Ontario Mineral Inventory

Ontario Geological Survey
Permanent Link to this Record: MDI42B01NE00009

Record: MDI42B01NE00009

General

Mineral Record Identification
Record Name(s) Penhorwood Mine - 1987, Steetley Talc - 1978, Manville Property - 1974
Related Record Type Simple
Related Record(s)
Record Status Producing Mine
Date Created 1992-Jun-15
Date Last Modified 2023-Dec-12
Created By
Revised By

Commodities

Primary Commodities: Soapstone, Talc

Secondary Commodities: Magnesium Minerals



Location

Township or Area: Reeves

Latitude: 48° 11' 26.34"    Longitude: -82° 5' 54.63"

UTM Zone: 17    Easting: 418359.08   Northing: 5338073.82    UTM Datum: NAD83

Resident Geologist District: Timmins

NTS Grid: 42B01NE

Point Location Description: Occurrence 28 map 2627

Location Method: Field Visit with GPS

Access Description: The mine is located in north-central Penhorwood Township, Swayze area on patent claim S. 82791. It is approximately 65 km southwest of Timmins. The property is accessible by following Highway 101 west from Timmins for 70 km to the Reeves Mine/Luzenac turnoff. Travel south for 3 km to the Luzenac Mill. A pass from Luzenac is required for access.



Exploration History

1957 During the course of exploration for asbestos Canadian Johns Manville noted the occurrence of a zone of extensive talc carbonate alteration in a number of diamond drill holes in the vicinity of the present Penhorwood mine. Due to its extent, this alteration was note worthy compared to numerous other occurrences found elsewhere in the area but not specifically recorded in other reports. Subsequently, other occurrences were inferred from magnetic surveys in the sixties but were not the target of exploration and were not pursued. 1973 Johns Manville started to develop the talc deposit. 1976 Johns Manville started production at the mine but this was terminated within a few months. 1978 Steetley Talc began mining the deposit. 1988 Talc de Luzenac carried out an exploration program prior to the purchase of the mine from Steetley Talc. 1992 Over the next two years, two additional exploration programs were carried out at the mine site.


Assessment Work on File

Assessment Work on File
Office File Number Online Assessment File Identifier Online Assessment File Directory
T-1985 / 2.3517 42B01NE0047 42B01NE0047

Geology

Province: Superior

Subprovince: Abitibi

Terrane: Wawa-Abitibi

Belt: Swayze

Tectonic Assemblage: Muskego-Reeves

Geological Age: Neoarchean  

Metamorphism Type: Regional

Metamorphism Grade: Greenschist



Geology Comments

Dec 07, 2005 (S Fumerton) - A number of intense zones of talc - carbonate alteration occur along a northeast trending line just east of parallel shear zone inferred from geophysical data. There are several generations of fractures that cut the deposit all of which have varying amounts of recrystallized magnesite and talc along the fracture plane which may or may not be subsequently sheared. These fractures include:- 1) diamond shaped fracture sets with near vertical obtuse bisectrix, 2) undulating near horizontal shears associated with a brown stain, 3) near vertical shears/fractures which may be associated with secondary alteration on chemical fronts which have moved away from, but parallel to, the initial fracture and resulting in a discordant dyke like feature.


Dec 07, 2005 (A Wilson) - The open pit is located near the western margin of an extensive north-trending, cumulate-textured serpentinite body cut by east-trending deformation zones. The ultramafic unit also hosts the Reeves Mine. The western margin of the ultramafic unit is highly deformed and may be the locus of a sheared contact with a unit of clastic metasedimentary rocks to the west.


Dec 07, 2005 (R Degagne) - The property is underlain by metavolcanic rocks which have been intruded by diorite, peridotite and gabbro. Talc- magnesite ore occurs in contact with highly altered ultramafic sills and plugs. Alteration is in the form of serpentine and carbonate (Vos et al 1987).




Lithology

Lithology Data
Rock Type Rank Composition Texture Relationship
Peridotite 1 Peridotite, Gabbro Altered Host
Ultramafic lava flow-unsubdivided 2 Komatiite Altered Host
Amphibolite 4 Amphibolite Near

Lithology Comments

Feb 29, 2016 (S Fumerton) - The deposit is located in ultramafic rocks which may be part of an intrusive plug or a thick sequence of komatiitic flows in the nose of a fold. Elsewhere these flows or lenses are conformable with some Mg tholeiitic flows in a thick sequence of mafic metavolcanics. Originally these ultramafic rocks were divided into early and late ultramafic intrusives by Milne 1972 but the occurrence of compositionally controlled spinifex texture (Pine needle or chicken track texture) was noted in settings now regarded as characteristic of layered komatiite flows. The ultramafic rocks are cut by a number of large east trending faults and prior to the discovery of the talc deposit, it was noted that carbonate alteration of the serpentinized ultramafic was associated with talcose shears. XRD work suggests that the talc occurs in the form of Willemseite and there is some magnesian gaspeite mixed in with the magnesite. Few details are available on the specific setting of the deposit.


Dec 07, 2005 (R Degagne) - The property is underlain by metavolcanic rocks which have been intruded by diorite, peridotite and gabbro. Talc- magnesite ore occurs in contact with highly altered ultramafic sills and plugs. Alteration is in the form of serpentine and carbonate (Vos et al 1987).




Mineralization

Mineralization and Alteration
Rank Mineral Name Class Economic Mineral Type Alteration Mineral Type Alteration Ranking Alteration Intensity Alteration Style
1TalcEconomicOre
2MagnesiteEconomicOre
1MagnetiteEconomicGangue
2CarbonateEconomicGangue
TalcAlterationSteatization1StrongReplacement
MagnesiteAlterationSteatization2StrongReplacement
SerpentineAlterationSteatization3WeakDisseminated

Mineralization Comments

Dec 07, 2005 (S Fumerton) - The ore is a massive, medium grained (<2mm), light cold grey rock. This is made up of vitreous talc grains with more translucent carbonate grains together with disseminated grains of ilmenite and or magnetite. Locally a subtle nodular appearance is apparent on the fresh surfaces and is thought to represent varying degrees of alteration. Based on the weathered surfaces, there appears to be a variable iron to calcium ratio in the deposit from material that turns a pale chocolate brown on weathering to material that disintegrates into a light grey to off-white pile of rubble. Chemical analyses indicate that CaO varies between 0.3% and 4.5% whereas Fe2O3 varies between 5% and 8.5% The massive material is cut by a number of recrystallized magnesite and talc veins related to various fracture directions. In these veins, the magnesite is white to pale brown and coarse grained, the talc is also coarse grained and a pale sea green with characteristic crystal growths oblique to the contact. Adjacent to these veins there is an increased concentration of ilmenite and magnetite/hematite. Ilmenite, magnetite, and hematite also occur in thin discontinuous trails orientated in a number of directions. On the east side of the pit associated with secondary alteration emanating from fractures there are thin seams of white asbestos fibres <5mm long parallel to the initial fracture. These asbestos seams are locally associated with thin quartz veins.


Dec 07, 2005 (R Degagne) - The soapstone is pale grey to olive green in colour and has a mottled appearance. It is locally fractured with magnesite occurring within the fractures (Resident Geologist's Files Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, Timmins).



Mineral Record Details

Classification
RankClassification            
1 Replacement
Characteristics
Rank Characteristic            
1 Unknown

Mineral Zones - Size and Shape

Rank: 1       Structure Type: Shear

Zone Name: Detour Lake - Rank 1
Shape Length Thickness Depth Strike Dip Plunge Trend Age Reference
Irregular 500 N/A N/A

Site Visit Information

Date: Jun 15, 1992

Geologist: S Fumerton

Notes: In the company of Marc Leroux of the MNDM and Mr Karl Habla, on site supervisor for Luzenac, a tour was made of the open pit and mill at the Penhorwood Mine. Mining is carried out in the winter in order to get a more favourable rate from contractors. Open pit mining with approximately 10m benches is carried out using a 25 foot drill hole pattern. These holes are drilled with rotary percussion equipment and the returns are sampled mineralogically and geochemically for grade control. The main concern in mining is the occurrence of small serpentinite lenses which must be sorted from the mill feed. Material from the mine is crushed to minus 10cm and stored on a pile near the mill until spring. In spring the broken ore is passed through a two stage roller crusher then fed into a ball mill as a slurry in order to grind the rock to -325 mesh. After this the ore is processed through four floatation cells to purify the talc. The material is then passed over a magnetic drum in order to remove magnetite and ilmenite then dried in the final dryers. The dry powder is transported to the mill in Timmins for final crushing, sieving and packaging. The Penhorwood mill has a daily capacity of 450 tons per day in order to produce 170 to 200 tons. This is done with 11 men working three shifts 24 hrs per day, 6 days per week. Half a day per week is devoted to maintenance.



Reserves or Resources Data
Zone Year Category Tonnes Reference Comments Commodities
Penhorwood Mine 2013 Indicated Mineral Resource 9000 OFR 6294, ROA 2013, PG. 11 Talc 45 Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2013 Proven 5742000 OFR 6294, ROA 2013, PG. 11 Talc 45 Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2013 Probable Mineral Reserve 701000 OFR 6294, ROA 2013, PG. 11 Talc 45 Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2012 Proven + Probable Reserve 719000 OFR 6286, ROA 2012, PG. 8 Imerys reports proven and probable category as product sold, so no grade is reported. Talc Null Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2012 Proven 5886000 OFR 6286, ROA 2012, PG. 8 Talc Null Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2011 Probable Mineral Reserve 907638 OFR 6274, ROA 2011, PG. 9 Grade reported on basis sold, no grade reported Talc Null Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2011 Proven 6664000 OFR 6274, ROA 2011, PG. 9 Grade reported on basis sold, no grade reported Talc Null Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2010 Proven 7400000 OFR 6264, ROA 2010, PG. 11 Grade reported on basis sold, no grade reported Talc Null Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2010 Probable Mineral Reserve 800000 OFR 6264, ROA 2010, PG. 11 Grade reported on basis sold, no grade reported Talc Null Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2009 Probable Mineral Reserve 800000 OFR 6264, ROA 2010, PG. 11 Grade reported on basis sold, no grade reported Talc Null Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2009 Proven + Probable Reserve 7400000 OFR 6247, ROA 2010, PG. 15 Imerys reports proven and probable category as product sold, so no grade is reported. Talc Null Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2008 Probable Mineral Reserve 460000 OFR 6235, ROA 2008, PG. 17 Talc 45 Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2008 Proven 7270000 OFR 6235, ROA 2008, PG. 17 Talc 45 Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2007 Proven 7330000 OFR 6219, ROA 2007, PG. 16 Talc 45 Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2007 Probable Mineral Reserve 460000 OFR 6219, ROA 2007, PG. 15 Talc 45 Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2006 Proven 7000000 OFR 6203, ROA 2006, PG. 15 Talc 45 Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2006 Probable Mineral Reserve 24000000 OFR 6203, ROA 2006, PG. 15 Talc 30 Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2005 Probable Mineral Reserve 8200000 OFR 6183, ROA 2005, PG. 14 Talc 47.2 Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2005 Proven 7660000 OFR 6183, ROA 2005, PG. 14 Talc 47.2 Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2004 Probable Mineral Reserve 8200000 OFR 6149, ROA 2004, PG. 14 Talc 47.2 Percent
Penhorwood Mine 2004 Proven 7860000 OFR 6149, ROA 2004, PG. 14 Talc 47.2 Percent
PENHORWOOD MINE 2003 Measured + Indicated Resource 34859017 OFR 6130, ROA 2003, PG. 15 MEASURED RESOURCE, ALSO 5,360,344 TONNES INDICATED, 22% RECOVERABLE GRADE Talc 22 Percent
PENHORWOOD MINE 2002 Proven 7030682 OFR 6113 ROA 2002, PG. 16 7,750,000 TONS GRADING 48.6% TALC Talc 48.6 Percent
PENHORWOOD MINE 2002 Probable Mineral Reserve 1197484 OFR6113, ROA 2002, PG. 16 1,320,000 TONS GRADING 48.6% TALC Talc 48.6 Percent
PENHORWOOD 1997 Proven 7000000 OFR 5872, P. 9 Talc 50 Percent
PENHORWOOD 1993 Probable 8200000 MIXTURE OF PROVEN AND PROBABLE RESERVES, GRADE IS VARIABLE WITHIN THE DEPOSIT Mr Renaud 1992 and 1993 personal communication. The figures are a mixture o Talc 50 Percent
Production Data
Year Tonnes Commodities Reference Comment
2022 310000 Talc 80000 Tonnes
OFR6402, p.7 Ore grade: 45.7% talc
2021 330000 Talc 95000 Tonnes
OFR6384, p.7 Ore grade: 45.7% talc
2020 330000 Talc 83200 Tonnes
OFR6374, p.7 Ore grade: 45.7% talc
2019 330000 Talc 83200 Tonne
OFR6366, p.8 Ore grade: 45.7% talc
2018 347000 Talc 92600 Tonne
OFR6354, p.9 Grade: 45.7% talc
2017 357000 Talc 94200 Tonne
OFR6339, p.8 Grade: 45.7% talc
2016 298825 Talc 88551 Tons
OFR6327, p.7 Grade of 29.6% talc
2015 330889 Talc 97385 Tons
OFR6327, p.7 Grade of 29.4% Talc
2013 241610 Talc 74245 Tonne
OFR 6294, ROA 2013, PG. 11 30.5% Recovery
2012 201480 Talc 66477 Tonne
OFR 6130, ROA 2012, PG. 15 58% RECOVERY
2011 65000 Talc 65000 Tonne
OFR 6274, ROA 2011, PG. 9
2010 176580 Talc 55000 Tonne
OFR 6264, ROA 2010, PG. 9 Ore grade of 46.1%
2009 136000 Talc 113479 Tonne
OFR 6247, ROA 2009, PG. 15 45% grade, 26% RECOVERY
2008 162000 Talc 162000 Tonne
OFR 6235, ROA 2008, PG. 17 45% Grade, 26% Recovery
2007 210000 Talc 54600 Tonne
OFR 6219, ROA 2007, PG. 16 Grade 45%, 26% RECOVERY
2006 200000 Talc 100815 Tonne
OFR 6203, ROA 2006, PG. 15 61% RECOVERY
2005 215665 Talc 100815 Tonne
OFR 6183, ROA 2005, PG. 14 47.2% Grade, 62% Mill Recovery
2004 192400 Talc 57150 Tonne
OFR 6149, ROA 2003, PG. 15 47.2% grade, 62% Mill recovery
2003 201480 Talc 57150000
OFR 6130, ROA 2003, PG. 15 61% RECOVERY
2002 173383 Talc 51324884
OFR 6113, ROA 2002, 191,122 TONS GRADING 48.6% TALC, 56576 TONS TALC, 61% RECOVERY
2001 287818 Talc 75983979
OFR 6082, ROA 2001, PG 14 317,265 TONS GRADING 48% TALC, 83,758TONS TALC, RECOVERY = 55 %
2000 200216 Talc 54741342
OFR 6050, ROA 2000, PAGE 16 60342 TONS TALC FROM 220018 TONS MILLED, GRADE WAS 46.9% TALC, 58.5% RECOVERY
1999 162479 Talc 51620928
OFR 6006 P. 14 162 479 TONNES @ 31.3% TALC
1998 110142 Talc 39250112
OFR 5990 P. 15 110 142 TONS @ 35%
1997 107000 Talc 37500
OFR 5972 P. 8-9
1996 80000 Talc 36000
OFR 5958, P. 8-5
1995 55000 Talc 32000
OFR 5943, P.222
1994 1 Talc 34800
1993 62446 Talc 25527000
1992 108862 Talc 27036
MP161 ROA 1992, PAGE 251, ERRATA 120,000 TONS, NOT 12,000 TONS AS REPORTED 30,000 TONS OF TALC FROM 120,000 TONS OF OE MINED AND MILLED
1991 102000 Talc 34466000
1990 102000 Talc 34466000
1989 90718 Talc 38094000
1988 114300 Talc 40815000
1987 81600 Talc 36280000
Second phase of mill expansion completed.
1986 181430 Talc 31751000
Second phase mill expansion continuing.
1985 108860 Talc 31751000
First phase of mill expansion completed.
1984 108840 Talc 27215000
Mill expansion continuing.
1983 61132 Talc 20952000
Mill expansion continuing.
1982 66347 Talc 18577000
Mill expansion started and the fine grind circuit modified.
1981 81630 Talc 13605000
1980 28570 Talc 7437000
1979 10880 Talc 2721000
1978 272 Talc
1976 1 Talc
Mining operations were started but shut down within a few months.

References

Map - Reeves and Sewell townships, Sudbury District

Publication Number: M2230 Scale: 1:31,680    Date: 1972

Author: Milne V.G.

Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines and Northern Affairs

Location:


Mono - Report of Activities 2022, Resident Geologist Program, Timmins Regional Resident Geologist Report: Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie Districts

Publication Number: OFR6402 Page: Date: 2023

Author: Azadbakht Z., Krukowski M., Maity B.K., Bousquet P., Daniels C.M., Hinz S.L.K., Adrianwalla C.J., Dorland G., Sabiri N., Patterson C.

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Location:


Journal - Canadian Mining Journal 78-06-16

Publication Number: Page: 459  Date: 1978

Author:

Publisher Name:

Location: Timmins RGP


Map - Precambrian Geology, Northern Swayze Greenstone Belt

Publication Number: M2627 Scale: 1:50,000    Date: 1995

Author: Ayer J.A.

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Location:


MonoMap - Geology of the Kukatush-Sewell Lake area, District of Sudbury

Publication Number: R097 Date: 1972

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Publisher Name: Ontario Division of Mines

Location:


Compend - Annual report of the Regional and Resident Geologists, 1975

Publication Number: MP064 Page: 62  Date: 1976

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Location:


Article - 1978 report of Northern Regional Geologist and Timmins Resident Geologist

Publication Number: MP084.005 Page: 57  Date: 1997

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Location:


Compend - Annual report of the Regional and Resident Geologists, 1980

Publication Number: MP095 Page: 85  Date: 1981

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Location:


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

Publication Number: GSC OF 1087 Date: 1985

Author: Rose, D.G.

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


Mono - Soapstone in Ontario

Publication Number: OFR5764 Page: 121-122  Date: 1991

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Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Book - World of Minerals No. 182

Publication Number: No. 182 Page: 10  Date: 1982

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Location:


Book - Industrial Minerals, 1988, World of Minerals, No. 252

Publication Number: No. 252 Page: 19  Date: 1988

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Publisher Name:

Location:


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Publication Number: Date: 1984

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Location:


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Publication Number: MP060.005 Page: 99-115  Date: 1997

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Location:


Mono - Industrial minerals of northern Ontario

Publication Number: MDC026 Page: 272  Date: 1985

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Location:


MonoMap - Mineral Prospects of the Swayze Greenstone Belt (Volume 1, Parts of NTS 41 O and Volume 2, Parts of NTS 41 P, 42 A and 42 B)

Publication Number: OFR5912 Page: 535-537  Date: 1995

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Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


MonoMap - Precambrian Geology, Northern Swayze Greenstone Belt

Publication Number: R297 Page: 54  Date: 1995

Author: Ayer J.A.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Mono - Report of Activities 2016, Resident Geologist Program, Timmins Regional Resident Geologist Report: Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie Districts

Publication Number: OFR6327 Date: 2017

Author: van Hees E., Bousquet P., Pace A., Daniels C.M., Wilson A.C., Samuel A., Walmsley J.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Mono - Report of Activities 2017, Resident Geologist Program, Timmins Regional Resident Geologist Report: Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie Districts

Publication Number: OFR6339 Date: 2018

Author: van Hees E., Pace A., Bustard A., Gomwe T.S., Bousquet P., Daniels C.M., Wilson A.C., Streit L., Sword P., Patterson C., Fudge S.P.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Mono - Report of Activities 2018, Resident Geologist Program, Timmins Regional Resident Geologist Report: Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie Districts

Publication Number: OFR6354 Date: 2019

Author: van Hees E., Bousquet P., Bustard A., Pressacco R.E., Daniels C.M., Fudge S.P., Walker J., Streit L., Wang L., Sword P., Patterson C.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Mono - Report of Activities 2019, Resident Geologist Program, Timmins Regional Resident Geologist Report: Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie Districts

Publication Number: OFR6366 Date: 2020

Author: van Hees E., Bousquet P., Suma-Momoh J., Daniels C.M., Hinz S.L.K., Boucher C., Sword P., Wang L., Fudge S.P., Millette A., Patterson C.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Mono - Report of Activities 2020, Resident Geologist Program, Timmins Regional Resident Geologist Report: Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie Districts

Publication Number: OFR6374 Date: 2021

Author: Azadbakht Z., Bousquet P., Zammit K., Daniels C.M., Hinz S.L.K., Sword P., Boucher C., Dorland G., Patterson C.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


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