Ontario Mineral Inventory

Ontario Geological Survey
Permanent Link to this Record: MDI42D14SE00044

Record: MDI42D14SE00044

General

Commodities

Primary Commodities: Gold

Secondary Commodities: Zinc, Molybdenum, Silver, Lead

Location

Township or Area: Priske

Latitude: 48° 47' 53.33"    Longitude: -87° 13' 1.35"

UTM Zone: 16    Easting: 484061   Northing: 5405040    UTM Datum: NAD83

Resident Geologist District: Thunder Bay South

NTS Grid: 42D14SE

Point Location Description: Shafts, stripped areas, trenches.

Location Method: AMIS Site Visit

Access Description: The former Gold Range Mines property lies just north of Highway 17, approximately 4 km east of Schreiber in Priske Township (claim TB 464332, claim map G 631, Priske Township). An all weather road extends east from Highway 17 and crosses the south east corner of claim TB 465332 where the majority of the showings and old workings are located. The old adits are located on the southern margin of a cliff face below which a small gravel pit has been excavated.

Exploration History

1917-1919: Claims were staked by W. S. Jackson, Harkness, Russell, and Hunt, and surface work performed on several auriferous quartz veins, mostly on TB 3326. 1920: A 1 ton bulk sample from TB 3325 gave encouraging results. 1921: The Jackson Development Co. Ltd. was incorporated and the patent licensing procedure began on the claims. 1922: Work began on 2 adits on TB 3326. 1933-34: Minor underground work con't. 1934: Gold Range Mines Ltd. was incorporated and acquired the assets of the Jackson Development Co. Ltd. 1935: A placer deposit at the base of the workings was exploited. 1936: 4 pits were sunk in the overburden sands; first gold brick was poured (22 oz). Placer operations temporarily suspended in favor of underground dev't; mill, crusher and steam engine shipped to property. Seven veins were uncovered up to this time. A 31.8 kg high grade sample assayed 6.99 oz/ton Au. A new high grade vein was discovered underground; a new adit (No. 3) was driven NW into the hill, approx. 46 m E of the No. 1 adit. 1937: Surface work performed on a new ore zone on the property's eastern boundary. 1939: Sylvanite Gold Mines Ltd. reviewed the property and conducted sampling but decided to not option the property. 1941: Rolac Mines diamond drilled; results not known. 1941-1952: No activity recorded. The company became idle in 1947. 1952: Property partially restaked. 1956: Main showing restaked by J. Allard. 1957-1978: Various parts of the claim group were staked, cancelled, restaked etc. by various individuals. 1980: Mechanical work carried out on TB465332. 1983: Morgain Minerals Inc. acquired an option on 7 claims and conducted geological mapping and examined the old workings. 1984: Phantom Exploration Services Ltd. contracted to conduct a ground mag survey over 6 claims. 1988: Beardmore Res. Ltd. conducted sampling and drilled 5 DDH totalling 136.9 m. The No. 7 vein was stripped. 1989: Corona Corp. was contracted by W. Acker to conduct prospecting and sampling. 1991: W. Acker and R. Otto dewatered the No. 7 vein shaft and conducted sampling. 1994: K. Fenwick and D. Leishman staked the Gold Range property. 2000: K. Fenwick conducted sampling. 2012: Strike Minerals drilled 4 DDH totalling 1184 m, including 2 DDH totalling 617 m near the Gold Range prospect. 2020: Panther Metals PLC conducted high-resolution airborne EM and magnetic geophysical surveys. 2022: G. Blakely carried out stripping, prospecting, and sampling.

Assessment Work on File

Geology

Province: Superior

Subprovince: Wawa

Terrane: Wawa-Abitibi

Belt: Schreiber-Hemlo

Geological Age: Archean  

Metamorphism Grade: Greenschist

Geology Comments

Dec 07, 2005 (B Nelson) - The general geology consists of metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks which have been intruded by granitic rocks at the Terrace Bay Batholith. The rocks in the Harkness Hays Gold Range area have been intensely faulted and fractured. This is evident on top of the Gold Range Ridge. Airphoto interpretation indicates a conjugate set of faults striking north east and north west. The north west striking fault set has apparently offset the Gold Range Ridge, in a dextral sense, up north east that envelope the old development area. Within this 0.5 km by 1 km section smaller conjugate fault systems strike north west, east and north east. In excess of 25 small scale lineaments were observed. Field evidence indicates that many of these lineaments represent faults. The vein system occupying these faults are often brecciated. Gold mineralization is concentrated in a series of quartz carbonate veins which are generally en echelon and often subparallel to the contact of the batholith. The host rocks consist of predominately mafic metavolcanic rocks, iron formation and granitic rocks of the Terrace Bay Batholith. The metavolcanic rocks increase in metamorphic grade from greenschist to amphibolite facies as one approaches the contact with the Terrace Bay Batholith. The auriferous vein systems appear to occur within the amphibolite facies, metamorphosed metavolcanic rocks, however near the amphibolite greenschist facies transition zone. Often hosting the mineralized veins, or in contact with the veins are variable granitic intrusions. Numerous ages of granitic intrusions were noted on the property, the origins of which are likely due to a polyphase intrusive event related to the emplacement of the Terrace Bay Batholith. The most noticeable phase is a white quartz feldspar porphyry, which occurs as dikes and is commonly in contact with or partially hosting the vein systems. They appear to be genetically related to the auriferous veins.

Lithology

Lithology Comments

Dec 07, 2005 (B Nelson) - The metavolcanic rocks include mafic to intermediate pillowed flows and massive flows, with minor intercalated felsic flows. The metasedimentary rocks are predominately composed of wacke, siltstones and slate of turbiditic origin. Iron formation, consisting of chert, massive pyrite sections and graphitic pyritic slate is also present. The metavolcanic rocks with the contact aureole are generally amphibole rich and contain few primary textures. Near the actual granitic metavolcanic contact the metavolcanic rocks resemble a mafic intrusion such as gabbro or diorite. This is believed to be a result of recrystallization during amphibolite facies metamorphism. Outside the contact metamorphic aureole the metavolcanics are generally chlorite rich and contain numerous primary textures. Typical greenschist facies metamorphism predominates. Numerous ages of granitic intrusions were noted on the property, the origins of which are likely due to a polyphase intrusive event related to the emplacement of the Terrace Bay Batholith. The most noticeable phase is a white quartz feldspar porphyry, which occurs as dikes and is commonly in contact with or partially hosting the vein systems. They appear to be genetically related to the auriferous veins. A reddish biotite hornblende granite is commonly observed cross cutting the porphyry, other possible syenitic phases of the intrusion exist.

Mineralization

Mineralization Comments

Dec 07, 2005 (B Nelson) - A first order composite vein set strikes 210 degrees to 220 degrees and dips from 50 degrees to 85 degreesNW. These veins which likely include sections of the Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 7 veins (see Figure 22) vary in width from a fraction of a centimetre up to a reported width of 1.5 m, with the average being 0.5 cm. They commonly make up a composite vein system up to several metres in width. Vein mineralization consists of visible gold, fine euhedral pyrite, galena, molybdenite and possible tellurides. In addition to the first order vein set, a second order set is suggested by the authors (i.e. Schnieders et al). These veins, formed later in the tectonic history are commonly wider and can cross cut or parallel the first order veins. Examples of such veins include sections of the Nos. 1, 2, 5 and 6 veins (see Figure 22). They contain pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, molybdenite, sphalerite, tellurides, magnetite, graphite, silver and gold. The pyrite is often present as large euhedral crystals, up to 2.5 cm in size, and has been described by Marmont (1984) as being fractured and containing irregular pores. Slabbed sections display spectacular visible gold within the pyrite crystals. These second order veins also commonly contain brecciated fragments of mafic metavolcanic host rocks. In addition, the quartz crystals in the veins commonly display a hack saw or cockscomb, and sutured texture. In addition to the vein type mineralization many authors refer to the presence of placer gold mineralization.

Jun 29, 2018 (Therese Pettigrew) - Samples collected by RGP staff returned assays of up to 25.82 opt Au, 11.13 opt Ag, 98 ppm Cu, 6280 ppm Pb, and 8100 ppm Zn (Schnieders et al., 1996). Sampling done by K. Fenwick in 2000 returned assays up to 25.734 ppm Au in the vicinity of the #4 adit (AFRI 42D14SE2006). The vein appears to trend into the Harkness-Hays showing (Fenwick et al., 1981). The best intersections from drill holes HH-12-01 and HH-12-02 are near surface, returning 8.19 g/t Au over 0.3 m and 20.61 g/t Au over 2.2 m, respectively. Edgar (2013) suggests the near surface intersections correspond to the No. 2 Vein system (Campbell et al., 2023).

Alteration Comments

Dec 07, 2005 (B Nelson) - The veins are enveloped by an alteration halo which consists of silicification, sericitization (potassic alteration), K2O enrichment, carbonatization, sodium depletion and pyritization of the host rock. Analyses indicate that the unaltered mafic host rock contains 9 ppb gold and 7.80% iron, and the altered host rock contains 2900 ppb gold and 9.61% iron (see table). It is the author's opinion (i.e. Schnieders et al.) that the second order veins represent a reconcentration of gold. The first order veins and associated altered host rocks may have undergone further dehydration and reconcentration due to continued polyphase or complex intrusive activity related to the Terrace Bay Batholith and other intrusive events.

Mineral Record Details

Site Visit Information

Date: Feb 14, 1997

Geologist: B Nelson

Notes: Resident Geologist personnel visited the occurrence May 12, 1983; May 18, 1983; August 24, 1983; June 23, 1984; October 1, 1984; October 2, 1984; June 4-14, 1985; June of 1988. 17 samples taken by Resident Geologist personnel over 3 years returned values ranging from <0.01 oz/ton Au to 25.82 oz/ton Au. Silver values ranged from <0.01 oz/ton to 11.13 oz/ton.

References

Article - 1980 report of the North Central Regional Mineral Resources Coordinator

Publication Number: MP095.004 Page: 60  Date: 1997

Author: Fenwick K.G., Scott J.F., Mason J.K., McIlwaine W.H.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:

Map - Nipigon-Schreiber, geological compilation series, Thunder Bay District

Publication Number: M2232 Scale: 1:253,440    Date: 1973

Author: Carter M.W., McIlwaine W.H., Wisbey P.A.

Publisher Name: Ontario Division of Mines

Location:

Mono - Report of Activities 2022, Resident Geologist Program, Thunder Bay South Regional Resident Geologist Report: Thunder Bay South District

Publication Number: OFR6401 Page: 51-63  Date: 2023

Author: Campbell D.A., Jonsson J.R.B., Dorland G., Pettigrew T.K., Ferguson S.A.

Publisher Name:

Location:

Part - The southwestern part of the Schreiber area

Publication Number: ARV47-09.001 Page: 23-25  Date: 1998

Author: Harcourt G.A.

Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines

Location:

Map - Schreiber-Duck Lake area, District of Thunder Bay

Publication Number: ARM30A Scale: 1:63,360    Date: 1998

Author: Hopkins P.E., Tanton T.L.

Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines

Location:

Mono - The Terrace Bay batholith and associated mineralization

Publication Number: OFR5514 Date: 1984

Author: Marmont S.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:

Map - Schreiber area, District of Thunder Bay, Ontario

Publication Number: ARM47J Scale: 1:31,680    Date: 1997

Author: Bartley M.W., Harcourt G.A.

Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines

Location:

Mono - Mineral Occurrences in the Nipigon-Marathon Area, Volumes 1 and 2.

Publication Number: OFR5951 Page: 294-314  Date: 1996

Author: Schnieders B.R., Smyk M.C., Speed A.A., McKay D.B.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:

Map - Schreiber sheet, District of Thunder Bay, geological compilation series

Publication Number: P0360 Scale: 1:126,720    Date: 1997

Author: Pye E.G.

Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines

Location:

Map - Geological series, Precambrian geology of the Terrace Bay area, west sheet, Thunder Bay District

Publication Number: P2417 Scale: 1:15,840    Date: 1981

Author: Carter M.W.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:

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