Ontario Mineral Inventory

Ontario Geological Survey
Permanent Link to this Record: MDI42E13SW00021

Record: MDI42E13SW00021

General

Commodities

Primary Commodities: Copper, Zinc

Secondary Commodities: Silver

Location

Township or Area: Rickaby

Latitude: 49° 48' 7.36"    Longitude: -87° 35' 23.96"

UTM Zone: 16    Easting: 457543.887   Northing: 5516788.531    UTM Datum: NAD83

Resident Geologist District: Thunder Bay North

NTS Grid: 42E13SW

Point Location Description: Trenches and diamond-drill holes.

Location Method: Conversion from MDI

Access Description: The occurrence is located in east-central Rickaby Township, approximately 3.2 km northeast of Seven Foot Falls on the Sturgeon River. Travel north from Nezah (10.1 km west of Jellicoe) on secondary Highway 801 for 12.9 km, then northeast on gravel roads for approximately 14.5 km.

Exploration History

1949: Two claims staked to cover the occurrence. 1950: Claims transferred to Barymin Co. Ltd, which discovered the showing. A Resistivity survey was conducted. 1956: Noranda Mines completed a diamond-drill program of 13 holes totalling 1,231.4 m. 1961-1966: Claims cancelled and restaked a couple of times. 1967: Claims transferred to Rio Tinto Canadian Exploration Ltd. In addition to trenching and stripping, geological, ground EM, mag and Turam EM surveys were conducted. 1971-72: Pits and trenches were dug. Phelps Dodge Corp. conducted an IP survey and drilled a total of 27 holes. Detailed geological mapping and a further IP survey were conducted. Three deep holes were drilled to test previously encountered mineralization. 1974: Diamond-drilling performed. 1975: Rickaby Mines drilled 4 holes totalling 483.1 m. 1977-1982: Claims cancelled and restaked. 1984: Power stripping was done by Arthur Rosenblatt. As of 1986, the claims were still held by Arthur Rosenblatt.

Assessment Work on File

Geology

Province: Superior

Geological Age: Archean  

Geology Comments

Dec 07, 2005 (B Nelson) - In the area of the Kenty Prospect, there is a high proportion of felsic rocks within a volcanic succession. Most of the metavolcanics on the property are cut by irregulary shaped, narrow intrusions of andesitic feldspar porphyry, which are probably of Early Precambrian age. An east-trending lamprophyre dyke about 9 m wide has been traced over several hundred meters in the vicinity of the Kenty Prospect. Several north trending Keweenawan diabase dykes up to 30 m wide have been recognized on the property and coincide with several linear ground magnetic anomalies. Metavolcanic rocks on the property strike N70 degrees E, and generally dip steeply southeast. Most of the rocks in the area are sheared in an east-west to slightly south of the direction. Lightly disseminated pyrite mineralization is very common on this property, particularly in the rhyolitic rocks. The more southerly trenches show rhyolitic breccia with scattered irregular seams and pools of pyrite, with lesser amounts of sp, gn, and cp. The higher grade mineralization forms a pipe-like zone trending 225 degrees to 235 degrees and plunging 25 degrees to 30 degrees. The mineralized zone, as it is presently known, is approximately 360 m long and a maximum of 60 m in diameter. On the basis of diamond-drill logs, the mineralization appears to be crudely layered. Very little zinc is reported in the upper part of the mineralized zone, but zinc grade increases with depth and is highest at the base of the zone.

Lithology

Lithology Comments

Dec 07, 2005 (B Nelson) - Spherulitic and flow banded rhyolitic rocks occur in both of the felsic-rich groups in the vicinity of the sulphide showings. Most of the felsic rocks, however, are fine pyroclastic rocks such as tuff, crystal tuff, lapilli tuff and derived sericitic schist. Coarse-grained intermediate to felsic pyroclastics are also common. The more mafic rocks are basaltic and andesitic agglomerate, tuff breccia and massive and amygdaloidal andesitic flows. In general, units within the predominantly felsic metavolcanic sequence are similar in appearance and composition. The distinction between the units can only be made on the basis of subtle color differences and the presence or absence of such features as quartz and feldspar phenocrysts, amygdules and spherulites. Feldspathization of all of the volcanic rock types makes it difficult to distinguish between individual flows or pyroclastic units on the basis of petrographic examination.

Mineralization

Mineralization Comments

Dec 07, 2005 (B Nelson) - Pye (1965) states that core samples range in value up to 2.6% Cu and 2.7 oz/ton Ag over a length of 0.36 m, and to 1.08% Cu, 4.68% Zn and 1.26 oz/ton Ag over a length of 0.91 m. The average grade of the deposit, across the widths exposed in the trenches, however, is low. Traces of tin were found in some samples, but no tin minerals were identified in polished section. One sample contained significant manganese (6.8%) but no manganese minerals were identified. According to Pye (1965), the sulphides are disseminated irregularly throughout the rock, but are concentrated along or close to gently dipping fractures, forming closely-spaced thin (5cm or less) but conspicuous replacement veinlets.

Mineral Record Details

Site Visit Information

Date: Jan 06, 1997

Geologist: B Nelson

Notes: The Beardmore-Geraldton Economic Geologist visited the occurrence in July of 1983.

References

Map - Tashota-Geraldton sheet, geological compilation series, Thunder Bay and Cochrane districts

Publication Number: M2102 Date: 1997

Author: Pye E.G., Harris F.R., Fenwick K.G., Baillie J.

Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines

Location:

Map - Elmhirst and Rickaby townships, Thunder Bay District

Publication Number: M2373 Scale: 1:31,680    Date: 1977

Author: Mackasey W.O., Wallace H.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:

Map - Thunder Bay data series, Wilkinson Lake area, District of Thunder Bay

Publication Number: P2514 Scale: 1:15,840    Date: 1982

Author: Speed A.A.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:

MonoMap - Geology of Elmhirst and Rickaby townships, District of Thunder Bay

Publication Number: R168 Date: 1978

Author: Mackasey W.O., Wallace H.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:

Mono - Gold occurrences, prospects, and deposits of the Beardmore-Geraldton area, districts of Thunder Bay and Cochrane

Publication Number: OFR5630 Date: 1986

Author: Mason J.K., White G.D.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:

File - Resident Geologist Mineral Deposit Files

Publication Number: Min Dep Date:

Author:

Publisher Name:

Location: Thunder Bay RGP

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

Publication Number: MDC012 Date: 1969

Author: Shklanka R.

Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines

Location:

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