Ontario Mineral Inventory

Ontario Geological Survey
Permanent Link to this Record: MDI42A10NW00002

Record: MDI42A10NW00002

General

Mineral Record Identification
Record Name(s) Alexo Mine - 1907, Alexo Deposit - 1907, Harlin Nickel - 1944
Related Record Type Simple
Related Record(s)
Record Status Past Producing Mine With Reserves or Resources
Date Created 1981-Feb-20
Date Last Modified 2023-Apr-12
Created By
Revised By

Commodities

Primary Commodities: Copper, Nickel

Secondary Commodities: Platinum, Palladium, Cobalt



Location

Township or Area: Dundonald

Latitude: 48° 39' 28.76"    Longitude: -80° 48' 45.14"

UTM Zone: 17    Easting: 513805   Northing: 5389454    UTM Datum: NAD83

Resident Geologist District: Timmins

NTS Grid: 42A10NW

Point Location Description: Shaft located on lot 1 concession 3

Location Method: Data Compilation

Access Description: The Alexo Deposit is located on the common boundary between Dundonald and Clergue townships. It can be accessed by driving north from highway 101 along highway 67 for approximately 25 km. The property is accessed via a private access road.



Exploration History

1907: A. Kelso - discovery. 1909: Kelso et al./ Canadian Copper Co. pitted and diamond drilled. 1912: The Mond Nickel Co. processed a 1,792 ton bulk sample. 1913-1918: Alexo Mining Co. Ltd.: mining (open pit and underground); 51,861 tons (approx) mined and shipped. 1936: Caniptau Mines Ltd.: dewatered workings, U/G sampling 1939: Intern. Nickel Co. of Canada Ltd.: ground geophysics, diamond drilling. 1942-1943: Clifton Consol. Mines Ltd. and Harlin Nickel Mines Ltd.: mining (approximately 4900 tons of material). 1952-1953: Noranda Mines Ltd.: ground geophysics, mapping, diamond drilling. 1968: Alsop Mines: 6 ddh (3729 ft). 1971-72: Dome Expl. Ltd.: ground geophysics. 1973: Asarco Expl. Ltd.: ground geophysics. 1976: Noranda Mines: ground geophysics. 1984: Kidd Creek Exploration Co. Ltd. – geological mapping. 1991: Noranda Mines Ltd. - 3 ddh (854.6 m). 1996-98: Outokumpu Mines Ltd. - mapping, ground geophysics, 49 ddh (10 859m). 2000-01: Hucamp Mines Ltd. - trenching, sampling, ground geophysics, 21 ddh (2802m). 2003-05: Legendary Ore Mining Corporation/Canadian Arrow Mines Ltd: property purchased from Outokumpu, bulk sampling (20,000 tons), ore trucked to Strathcona Mill, diamond drilling, ground geophysics, in production 2004-2005: Canadian Arrow Mines Ltd. - 12,710.2 m in 132 DDH with drilling on both the Alexo and Kelex deposits., bulk sampling, stripping, in production. 2010-2012: Canadian Arrow Mines Ltd. - DD-16, metallurgical testing, dewatering.


Assessment Work on File

Assessment Work on File
Office File Number Online Assessment File Identifier Online Assessment File Directory
T-1516 / 2.1203 42A10NW0583 42A10NW0583
T-1516 / 2.1205 42A10NW0585 42A10NW0585
T-1516 / 2.1085 42A10NW0593 42A10NW0593
T-0791 / 63.2357 42A10NW0767 42A10NW0767
T-1516 / 2.1206 42A10NW8835 42A10NW8835
T-0081 / 2.774 42A10NW0795 42A10NW0795

Geology

Province: Superior

Subprovince: Abitibi

Terrane: Wawa-Abitibi

Belt: Abitibi

Tectonic Assemblage: Kidd-Munro

Geological Age: Archean   Geochronological Age: 2714 Ma   Geochron. Age Ref.: Spec Vol 4, part 1, P.405-482

Metamorphism Grade: Greenschist



Geology Comments

Jul 24, 2018 (C Salo) - Bedrock near the mine consists mainly of weakly metamorphosed (greenschist or lower facies) (submarine) volcanic and interflow sedimentary and/or volcaniclastic rocks of the (Archean) Kidd-Munro Group. Intrusive rocks in the area include semiconcordant gabbro sills, some of which intrude the komatiitic body which hosts the sulfide mineralization. The Dundonald Sill is a large mafic to ultramafic body which intrudes the volcanic stratigraphy stratigraphically beneath the Alexo ultramafic concordant body.




Lithology

Lithology Data
Rock Type Rank Composition Texture Relationship
Intermediate lava flow-unsubdivided 1 Andesite Contains
Peridotite 2 Peridotite Adjacent
Dunite 3 Dunite Near
Mafic lava flow-unsubdivided 4 Mg Tholeiitic Basalt Massive To Pillowed Near
Ultramafic lava flow-unsubdivided 5 Komatiite Host

Lithology Comments

Dec 07, 2005 (A Wilson) - The ultramafic body occurs as a concordant lens with a dunitic core and pyroxene-rich peridotitic margins atop a series of magnesium-rich basalts and intercalated hyaloclastite.




Mineralization

Mineralization and Alteration
Rank Mineral Name Class Economic Mineral Type Alteration Mineral Type Alteration Ranking Alteration Intensity Alteration Style
1PyrrhotiteEconomicOre
2PentlanditeEconomicOre
3HeazlewooditeEconomicOre
4ChalcopyriteEconomicOre
5ViolariteEconomicOre
1PyriteEconomicGangue
2MagnetiteEconomicGangue
3ChromiteEconomicGangue
SerpentineAlterationSerpentinization1UnknownNetwork

Mineralization Comments

Nov 29, 2012 (A Wilson) - A grab sample collected from Alexo in 2001 returned an assay of 3.22% Ni and 2.32 g/t Pt/Pd with a Pd:Pt ratio of 3:1. Channel sample completed in 2002 returned values of 1.77 to 6.4% Cu and 0.72 to 3.33 g/t Pt/Pd over widths ranging from 0.1 to 4.3 m to the east of the old mine. To the west of the mine values of 1.1 to 5.26% Ni and 0.49 g/t to 1.78 g/t Pt/Pd were obtained from channel sampling. Diamond drilling returned the following intersections: 2.02% Ni, 0.08% Co 1.18 g/t Pt+Pd over 2.8 m; 1.58% Ni, 0.09% Co, 0.68 g/t Pt+Pd over 2.95 m; 1.91% Ni, 0.10% Co and 0.57 g/t Pt+Pd over 1.6 m. Selected grab samples collected by Hucamp returned the following assays: 3.37% Ni, 0.31% Cu, 1.43 g/t Pt+Pd over 2.4 m; 4.11% Ni, 0.15% Cu and 3.33 g/t Pt+Pd over 0.1 m; 6.9% Ni, 0.2% Cu and 1.2 g/t Pd+Pt over 0.4m. Sulphur is concentrated at the historical Alexo Mine in footwall embayments of a komatiitic peridotite / dunite unit. Massive and semi-massive sulphides also extend into the footwall andesite. Massive and semi-massive lenses of sulphide minerals range in thickness from a few centimetres to greater than 12 m with an aureole of net-textured and disseminated sulphides. The disseminated sulphides extend laterally and vertically from the massive zones for several tens of metres. The massive ore consists of approximately 15 to 20 % pentlandite, 80 to 85 % pyrrhotite, with trace chalcopyrite unevenly distributed throughout. The nickel content of the sulphides ranges between 7 to 10 % in 100 % sulphide.


Dec 07, 2005 (C Salo) - Massive and disseminated Fe-Ni-Cu sulfide mineralization localized along the base of a concordant ultramafic body constitutes the Ni-Cu orebody which was commercially worked. The host ultramafic body has peridotite margins, a dunitic core, and is 70 m thick, about 500 m long, strikes west southwest, dips north 80 degrees, and is on the south limb of an arcuate concave south syncline (Coad 1979). Geochemically the host ultramafic body is komatiitic, and it is now serpentinized. The reported presence of spinifex texture within the host ultramafic rock suggests that it is extrusive and was deposited as a flow or series of flows. Massive and pillowed Mg-tholeiitic basalt (Macdonald and Cherry 1987) and hyaloclastic and fragmental rock host the komatiite and indicate that deposition of the host rocks occurred subaqueously. Massive sulfide and related mineralization at the mine are reported (Coad 1979) to have ranged from 5 cm to 3.0 m in thickness, to have been located either stratigraphically above a (thin) basal pyroxene rich portion of the komatiitic host or directly on (stratigraphically underlying) footwall volcanic rock and to have occupied shallow embayments along the footwall contact. Pye et al. (1972) indicated the orebody to be about 700 feet long and to range from 3 to 20 feet in width. Locally, massive sulfides have been observed to penetrate into the footwall volcanic rocks up to 5.0 m (Naldrett and Gasparrini 1971). Massive sulfides are in sharp and sheared (Lowther 1950) contact with stratigraphically overlying net textured sulfide mineralization which is developed in peridotite up to 4.0 m from massive sulfide mineralization.



Mineral Record Details

Classification
RankClassification            
1 Komatiite-hosted
Characteristics
Rank Characteristic            
1 Massive

Mineral Zones - Size and Shape

Rank: 1       Structure Type: Contact

Zone Name: Detour Lake - Rank 1
Shape Length Thickness Depth Strike Dip Plunge Trend Age Reference
Tabular 500 70 225 80 2707 +/-3 MA P.3398

Site Visit Information

Date: Mar 05, 2004

Geologist: A Wilson

Notes: Sulphide concentrations are in footwall embayments of akomatiitic perodotie/dunite unit overlying andesite. Massive and semi-massive sulphide alo extends into the footwall andesite. The sulphide minerals are in massive and semi-massive lenses that range in thickness from a few cm to >12 m with an aureole of net-textured and disseminated sulphides. The disseminated sulphides extend laterally and vertically from the massive zones for several 10's of metres. There is a suggestion of another Ni-sulphide bearing channel at depth, beneath the Alexo channel, based on a drill hole in 1918 which intersected 4 ft of disseminated ore at a vertical depth of 50 ft, approximately 900 ft west o the Alexo shaft.



Reserves or Resources Data
Zone Year Category Tonnes Reference Comments Commodities
Alexo Open Pit 2012 Indicated Mineral Resource 18000 NI 43-101 Report 2012 540,000 lb Ni; 60,000 lb Cu, 20,000 lb Co Cobalt 0.06 Percent, Copper 0.16 Percent, Gold 0.04 Grams per Tonne, Nickel 1.36 Percent, Palladium 0.41 Grams per Tonne, Platinum 0.16 Grams
Alexo Underground 2012 Indicated Mineral Resource 6000 NI 43-101 Report 2012 10,000 lb Ni; 1,000 lb Cu, 1,000 lb Co Cobalt 0.04 Percent, Copper 0.10 Percent, Gold 0.03 Grams per Tonne, Nickel 0.75 Percent, Palladium 0.22 Grams per Tonne, Platinum 0.10 Grams per Tonne
ALEXO 2001 Unclassified 22352 Hucamp Mines Ltd. clipping file reserve estimated above 120 ft level Nickel 4.34 Percent
Production Data
Year Tonnes Commodities Reference Comment
2005 26224 Nickel 1300000 Pounds
2012 NI 43-101 rpt p. 30 average grade 1.97% Ni, 0.20% Cu
1944 2813 Copper 15311 Kilograms
Nickel 114836 Kilograms
AR 54 PT 2, P. 110; 43-101 RPT FOR CANADIAN ARROW FEB. 2004 average grade 4.5% Ni and 0.6% Cu
1943 2188 Copper 15879 Kilograms
Nickel 89321 Kilograms
AR 53 PT 1, P. 186; 43-101 REPT FOR CANADIAN ARROW FEB 2004 production grade was 4.5% Ni and 0.80% Cu
1936 60 OGS production history scanned file
1919 2251 Copper 14090 Kilograms
Nickel 95773 Kilograms
AR 20 PT 1, P. 18; ALEXO MINING CO. CLIPPING FILE average grade to 1919 was 4.69% Ni and 0.69% Cu
1918 8756 Copper 48454 Kilograms
Nickel 357449 Kilograms
AR 28, P. 22 average grade 0.61% Cu and 4.5% Ni
1917 5958 Copper 31889 Kilograms
Nickel 234225 Kilograms
AR 27 P. 25 average grade 0.59% Cu 4.5% Ni
1916 8421 Copper 34377 Kilograms
Nickel 313215 Kilograms
AR 26, P. 108 average grade 0.45% Cu 4.10% Ni
1915 12114 Copper 74729 Kilograms
Nickel 516513 Kilograms
average grade 0.68% Cu 4.7% Ni
1914 8110 Copper 48558 Kilograms
Nickel 320041 Kilograms
OFR 5735 P. 1099 average grade 0.66% Cu 4.35% Ni
1913 7646 Copper 323233 Kilograms
Nickel 36762 Kilograms
AR 24, P. 24, 144 average grade 0.53% Cu 4.66% Ni
1912 4669 Copper 21178 Kilograms
Nickel 165190 Kilograms
AR 23, P. 20, 167 average grade 0.50% Cu, 3.9% Ni

References

Article - Platinum group elements in Abitibi komatiites associated with nickel sulphide deposits

Publication Number: MP098.017 Page: 1-11  Date: 1997

Author: Barnes S-J., Gorton M.P., Naldrett A.J.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


File - Resident Geologist files T-0345, T-5421

Publication Number: Date:

Author:

Publisher Name:

Location: Timmins RGP office


Map - Clergue Township, District of Cochrane

Publication Number: P0308 Scale: 1:15,840    Date: 1997

Author: Carlson H.D., Ginn R.M.

Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines

Location:


Publication - Technical Report and Updated Resource Estimate on the Alexo and Kelex Deposits, Alexo Property

Publication Number: 2012 NI 43-101 Date: 2012

Author: Puritch, E., Hayden, A., Yassa, A., Burga, D.

Publisher Name: P&E Mining Consultants for Canadian Arrow Mines

Location: SEDAR


Part - Sudbury nickel field restudied

Publication Number: ARV43-02 Date: 1998

Author: Burrows A.G., Rickaby H.C.

Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines

Location:


Publication - Ultramafic flows and nickel sulphide deposits in the Abitibi Orogenic Belt; Geological Survey of Canada, Paper no. 72-1A

Publication Number: Paper 72-1A Page: 75-81  Date: 1972

Author: O.R. Eckstrand

Publisher Name: Geological Survey of Canada

Location: https://doi.org/10.4095/105332


Map - Timmins data series, Dundonald Township, District of Cochrane

Publication Number: P2029 Scale: 1:15,840    Date: 1980

Author: Hunt D.S., Richard J.A.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Article - Nickel deposits associated with ultramafic rocks within greenstone belts of the Abitibi and Wawa subprovinces

Publication Number: MP063.046 Page: 156-157  Date: 1997

Author: Jost M.

Publisher Name: Ontario Division of Mines

Location:


Map - Geology of Dundonald Township

Publication Number: P3345 Scale: 1:20,000    Date: 1995

Author: Muir T.L.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Article - Field relations and geochemistry of Au, Ni, and Cr deposits in ultramafic-mafic volcanic rocks

Publication Number: MP093.027 Page: 144-162  Date: 1997

Author: Kerrich R.W., Robinson D.J., Hutchinson R.W., Hodder R.W.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Map - Geological Compilation: Dundonald and Clergue Townships

Publication Number: P3394 Scale: 1:20,000    Date: 1999

Author: Barrie C.T.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Map - Geological Compilation of the Lake Abitibi Area, Abitibi Greenstone Belt

Publication Number: P3398 Scale: 1:100,000    Date: 1999

Author: Ayer J.A., Berger B.R., Trowell N.F.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Map - Precambrian Geology, Monteith Area

Publication Number: P3367 Scale: 1:50,000    Date: 1997

Author: Berger B.R.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Article - Platinum group element concentrations in some magmatic ores in Ontario

Publication Number: MP093.017 Page: 171-178  Date: 1997

Author: Naldrett A.J., Innis D.G., Sowa J.M.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Map - Matheson-Black sheet, District of Cochrane

Publication Number: P0119 Scale: 1:63,360    Date: 1997

Author: Ginn R.M., Savage W.S., Leahy E.J.

Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines

Location:


Map - Iroquois Falls-Lake Abitibi sheet, District of Cochrane

Publication Number: P0140 Scale: 1:126,720    Date: 1997

Author: Savage W.S., Thomson R., Fenwick K.G.

Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines

Location:


Map - Dundonald Township, District of Cochrane

Publication Number: P0307 Scale: 1:15,840    Date: 1997

Author: Carlson H.D., Ginn R.M.

Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines

Location:


Mono - Mineral occurrences, deposits, and mines of the Black River-Matheson area

Publication Number: OFR5735 Date: 1990

Author: Bath A.C.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Map - Precambrian Geology, Dundonald and German Townships

Publication Number: OFM0232 Scale: 1:50,000    Date: 1994

Author: Muir T.L.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Part - Alexo nickel mine, Timiskaming District

Publication Number: ARV26.010 Page: 258-274  Date: 1998

Author: Baker M.B.

Publisher Name: Ontario Bureau of Mines

Location:


Part - Statistical review of the mineral industry of Ontario for 1914

Publication Number: ARV24-01.001 Page: 20, 144  Date: 1998

Author: Gibson T.W.

Publisher Name: Ontario Bureau of Mines

Location:


Part - Statistical review of the mineral industry of Ontario for 1913

Publication Number: ARV23-01.001 Page: 20, 47, 167  Date: 1998

Author: Gibson T.W.

Publisher Name: Ontario Bureau of Mines

Location:


Part - Mines of Ontario

Publication Number: ARV25-01.003 Page: 15, 103  Date: 1998

Author: Sutherland T.F., Collins E.A., McMillan J.G., Bartlett J.

Publisher Name: Ontario Bureau of Mines

Location:


Part - Statistical review of the mineral industry of Ontario for 1917

Publication Number: ARV27-01.001 Page: 25  Date: 1998

Author: Gibson T.W.

Publisher Name: Ontario Bureau of Mines

Location:


Part - Mines of Ontario

Publication Number: ARV28-01.003 Page: 22, 131  Date: 1998

Author: Sutherland T.F., Collins E.A., Stovel J.H., Webster A.R.

Publisher Name: Ontario Bureau of Mines

Location:


Part - Statistical review of the mining industry of Ontario for 1919

Publication Number: ARV29-01.001 Page: 18  Date: 1998

Author: Rogers W.R.

Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines

Location:


Part - Mines of Ontario in 1943

Publication Number: ARV53-01.003 Page: 185-186  Date: 1997

Author: Tower W.O., Smith R.L., Bawden W.E., Cooper D.F., Taylor J.B., Little E.S., Weir E.B., Douglass D.P.

Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines

Location:


Article - Quaternary geology and geochemical exploration in the Matheson area

Publication Number: MP136.294 Date: 1997

Author: McClenaghan M.B., Lavin O.P., Nichol I., Shaw J.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Part - Mines of Ontario in 1944

Publication Number: ARV54-02.001 Page: 110  Date: 1997

Author: Tower W.O., Smith R.L., Bawden W.E., Cooper D.F., Taylor J.B., Little E.S., Weir E.B., Douglass D.P.

Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines

Location:


Mono - Nickel sulphide deposits associated with ultramafic rocks of the Abitibi belt and economic potential of mafic-ultramafic intrusions

Publication Number: S020 Page: 39-44  Date: 1979

Author: Coad P.R.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Mono - Copper, nickel, lead and zinc deposits of Ontario

Publication Number: MDC012 Page: 116-117  Date: 1969

Author: Shklanka R.

Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines

Location:


Folio - Clergue Township, District of Cochrane

Publication Number: GDIF400 Date: 1997

Author: Kirkland Lake RGO

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Book - Sudbury Timmins Algoma Mineral Program, Project 1: mineral inventory of the Sudbury-Timmins-Sault Ste. Marie region, Ontario

Publication Number: GSC OF 1087 Page: 224  Date: 1985

Author: Rose, D.G.

Publisher Name: Geological Survey of Canada

Location: https://doi.org/10.4095/129999


Mono - Distribution and characteristics of the sulphide ores of the Timmins area

Publication Number: MP041 Page: 157-168  Date: 1970

Author: Pyke D.R., Middleton R.S.

Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines

Location:


Article - The Kidd-Munro Extension project: synopsis of field work in the southeast Dundonald Area.

Publication Number: MP168.003 Page: 16-17  Date: 1997

Author: Barrie C.T.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Book - Hucamp Mines Ltd.

Publication Number: Clippings Date: 2000

Author:

Publisher Name:

Location: Timmins RGO


Mono - Report of Activities 2001, Resident Geologist Program, Timmins Regional Resident Geologist Report: Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie Districts

Publication Number: OFR6082 Page: 25-26  Date: 2002

Author: Atkinson B.T., Hailstone M.H., Seim G.Wm., Draper D.M., Farrow D.G., Hope P.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Publication - Geology and ore deposits of the Timmins district, Ontario (Field Trip 6); Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 2161

Publication Number: GSC OF 2161 Page: 36-45  Date: 1991

Author: Fyon, J.A. and Green, A.H.

Publisher Name: Geological Survey of Canada

Location: https://doi.org/10.4095/132290


Book - Classic Komatiite Localities and Magmatic Fe-Ni-Cu-PGE Deposits, MERC Fieldguide

Publication Number: Field Guide Date: 1999

Author: P.C. Davis (ed)

Publisher Name:

Location: Timmins RGO


Compend - Summary of Field Work and Other Activities, 2002

Publication Number: OFR6100 Page: 7.3-7.8  Date: 2002

Author: Baker C.L., Debicki E.J., Kelly R.I., Parker J.R.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Book - Canadian Arrow Mines Ltd. - Press Releases

Publication Number: clippings Date: 2001

Author:

Publisher Name:

Location: Timmins RGO


Article - Quaternary geology and geochemical exploration in the Matheson area

Publication Number: MP140.294 Page: 112-123  Date: 1997

Author: McClenaghan M.B., Lavin O.P., Nichol I., Shaw J.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Journal - CIMM 1966, TRANS VOL 69, P147-155: The Role of Sulphurization in the Genesis of Iron-Nickel Sulphide Deposits of the Porcupine District

Publication Number: Date: 1966

Author: A.J. Naldrett

Publisher Name: CIMM

Location: Timmins


Publication - Technical Report And Updated Resource Estimate On The Alexo And Kelex Deposits ,Alexo Property Timmins Area, Ontario, Canada

Publication Number: NI-43-101 Date: 2011

Author: E. Puritch, A. Hayden, A. Yassa, D. Burga

Publisher Name:

Location: Timmins RGO


Book - Komatiites 467p.

Publication Number: Date: 2008

Author: N. Arndt

Publisher Name: Cambridge University Press

Location: Timmins RGO


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 Timmins Resident Geologist District Office