupted by pine and birch (and/or poplar)
covered hills and ridges. In addition to Crescent Lake itself there
are a number of small marshy ponds, both isolated and connected by
narrow creeks which traverse the property. The property is
traversed by the height of land separating the Great Lakes Basin
and Hudson Bay drainage areas. Lac Ste. Marie drains south into the
former, and Crescent Lake north into the latter. Pleistocene cover
is reported by recent workers in the area to be thin, typically
between 2 to 5 metres, consisting mainly of sand and gravel
(Waddington, 1983). Government sources, however, report that
overburden consisting of sand and clay may exceed 30 metres (100
feet) in and south of the Tashota area. Considering that the
Crescent Lake Property straddles the height of land, overburden is
expected to be fairly shallow. In the two diamond drill holes
drilled on the property in 1953, overburden depths were 13 and 1.5
feet respectively.
Avrom Howard A Associates
ACCESS, PHYSIOGRAPHY, LOCAL RESOURCES
. . Due to the crescent shape of Cresce~t Lake it is not accessible
by fixed-wing
aircraft which can, however, fly in and out of Lac Stet Marie 600
metres (approximately 2,000 feet) south of the southern boundary of
the Crescent Lake Property. Aircraft may be charted at Nakina,
Armstrong, Jellicoe and Geraldton. As previously mentioned, the
C.N.R. line passes through the area and VIA Rail service is
available to Redmond Station, 1.0 kilometres (3,300 feet) north of
the
northwestern corner of the property. Although air charter will
provide the best means of access during the surface phases of
exploration on the Crescent Lake Property, rail access will
constitute the same during the diamond drilling (and/or
additional) phases. Automobile access in the area is improving
yearly as logging
roads are developed further northward, and is currently available
year-round to the village of Auden, also on the rail line,
approximately 29 kilometres (18 miles) to
the west of the Crescent Lake Property. A dry-weather road reaches
Tashota, yet another rail line station approximately 10 kilometres
(6 miles) west of the
property, from the former Tashota-Nipigon Mine 13 kilometres (8
miles) to the
south, which in turn connects to an all-weather road heading west
then south to
• Highway No. 801 terminating at the Trans-Canada Highway (No. 11),
a further 64 kilometres (40 miles) travel.
The physiography of the Crescent Lake Property area is typical of
tlle Canadian
Shield; broad expanses of marsh, bog, and spruce forest
occasionally interrupted by pine and birch (and/or poplar) covered
hillS and ridges. In addition to Crescent
Lake itself there are a number of small marshy ponds, both·
isolated and connected
by narrow creeks which traverse the property. The property is
traversed by the
height of land separating the Great Lakes Basin and Hudson Bay
drainage areas. Lac Stet Marie drains south into the former, and
Crescent Lake north into the
latter. Pleistocene cover is reported by recent workers in the area
to be thin,
typically between 2 to 5 metres, consisting mainly of sand and
gravel (Waddington,
1983). Government sources, however, report that overburden
consisting of sand and clay may exceed 30 metres (100 feet) in and
south of the Tashota area.
Considering that the Crescent Lake Property straddles the height of
land, overburden is expected to be fairly shallow. In the two
diamond drill holes drilled on the property in 1953, overburden
depths were 13 and 1.5 feet respectively.
~---------------------Avrom Howard & Associates--....
-9-
Local resources are abundant? natural, technological, and human.
Water, timber and gravel may be found on and around the property,
and electricity is available from Tashota (there is probably a
generator at Redmond Station as well). Any materials necessary for
mineral exploration, development and exploitation are available
either locally in towns such as Nakina and Geraldton, or regionally
in cities such as Thunder Bay or Winnipeg, all of from which goods
may be shipped directly, to within l kilometre of the property via
Canadian National Railways. Skilled and unskilled labour are also
available at these locations.
Avrom Howard A Associates
Local resources are abundant; natural, technological, and human.
Water,timber
and gravel may be found on and, around the property, and
electricity is available from Tashota (there Is probably a
generator at Redmond Station as well). Any
materials necessary for mineral exploration, development and
exploitation are available either locally in towns such as Nakina
'and Geraldton, or regionally in
cities such as Thunder Bay or Winnipeg, all of from which goods may
be shipped
directly, to within 1 kilometre of the property via Canadian
National Railways.
Skilled and unskilled labour are also available at these
locatlons~
L..-____________________ Avrom Howard & Associqtes __
...J
-10-
RBQIONAL GEOLOGY
Rocks in the Tashota area consist of a complex sequence of altered
and structur ally deformed volcanic, volcanoclastic, sedimentary
and intrusive rocks. This volcanosedimentary assemblage forms part
of the Wabigoon Greenstone Belt in the Superior Province of the
Canadian Precambrian Shield. Keewatin mafic volcanics are the
predominant rock type in the area, typical of most greenstone
terranes, and are dark green occasionally pillowed andesites and
basalts, locally porphyritic, vesicular and/or containing small
hornblende phenocrysts. Felsic volcanics, vary from massive
rhyolite to agglomerate, to quartz, quartz-feldspar, and feldspar
porphyry, which are particularly abundant in the property area.
Sediments form a small percentage of the rocks in the Tashota area,
and are seen only at Crescent Lake and Knucklethumb Lake (several
kilometres to the south-southwest). Sedi ments consist of chert,
slate, graphitic argillite, phyllite, greywacke and quartzite, and
at Crescent Lake, quartzite makes up almost the entire sequence.
Associated with the quartzite, and quartz-feldspar porphyry, are
numerous bands of iron formation which may be oxide facies,
sulphide facies and in the Crescent Lake area, sulphides replacing
oxide facies. The entire sequence has been metamor phosed to
greenschist facies.
Intruding into this volcanosedimentary sequence are numerous mafic
and felsic bodies of various sizes and ages. To the north of
Crescent Lake is the Gzowksi Lake Stock, a
biotite-hornblende-quartz monzonite, and within the property is a
small gabbro plug. Structural disruption in the area is extensive
and of various forms. Numerous faults and lineaments have been
recorded, and the discordance of structural and stratigraphic field
measurements noted by Amukun (O.G.S. GR 176, Map No. 2354),
indicate a very complex structural picture, particularly in areas
immediately surrounding intrusive bodies. Shearing is common, and
carbonatized and silicified rocks are noted throughout the area as
well. For more detailed information on the geology and mineral
deposits in the Crescent Lake area, refer to following sections in
this report.
Avrom Howard A Associates
RBGIONAL GBOLOGY
Rocks in the Tashota area consist of a complex sequence of altered
and structur ally deformed volcanic, volcanoclastic, sedimentary
and intrusive rocks. This volcanosedimentary assemblage forms part
of the Wabigoon Greenstone Belt in the
Superior Province of the Canadian Precambrian Shield. Keewatin
mafic volcanics are the predominant rock type in the area, typical
of most greenstone terranes, and
are dark green occasionally pillowed andesites and basalts, locally
porphyritiC, vesicular and/or containing small hornblende
phenocrysts. Felsic volcanics, vary
from massive rhyolite to agglomerate, to quartz, quartz-feldspar,
and feldspar porphyry, which are particularly abundant in the
property area. Sediments form a small percentage of the rocks in
the Tashota area, and are seen only at Crescent Lake and
Knucklethumb Lake (several kilometres to the south-southwest).
Sedi
ments consist of chert, slate, graphitic argilUte, phyllite,
greywacke and quartzite, and at Crescent Lake, quartzite makes up
almost the entire sequence. Associated
with the quartzite, and quartz-feldspar porphyry, are numerous
bands of iron formation which may be oxide facies, sulphide facies
and in the Crescent Lake
area, sulphides replacing oxide facies. The entire sequence has
been metamor phosed to greenschist facies.
Intruding into this volcanosedimentary sequence are numerous mafic
and felsic bodies of various sizes and ages. To the north of
Crescent .Lake is the Gzowksi
Lake Stock, a biotite-hornblende-quartz monzonite, and within the
property is a
small gabbro plug. Structural disruption in the area is extensive
and of various
forms. Numerous faults and lineaments have been recorded, and the
discordance of
structural and stratigraphic field measurements noted by Amukun
(O.G.S. GR 176,
Map No. 2354), indicate a very complex structural picture,
particularly in areas
immediately surrounding intrusive bodies. Shearing is common, and
carbonatized and silicified rocks are noted throughout the area as
well. For more detailed
information on the geology and mineral deposits In the Crescent
Lake area, refer
to following sections in this report.
~---------------------Avrom Howard & Associates--.....
Glacial deposit*, glaciofluvial deposits, glaciolacustrine
deposits
UNCONFORMITY
MAFIC INTRUSIVE ROCKS Fine-grained and medlum-to coarse-grained
ophitic diabase
dikes, porphyritic diabase
FELSIC INTRUSIVE ROCKS Pegmatite, aplite, felsite, quartz and/or
feldspar porphyry,
alaskite, micropegmatite
INTRUSIVE OR QRAOATIONAL CONTACT METAMORPHOSED FELSIC INTRUSIVE AND
MIGMATITIC ROCKS
Hornblende-biotite trondhjemite, homblende-biotite grano diorite
gneiss, hornblende-biotite-quartz monzonite gneiss, porphyritic
biotite gneiss, amphibolite, migma- tite3, quartz diorite
INTRUSIVE CONTACT MAFIC INTRUSIVE ROCKS
Metagabbro, hornblende metagabbro, porphyritic mafic ' . intrusive
rocks, metaborite, hornblende lamprophyre
INTRUSIVE CONTACT METAVOLCANICS AND METASEDIMENTS
METASEDIMENTS Argillite (phyllite), slate, conglomerate, arkose,
greywacke,
chert, sandstone FELSIC METAVOLCANICS
MAFIC METAVOLCANICS Mafic flows, tuff, breccia, agglomerate,
recrystallized flows,
schist
IRON FORMATION
1- Robinson Lake Stock 2. Gzowski Lake Stock 3. Elbow Lake
Stock
TABLE 1: Table of Lithologic Units for the Tashota Area
-11-
Glacial deposits, glaciofluvial deposit., glaciolacustrine
deposits
UNCONFORMITY
Fine-gralned and medium-to cOlrsa-gralned ophltlc diabase dlkas.
porphyritic diabase
INTRUSIVE CONTACT
FELSIC INTRUSIVE ROCKS Pegmatite. aplite. felsite, quartz and/or
feldspar porphyry,
alasklte, mlcropegmatlte
INTRUSIVE OR GRADATIONAL CONTACT METAMORPHOSED FELSIC INTRUSIVE AND
MIGMATITIC ROCKS
Hornblende-blotite trondhjemite, honlblende-blotlte grano diorite
gneiss. hornblende-biotlte.quartz monzonite gneiss, porphvrltic
biotite gnell' amphibolite. migma tite3• quartz diorite
INTRUSIVE CONTACT
Intrusive rocks. metldio'rlte; hornblende lamprophyre
INTRUSIVE CONTACT METAVOLCANICS AND METASEDIMENTS
METASEDIMENTS
1. Robinson Lake Stock 2. GZOINski Lake Stock 3. Elbow Lake
Stock
Argillite (phyllitel. slate. conglomerete. arkose. greywacke,
chert. sandstone
FELSIC METAVOLCANICS Rhyolite to rhyodacite. rhyolite porphyry,
tuff. lapllll-
tuff. tuff-breccla. pyroclastic breccia, schist
MAFIC METAVOLCANICS Mafic fIOlN •• tuff, breccia. agglomerate.
recrystelllzed flows.
schist
TABLE 1: Table of Lithologic Units for the Tashota Area
-12-
REGIONAL EXPLORATION HISTORY
Robert Bell, employed with the Geological Survey of Canada, was the
first geologist to pass through the area east of Lake Nipigon in
1870, and got as far as Wawong Portage on the Kawashagama River
where Cavell Station is now situated. In 1907 and 1908 E.S. Moore
of the Ontario Bureau of Mines returned to the area in order to map
the iron ranges known therein and it is in his report that the
first specific mention of the area currently part of the Crescent
Lake Property is made. This, and additional references to the
property will be discussed more fully in subsequent sections of
this report. In 1913 the National Transcontinental Railway was
completed giving prospectors access to an area of which little was
previously known, with the exception of the Onaman Iron Range
mapped by Moore. The discovery of a spectacular gold showing by one
such prospector in the summer of 1915 at Howard Falls on the
Kawashagama River north of Kowkash, caused a rush which in turn
resulted in other gold finds along the same river and in the
Tashota area to the west (see Fig. 3).
By 1917 the area was referred to as "The Kowkash Gold Area", and in
his report for the Ontario Bureau of Mines, P.E. Hopkins listed 7
major and 5 minor gold showings. Most activity in the Kowkash area
was in Tashota where two properties were undergoing underground
development work. At the Wells Property, currently known as the
Wascanna (Teck), a shaft was sunk to 120 feet and a 700 ton bulk
sample was taken, returning a grade of 0.24 oz Au/ton. At the Cline
Prospect, currently known as the Paul-Pic (Canamax) just north of
the tracks, a shaft was sunk to 48 feet. Further to the east,
Tash-Orn Mines Ltd. had a shaft down to 56 feet on the original
King-Dodds discovery at Howard Falls, with drifts and cross cuts
along the main vein (which was reported to contain local
concentrations of "considerable" gold). As a result of Hopkin's
survey and property visits, he advised the following: "In
prospecting the surface for gold, one should trench in the green
schists near the porphyry dikes and in the vicinity of small
granite intrusions". He also discussed iron deposits, and it is
here that is found a second reference to the area that is currently
the Crescent Lake Property. Included in this reference is the
report of a three foot sample across a band of iron formation taken
at this location which assayed $2.40 Au/ton (approx. 0.11 oz
Au/ton).
Avrom Howard A. Associates
REGIONAL EXPLORATION HISTORY
Robert Bell, employed with the Geological Survey of Canada, was·
the first
geologist to pass through the area east of Lake Nipigon in 1870,
and got as' far ~
Wawong Portage on the Kawashagama River where Cavell Station Is now
situated.
In 1907 and 1908 E.S. Moore of the Ontario Bureau of Mines returned
to the area in :
order to map the iron ranges known therein and it is in his report
that the first specific mention of the area currently part of the
Crescent Lake Property is made.·
This, and additional references to the property will be discussed
more fully in subsequent sections of this report. In 1913 the
National Transcontinental Railway
was completed giVing-prospectors access to an area of which little
was previously known, with the exception of the Onaman Iron Range
mapped by Moore. The
discovery of a spectacular gold showing by one such prospector in
the sum mer of
1915 at Howard Falls on the Kawashagama River north of Kowkash,
caused a rush
which in turn resulted in other gold finds along the same river and
in the Tashota area to the west (see Fig. 3).
By 191'1 the area was referred to as "The Kowkash Gold Area", and
in his report for
the Ontario Bureau of Mines, P.E. Hopkins listed 7 major and 5
minor gold
showings. Most activity in the Kowkash area was in Tashota where
two properties
were undergoing underground development work. At the Wells
Property, currently
known as the Wascanna (Teck), a shaft was sunk to 120 feet and a
700 ton bulk
sample was taken, returning a grade of 0.24 oz Au/ton. At the Cline
Prospect,
currently known as the Paul-Pic (Canamax) just north of the tracks,
a shaft was
sunk to 48 feet. Further to the east, Tash-Orn Mines Ltd. had a
shaft down to 56
feet on the original King-Dodds discovery at Howard Falls, with
drifts and cross
cuts along the main vein (which was reported to contain local
concentrations of
"considerable" gold). As a result of Hopkin's survey and property
visits, he advised
the following: "In prospecting the surface for gold, one should
trench in the green
schists near the porphyry dikes and in the vicinity of small
granite intrusions". He
also discussed iron deposits, and it is here that is found a second
reference to the area that is currently the Crescent Lake Property.
Included in this reference is the
report of a three foot sample across a band of iron formation taken
at this location which assayed $2.40 Au/ton (approx. 0.11 oz
Au/ton).
'-----------------------Avrom Howard & Associates ---'
-13-
In 1923 a gold discovery was made south of Tashota in the Onaman
Lake area, with several more following shortly thereafter. The
McKechnie property as it was known, was purchased by
Tashota-Nipigon Mines Ltd. who by 1928 had a shaft down to 225
feet. Between 1935-38 this deposit produced 12,355 oz Au, 14,527 oz
Ag, and 575,430 Ibs Cu, and is currently owned by Lynx
Canada-Explorations Ltd. in a consortium with other companies
(property is currently under option to Mattagami Lake Exploration
Ltd.). In 1925 T.L. Gledhill visited the area, which at the time
was referred to as "The Tashota-Onaman Gold Area", and elaborated
further on Hopkin's observations and conclusions. Gledhill
documented six distinct types of gold mineralization, and in his
recommendations to prospectors emphasized shear zones within
greenstone about 3/4 mile from greenstone /granite contact, the
granite batholiths being in his view the ultimate source of gold in
the area. It was also during the twenties that a number of gold
showings were discovered within the same belt, further to the east
at O'sullivan Lake, one of which was until recently in production
(Lake Osu - Consolidated Louanna).
Exploration and development work continued in the area during the
1930's, although it was only at the Tashota-Nipigon Mines Ltd.
property that any significant production took place. In 1931, L.F.
Kindle of the Ontario Department of Mines visited the area, and
commented on many of the properties visited by his counterparts
during the previous two decades. He also made specific mention of
gold-bearing iron formation at Lac Ste. Marie although he did not
state whether he was actually there, or was merely repeating what
was previously written else where. In 1938 W.W. Moorehouse paid the
last visit to the area by a government geologist for many years,
and prepared a report entitled, "Geology of the South Onaman Area".
In his recommendations to prospectors he also emphasized sheared,
porphyry-intruded schists, small granite intrusives, and mentioned
the wide distri bution of molybdenite along sheared, and silicified
zones within and at the contacts of granite and diorite
bodies.
During the second world war interest in the area declined, and only
recently has that interest begun to revive. During the 1950's
limited exploration work for iron took place, and during the late
sixties and early seventies numerous airborne and ground
geophysical surveys were conducted as companies searched for base
metal
Avrom Howard A Associates
-13 -
In 1923 a gold di;covery was made south of Tashota in the Onaman
Lake area, with
several more following shortly thereafter. The McKechnie property
as it was
known, was purchased by Tashota-Nipigon Mines Ltd. who by 1928 had
a shaft down
to 225 feet. Between 1935-38 this deposit produced 12,355 oz Au,
14,527 OZ Ag,
and 575,430 lbs Cu, and is currently owned by Lynx
Canada-Explorations Ltd. in a
consortium with other companies (property is currently under option
to Mattagami
Lake Exploration Ltd.). In 1925 T.L. Gledhill visited the area,
which at the time
was referred to as "The Tashota-Onaman Gold Area", and elaborated
further on
Hopkin's observations and conclusions. Gledhill documented six
distinct types of
gold mineralization, and in his recommendations to prospectors
emphasized shear
zones within greenstone about 3/4 mile from greenstone/granite
contact, the
granite batholiths being in his view the ultimate source of gold in
the area. It was
a180 during the twenties that a number of gold showings were
discovered within the
same belt, further to tJ'le east at O'Sullivan Lake, one of which
was until recently in production (Lake Osu - Consolidated
Louanna).
Exploration and development work continued in the area during the
1930's, although
it was only at the Tashota-Nipigon Mines Ltd. property that any
significant
production took place. In 1931, L.F. Kindle of the Ontario
Department of Mines
visited the area, and commented on many of the properties visited
by his
counterparts during the previous two decades. He also made specific
mention of
gold-bearing iron formation at Lac Ste. Marie although he did not
state whether he
was actually there, or was merely repeating what wa~ previously
written else
where. In 1938 W. w. Moorehouse paid the last visit to the area by
a government
geologist for many years, and prepared a report entitled, "Geology
of the South
Onaman Area". In hi; recommendations to prospectors he a180
emphasized sheared,
porphyry-intruded schists, small granite intrusives, and mentioned
the wide distri
bution of molybdenite along sheared, and silicified zones within
and at the contacts
of granite and diorite bodies.
During the second world war interest in the area declined, and only
recently has
that interest begun to revive. During the 1950's limited
exploration work for iron
took place, and during the late sixties and early seventies
numerous airborne and ground geophysical surveys were conducted as
companies searched for base metal
'-----------------------Avrom Howard & Associates -_ ....
-14-
T
massive sulphide deposits. Towards the end of the seventies as the
price of gold began to rise, however, companies began to return to
many of the old showings and past producers with the hope of
discovering new and/or additional reserves therein. As a result,
all of the old major properties in the Tashota-Onaman area are
currently either held or optioned by major mining companies. In the
Tashota area, the Wascanna (Wells) property is currently under
option to Teck who have been conducting drilling programs there
since 1982, but have yet to publish any reserves. At the Paul-Pic
(Cline) Property to the north, Canamax has drilled a deposit which
as of 1983 was reported to contain 212,000 tons at 0.209 oz Au/ton.
Canamax also holds numerous other properties to the east, northeast
and southeast of Tashota in Gzowski and Oboshkegan Townships. The
Adair Property, just to the north of the Paul-Pic, was recently
under option to Inco. As previously mentioned, Lynx Canada
currently owns the Tashota-Nipigon Mines Ltd. (McKecnnie) Property
whose reserves were reported to be 3,600 tonnes at 0.2 oz Au/ton in
1967. Further to the east at O'sullivan lake, Consolidated Louanna
put the old Miller Prospect (1935) into production in 1982,
transferring intererst to Cumo Resources Ltd. in 1984 who in turn
have production directed by the Mining Corp. of Canada (Noranda
subsidiary). Reserves as of March 1984 stood at 113,000 tonnes
averaging 0.30 oz Au/ton, down to the 300 foot level.
Although there have been substantial efforts at these locations,
properties en compassing past producers for the most part, there
has been little in the way of consistent efforts elsewhere.
Individuals and companies have staked many of the other gold
showings documented by the original government workers in the area,
and by 8.E. Amukun in his report on the area in 1976, but most have
been abandoned shortly thereafter with either little or no work
done on them. A cursory examination of pertinent claim maps
indicates that staking in areas aside from those containing
previously known occurrences, which would indicate that either new
conceptual research and/or prospecting is occurring, has not yet
taken place.
Avrom Howard A Associates
-14 -
massive sulphide deposits. Towards the end of the seventies as the
price of gold began to rise, however, companies began to return to
many of the old showings and
past producers with tl:\e hope of discovering new and/or additional
reserves therein.
As a result, all of the old major properties in the Tashota-Onaman
area are
currently either held or optioned by major mining companies. In the
Tashota area, the Wascanna (Wells) property is currently under
option to Teck who have been
conducting drilling programs there since 1982, but have yet to
publish any reserves.
At the Paul-Pic (Cline) Property to the north, Canamax has drilled
a deposit which'
as of 1983 was reported to contain 212,00.9 tons at 0.209 oz
Au/ton. Canamax also
holds numerous other properties to the east, northeast and
southeast of Tashota in
Gzowski and Oboshkegan Townships. The Adair Property, just to the
north of the
Paul-Pic, was recently under option to Inco. As previously
mentioned, Lynx
Canada currently owns the Tashota-Nipigon Mines Ltd. (McKechnie)
Property
whose reserves were reported to be 3,600 tonnes at 0.2 oz Au/ton in
1967. Further
to the east at O'Sullivan lake, Consolidated Louanna put the old
Miller Prospect
(1935) into production in 1982, transferring intererst to Cumo
Resources Ltd. in
1984 who in turn have production directed by the Mining Corp. of
Canada (Noranda
subsidiary). Reserves as of March 1984 stood at 113,000 tonnes
averaging 0.30 oz
Au/ton, down to the 300 foot level.
Although there have been substantial efforts at these locations,
properties en
compassing past producers for the most part, there has been little
in the way of
consistent efforts elsewhere. Individuals and companies have staked
many of the
other gold showings documented by the original government workers
in the area,
and by S.E. Amukun in his report on the area in 1976, but most have
been
abandoned shortly thereafter with either little or no work done on
them. A cursory
examination of pertinent claim maps indicates that staking in areas
aside from
those containing previously known occurrences, which would indicate
that either
new conceptual research and/or prospecting is occurring, has not
yet taken place.
I.....--------------------Avrom How<:Jrd &
Associates--....
^HSr^flnr/
AB ,^s^tfcp~^r •' TMB-OTB C.fell'r-JK--.*'-'* ^'j. '"'" Xs^p
*,'-g^T\r-.i-' *i i" * x^ civKv.^^.U.:- u/
•*n l •••U-.T'^Ti ••.v-'* "j* K" ~p ju/.^wT'.*-.!-' j., Jt u!^:^^
-:- i /? *,J 'l *- - *| --'* c*'
^ x*.-; -
/•^ ^i^f^^Mimi; {^--* wytf~-.^-.sfc.^^,gJ^? "-:--^r^-:M JHP**S*^A
-^ # "-, /^^•'^•^(r jff^^^--^^^^^^ :~.. ^S*M*
^ J- JiWW VK/y^J
S
,.- ' **/^
^^y? ^--:^;'!i^|^::::^ •ys^iy' c"tor '^;v-j_jr^^'o^TiF^ '5-—,
Smbols LEGEND
[ H Vwimii
l Htj. MM, I'tn'. t*t*f. ffHHtt Mi, t
[ _ J H 4*K**n**tn *(- W^ijufl Kf/fl; y/tti L , ...1 . JfrJ "*"-
*A*"- M"**(*n* *"* #*'*-"'(*-
SCALE li 126,720 l" = 2 miles
Algoman
CZD- GZ1-
l 0 j
J y l ^ l fuc-j/ tfomr) turf ftMw ftrfijiy r L- . -TlJ
l*'*****'***- i reprint from
^K;.!-..'.'.'"!-""^""".-"'"' O.B.M. Map 34g
j itni; "9*1, (K^I, ! __ j tvpiyrf.
(/(j*, irm fimitlit mf t
f A K f-,.
Figure 3: Geology of the Redmond Area, (1917)
~.:ZJ , .. ~ ['.~.(_:J rrtll",q~., •.
[~~~J 11#.""11 1/1 f", •••• , 'U HI"'.
U~J "I'l~"lItfIP.
[2~J 1t".""'.'~I#"'Ip. C-:':..~J·'QI'f'rrl". C=.:'J
'.IlII,/UI"VItIl"I. fI~fI .•• d,
L_~J ".,.',"I •. , .... ':. ..• "II~I'd.
lEGENp
Kuwalin
[-.~ J 1',1" ••• ",11
SCALE
I !
II'
-16-
PROPERTY GEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION HISTORY
E.S. Moore was the first government of Ontario geologist to
specifically mention the area encompassed by the Crescent Lake
Property in his 1908 report, "The Iron Ranges East of Lake
Nipigon". At the time the property area was known as the Trombley
Claims, where; "a lean range of iron formation up to 500 feet wide
has been staked, lying along St. Marie Lake". This same body of
water is today known as Crescent Lake, while another lake to the
south, previously nameless, is called Lac Ste. Marie. In 1917 P.E.
Hopkins made a reference to the same area, by this time known as
the "Lake Ste. Marie Deposit", in a section of his report which
discussed iron deposits in the Kowkash area. Rewrote:
"A wide iron formation band of varying strike and dip occurs in the
rhyolites around Lake Ste. Marie, which is two miles to the
southeast of Redmond Station. The rocks have been greatly
brecciated, permitting the circulation of sulphide solutions. This
may be the original Trombley iron deposit referred to by E.S.
Moore, but it is now staked by Russell and Dwyer. Within 100 yards
of the northeast shore of the lake, trenching has revealed a pyrite
band three feet in width. A chipped sample across three feet
yielded, on assay, 31.3 per cent of sulphur and $2.40 of gold to
the ton. There was not enough work done to disclose the extent of
the deposit."
On the map accompanying Hopkin's report (Map No. 26a), the lake
known today as Crescent Lake is labelled "L. Ste. Marie", along
with some notes about the iron formation (see Fig. 3). Even though
the distance of two miles referred to above places one almost
half-way between this lake and the one which is today known as Lac
Ste. Marie, the measured distance on his map is less than two
miles. There is a big hill between the two points which probably
accounts for this discrepancy. In addition, the shape of this lake
and its position with respect to surrounding landmarks is identical
to the one known on all current maps of the area as Crescent Lake,
so there can be no doubt that they are one and the same. His
reference to the occurrence of gold is also quite significant, and
at a prevailing gold price of $21.00 per ounce translates into 0.11
oz Au/ton. It is also noteworthy because it documents a knowledge
and awareness of the association between iron formation and gold at
that time.
Avrom Howard A Associates
BXPLORA'nON HISTORY
E.S. Moore was the first government of Ontario geologist to
specifically mention the area encompassed by the Crescent Lake
Property in his 1908 report, ilThe Iron
Ranges East of Lake Nipigon". At the time the property area was
known as the
Trombley Claims, where; "a lean range of iron formation up to 500
feet wide has .
been staked, lying along St. Marie Lake"; This same body of water
is today known
as Crescent Lake, while another lake to the south, previously
nameless, is called
Lac Ste. Marie. In 1917 P.E. Hopkins made a reference to the same
area, by this time known as the "Lake Ste. Marie Deposit", in a
section of his report which
discussed iron deposits in the Kowkash area. He wrote:
"A wide iron formation band of var¥ing strt~e ana dip oocurs1n the
rhyolites around Lake Ste. Marie, which is two mUes to tile
southeast
of Redmond Station. The rOcks have been greatly breCCiated,
permitting the circulation of sulphide solutions. This ',I'flay be
the
original Trombley iron deposit referred to by E.S. Moore, but it is
now staked by Russell and Dwyer. Within 100 yards of the
northeast
shore of the lake, trenching has reve~ed a pyrite band three feet
in
width. A chipped sample across three feet yielded, on ~say,
31.3
per cent of sulphur and $2.40 of gold to tl)e ton. There was
not
enough work done to disclose the extent of the deposit."
On the map accompanying Hopkin's report (Map No. 26a), the lake
known today as
Crescent Lake is labelled "L. Ste. Marie", along with some notes
.about the iron
formation (see Fig. 3). Even though the distance of two mUes
referred to above
places one almost half-way between this lake and the one which is
today known as
Lac Ste • .Marie, the measured distance on his map is less than two
mUes.There is a big hill between the two points which probably
accounts for this discrepancy. In
addition, the shape of this lake and its pOSition with respect to
surrounding landmarks is identical to the one known on all current
maps of the area as Crescent
Lake, so there can be no doubt that they are one and the same. His
reference to
the occurrence of gold is also quite significant, and at a
prevailing gold price of
$21.00 per ounce translates into 0.11 oz Au/ton. It is also
noteworthy because it e documents a knowledge and awareness of the
association between iron formation
and gold at that time.
~--------------------Avrom Howard & Associates--....
-17-
L.F. Kindle was the next government geologist to refer specifically
to the Lake Ste. Marie (Crescent Lake) area in his report of 1931.
He repeated what Hopkins had written in his report 6 years earlier,
stating} "At Lake Ste. Marie, magnetite of the banded iron has been
almost wholly replaced by pyrite, which carries low gold values."
He did not quote any assays in this brief reference, but did not
refer to Hopkin's report either, so it is possible that he took
some samples of his own. Of greater significance than his
reiteration of the occurrence of gold, however, is his mention of
pyrite replacing magnetite, indicating that some sort of chemical
alteration had taken place.
There are no records in the provincial government assessment files
of work which may have been performed by either Trombley or Russell
and Dwyer while prospecting for iron, although they must have done
something in order to consistently attract the attention of
government geologists between 1908 and 1938. The first records of
exploration work in the Lake Ste. Marie (Crescent Lake) area in the
assessment files dates back to 1953, and a company called Candella
Development Company. They acquired a four claim property known as
the Peterson Group and in December of that year and February of the
following, submitted two drill logs to the government for
assessment credits. It is apparent that they also conducted a dip
needle magnetic survey across the property because a mag profile
listing degrees on the vertical axis and line co-ordinates on the
horizontal is shown on a drafted vertical section of drill hole no.
2 (see Appendix 1). This is confirmed by S.E. Amukun, a government
geologist who mentioned the existence of a picketed grid observed
during his visit to the property in 1973, in his report on the area
(GR 167,1977).
Taking into consideration the year, survey method, and numerous
iron and sulphur assays and cumulative percent calculations seen in
the drill logs, it is apparent that Candella was exploring for
sulphur. In hole no. l, however, they also assayed thirteen samples
for gold, two of which yielded 0.005 oz Au/ton across just over one
metre (3.5 and 3.7 feet respectively), but they did not assay any
samples from the second hole drilled a month later for gold. In
hole no. l, the first occurrences of gold is associated with
questioned porphyry and the second with quartzite breccia, with
abundant pyrite and pyrrhotite in both cases. Hole no. l was
drilled to
Avrom Howard A Associates
- 17-
L.F. Kindle was the next government geologist to refer specifically
to the Lake Ste. Marie (Crescent Lake) area in his report of 1931.
He repeated what Hopkins
had written in hiS report 6 years earlier, statiJ)g; "At Lake Ste.
Marie,.magnetite of the banded iron has been almost wholly replaced
by pyrite, which carries low gold
values." He did not quote any assays in this brief reference, but
did not refer to Hopkin's report either, so it is possible that he
took some samples of his own.· Of
greater significance than his reiteration of the occurrence of
gold, however, is his mention of pyrite replacing magnetite,
indicating that some sort of chemical alteration had taken
place.
There are no records in the provincial government assessment files
of work which may have been performed by either Trombley or Russell
and Dwyer while prospecting for iron, although they must have done
somethi~g in order to
consistently attract the attention of government geologists between
1908 and 1938. The first records of exploration work in the Lake
Ste. Marie (Crescent Lake) area in the assessment files dates back
to 1953, and a company called Candella Development Company. They
acquired a four claim property known as the
Peterson Group and in December of that year and February of the
following,
submitted two drill logs to the government for assessment credits.
It is apparent that they also conducted a dip needle magnetic
survey across the property because
a mag profile listing degrees on the vertical axis and line
co-ordinates on the
horizontal is shown on a drafted vertical section of drill hole no.
2 (see Appendix
1). This is confirmed by S.E. Amukun, a government geologist who
mentioned the
existence of a picketed grid observed during his visit to the
property in 1973, in his
report on the area (GR 167, 1977).
Taking into consideration the year, survey method, and numerous
iron and sulphur
assays and cumulative percent calculations seen in the drill logs,
it is apparent that
Candella was exploring for sulphur. In hole no. 1, however, they
also assayed
thirteen samples for gold, two of which yielded 0.005 oz Au/ton
acroSs just over one metre (3.5 and 3.7 feet respectively), but
they did not assay any samples from
the second hole drilled a month later for gold. In hole no. 1, the
first occurrences
of gold is associated with questioned porphyry and the second with
quartzite breccia, with abundant pyrite and pyrrhotite in both
cases. Hole no. 1 was drilled to
L-...--------------------Avrom Howard & Associates--..J
-18-
total depth of 548.8 feet, with no report of the interval between
212.0 and 271.5 feet, in a southeasterly direction from the north
shore of Lake Ste. Marie (Crescent Lake). According to the drill
section, it was intended to intersect a northwesterly dipping band
of iron formation which had been trenched on the southeastern shore
of the lake (possibly the trench referred to by Hopkins), but the
section indicated that the hole may not have reached its target.
Hole no. 2 was drilled to a depth of 325.0 feet in a southeasterly
direction under a marsh, to intersect iron formation documented on
the other side in outcrop, at the north eastern tip of Lake Ste.
Marie (Crescent Lake).
Several rock units are documented in the drill logs, but of greater
significance are numerous references to structural and alteration
features in hole no. 1. Sheared and carbonatized, sericitized,
volcanic breccia with interspersed sections of quartz-feldspar
porphyry is mentioned, followed by quartzite breccia and iron
formation (pyrite and pyrrhotite) also with interspersed sections
of quartz-feldspar porphyry. At 435.0 feet, the quartzite was
described as "showing bedding or pseudo-bedding," and slate
containing graphite and marcasite were documented as well. Hole no.
2 intersected sheared, altered volcanics for the first 155 feet,
and almost half of the core in this interval was lost. At 115.1
feet there is a reference to "banding which may represent tuff
beds". Between 155 and 325 feet iron formation-bearing quartzite
was intersected containing pyrite and pyrrhotite primarily, with
one reference to magnetite at 168.6 feet. Between 170.0 and 186.5
feet the quartzite was described as being, "partly altered, very
siliceous". At 186.5 feet numerous garnets were reported.
Specularite was reported-at 207.5 feet and at 226.5 a "peculiar
alteration, epidote?" was reported. No further work was reported by
this company.
Noranda Exploration Co. Ltd. was the next group to acquire the
property staking it in 1972 on the basis of several anomalies
reported in a Questor Input Survey conducted across the area, (see
Fig. 4). It appears as if Noranda was exploring for base metals,
(although there is no specific mention in their report of exactly
what it was they were looking for, aside from reporting that the
purpose of the ground geophysical surveys was, "to determine
whether there is any sulphide minerali zation"), judging by the
year (1972) and the method (airborne geophysical anomaly
Avrom Howard A Associates
• -18 -
total depth of 548.8 feet, with no report of the interval between
212.0 and 271.5 feet, in a southeasterly direction from the north
shore of Lake Ste. Marie
(Crescent Lake). According to the drill section, it was intended
to. intersect a
northwesterly dipping band of iron formation which had been
trenched on' ,the southeastern shore of the lake (possibly the
trench referred to by Hopkins), but the
section indicated that the hole may not have reached its target.
Hole no. 2 was drilled to a depth of 325.0 feet in a southeasterly
direction under a marsh, to
intersect iron formation documented on th~ other side in outcrop,
at the north eastern tip of Lake Ste. Marie (Crescent Lake).
Several rock units are documented in the drill logs, but of greater
significance are
numerous references to structural and alteration features in hole
no. 1. Sheared
and carbonatized, sericitized, volcanic breccia with. Interspersed
sections of quartz-feldspar porphyry is mentioned, followed by
quartzite breccia and iron
formation (pyrite and pyrrhotite) also with interspersed sections
of quartz-feldspar
porphyry. At 435.0 feet, the quartzite was described as "showing
bedding or
pseudo-bedding," and slate containing graphite and marcasite were
documented as
well. Hole no. 2 intersected sheared, altered volcanics for the
first '155 feet, .and
• almost half of the core in this interval was lost. At 115.1 feet
there is Ii reference to "banding which may represent tuff bedsl1•
Between 155 and 325 feet iron
formation-bearing quartzite was intersected containing pyrite and
pyrrhotite primarily, with one reference to magnetite at 168.6
feet. Between 170.0 and 186.5
feet the quartzite was described as being, "partly altered, very
siliceous". At 186.5 feet numerous garnets were reported.
Specularite was r~ported'at 207.5 feet and
at 226.5 a "peculiar alteration, epidote?" was reported. No further
work w.as reported by this company.
Noranda Exploration Co. Ltd. was the next group to acquire the
property staking it
in 1972 on the basis of several anomalies reported in a Questor
Input Survey conducted across the area, (see Fig. 4). It appears as
if Noranda was exploring for
base metals, (although there is no specific mention in their report
of exactly what it was they were looking for, aside from reporting
that the purpose of the ground
geophysical surveys was, "to determine whether there is any
sulphide minerali zation"), judging by the year (1972) and the
method (airborne geophysical anomaly
~--------------------Avrom Howard & Associates __ ..J
-19-
location foUowed by ground geophysical anomaly
verification/elimination, standard practice in base metals
exploration at that time). Following the airborne survey, Noranda
staked seventeen contiguous claims, according to their location
plan map, yet in the geophysical assessment report it is stated
that they staked only six. They also named the wrong lake "Lake
Ste. Marie", ascribing this name to a previously un-named lake a
mile to the southeast. Furthermore, they reported that the
six-claim area which they did ground geophysics across was
underlain by "mafic flow rock trending 330 degrees azimuth", when
in fact there is actually a gabbro intrusive there having a
northeasterly contact with surrounding volcanics at 330 degrees,
which in turn trend in an east-northeast direction (as documented
on government maps since 1917). As a result of this mistake Noranda
cut a grid with picket lines parallel to the local stratigraphy and
perpendicular to the original Questor flight lines, but obtained
several magnetic and electromagnetic anomalies nonetheless. Follow
up work was recommended to evaluate the anomalies, but there is no
record in the assessment files of any further work being
performed.
S.E. Amukun, a government geologist working for the Ontario
Geological Survey, visited the Noranda property in 1973 and mapped
it as well. He apparently followed Noranda's lead (unless it was
vice versa) and named the wrong lake Lake Ste. Marie and the real
Lake Ste. Marie "Crescent Lake" instead, a name adopted by all
subsequent provincial and federal government maps of the area. On
his map he correctly documented the gabbro intrusive, as well as
noting iron formation, quartzite, silicification, carbonization,
and a number of old pits and trenches (see Fig. 5). In his section
on gold deposits in the Tashota area he summarized Candella's work
and made mention of Noranda's presence in the Crescent Lake area
and elsewhere. In this section there is a separate reference to the
"Lake Ste. Marie Occurrence", where he quoted Hopkins' original
report of 1917 and stated that he was unable to find this
"iron-gold deposit". The reason for this, of course, is that he
must have either not seen or overlooked Hopkins' map and had
therefore, searched around the wrong lake.
There are no references to the Crescent Lake area since the 1973
field season, in either government reports or the assessment files.
It has been staked since then, however, as recently as August 1983
by a prospector from Noranda, Quebec. No work was filed and the
claims lapsed on August l, 1984 due to non-renewal of the
prospector's licence. Over 50 claims were also staked in June 1983
by another prospector from Quebec, to the east and as far south as
Wells Lake, 3 miles to the south, but all expired in June 1984
without any work having been filed.
——————————————————————————— Avrom Howard A Associates
location followed by ground geophysical anomaly
verification/elimination, standard
practice in base metals exploration at that time). Following the
airborne survey,
Noranda staked seventeen contiguous claims, according to their
location plan map,
yet in the geophysical assessment repqrt it is stated that they
staked only six.
They also named the wrong lake "Lake Ste. Marie", ascribing this
name to a
previously un-named lake a mUe to the southeast. Furthermore, they
reported that
the six-claim area which they did ground geophysics across was
underlain by "mafic
flow rock trending 330 degrees azimuth"., when in fact ~here is
actually a gabbro
intrusive there having a northeasterly contact with surrounding
volcanics at 330 - -
degrees, which in turn trend in an east-northeast direction (as
documented on government maps since 1917). As a result of this
mistake Noranda cut a grid with
picket lines parallel to the local stratigraphy and perpendicular
to the original Questor flight lines, but obtained several magnetic
and electromagnetic anomalies
nonetheless. Follow up work was recommended to evaluate the
anomalies, but there is no record in the assessment files of any
further work being performed.
S.E. Amukun, a government geologist working for the Ontario
Geological Survey, visited the Noranda property in 1973 and mapped
it as well. He' apparently
followed Noranda's lead (unless it was vice versa) and named the
wrong lake Lake
Ste. Marie and the real Lake Ste. Marie "Crescent Lake" instead, a
name adopted
by all subsequent provincial and federal government maps of the
area. On his map
he correctly documented the gabbro intrusive, as well as noting
iron formation,
quartZite, silicification, carbonization, and a number of old pits
and trenches (see
Fig. 5). In his section on gold deposits in the Tashota area he
summarized
Candella's work and made mention of Noranda's presence in the
Crescent Lake area
and elsewhere. In this section there is a separate reference to the
"Lake Ste.
Marie Occurrence", where he quoted Hopkins' original report of 1917
and stated
that he was unable to find this "lron-gold deposit". The reason for
this, of course,
is that he must have either not seen or overlooked Hopkins' map and
had therefore,
searched around the wrong lake.
There are no references to the Crescent Lake area since the 1973
field season, in
either government reports or the assessment fUes. It has been
staked since then,
however, as recently as August 1983 by a prospector from Noranda,
Quebec. No
work was fUed and the claims lapsed on August 1, 1984 due to
non-renewal of the
prospector's licence. Over 50 claims were also staked in June 1983
by another
prospector from Quebec, to the east and as far south as Wells Lake,
3 mUes to the south, but all.expired in June 1984 without any work
having been filed.
I......--------------------Avrom Howard & Associates---'
NORANDA EXPLORATION CO. LTD. Property Boundary (1973) HARTE
RESOURCES LTD. Property Boundary (1985) Questor INPUT Survey Flight
Line and Anomaly (1972)
Diamond Drill Hole (1953)
REDMOND STATION
SCALE: 1: 31 ,500 Lac Ste. Marie (1973)
" .... ....
......
, , ,
, , • ,
~ , ,
:.
NORANDA EXPLORATION CO. LTD. Property Boundary (1973) HARTE
RESOURCES LTD. Property Boundary (1985) Questor INPUT Survey Flight
Line and Anomaly (1972)
Diamond Drill Hole (1953)
LEOENP
-21-
CENOZOIC*
QUATERNARY
PtEISTOCEHE GlK'tl drposjfs tgiouivi nnxtinft); IflKinflwitl
tfowS'(* tmttrttJntt im- MIH*S, esltntt, ot/ftvlin dtoosittti
tit
e atpositt (ctt/, ut. w/w, Mil.
UNCONfOWMITV
PRECAMBRIAN*
INTRUftlVC CONTACT CARL Y PRECAMBRIAN*
FIlSIC IGNEOUS AND MITAMOHPHIC AOCK8
BO! FELSIC INTRUSIVE ROCKS
NTRUCIVC O1 GRADATION*!. CONTACT
ni.jinatite tnO ontist).
MAFIC INTRUSIVE HOCKS*
, . 4d Mcfadiottlc. foliate lo x ie Hoin&cndc tt'fO'Op'W 41
Ptwphyrilir nn/if mfrws
MCTAVOLCANICB AND MCTASEDIMENTS*
ELSIC METAVOLCANICS ? VnsuMttuint. It Senate whist, talc st ft/si K
ftfi^olitf la ikyrttttitc, o
/(V'B/f. fc Rt\yQitlt to ttivvixHe.
iftei/tV, M Rfiyolitf (wu f l tye) ft Jvlt-titf.cn.
th JufT """ ""
MAFIC MF.T*VOLCANICS
l* t.*,.,*-.. Jh Qutiti-fi,,^r™, -..^..^,.
hybrid (inigmttit*) roct. le fljsj/l. miss'tv h) fo/nfe. (rf
Aistfff, xhislQSt. sheared.
tg Basalt, tinygdttodtl tirf vtii It)
Btsnlt.pQtphyritlcf'lfOptril"} ti Mtdnirrt-tD cotrst-grtin*}
(reprint from Amukun, 1V76)
LEGEND
CKNOZOIC·
PL(ISTOCENE C;I«I,I rHPI$its (ground I11Of.,,,.,); t/JtcIfl(IU'tI.1
CkPQsih j/nl,rk.Nt. mo Iot'''fS, «"sA"". outw'th dePOSI"', fl'"
(1O/I(usiliM c1fPOflt. (CMY, ~it MM. lIIII.
UHC~"OIlt"'ITV
M~Ri'H':"~U~n: ..... PlC IH1~U$lVI IIOcn
II] 1 UnluhdNidN. " fiM·gr •• /Wi diaIM. dilles. 1b
CNfU-gl"ntt/ophitlc tli.Nt'd, •••. ~, I'ClfphYIJt,c d,.bf",.
INTNUIIYt' CONTACT
AOCKI 'ElSIC INHcUSIVE ROCKS
ru. Ut1SiJto(1'l'llltd. '" tkll,(HIIJ.rtl,notllOlJ,'e. lib
nnr/,,,,,,,I/1ft·h,oI,tI·qlllt,', mOllIOtl· ,I. ,.~
Hom<ntt.-quvtl MOrIl(In''', &1 BII1(!l/)·hO,"fJ~~·qlJ.,tl
n'lOfllOtl· ",. It Mnnl')"i{l'. " Ou .. ,U tlmMe. -6Q AJ~.~AIt~.
'fllt/sl/t:. f,i OtJllrI'{JOIph'1IY,QrJartl·"rdS/Mfpol'
I!iA ~1~r~./Mlsp" {IOIphyry .
.fim hgmlJf.le. ffllClOpfQm«itf',
MtT AMonf.'/IOSEO r£l$lC INTAU· srvE. P-ND MIGMA.lIHC ROCKS
,...-"1 5 Unsuba/ridOO. IIW.......J ~ ~o(fI~ndc·bioMN:lJflt'
montor'llt.
~b f~~~ti''IIII~ blollt~ fI',flf)t3lf)ot, ./lfleo/$S.
ok H,lfflt.!r:/I,j,.·biu/il",OIldliJtmit" !d OUd"l ·'.WJ'Pdf . min
,mph/bOil"~
~~ r~~~1;,::~~I;:~~,~~a:t~~:::{, 10 4. ':It "Olll.~t ,,it.~·
(qulfll,.,,.)bioMeo,,llf/ss. <;w QUilff, g·cs/lt
II'.IHlIU51111E t:O'4TAC,
Hftll'J~I\I': Ct)NTACT
MlTAVOlCANICB AND MET ASIEDIMfNTS.
eo ~ U/l~uhd,~idtd. ... J' SilnO~!Ol)c, . 3b GI~~~dri.('
". Alj.·w, JlJ Q'/.jrl/llc, '" C'l·l~"I')'n('r/Jt,.. 3( .si~h·. 3"
AIQI/I'tt'rClly/Istf') .'h (h'r,.
"'" FELSIC M[r A'IOlCAN!CS
1 Unsuflt.',vlri('fj,
I£J I, Setlcltf' -.chlst, laic SLflJ .. /. 1b Rflt01slc to
Ihyod/tl."llc, mUStr, to
tClls,/e. Ie R/I)Oltt' to ,1I.,OI1«lt" 5thistoN,
"he'tN, 111 Rhyolitf! (qV.,11 'Yf' porphYIY • .,. TIJII·bltr.(/ •.
If L.psl"·'ut(. IQ Pyro.;/.stk ",«ci •. tliTuf/. '1 AQOfo,1)ffll,.
t. Qultt, pt'JfpIlYfY, quatt,.(,IdS/* PDf·
p/lY'r, /f!IdSNf porphyry"
MAFIC MET AI/OLeAN'CS
.:J ' UnsulxJ/'Il(Je(J. I, B<oI,I,·.mpflibclaac:,.,slJ, 'h
Qu"t'·(tldsP4,-ampluOo/. KIIi""
hvb,id (miQm.lItf) IOd. Ic B.tSlIl, m'S$IVf to loIi./t, 'd S.s,ll,
5(hislo$f, ,,..,,«1. Ie 84""'1, piJIov.fd ~,. '9 &<;411,
,my¢./fMd./.,!d 'I'SIC&lI.,.
:7 A~~::~Ph~=~c,!,;:r,:")~}~ tntl."QIc.flic •. ,
,,I; fur/.nd br«:cl'. 'm AqQsiolYlf'f"tf, 1n Ch/c)(li,
$cliis/,
1~1'(onlofmlllOfl.
" Pylill,
1: 31,500
-22-
CRESCENT LAKE PROPERTY
Once the long and somewhat confused history of the Crescent Lake
Property is sorted out, it can be recognized as hosting a
documented gold showing in addition to being a long-known sulphur
prospect. Much more significant than this fact in terms of the
ultimate gold potential of this property, however, is the document
ation of numerous related features both local and regional, which
can be inter preted/postulated as fitting into a general model for
Archean gold deposits, as recently described in Ontario Geological
Survey Open File Report 5524 (Colvine et. al., 1984).
On a regional scale, it is significant'to note the widespread
occurrence of gold within the volcano-sedimentary sequence
associated with iron formation (Tashota), porphyry intrusive
(O'sullivan Lake), and with both (Onaman Lake). Iron formation is a
well-documented host or trap for gold (depending upon whether one
adopts a syngenetic or epigenetic view towards these deposits), the
deposits at Red Lake, Geraldton, and Central Patricia being good
examples. In all of these cases, gold is found where sulphides have
replaced oxide facies iron formation and/or where intense
quartz-carbonate fracture systems have developed within the iron
form ation. Intrusives are also commonly associated with gold,
acting as a preferred structural and/or chemical trap, examples
being found in Timmins, Geraldton, and Red Lake. Larger intrusive
bodies such as the Gzowski Lake Stock also play a role in the
regional distribution of gold deposits possibly providing a source
for metalliferous fluids as well as heat necessary for the
generation of fluid move ment.
The presence of intrusives is also significant because they are
often found to have been emplaced into major tectonic structures,
which allow for their intrusion and act as conduits for deep-seated
large scale hydrothermal systems. The Porcupine- Destor fault and
associated intrusives is a classic example. There is a grossly
linear trend striking east-northeast from Tashota to O'sullivan
Lake, connecting many gold showings/deposits and large and small
intrusive bodies which may theoretically represent a similar type
of tectonic feature. On a local scale, shearing and fracturing are
quite commonly observed in gold deposits, allowing gold-bearing
fluids to enter and permeate the surrounding lithologies. The
Avrom Howard A Associates
CRESCENT LAKE PROPERTY
Once the long and somewhat confused history of the Crescent Lake
Property is sorted out, it can be recognized as hosting a
documented gold showing in addition to being a long-known sulphur
prospect. Much more significant than this fact in
terms of the ultimate gold potential of this property, however, Is
the document ation of- numerous related features both local and
regional, which can be inter
preted/postulated as fitting. into a general model for Archean gold
depOSits, as recently described in Ontario Geological Survey Open
File Report 5524 (Colvine et. al., 1984).
On a regional scale, it is significant' to note the widespread
occurrence of· gold
within the volcano-sedimentary sequence associated with iron
formation (Tashota),
porphyry intrusive (O'Sullivan Lake), and with both (Onaman Lake).
Iron formation is a well-documented host or trap for gold
(depending upon whether one adopts a
syngenetic or epigenetic view towards these depOSits), the deposits
at Red Lake,
Geraldton, and Central Patricia being good examples. In all of
these cases, gold is found where sulphides have replaced oxide
facies iron formation and/or where
intense quartz-carbonate fracture systems have developed within the
iron form
ation. Intrusives are also commonly associated with gold, acting as
a preferred structural and/or chemical trap, examples being found
in Timmins, Geraldton, and
Red Lake. Larger intrusive bodies such as the Gzowski Lake Stock
also playa role
in the regional distribution of gold deposits possibly providing a
source for,
metalliferous fiuids as well as heat necessary for the generation
of fluid move ment.
The presence of intrusives is also significant because they are
often found to have been emplaced into major tectonic structures,
which allow for their intrusion and act as conduits for deep-seated
large scale hydrothermal systems. The Porcupine
Destor fault and associated intrusives Is a classic example. There
Is a grossly
linear trend striking east-northeast from Tashota to O'Sullivan
Lake, connecting many gold showings/deposits and large and small
intrusive bodies which may theoretically represent a similar type
of tectonic feature. On a local scale,
shearing and fracturing are quite commonly observed in gold
deposits, allowing gold-bearing fluids to enter and permeate the
surrounding lithologies. The
L..-________ -.:.. ____________ Avrom Howard & Associates
---'
-23-
brecciation and shearing, noted in the Candella logs (and resulting
in appreciable lost core in hole no. 2) are good indications in
this regard, particularly in juxtaposition with porphyry intrusive
and iron formation. It is also interesting to note the structural
disruption (warping) within the greenstones surrounding both the
Elbow Lake Stock near Tashota and the Gzowski Lake Stock at Redmond
Station. Disruptions such as this may have also allowed for
suitable host structures to develop within the greenstones.
There are several types of chemical alteration commonly associated
with gold deposits, and which may also be seen in the Crescent Lake
Property area, the most characteristic alteration types include
carbonatization, silicification, alkali metasomatism and
sulphidization (Colvine et. al., 1984). Carbonatization is the most
widespread in effect, and was noted by Amukun on his map at several
locations bpth in and around the Crescent Lake Property. With
increasing proximity to gold mineralization the dominant carbonate
species changes from calcite to dolomite, and this should be kept
in mind while investigating the property. Silicification is usually
more directly associated with gold minerali zation, deposits such
as those in Bousquet and Casa Berardi Townships in Quebec (Doyon
and Golden Pond), Hemlo, and Cameron Lake being good examples. The
documentaton of very siliceous, sheared, pyritiferous rocks in the
Candella drill logs is quite encouraging in this respect, as is the
note made by Amukun on his, map of silification on the southwest
shore of Crescent Lake. At the deposits previously mentioned,
siliceous rocks which probably represent intensely altered
greenstones, were originally considered to be silica-rich clastic
and chemical sedi ments (and still are by some), and as a result it
will be extremely important to take a very close look at the
so-called sediments in the Crescent Lake area with this in
mind.
Sulphidization is also a common type of alteration associated with
gold deposits, pyrite and pyrrhotite being the main sulphide
species found in Archean gold deposits, there being 8396
correlation between pyrite and gold in the Abitibi greenstone belt.
As further stated by Colvine et. al. (1984), "in many ways
sulphides are the orebody, within which the gold is unevenly
distributed". The fact that pyrite is reported to have replaced
magnetite at Crescent Lake as previously
Avrom Howard A Associates
- 23 -
brecciation and shearing, noted in'· the Candella logs (an~
resulting in appreciable
lost core in hole no. 2) are good indications in this regard,
particularly in " '. '1"
juxtaposition with porphyry intrusive and iron formation. It Is
also Interesting to
note the structural disruption (warping) within the greenstones
surro~ding both ;the
Elbow Lake Stock near Tashota and the Ozowski Lake, Stock at
Redmond Station. 't- :
Disruptions such as this may have also allowed for suitable host
structures to develop within the greenstones.
., There are several types of chemical alteration commonly
associated with' gold deposits, and Which may also be seen in the
Crescent Lake Property Jl'ea~ The
most characteristic alteration types include carbonatlzatlon,
silicification, alkali
metasomatism and sulphidization (Colvine eta al., 1984).
Carbomitization Is the most widespread. in effect, and was noted
'by Amukun on his map· at several locations b,oth in .and aro'l:1nd
the Crescent Lake Property. With Increasing
proximity to gold mineralization the dominant carbonate species
changes from calcite to dolomite, and this should be kept in mind
whUe investigating the property. Silicification is usually more
directly associated with gold minerali
zation, deposits such as those in Bousquet and Casa Berardi
Townships in Quebec (Doyon and Golden Pond), Hemlo~ and Cameron
Lake being good examples. The
documentaton of very siliceous, sheared, pyrltiferous rocks in th,e
Candella dril:l
logs is quite encouraging in this respect, as is the note made by
Amukun on his, map of silification on the southwest shore of
Crescent Lake. At the C ·deposits previously mentioned, siliceous
rocks which probably represent intensely altered greenstones, were
originally considered to be silica-rich clastic and 'chemical
sedi
ments (and still are by some), and as a result it will be extremely
i~portant to take a very close look at the so-called sediments in
the Crescent Lake area with this in mind.
SUlphidization is also a common type of alteration associated with
gold deposits, pyrite and pyrrhotite being the main sulphide
species found In Archean gold
depOSits, there being 8396 correlation between pyrite and gold In
the Abitibi greenstone belt. As ·further stated by ColVine eta ala
(1984), "In many ways
sulphides!!!:! the orebody, within which the gold·~ unevenly
distributed". The fact that pyrite is reported to have replaced
magnetite at Crescent Lake as previously
~--------------------Avrom Howard & Associates--....
-24-
mentioned, is even more encouraging because this indicates that
reducing fluids were active in the area, chemical reduction being
an essential reaction for the deposition of gold. Finally, alkali
metasomatism is commonly associated with various lithologies in
gold deposits and intrusive bodies within and proximal to them.
This type of alteration (and hematization) has been documented in
the syenites at Kirkland Lake and the granodiorite at Red Lake. It
is also documented in the Gzowski Lake Stock by Amukun in his
report where he stated; "A peculiar 'f ragmental-like' texture
caused by pink staining believed to be the result of potash
metasomatism along joint sets is well displayed on the southwestern
shore of Gzowski Lake".
It is interesting to note that the significance of many of these
features were perhaps not fully appreciated by original workers in
the area but were succinctly summarized by Gledhill in 1925
nonetheless. In his recommendations to prospectors he stated:
"In the Tashota-Onaman area, the favourable geological structure
(for gold) lies in shear zones which are found in the greenstone
near the granite-greenstone contact and generally about
three-quarters of a mile back from the contact. The shear zones or
breaks are recognized (1) by the high degree of schisting in the
greenstone which often results in a gnarled or corrugated schist;
(2) by veins in the schist; (3) by the rustyrweathering of the
schist resulting usually from oxidized pyrite and other sulphide
minerals."
Avrom Howard A Associates
- 24-
mentioned, is even more encouraging because this indicates that
reducing fluids
were active in the area, chemical reduction being an essential
reaction for the deposition of gold. Finally, alkali metasomatism
is commonly associated with
various lithologies in gold deposits and intrusive bodies within
and proximal to them. This type of alteration (and hematization)
has been documented in the
syenites at Kirkland Lake and the granodiorite at Red Lake. It is
also documented in the Gzowski Lake Stock by Amukun in his report
where he stated; "A peculiar
'fragmental-like' texture caused by pink staining believed'to' be
the result of potash metasomatism along jOint sets is well
displayed on the southwestern shore of Gzowski Lake".
It is interesting to note that the significance of many of these
features were perhaps not fully appreciated by original workers in
the area but were succinctly summarized by Gledhill in 1925
nonetheless. In his recommendations to prospectors he stated:
"In the Tashota-Onaman area, the favourable geological structure
(for gold) lies in shear zones which are found in the greenstone
near
the granite-greenstone contact and generally about three-quarters
of a mile back from the contact. The shear zones or breaks are
recognized (1) by the high degree of schisting in the
greenstone
which often results in a gnarled or corrugated schist; (2) by veins
in the schist; (3) by the rusty,,:,weathering of the schist
resulting usually
from oxidized pyrite and other sulphide minerals."
L..-____________________ Avrom Howard & Associates __
...J
GREENS
•O',., , V\ ——" ——-
1 PAUL-PIC DEPOSIT (Canamax) 2 ADAIR DEPOSIT (Teck) 3 WASCANNA
DEPOSIT (Teck) 4 TASHOTA-NIPIGON MINE (Lynx) 5 LAKE OSU MINE
(Consolidated
Louanna) PROPERTY
A Gold Showing/Prospect
TASHOTA AREA District of Nipigon, Ontario
EfOlOEICXl CONSOLTiUII
LEGEND
1 PAUL-PIC DEPOSIT (Canamax) 2 ADAIR DEPOSIT (Teck) * 3 IIASCANNA
DEPOSIT (Teck) 4 TASHOTA-NIPIGON MINE (Lynx) 5 LAKE OSU MINE
(Consolidated
Louanna)
'" Gold Showing/Prospect •