GeologyOntario has moved. You will be redirected to the new site in 10 seconds. If you are not immediately redirected please follow the below link to the new GeologyOntario platform. For assistance please contact us.
Ontario Geological Survey
Permanent Link to this Record:
MDI42F04NW00008
| Record Name(s) | Geco - 1953 |
|---|---|
| Related Record Type | Partial |
| Related Record(s) | |
| Record Status | Past Producing Mine Without Reserves or Resources |
| Date Created | 1984-Nov-02 |
| Date Last Modified | 2022-Mar-21 |
| Created By | |
| Revised By |
Primary Commodities: Copper, Zinc
Secondary Commodities: Lead, Silver, Gold, Cadmium, Tin, Sulphur/Pyrite
Township or Area: Gemmell
Latitude: 49° 9' 18.61" Longitude: -85° 47' 22.04"
UTM Zone: 16 Easting: 588266 Northing: 5445411 UTM Datum: NAD83
Resident Geologist District: Thunder Bay South
NTS Grid: 42F04NW
Point Location Description: Precise
Location Method: Other
1931: Discovered by J.E. Thompson of the Ontario Department of Mines. 1953-57: Geco Mines Ltd. conducted surface work, considerable diamond drilling (in excess of 139 DDH totalling 22,836.5 m from surface and 5131 holes totalling 348,817 m from underground), and underground development, with drifting and cross cutting for all shafts totalling 86,317.5 m. 1957: production began, with an original mill capacity of 3300 tons per day. 1964: Geco Mines Ltd. merged with Noranda Mines Ltd. 1970: mill capacity increased to 5000 tons per day. 1995: mine closed.
| Office File Number | Online Assessment File Identifier | Online Assessment File Directory |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | 42F04NW0073 | 42F04NW0073 |
| 2.17563 | 42F04NW0093 | 42F04NW0093 |
Province: Superior
Subprovince: Wawa
Terrane: Wawa-Abitibi
Belt: Schreiber-Hemlo
Geological Age: Archean
Jun 22, 2018 (Therese Pettigrew) - The Geco orebody lies in a dragfold on the S limb of the Manitouwadge syncline. The dragfold strikes E-W and plunges 45E. The ore host rock is a quartz-muscovite schist lying between biotite gneiss and quartzite to the S and biotite-garnet-amphibole gneiss to the N.
| Rock Type | Rank | Composition | Texture | Relationship | Schist-Unsubdivided | 1 | Sillimanite-Muscovite-Quartz | Host |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ironstone-unsubdivided | 2 | Adjacent |
| Rank | Mineral Name | Class | Economic Mineral Type | Alteration Mineral Type | Alteration Ranking | Alteration Intensity | Alteration Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pyrite | Economic | Ore | ||||
| 2 | Pyrrhotite | Economic | Ore | ||||
| 3 | Chalcopyrite | Economic | Ore | ||||
| 4 | Sphalerite | Economic | Ore | ||||
| 5 | Galena | Economic | Ore |
Jun 22, 2018 (Therese Pettigrew) - The main orebody is enveloped by a sillimanite-muscovite-quartz schist and quartzite. The main ore is consists of massive zinc-copper-lead sulphides that have been recrystallized during metamorphism. There is a halo of stringer chalcopyrite mineralization around the main ore body hosted in sillimanite-muscovite-quartz schist. The sillimanite-muscovite-quartz schist has been dated at 2720±2Ma Lodge, 2012). The ore deposit consists of a tabular body of sulphides (pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite) surrounded by an envelope of disseminated sulphides (chiefly pyrite and chalcopyrite). The tabular body occupies a fault parallel to the axial plane of the drag fold and rakes 42E. Pre-mineral quartz diorite dykes, pegmatite and granite and post-mineral diabase dykes, intrude the ore zone area. The orebody is displaced left laterally about 76 m along the N-striking Fox Creek Fault. The orebody has a length of about 731.5 m and ranges in width from 3 to 61 m, averaging 19.8 m. The dip is steep to vertical (Shklanka, 1969).
| Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| 1 | VMS Base Metal |
| Zone | Year | Category | Tonnes | Reference | Comments | Commodities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geco Mine | 1994 | Proven | 1054000 | Canadian Mines Handbook 1995-96, p. 265 | Average grade of 2.0% Cu, 2.6% Zn, and 1.31 opt Ag. Reserves scheduled to be depleted by late 1995. | Copper 2.0 Percent, Silver 1.31 Ounce per Ton, Zinc 2.6 Percent |
| Geco Mine | 1970 | Unclassified | 26489794 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | Reserves were estimated to be 29,200,000 short tons with an average grade of 2.03% Cu, 4.63% Zn, and 1.90 opt Ag. | Copper 2.03 Percent, Silver 1.9 Ounce per Ton, Zinc 4.63 Percent |
| Geco Mine | 1957 | Unclassified | 13431595 | Pye, 1960, p. 82 | Ore reserves were estimated to be 14,806,200 t with an average grade of 1.76% Cu, 3.75% Zn, and 1.74 opt Ag. | Copper 1.76 Percent, Silver 1.74 Ounce per Ton, Zinc 3.75 Percent |
| Year | Tonnes | Commodities | Reference | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | 314692 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 346,889 t milled for 15,482,602 lb Cu, 7,041,644 lb Zn, 378,111 oz Ag, and 1,667 oz Au | |
| 1958 | 1166757 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,286,129 t milled for 59,817,197 lb Cu, 33,876,573 lb Zn, 1,423,381 oz Ag, and 7,099 oz Au | |
| 1959 | 1170521 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,290,279 t milled for 50,874,609 lb Cu, 35,350,471 lb Zn, 1,295,349 oz Ag, and 5,706 oz Au | |
| 1960 | 1173967 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,294,077 t milled for 42,748,394 lb Cu, 43,648,366 lb Zn, 1,321,618 oz Ag, and 5,071 oz Au | |
| 1961 | 1158274 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,276,778 t milled for 36,435,890 lb Cu, 764,883 lb Pb, 65,123,549 lb Zn, 1,450,626 oz Ag, and 4,399 oz Au | |
| 1962 | 1163386 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,282,414 t milled for 43,096,185 lb Cu, 1,865,594 lb Pb, 90,078,273 lb Zn, 2,001,359 oz Ag, and 4,745 oz Au | |
| 1963 | 1162253 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,281,165 t milled for 44,927,302 lb Cu, 3,077,251 lb Pb, 110,354,423 lb Zn, 2,388,298 oz Ag, 4,499 oz Au, and 14,168,000 lb S | |
| 1964 | 1178705 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,299,300 t milled for 48,785,514 lb Cu, 3,421,081 lb Pb, 113,810,261 lb Zn, 2,194,874 oz Ag, 3,899 oz Au, 187,609 lb Cd, and 51,228,000 lb S | |
| 1965 | 1203254 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,326,360 t milled for 47,023,640 lb Cu, 1,921,043 lb Pb, 75,528,657 lb Zn, 1,960,648 oz Ag, 3,986 oz Au, 209,724 lb Cd, and 33,712,000 lb S | |
| 1966 | 1324114 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,489,586 t milled for 52,421,184 lb Cu, 1,638,631 lb Pb, 83,245,844 lb Zn, 2,159,374 oz Ag, 4,649 oz Au, 115,937 lb Cd, and 50,614,000 lb S | |
| 1967 | 1325236 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,460,823 t milled for 54,453,351 lb Cu, 2,211,594 lb Pb, 72,867,832 lb Zn, 2,150,061 oz Ag, 4,881 oz Au, 281,456 lb Cd, and 49,570,000 lb S | |
| 1968 | 1356576 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,495,369 t milled for 60,422,664 lb Cu, 2,464,692 lb Pb, 98,555,087 lb Zn, 2,403,313 oz Ag, 4,874 oz Au, 350,029 lb Cd, and 64,788,000 lb S | |
| 1969 | 1197129 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,319,609 t milled for 60,683,381 lb Cu, 1,738,137 lb Pb, 88,534,585 lb Zn, 2,300,369 oz Ag, and 4,844 oz Au, 404,418 lb Cd, and 65,904,000 lb S | |
| 1970 | 1239374 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,366,176 t milled for 46,601,538 lb Cu, 1,923,355 lb Pb, 75,147,693 lb Zn, 1,795,535 oz Ag, and 3,925 oz Au | |
| 1971 | 1596645 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,760,000 t milled for 37,700 t Cu, 79,200 t Zn, and 2,593,600 oz Ag | |
| 1972 | 1646540 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,815,000 t milled for 36,000 t Cu, 61,300 t Zn, and 2,530,000 oz Ag | |
| 1973 | 1328118 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,464,000 t milled for 22,900 t Cu, 34,500 t Zn, and 1,684,000 oz Ag | |
| 1974 | 1657427 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,827,000 t milled for 29,200 t Cu, 71,000 t Zn, and 2,058,600 oz Ag | |
| 1975 | 1529513 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,599,000 t milled for 27,400 t Cu, 44,500 t Zn, and 1,680,000 oz Ag | |
| 1976 | 1529513 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,686,000 t milled for 26,300 t Cu, 32,500 t Zn, and 1,589,000 oz Ag | |
| 1977 | 1591202 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,754,000 t milled for 31,600 t Cu, 34,800 t Zn, 386 t Pb, and 1,531,000 oz Ag | |
| 1978 | 1572151 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,733,000 t milled for 24,500 t Cu, 28,200 t Zn, 624 t Pb, and 1,383,200 oz Ag | |
| 1979 | 1475990 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,627,000 t milled for 27,000 t Cu, 41,700 t Zn, 580 t Pb, and 1,930,900 oz Ag | |
| 1980 | 1358056 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,497,000 t milled for 20,000 t Cu, 41,900 t Zn, 780 t Pb, and 1,750,800 oz Ag | |
| 1981 | 1329933 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,466,000 t milled for 25,000 t Cu, 38,800 t Zn, 180 t Pb, and 1,386,000 oz Ag | |
| 1982 | 1350798 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,489,000 t milled for 21,840 t Cu, 44,150 t Zn, 480t Pb, and 1,345,000 oz Ag | |
| 1983 | 1247379 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,375,000 t milled for 20,190 t Cu, 40,810 t Zn, 540 t Pb, and 1,344,000 oz Ag | |
| 1984 | 1253729 | Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files | 1,382,000 t milled for 23,030 t Cu, 36,440 t Zn, 380 t Pb, and 1,404,000 oz Ag | |
| 1985 | 1304532 | MP134, p. 76 | 1,438,000 t (short) milled for 22,240t Cu, 35,040 t Zn, 280 t Pb, and 1,325,000 oz Ag | |
| 1987 | 1063296 | MP138 p. 142 | 1,172,083 t (short) milled at 1.75% Cu, 4.92% Zn, and 1.77 opt Ag from January 1987 until Oct 31, 1987 | |
| 1988 | 807049 | MP142, p. 133 | 889,619 t (short) milled from January 1988 to July 31, 1988 | |
| 1989 | 1286493 | MP147, p. 139 | 1,418,116 t (short) milled at 1.82% Cu, 3.40% Zn, and 1.53 opt Ag from July 30, 1988 to July 30, 1989 | |
| 1990 | 989102 | MP152, p. 144 | 1,090,298 t (short) milled at 2.00% Cu, 4.47% Zn, and 1.54 opt Ag from January 1990 to Oct 31, 1990 | |
| 1991 | 1193220 | MP158, p. 125 | 1,315,300 t (short) milled at 1.64% Cu, 3.61% Zn, and 1.33 opt Ag from July 1, 1990 to July 1, 1991 | |
| 1992 | 1205930 | MP161, p. 126 | 1,329,310 t (short) milled at 1.91% Cu, 2.34% Zn, and 1.29 opt Ag from January 1, 1992 to Dec 31, 1992 | |
| 1993 | 1145042 | OFR5892, p. 80 | 1,262,193 t (short) milled at 1.70% Cu, 2.15% Zn, and 1.11 opt Ag | |
| 1994 | 798761 | OFR5921, p. 71 | 880,483 t (short) milled at 2.15% Cu, 3.17% Zn, and 1.51 opt Ag | |
| 1995 | 794153 | OFR5943, p. 78 | 875,404 t (short) milled at 2.17% Cu, 3.66% Zn, and 1.51 opt Ag | |
| 1995 | 54518080 | 1993 production values plus 1994 and 1995 values | Produced 54.5 Mt of Cu-Zn ore before its closure in November 1995. | |
| 1993 | 52762193 | Mckay DB, 1994, OFR 5906, Mineral Occurrences of the Manitouwadge Area, p12. Mine closed Nov 1995. | Production as of Dec 1993: 52,762,193 t @ 1.84% Cu, 3.80% Zn, 1.64 oz/t Ag. Reserves as of Dec 1993: 2,940,000 t @ 1.70% Cu, 2.15% Zn, 1.35 oz/t Ag |
Mono - Copper, nickel, lead and zinc deposits of Ontario
Publication Number: MDC012 Scale: Date: 1969
Author: Shklanka R.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Mono - Winston Lake and Manitouwadge Revisted: Modern Views of Two Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS)-Endowed Greenstone Belts. A Field Trip Guidebook
Publication Number: OFR6282 Scale: Date: 2012
Author: Lodge R.W.D.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
Part - Geology of the Manitouwadge area
Publication Number: ARV66-08 Scale: Date: 1997
Author: Pye E.G.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
We are continuously updating our assessment file / technical report information. If you notice errors in the data, please contact us.
Please review our Terms of Use agreement for this data product.
For detailed information regarding this mineral record please contact the Thunder Bay South Resident Geologist District Office