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![]() | Spanish Mountain Gold | ||||||
![]() | Highlights![]() Location & AccessFreeport'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 GeologyThe 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. ConclusionIn 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 GeologyKnown 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).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 DevelopmentsWork 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:
GeochemistryFreeport'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. GeophysicsIn 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 & ResultsNotable 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:
Conclusion & RecommendationsIn 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. ReferencesBC 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 DepositsRecent 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)
Characteristics 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. HistorySpanish Mountain Area
Photo GalleryMapsMedia: Spanish Mountain GoldBC 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 |
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