Ontario Mineral Inventory

Ontario Geological Survey
Permanent Link to this Record: MDI42F04NW00008

Record: MDI42F04NW00008

General

Mineral Record Identification
Record Name(s) Geco - 1953
Related Record Type Partial
Related Record(s)
Record Status Past Producing Mine Without Reserves or Resources
Date Created 1984-Nov-02
Date Last Modified 2022-Mar-21
Created By
Revised By

Commodities

Primary Commodities: Copper, Zinc

Secondary Commodities: Lead, Silver, Gold, Cadmium, Tin, Sulphur/Pyrite



Location

Township or Area: Gemmell

Latitude: 49° 9' 18.61"    Longitude: -85° 47' 22.04"

UTM Zone: 16    Easting: 588266   Northing: 5445411    UTM Datum: NAD83

Resident Geologist District: Thunder Bay South

NTS Grid: 42F04NW

Point Location Description: Precise

Location Method: Other



Exploration History

1931: Discovered by J.E. Thompson of the Ontario Department of Mines. 1953-57: Geco Mines Ltd. conducted surface work, considerable diamond drilling (in excess of 139 DDH totalling 22,836.5 m from surface and 5131 holes totalling 348,817 m from underground), and underground development, with drifting and cross cutting for all shafts totalling 86,317.5 m. 1957: production began, with an original mill capacity of 3300 tons per day. 1964: Geco Mines Ltd. merged with Noranda Mines Ltd. 1970: mill capacity increased to 5000 tons per day. 1995: mine closed.


Assessment Work on File

Assessment Work on File
Office File Number Online Assessment File Identifier Online Assessment File Directory
14 42F04NW0073 42F04NW0073
2.17563 42F04NW0093 42F04NW0093

Geology

Province: Superior

Subprovince: Wawa

Terrane: Wawa-Abitibi

Belt: Schreiber-Hemlo

Geological Age: Archean  



Geology Comments

Jun 22, 2018 (Therese Pettigrew) - The Geco orebody lies in a dragfold on the S limb of the Manitouwadge syncline. The dragfold strikes E-W and plunges 45E. The ore host rock is a quartz-muscovite schist lying between biotite gneiss and quartzite to the S and biotite-garnet-amphibole gneiss to the N.




Lithology

Lithology Data
Rock Type Rank Composition Texture Relationship
Schist-Unsubdivided 1 Sillimanite-Muscovite-Quartz Host
Ironstone-unsubdivided 2 Adjacent

Mineralization

Mineralization and Alteration
Rank Mineral Name Class Economic Mineral Type Alteration Mineral Type Alteration Ranking Alteration Intensity Alteration Style
1PyriteEconomicOre
2PyrrhotiteEconomicOre
3ChalcopyriteEconomicOre
4SphaleriteEconomicOre
5GalenaEconomicOre

Mineralization Comments

Jun 22, 2018 (Therese Pettigrew) - The main orebody is enveloped by a sillimanite-muscovite-quartz schist and quartzite. The main ore is consists of massive zinc-copper-lead sulphides that have been recrystallized during metamorphism. There is a halo of stringer chalcopyrite mineralization around the main ore body hosted in sillimanite-muscovite-quartz schist. The sillimanite-muscovite-quartz schist has been dated at 2720±2Ma Lodge, 2012). The ore deposit consists of a tabular body of sulphides (pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite) surrounded by an envelope of disseminated sulphides (chiefly pyrite and chalcopyrite). The tabular body occupies a fault parallel to the axial plane of the drag fold and rakes 42E. Pre-mineral quartz diorite dykes, pegmatite and granite and post-mineral diabase dykes, intrude the ore zone area. The orebody is displaced left laterally about 76 m along the N-striking Fox Creek Fault. The orebody has a length of about 731.5 m and ranges in width from 3 to 61 m, averaging 19.8 m. The dip is steep to vertical (Shklanka, 1969).



Mineral Record Details

Classification
RankClassification            
1 VMS Base Metal
Reserves or Resources Data
Zone Year Category Tonnes Reference Comments Commodities
Geco Mine 1994 Proven 1054000 Canadian Mines Handbook 1995-96, p. 265 Average grade of 2.0% Cu, 2.6% Zn, and 1.31 opt Ag. Reserves scheduled to be depleted by late 1995. Copper 2.0 Percent, Silver 1.31 Ounce per Ton, Zinc 2.6 Percent
Geco Mine 1970 Unclassified 26489794 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files Reserves were estimated to be 29,200,000 short tons with an average grade of 2.03% Cu, 4.63% Zn, and 1.90 opt Ag. Copper 2.03 Percent, Silver 1.9 Ounce per Ton, Zinc 4.63 Percent
Geco Mine 1957 Unclassified 13431595 Pye, 1960, p. 82 Ore reserves were estimated to be 14,806,200 t with an average grade of 1.76% Cu, 3.75% Zn, and 1.74 opt Ag. Copper 1.76 Percent, Silver 1.74 Ounce per Ton, Zinc 3.75 Percent
Production Data
Year Tonnes Commodities Reference Comment
1957 314692 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 346,889 t milled for 15,482,602 lb Cu, 7,041,644 lb Zn, 378,111 oz Ag, and 1,667 oz Au
1958 1166757 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,286,129 t milled for 59,817,197 lb Cu, 33,876,573 lb Zn, 1,423,381 oz Ag, and 7,099 oz Au
1959 1170521 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,290,279 t milled for 50,874,609 lb Cu, 35,350,471 lb Zn, 1,295,349 oz Ag, and 5,706 oz Au
1960 1173967 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,294,077 t milled for 42,748,394 lb Cu, 43,648,366 lb Zn, 1,321,618 oz Ag, and 5,071 oz Au
1961 1158274 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,276,778 t milled for 36,435,890 lb Cu, 764,883 lb Pb, 65,123,549 lb Zn, 1,450,626 oz Ag, and 4,399 oz Au
1962 1163386 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,282,414 t milled for 43,096,185 lb Cu, 1,865,594 lb Pb, 90,078,273 lb Zn, 2,001,359 oz Ag, and 4,745 oz Au
1963 1162253 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,281,165 t milled for 44,927,302 lb Cu, 3,077,251 lb Pb, 110,354,423 lb Zn, 2,388,298 oz Ag, 4,499 oz Au, and 14,168,000 lb S
1964 1178705 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,299,300 t milled for 48,785,514 lb Cu, 3,421,081 lb Pb, 113,810,261 lb Zn, 2,194,874 oz Ag, 3,899 oz Au, 187,609 lb Cd, and 51,228,000 lb S
1965 1203254 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,326,360 t milled for 47,023,640 lb Cu, 1,921,043 lb Pb, 75,528,657 lb Zn, 1,960,648 oz Ag, 3,986 oz Au, 209,724 lb Cd, and 33,712,000 lb S
1966 1324114 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,489,586 t milled for 52,421,184 lb Cu, 1,638,631 lb Pb, 83,245,844 lb Zn, 2,159,374 oz Ag, 4,649 oz Au, 115,937 lb Cd, and 50,614,000 lb S
1967 1325236 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,460,823 t milled for 54,453,351 lb Cu, 2,211,594 lb Pb, 72,867,832 lb Zn, 2,150,061 oz Ag, 4,881 oz Au, 281,456 lb Cd, and 49,570,000 lb S
1968 1356576 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,495,369 t milled for 60,422,664 lb Cu, 2,464,692 lb Pb, 98,555,087 lb Zn, 2,403,313 oz Ag, 4,874 oz Au, 350,029 lb Cd, and 64,788,000 lb S
1969 1197129 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,319,609 t milled for 60,683,381 lb Cu, 1,738,137 lb Pb, 88,534,585 lb Zn, 2,300,369 oz Ag, and 4,844 oz Au, 404,418 lb Cd, and 65,904,000 lb S
1970 1239374 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,366,176 t milled for 46,601,538 lb Cu, 1,923,355 lb Pb, 75,147,693 lb Zn, 1,795,535 oz Ag, and 3,925 oz Au
1971 1596645 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,760,000 t milled for 37,700 t Cu, 79,200 t Zn, and 2,593,600 oz Ag
1972 1646540 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,815,000 t milled for 36,000 t Cu, 61,300 t Zn, and 2,530,000 oz Ag
1973 1328118 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,464,000 t milled for 22,900 t Cu, 34,500 t Zn, and 1,684,000 oz Ag
1974 1657427 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,827,000 t milled for 29,200 t Cu, 71,000 t Zn, and 2,058,600 oz Ag
1975 1529513 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,599,000 t milled for 27,400 t Cu, 44,500 t Zn, and 1,680,000 oz Ag
1976 1529513 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,686,000 t milled for 26,300 t Cu, 32,500 t Zn, and 1,589,000 oz Ag
1977 1591202 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,754,000 t milled for 31,600 t Cu, 34,800 t Zn, 386 t Pb, and 1,531,000 oz Ag
1978 1572151 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,733,000 t milled for 24,500 t Cu, 28,200 t Zn, 624 t Pb, and 1,383,200 oz Ag
1979 1475990 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,627,000 t milled for 27,000 t Cu, 41,700 t Zn, 580 t Pb, and 1,930,900 oz Ag
1980 1358056 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,497,000 t milled for 20,000 t Cu, 41,900 t Zn, 780 t Pb, and 1,750,800 oz Ag
1981 1329933 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,466,000 t milled for 25,000 t Cu, 38,800 t Zn, 180 t Pb, and 1,386,000 oz Ag
1982 1350798 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,489,000 t milled for 21,840 t Cu, 44,150 t Zn, 480t Pb, and 1,345,000 oz Ag
1983 1247379 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,375,000 t milled for 20,190 t Cu, 40,810 t Zn, 540 t Pb, and 1,344,000 oz Ag
1984 1253729 Thunder Bay RGP mineral deposit files 1,382,000 t milled for 23,030 t Cu, 36,440 t Zn, 380 t Pb, and 1,404,000 oz Ag
1985 1304532 MP134, p. 76 1,438,000 t (short) milled for 22,240t Cu, 35,040 t Zn, 280 t Pb, and 1,325,000 oz Ag
1987 1063296 MP138 p. 142 1,172,083 t (short) milled at 1.75% Cu, 4.92% Zn, and 1.77 opt Ag from January 1987 until Oct 31, 1987
1988 807049 MP142, p. 133 889,619 t (short) milled from January 1988 to July 31, 1988
1989 1286493 MP147, p. 139 1,418,116 t (short) milled at 1.82% Cu, 3.40% Zn, and 1.53 opt Ag from July 30, 1988 to July 30, 1989
1990 989102 MP152, p. 144 1,090,298 t (short) milled at 2.00% Cu, 4.47% Zn, and 1.54 opt Ag from January 1990 to Oct 31, 1990
1991 1193220 MP158, p. 125 1,315,300 t (short) milled at 1.64% Cu, 3.61% Zn, and 1.33 opt Ag from July 1, 1990 to July 1, 1991
1992 1205930 MP161, p. 126 1,329,310 t (short) milled at 1.91% Cu, 2.34% Zn, and 1.29 opt Ag from January 1, 1992 to Dec 31, 1992
1993 1145042 OFR5892, p. 80 1,262,193 t (short) milled at 1.70% Cu, 2.15% Zn, and 1.11 opt Ag
1994 798761 OFR5921, p. 71 880,483 t (short) milled at 2.15% Cu, 3.17% Zn, and 1.51 opt Ag
1995 794153 OFR5943, p. 78 875,404 t (short) milled at 2.17% Cu, 3.66% Zn, and 1.51 opt Ag
1995 54518080 1993 production values plus 1994 and 1995 values Produced 54.5 Mt of Cu-Zn ore before its closure in November 1995.
1993 52762193 Mckay DB, 1994, OFR 5906, Mineral Occurrences of the Manitouwadge Area, p12. Mine closed Nov 1995. Production as of Dec 1993: 52,762,193 t @ 1.84% Cu, 3.80% Zn, 1.64 oz/t Ag. Reserves as of Dec 1993: 2,940,000 t @ 1.70% Cu, 2.15% Zn, 1.35 oz/t Ag

References

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

Publication Number: MDC012 Scale:     Date: 1969

Author: Shklanka R.

Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines

Location:


Mono - Winston Lake and Manitouwadge Revisted: Modern Views of Two Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS)-Endowed Greenstone Belts. A Field Trip Guidebook

Publication Number: OFR6282 Scale:     Date: 2012

Author: Lodge R.W.D.

Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey

Location:


Part - Geology of the Manitouwadge area

Publication Number: ARV66-08 Scale:     Date: 1997

Author: Pye E.G.

Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines

Location:


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