Ontario Mineral Inventory

Ontario Geological Survey
Permanent Link to this Record: MDI000000003032

Record: MDI000000003032

General

Commodities

Primary Commodities: Gold

Location

Township or Area: Dawson Road Lots

Latitude: 48° 35' 5.9"    Longitude: -89° 51' 9.91"

UTM Zone: 16    Easting: 289625   Northing: 5385250    UTM Datum: NAD83

Resident Geologist District: Thunder Bay South

NTS Grid: 52A12SW

Point Location Description: Map in Assessment report 20000019059

Location Method: Data Compilation

Exploration History

2017: D. Parker carried out prospecting, soil and bark geochemical sampling, stripping, and sampling. 2018: D. Parker discovered the showing and carried out trenching and sampling. 2019: Delta Resources optioned the property and drilled 6 DDH totalling 1009 m. 2020: Delta carried out geological mapping, prospecting, and sampling. 2021: Delta conducted a glacial sediment sampling program and drilled 8 DDH totalling 1370 m. 2022: Delta drilled 11 DDH totalling 3693 m.

Assessment Work on File

Geology

Province: Superior

Subprovince: Wawa

Terrane: Wawa-Abitibi

Belt: Shebandowan

Geological Age: Archean  

Geology Comments

May 04, 2023 (Therese Pettigrew) - The Shabaqua Project gold properties are located in the north-central portion of the Shebandowan greenstone belt. The metavolcanic rock-dominated Shebandowan greenstone belt is located within the Wawa Subprovince, and is bounded to the north by the metasedimentary rock-dominated Quetico Subprovince. Both of these subprovinces are Neoarchean in age, and their boundary is defined by the Postans fault in the Shabaqua area (Corfu and Stott 1998). Two distinct supracrustal rock suites known as the Greenwater and Shebandowan assemblages have been identified in the Shabaqua area (Lodge et al. 2015; Lodge and Chartrand 2013; Corfu and Stott 1998). The older Greenwater assemblage (ca. 2720 Ma) referred to as Keewatin-type, is dominated by mafic to felsic metavolcanic rock cycles consisting of tholeiitic to calc-alkalic andesite, dacite and rhyolite, along with some komatiitic rocks (Rogers and Mercier 1995). It comprises three generally south-younging, bimodal volcanic cycles (Williams et al. 1991). The younger Shebandowan assemblage (~2690 Ma) unconformably overlies the Greenwater assemblage and is dominated by clastic metasedimentary rocks, with subordinate calc-alkalic to alkalic intermediate metavolcanic rocks and intrusions (Williams et al. 1991). The clastic sedimentary rocks of the Shebandowan assemblage are often referred to as “Timiskaming-type” because of their similarity to the Timiskaming group rocks of the Abitibi greenstone belt (Cooke and Moorhouse 1969). The Sedimentary rocks of the Shebandowan assemblage are thought to have deposited in fault-bounded basins related to the Shebandowan Structural Zone during regional transpressive deformation at circa 2690 Ma. Near the property, the Greenwater assemblage rocks generally occur south of Highway 11. The rocks are generally mafic to intermediate metavolcanics (including massive and pillowed flows) with local ultramafic flows (locally with spinifex textures). These metavolcanic flows are intercalated with thin horizons of graphitic mudstone, sulphide-bearing chert, jasper-magnetite and chert-magnetite iron formation all of which translate into highly conductive zones. Numerous gabbro sills and dikes intrude the Greenwater assemblage supracrustal rocks throughout this area. Shebandowan assemblage rocks are found in the area along and immediately to the north of Highway 11. This assemblage is dominated by clastic metasedimentary rocks, including conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone. The rocks are interlayered with distinctive trachyte and trachyandesite flows that commonly display a patchy red and green appearance and tend to be amphibole-phyric. They are intruded by feldspar-phyric felsic to intermediate dikes, gabbroic intrusions and lamprophyre dikes. Foliation is moderately well developed and generally strikes east-southeast with near-vertical dip. The rocks have been deformed into tight isoclinal folds with east-southeast striking axial planes. Shear zones that parallel the regional foliation occur throughout the area and is especially well developed along trends that coincide with gold-mineralized zones.

Lithology

Lithology Comments

Jun 06, 2022 (Therese Pettigrew) - Sericite and carbonate altered volcanic rocks and graphitic argillites occur with sulphide mineralization in outcrop on the property. At least 2 parallel and similar stratigraphic units occur on the property, as outlined by geophysics (Assessment report 20000019059). Spinifex texture was observed when RGP staff visited the site in June 2022.

Mineralization

Mineralization Comments

May 12, 2022 (Therese Pettigrew) - The Eureka Gold occurrence was discovered in 2018 through mechanical trenching. The zone consists of intersecting gold-bearing structures trending NE and EW. A broad halo of intense ankerite-calcite alteration is observed over a strike length greater than 2 km and a width of up to 400 m. The alteration zone is gold-bearing and contains a network of quartz-carbonate veins and veinlets with disseminated pyrite and arsenopyrite within the veins and the host rock. The host rock is described as altered volcanics with minor graphitic argillite and containing pyrite, arsenopyrite, fuchsite, and quartz stringers. Chip sampling within the Eureka zone zone returned assays of 13.8 g/t Au over 5 m, 5.9 g/t Au over 5 m, 2.4 g/t over 5 m, 2.2 g/t Au over 10 m, 1.6 g/t Au over 12 m and 1.4 g/t Au over 7m (Delta Resources website, accessed May 12, 2022). Stripped Area 18-1 commences at a small outcrop and continues north for 20 metres. The stripped area is 2-3 metres wide. Overburden was up to 2 metres deep and quickly drops off north of the stripped area. Geology consists of east-west striking volcanic and sedimentary units dipping subvertically and crosscut by numerous shear zones and vein systems at various angles. Graphite, chert and sulphide horizons are common and often of limited extent. Disseminated pyrite and arsenopyrite are common throughout the exposed extent. Ankerite and silicification strongly affect all rocks and sericite and fuchsite are commonly present. Quartz stringers and veins are common. Anomalous Ni (>600 ppm) and Cr (>1000 ppm) indicate the protolith of the altered volcanics may in part be ultramafic. 4 samples were analyzed. Significant gold and arsenic assays were returned up to 13.8 g/T Au. The 18-2 strip is approximately 157 metre long and averages 2-3 metres in width. Overburden thickness was variable but averaged 0.5-2 metres with a few areas >5 metres. Deep areas were backfilled to stabilize the ground. Geology consists of highly altered volcanic and sedimentary units dipping subvertically and crosscut by numerous shear and fracture zones and vein systems predominantly northeast vertical. Disseminated pyrite and arsenopyrite are common throughout the exposed extent. Ankerite and silicification strongly affect all rocks and sericite and fuchsite are commonly present. 25 samples were analysed and most returned anomalous gold and arsenic up to 2.49 g/T Au. The 18-3 strip is approximately 30 m long and 2-3 m wide. Overburden thickness was variable but averaged 0.5-1.5 metres. Geology consists of highly altered volcanic units dipping subvertically and crosscut by numerous shear and fracture zones and vein systems predominantly northeast vertical. Disseminated pyrite and arsenopyrite are common throughout the exposed extent. Ankerite and silicification strongly affect all rocks and sericite and fuchsite are commonly present. 6 samples were analyzed. Significant gold (up to 2.26 g/T Au) was associated with elevated arsenic. The 18-4 strip is approximately 40 m long and 2-3 m in width. Overburden was up to 2 metres deep and quickly drops off north and south of the stripped area. Geology consists of east-west striking volcanic and sedimentary units dipping subvertically and crosscut by numerous shear zones and vein systems at various angles. Graphite, chert and sulphide horizons are common and often of limited extent. Disseminated pyrite and arsenopyrite are common throughout the exposed extent. Ankerite and silicification strongly affect all rocks and sericite and fuchsite are commonly present. Quartz stringers and veins are common. Anomalous Ni (up to1610 ppm) and Cr (up to 2310 ppm) indicate the protolith of the altered volcanics may in part be ultramafic. 8 samples were analyzed. Significant gold (up to 0.5 g/T) was associated with elevated arsenic (Assessment report 20000019059).

May 04, 2023 (Sheree Hinz) - At the Eureka gold occurrence, gold is associated with an organized stockwork of quartz-ankerite-pyrite veinlets ranging from 1 mm to 10 cm in width. Occasionally, fine grained disseminated visible gold is observed within the veinlets. Although visible gold is dominantly associated with the pyrite at the walls of the veinlets specks of visible gold also occur in the central portions of the quartz veinlets. In drill core, gold grade is directly proportional to the density of veinlets present. Gold mineralization is late and the quartz-ankerite-pyrite gold veinlets crosscut every lithology. Host rock alteration consists dominantly of intense ankeritization, albitization and silicification, with lesser sericitization combined with trace to 2% disseminated pyrite and trace arsenopyrite. At surface, rocks are weathered a dark rusty brown and rock textures are completely obliterated. In drill core and in fresh surface, textures of the sandstone, feldspar-amphibole-phyric intrusive and volcanics are locally recognized but typically also obliterated. The rock is massive, fine-grained, yellowish buff to pale grey with a common dusting of very fine-grained disseminated pyrite. Even without any veinlets present, the host rock typically contains highly anomalous gold. At Eureka, the extent of the alteration a mineralized halo containing 0.2 g/t Au to 0.4 g/t Au is defined over a minimum strike length of 1.5 kilometre and a true width of up to 187 metres. DDH D1-23-30, the easternmost and deepest drillhole as of April 2023, returned assays of 4.23 g/t Au over 26.2 m including 49.91 g/t Au over 1.1 m (Delta Resources news release April 12, 2023).

Mineral Record Details

References

Mono - Report of Activities 2017, Resident Geologist Program, Thunder Bay South Regional Resident Geologist Report: Thunder Bay South

Publication Number: OFR6338 Page: 35-41  Date: 2018

Author: Puumala M.A., Campbell D.A., Tuomi R.D., Pettigrew T.K., Hinz S.L.K.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:

Publication - Gold Potential in the Matawin Gold Belt near Shabaqua

Publication Number: Rec for Ex 2016 Page: 22-26  Date: 2017

Author: Puumala, M.

Publisher Name: OGS Resident Geologist Program

Location: https://www.mndm.gov.on.ca/sites/default/files/article_files/recommendations_for_exploration_2016_2017.pdf

Report an Error

We are continuously updating our assessment file / technical report information. If you notice errors in the data, please contact us.

Terms of Use

Please review our Terms of Use agreement for this data product.

Ministry Contact Information

For detailed information regarding this mineral record please contact the Thunder Bay South Resident Geologist District Office