Ontario Mineral Inventory

Ontario Geological Survey
Permanent Link to this Record: MDI41P06NE00005

Record: MDI41P06NE00005

General

Commodities

Primary Commodities: Barite

Location

Township or Area: North Williams

Latitude: 47° 24' 57.03"    Longitude: -81° 1' 27"

UTM Zone: 17    Easting: 498177   Northing: 5251377    UTM Datum: NAD83

Resident Geologist District: Kirkland Lake

NTS Grid: 41P06NE

Point Location Description: Decline ramp

Location Method: Field Visit with GPS

Exploration History

1972: R. Annett – prospecting. 1975-77: Extender Minerals of Canada Ltd. – trenching, DD-8-1062 ft. 1991-92: Extender Minerals of Canada Ltd. – stripping, trenching, bulk sampling. 2000-present: Extender Minerals of Canada Ltd. – in production Extender Minerals of Canada Ltd. accesses the barite vein via a decline ramp and underground workings. The 2nd level, approximately 125 feet below surface, was developed along the vein for 800 feet. In August 2002, drifting on the 3rd level, approximately 165 feet below surface, was completed and a spiral decline was close to the proposed elevation of the 4th level, 40 feet below the 3rd level. The barite vein pinches and swells, is up to 4 m wide and grades up to 98% barite. 2017: production ceased.

Assessment Work on File

Geology

Province: Southern

Subprovince: Cobalt Basin

Supergroup: Huronian Supergroup

Formation Group: Cobalt Group

Geological Age: Paleoproterozoic  

Lithology

Lithology Comments

Aug 16, 2012 (A Wilson) - Two veins of high quality barite are contained in a Proterozoic intrusive immediately east of Tracey Lake. The veins strike approximately north-east and dip about 75 degrees south-east. The A vein extends for 800 feet along strike and has a true width of 3-4 feet.

Aug 16, 2012 (G Meyer) - The vein has a minimum strike length of 250 m and pinches and swells reaching a maximum width of 4 m. The vein strikes 060 and the dip is near vertical. The host rock is dark gray to black and locally red Nipissing diabase.

Mineralization

Mineralization Comments

Aug 16, 2012 (A Wilson) - Assays from samples collected in 1977 ranged from 68.7-99.16% BaSO4. The barite varies in colour from white to grey to pale pink. It grinds to a high quality product. Calcite is the only other mineral in the barite vein. Its occurrence is of local extent and it does not appear to be an impurity of significance. The results of the 1992 bulk sampling project confirmed, barite content averaged over 96%;, above industry standards, and if required ad hoc production runs can be processed to raise the barite content to >99%, which is adequate to equal all but precipitated barium sulphate specifications .

Alteration Comments

Dec 07, 2005 (G Meyer) - The host Nipissing Dabase has locally been hydrothermally altered to a dark red colour (probably hematization). Locally, the alteration is observed on both sides of the barite vein, is absent or is only developed on one side of the vein. Nipissing diabase inclusions in the barite vein exposed next to the hydro powerline crossing the property are all hematized.

Mineral Record Details

Mineral Zones - Size and Shape

Site Visit Information

Date: Mar 16, 2004

Geologist: G Meyer

Notes: Production was anticipated to reach 12 000 t in 2002. The ore is trucked 176 km to Extender Mineral's processing plant in Powell Township. To save on shipping costs, the company was planning to install a conveyor system at the mine and handpick the waste to up-grade the ore. A second sub-parallel barite vein was recently discovered 400 m north of the mine on the hydro powerline. Overburden stripping has exposed the vein, but more work is required to determine its economic viability. Extender Minerals has a work force of 25 people (3 at head office). In summer, employment increases and several students are hired (R. Hill and J. Bisson, Extender Minerals of Canada Ltd. , personal communication, 2002 | 2003).

References

File - Resident Geologist file CO-1716

Publication Number: Date:

Author:

Publisher Name:

Location: Kirkland Lake RGP office

Article - Kirkland Lake Resident Geologist area, Northern Region

Publication Number: MP128.007 Page: 212  Date: 1997

Author: Lovell H.L., Grabowski G.P.B., Guindon D.L., Bath A.C.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:

Article - Kirkland Lake Resident Geologist's area, Northern Region

Publication Number: MP134.007 Page: 212  Date: 1997

Author: Lovell H.L., Grabowski G.P.B., Guindon D.L., Bath A.C.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:

Map - Precambrian Geology, Shining Tree South Area

Publication Number: P3531 Scale: 1:50,000    Date: 2003

Author: Johns G.W.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:

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Ministry Contact Information

For detailed information regarding this mineral record please contact the Kirkland Lake Resident Geologist District Office