Spanish Mountain Gold
Highlights
Freeport's Spanish Mountain Gold claims are located near Likely in the Cariboo -- the heart of British Columbia's historic "Gold Rush". Spanish Mountain has been proposed as the possible source of the gold mined from some of the most prolific placer operations in British Columbia. The Bullion Pit, just 12 km (7.5 mi) away, produced over 5.4 million grams of gold (173,600 oz). Other known placer workings in the area include the Cedar Creek and the McKeown Placers. With known gold showings since the early 1900's (Minfile 093A 043), the Spanish Mountain area is once again a highly active exploration camp.
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Location & Access
Freeport's claims (150 hectares, 371 acres) at Spanish Mountain are 8 km (5 mi) east of Likely by all-weather gravel road. The site has well developed infrastructure and is just 70 km (44 mi) northeast of Williams Lake, a major regional centre serviced by an airport and railway. Important deposits nearby include the Mt. Polley Mine (12 km SW; 7.5 mi) and the QR deposit (24 km WNW; 14.9 mi). The property has several small roads that will provide easy access for equipment and drills over the northern portion of the claims.Likely Chamber of Commerce
City of Williams Lake
Geology
The Spanish Mountain area comprises Upper Triassic sediments and volcanic rocks and is part of the Quesnel Terrane. Gold mineralization is hosted by deformed sedimentary rocks with interlayered volcanics, and described as of two types:1) High grade gold in quartz veins/stockworks, and;
2) Lower grade, bulk tonnage gold-bearing shale and siltstone.
Work by SMGL/Skygold has led to recent interpretation of Spanish Mountain as a Sediment Hosted Vein deposit (SHV). These deposits are often large in size, with stratigraphically controlled gold mineralization. Based on extensive geochemical and geophysical surveys followed by drilling, a large NW-SE trending mineralized zone -- the "Main Zone Argillite" -- measuring over 1.4 sq.km. (over 0.56 sq.mi.) in size has been delineated. It is open in all directions. Freeport's property is approximately 600 m. (.37 mi.) SE of SMGL/Skygold's mineralized zone.
The 2006 airborne survey shows structural continuity of low resistivity anomalies favourable for gold mineralization across the claim blocks. Freeport's recent sampling of one resistivity low confirms presence of anomalous gold in soil and rock samples. Please refer to the Detailed Geology and the SHV Deposits sections for more information.
Conclusion
In summary, work at Spanish Mountain indicates that gold mineralization may continue onto Freeport's claims. Skygold has commented that the orebody is open to the east, with "...potential for the discovery of additional deposits".Recommended work includes sampling, trenching, and drilling to verify extension of the mineralized zone over Freeport's property.
Detailed Geology
Known placer workings in the area include the Cedar Creek Placers, the McKeown Placers, and the historic Bullion Pit - one of the largest placer gold mines in the world, measuring 1500 m by 450 m by 125 m (4920' by 1476' by 410'). Spanish Mountain has been proposed as the possible source of these gold-rich gravels (Minfile 093A 043).
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Mineralization is hosted by highly folded and faulted metasedimentary rocks with some interstratified volcanics of the Nicola Group. The metasedimentary rock consists of slaty to phyllitic, dark grey to black shale and siltstone, grey limestone and some banded tuff, volcanic breccia and pillow lavas higher in the stratigraphy.
Spanish Mountain Developments
Work by Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. (SMGL, formerly Skygold Resources) has been successful in outlining large areas of low-grade gold mineralization close to surface, with bulk mineable potential. Gold-bearing zones are stratigraphically controlled, trend NW-SE, and extend over 1.44 sq.km (over 0.56 sq.mi.), open in all directions. Spanish Mountain was recently interpreted as a Sediment Hosted Vein Deposit (see SHV Deposits section).This section is a summary of published findings, including Geochemistry, Drilling, Metallurgy and Geophysics, as contained in the websites and sedar filings of SMGL/Skygold. Please see www.spanishmountaingold.com for current information.
Gold mineralization on Spanish Mountain is described as of two types:
- High grade quartz veins/stockworks with gold, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite and pyrite.
- 2. Lower grade, bulk tonnage ore represented by auriferous pyrite in a graphitic silty shale along a contact between argillites and greywackes.
Geochemistry
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Freeport's 2007 reconnaissance sampling survey revealed significant gold anomalies suggesting continuity of the mineralized zone eastward. Soil and rock samples collected over a geophysical 'resistivity low' reach over 400 ppb in soil and up to 0.13 g/t in weathered pyritic argillite and greywacke surface rocks -- the same rock types as seen at SMGL/Skygold's mineralized horizon.
Geophysics
In 2006, a DIGHEM electromagnetic/resistivity/magnetic survey was flown over Spanish Mountain. Geophysical resistivity lows reportedly correspond with broad zones of argillite favourable for sediment hosted gold; mineralization is associated with a contact between argillites and greywackes, with higher grade gold in greywacke host rock. The low resistivity anomalies extend onto Freeport's claims. Trenching over geophysical anomalies has successfully located new gold-bearing horizons.Drilling & Results
Notable intersections reported by Skygold include 29.07 g/t gold (.847 oz/ton) over 10 metres (32.8') and 7.99 g/t gold (.233 oz/ton) over 19 metres (62.3'). Lower grade intercepts include 1.81g/t gold over 94.5 metres, 1.34g/t gold over 116 metres and 1.30g/t gold over 86.9 metres. A bulk sample of 2,100 tonnes taken in 2000 averaged 3.02 grams Au/ton.Skygold noted, "...the zone may be getting wider to the east" (2007.09.10). Reverse circulation holes have been drilled within 54 metres (177 feet) of Freeport's west property boundary. Published results from the adjacent PESO claims include:
- DDH 559: 22.5 m (73.8') of 1.45 g/t (.042 oz/ton)
- Cabin Trench: 9.0 m (29.5') of 0.067 oz/ton (2.297 g/t)
- Green Pit: 1.0 m (3.3') of 17.74 oz/tonne (0.517 oz/ton)
Conclusion & Recommendations
In summary, anomalous gold in samples from areas of low resistivity on Freeport's claims suggests continuity of SMGL/Skygold's gold-bearing Main Zone to the west.A multi-stage program of sampling, trenching and drilling to verify extension of the mineralized zone over Freeport's property is recommended.
References
BC MINFILE 2004 093A 025 Bullion PitBC Ministry of Energy & Mines, 2004
BC MINFILE 2004 093A 025 Bullion Pit, Capsule Geology and Bibliography, Bullion Pit
BC MINFILE 2004 093A 043 Spanish Mt
BC Ministry of Energy & Mines, 2004
BC MINFILE 093A 043 Spanish Mountain, Capsule Geology and Bibliography
BCGS 1998 Sediment Hosted Gold
British Columbia Geological Survey, Geological Fieldwork 1998, Paper 1999-1
David V. Lefebure, Derek A. Brown and Gerald E. Ray,
The British Columbia Sediment-Hosted Gold Project
Kaiser 2005 Spanish Mt play Comes Alive
Kaiser Bottom-Fishing Report, Express 2005-02 (Jan 13, 2005)
Spanish Mountain play of Skygold and Wildrose comes alive
NRC Canadian Minerals Yearbook 2004, Gold
Natural Resources Canada, Minerals and Metals Sector 2004
Sediment Hosted Vein Deposits
Recent work on Spanish Mountain recognized that gold mineralization is not only found in quartz veining, but also in shale and siltstone sedimentary rocks. Spanish Mountain has recently been interpreted as a Sediment Hosted Vein Deposit (SHV) by Klipfel, a well-known authority on the subject. SHV deposits are associated with prolific placer gold fields. They usually occur in groups, with one large and associated satellite deposits. They are associated with prolific placer gold fields.These deposits have typically low grade gold but represent some of the largest deposits in the world. Some possibly comparable examples include Muruntau (60-plus million ounces gold), Natalka (40-plus million ounces gold) and Sukhoy Log (30-plus million ounces gold). Deposits currently mined around the world tend to have similar if not lower grades to those being developed at Spanish Mountain.
Spanish Mountain SHV (from Skygold)
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- One of the first large sediment hosted bulk tonnage gold deposits interpreted in B.C., measuring over 1 sq.km. in size (over 0.5 sq.mi.).
- Only 20% of the current soil-geochemical and geophysical anomalies has been tested with Diamond Drilling.
Characteristics
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SHV deposits are hosted in extensive belts of shale and siltsone deposited along the edges of continents known as passive margins. SHV deposits are found in sedimentary belts that have undergone fold-thrust deformation.
SHV are gold-only systems and metallurgically simple, with only minor amounts of other metals (arsenopyrite, stibnite, W, Bi and Te; no or minor Cu, Pb, Zn sulfides). Quartz and quartz-carbonate veins with gold are the hallmark of SHV.
Common alteration includes carbonate and/or sericitic alteration and pyritization of the host rock. Bleaching of the host rock produces pastel colors.
SHV deposits usually occur in rocks of late Proterozoic to early Paleozoic age. Most SHV are mid to late Paleozoic. Some are younger.
History
Spanish Mountain Area
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- The Cariboo has been known for its placer mining since the mid 1800's with the discovery of gold in Cedar Creek, the Fraser River, and at Barkerville in the 1860's. That sparked the Cariboo Gold Rush - one of the largest that the world has ever known, bringing 33,000 miners, and even camels, from the California gold fields.
- It is estimated that over 3 million ounces of gold were mined from the Cariboo placers. The Bullion Pit alone produced over 173,000 ounces of gold from 1892-1945: Many now believe Spanish Mountain is its source, as well as for the gold found in Spanish and Cedar Creeks.
- Gold discovered in Spanish and Cedar creeks draining Spanish Mountain, with values up to 49 ounces per pan (Report of the Minister of Mines, 1926)
- Thick overburden and forest cover made exploration of in situ deposits challenging.
- Gold-bearing quartz veins discovered on the northwest slope of Spanish Mountain, after some 70 years of placer gold operations in the area.
- Two adits driven to follow gold-rich quartz veins.
- The first drilling program resulted in limited success and Spanish Mountain remained largely unexplored until the 1970's.
- Exploration for high grade veins recommenced, with intermittent work over the next thirty years.
- Freeport stakes Spanish Mountain Gold property.
- 2,100 tonne bulk sample from adjacent Spanish Mountain property (Skygold/Wildrose, now Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd., SMGL) milled at Mount Polley Mine, with average 3 g/t gold returned. Extensive exploration undertaken, followed by drilling.
- Spanish Mountain interpreted as a Sediment Hosted Vein deposit by Klipfel.
- Geophysical Mag-EM-Resistivity Airborne Survey flown over Freeport's claims.
- Freeport's reconnaissance soil and rock sampling survey delineated gold anomalies associated with a geophysical resistivity low identified by the airborne survey, indicating eastern extension of mineralized zone to the west.
- SMGL/Skygold is now working towards outlining a bulk mineable deposit, with Measured and Indicated Resources of 3.94 million ounces of gold (210 MT at 0.581g/tonne at a cut off grade of 0.3g/tonne) reported in May 2009. Freeport's claims are less than half a mile (600 m) east of the mineralized zone, reportedly open towards the east.
Photo Gallery
Maps
Media: Spanish Mountain Gold
BC MINFILE 2004 093A 025 Bullion PitBC Ministry of Energy & Mines, 2004
BC MINFILE 2004 093A 025 Bullion Pit, Capsule Geology and Bibliography, Bullion Pit
BC MINFILE 2004 093A 043 Spanish Mt
BC Ministry of Energy & Mines, 2004
BC MINFILE 093A 043 Spanish Mountain, Capsule Geology and Bibliography
Kaiser 2005 Spanish Mt play Comes Alive
Kaiser Bottom-Fishing Report, Express 2005-02 (Jan 13, 2005)
Spanish Mountain play of Skygold and Wildrose comes alive
BCGS 1998 Sediment Hosted Gold
British Columbia Geological Survey, Geological Fieldwork 1998, Paper 1999-1
David V. Lefebure, Derek A. Brown and Gerald E. Ray,
The British Columbia Sediment-Hosted Gold Project
