Ontario Geological Survey
Permanent Link to this Record:
MDI52F10NE00002
| Record Name(s) | Wabigoon Prospect - 1987, Wabigoon Soapstone Co. Ltd. - 1922, Pidgeon Deposit - 1921 |
|---|---|
| Related Record Type | Simple |
| Related Record(s) | |
| Record Status | Prospect |
| Date Created | 1987-Apr-09 |
| Date Last Modified | 2022-Sep-27 |
| Created By | |
| Revised By |
Primary Commodities: Soapstone, Talc
Township or Area: Butler Lake Area
Latitude: 49° 43' 24.07" Longitude: -92° 38' .55"
UTM Zone: 15 Easting: 526417.29 Northing: 5507937.019 UTM Datum: NAD83
Resident Geologist District: Kenora
NTS Grid: 52F10NE
Point Location Description: DEPOSIT
Location Method: Conversion from MDI
Access Description: The deposit is located approximately 2 km west of the village of Wabigoon, in Zealand Township, on the peninsula forming the western boundary of Barritt Bay, Wabigoon Lake. The deposit can be reached by a good trail of about 500 m that leads southwest from the Canadian Pacific Railway. The trail can be reached by walking 0.7 km northwest on the tracks from the CPR crossing at Polar Star Road. Polar Star Road leads south of Highway 17 on the west side of the village of Wabigoon. Water access from Wabigoon Lake is also possible.
1919 - John D. Aaron of Wabigoon discovered the soapstone deposit (The Daily Times-Journal, April 7, 1924). 1921 - E.G. Pidgeon bought the property and carried outstripping and quarried several cubic feet of soapstone for test purposes (Wright in Wilson 1926). 1922 - Pidgeon sold one half interest in the property to H.H. Sutherland of Toronto. Together they organized the Wabigoon Soapstone Company, Limited to develop the deposit. Work on the property consisted of stripping, sampling, clearing timber and road building (Rogers 1925; Sutherland et al 1923). 1924 - The Wabigoon Soapstone Company was amalgamated with Thermo-Stone Quarries, Limited. No further work was carried out (Wright in Wilson 1926). 1925-1926 - It is reported that no sales occurred, but that developmental work was done on the property (Rogers and Young 1926b, 1928). No further work is reported until: 1983 - Wabigoon Resources Limited of Toronto carried out stripping, trenching and surface sampling, as well as a rotary drilling program to obtain samples for talc flotation tests. No results are available.(Redden in press) 2 zones are 15-20 m wide by 600 m long in size.
Province: Superior
Subprovince: Wabigoon
Geological Age: Archean
Dec 07, 2005 (R Degagne) - The geology of the area was mapped and described by Wright (in Wilson 1926) and (Satterly 1943). The area is underlain by an elongate, northwest trending gabbroic intrusive within mafic to intermediate metavolcanics as. The deposit has been described by Spence (1922, 1940), Wright (1924 and in Wilson 1926), Satterly (1943), Storey (1986), Kennedy and Sherlock (1989) and Redden (in press). The area stripped by Wabigoon Resources was mapped by Kennedy and Sherlock (1989) . The soapstone occurs in two northwest-trending, steeply dipping units separated by 40 m of gabbro. Both are bounded by shear zones on each side.
| Rock Type | Rank | Composition | Texture | Relationship | Mafic lava flow-unsubdivided | 1 | Near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabbro | 2 | Gabbro | Variably Porphyritic | Host |
| Ultramafic Schist | 3 | Soapstone; Tlc, Mgs, Chl, Dol | Fine-Medium Grained | Contains |
Dec 07, 2005 (R Degagne) - The northern band of soapstone ranges from 10 m to 15 m in width and is exposed over a length of 150 m to 160 m. Within this band three different types of soapstone were recognized. The first is grey in colour, up to 5 m in width, and variable in nature. The second type is greenish-grey in colour and contains up to 20 to 30 percent iron-carbonate rhombs. It is 8 to 10 m wide, highly fractured, and riddled with narrow rusty veins. Narrow veins (3 cm) of pure, white, coarse-grained talc were observed in one test pit. The third type is fine-grained green soapstone that occurs in a narrow (0.5m) band. The southern band of soapstone is approximately 25m wide and generally consistent throughout,resembling the second type of soapstone in the northern band; the unit containing the iron-carbonate rhombs. The porphyritic gabbroic rock which borders the soapstone units appears to be an altered version of the surrounding gabbro. Wright (1924) and Satterly (1943) noted from thin section observations that the gabbro was highly altered adjacent to the soapstone; pyroxene having altered to amphibole. In places the contact between the soapstone and the gabbro appears to be transitional. Previous authors have suggested that the soapstone is altered gabbro or an altered related ultramafic intrusive rock.
| Rank | Mineral Name | Class | Economic Mineral Type | Alteration Mineral Type | Alteration Ranking | Alteration Intensity | Alteration Style |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Talc | Economic | Ore | ||||
| 1 | Magnesite | Economic | Gangue | ||||
| 2 | Chlorite | Economic | Gangue | ||||
| 3 | Dolomite | Economic | Gangue | ||||
| 4 | Quartz | Economic | Gangue | ||||
| 5 | Feldspar | Economic | Gangue | ||||
| 6 | Mica | Economic | Gangue | ||||
| 7 | Calcite | Economic | Gangue | ||||
| 8 | Amphibole | Economic | Gangue | ||||
| Talc | Alteration | Steatization | 1 | ||||
| Magnesite | Alteration | Steatization | 2 | ||||
| Chlorite | Alteration | Steatization | 3 | ||||
| Dolomite | Alteration | Steatization | 4 |
Dec 07, 2005 (R Degagne) - Overall the soapstone is very fractured. It is fine to medium grained. The grey soapstone unit retains the texture of the adjacent gabbroic rocks. The northern band contains three units that vary in colour. They are grey, green, and greenish-grey with brown iron-carbonate rhombs. The southern unit is greenish-grey with brown iron-carbonate rhombs. The carbonate rhombs occur individually as 1 mm to 5 mm grains and in clumps or aggregates of 1 cm to 3 cm diameter. The carbonate rhomb unit is cut by numerous, thin (3 mm to 4 mm) rusty veins of varying directions. This unit also contains magnetite in sufficient quantity to be detected with a hand magnet. The finer-grained grey and green soapstone units are non-magnetic. X-ray diffraction analysis of three samples reported by Storey (1986) indicates variable mineralogical content. One sample was talc and magnesite rich with minor chlorite and dolomite. The other two were chlorite rich; one with talc, dolomite and magnesite as important constituents, the other with major amounts of quartz and feldspar, and minor mica, calcite and amphibole. The location of the samples were not given; the last was apparently not from the soapstone unit. Redden (in press) reports the presence of magnesite in soapstone samples from both the north and south units.TEST RESULTS:Physical Properties: (from Spence 1922) - Spence notes that the tests were done on surface samples. Crushing Strength: Sample 1 12,140 lbs/sq.in. - Compressive Strength Sample 2 10,269 lbs/sq.in. - Compressive Strength Sample 3 10,755 lbs/sq.in. - Compressive Strength. Transverse Strength: Sample 1 1,827 lbs/sq.in. - Modulus of Rupture Sample 2 1,920 lbs/sq.in. - Modulus of Rupture
| Shape | Length | Thickness | Depth | Strike | Dip | Plunge | Trend | Age | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 160 | 20 |
Date: Mar 04, 1997
Geologist: R Degagne
Notes: The area stripped by Wabigoon Resources Ltd, is roughly 160 m by 90 m . Four test pits were noted at the site. The work site comprises a low northwest trending ridge bordered by swamp to the northeast and sloping gently to the southwest. Chemical Analysis:(sources listed below): 7 - 49.10 Si02, 0.27 Ti02, 4.97 Al203, 1.76 Fe203, 8.50 Fe0, 0.12 Mn0, 24.80 Mg0, 4.46 Ca0, 0.0 Na20, 0.0 K20, 0.03 P205, 0.07 C02, 0.01 S, 5.39 H20+, 0.06 H20-, 99.5 Total, 4.8 L0I. 8 - 43.60 Si02, 0.16 Ti02, 6.38 Al203, 1.80 Fe203, 9.61 Fe0, 25.70 Mg0, 2.23 Ca0, 0.0 Na20, 0.0 K20, 0.01 P205, 2.95 C02, 0.01 S, 7.12 H20+, 0.10 H20-, 99.8 Total, 9.10 L0I. 9 - 34.40 Si02, 0.13 Ti02, 3.72 Al203, 5.83 Fe203, 6.99 Fe0, 0.17 Mn0, 29.30 Mg0, 1.27 Ca0, 0.08 Na20, 0.0 K20, 0.01 P205, 11.70 C02, 0.01 S, 5.30 H20+, 0.04 H20-, 99.2 Total, 16.40 L0I. 10 - 35.20 Si02, 0.15 Ti02, 3.97 Al203, 5.47 Fe203, 7.23 Fe0, 0.16 Mn0, 28.70 Mg0, 1.70 Ca0, 0.03 Na20, 0.0 K20, 0.01 P205, 10.90 C02, 0.01 S, 5.21 H20+, 0.04 H20-, 98.8 Total, 15.60 L0I, 11 - 45.80 Si02, 0.13 Ti02, 1.18 Al203, 2.00 Fe203, 9.85 Fe0, 0.09 Mn0, 25.30 Mg0, 1.51 Ca0, 0.0 Na20, 0.0 K20, 0.01 P205, 0.14 C02, 0.01S, 7.39H20+, 0.13H20-, 99.6 Total. 7, 8. Redden (in press) - north zone 9, 10, 11. Redden (in press) - south zone
Part - Statistical review of Ontario's mineral industry in 1922
Publication Number: ARV32-01 Page: 23-25 Date: 1997
Author: Rogers W.R.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Part - Geology of the Dryden-Wabigoon area
Publication Number: ARV50-02 Page: 53-54 Date: 1997
Author: Satterly J.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Mono - Talc in Ontario
Publication Number: IMR040 Page: 38-40 Date: 1998
Author: Hewitt D.F.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines and Northern Affairs
Location:
Mono - Building and ornamental stone inventory in the districts of Kenora and Rainy River
Publication Number: MDC027 Page: 105-106 Date: 1986
Author: Storey C.C.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
Mono - Soapstone in Ontario
Publication Number: OFR5764 Page: 81-90 Date: 1991
Author: Gerow M.C., Sherlock E.J., Bellinger J.A.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
Book - RES. GEOL. FILES.
Publication Number: N/A Date: 1997
Author:
Publisher Name:
Location: Kenora RGP
Article - Northwestern Region Industrial Minerals Program - 1988
Publication Number: MP142.008 Date: 1997
Author: Kennedy M.C., Sherlock E.J.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
Mono - Industrial minerals of northern Ontario-supplement 1
Publication Number: OFR5388 Page: 131-132 Date: 1982
Author: Vos M.A., Abolins T., Smith V.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
Mono - Industrial Minerals Project, Sioux Lookout-Dryden Area, Parts of Kenora and Patricia Mining Divisions
Publication Number: OFR5766 Date: 1993
Author: Redden J.W.
Publisher Name: Ontario Geological Survey
Location:
Part - Statistical review of Ontario's mineral industry in 1925
Publication Number: ARV35-01.001 Date: 1997
Author: Rogers W.R., Young A.C.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Part - Statistical review of Ontario's mineral industry in 1926
Publication Number: ARV36-01.001 Date: 1997
Author: Rogers W.R., Young A.C.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Book - Talc and soapstone in Canada
Publication Number: GSC Rep 583 Date: 1922
Author: Spence, H.S.
Publisher Name: Canada Mines Branch
Location: https://doi.org/10.4095/307779
Publication - Talc, steatite, and soapstone; pyrophyllite; Canada Mines Branch, Publication 803
Publication Number: CMB Pub 803 Date: 1940
Author: Spence, H.S.
Publisher Name: Canada Mines Branch
Location: https://doi.org/10.4095/307947
Part - Mines of Ontario
Publication Number: ARV32-06.002 Date: 1998
Author: Sutherland T.F., McMillan J.G., Bartlett J., Cole G.E., Webster A.R.
Publisher Name: Ontario Dept. of Mines
Location:
Book - WABIGOON & TRAP LAKE SOAPSTONE DEPOSITS, SEPTEMBER 5, 1924, P.871-872
Publication Number: N/A Date: 1924
Author: Wright, J.F.
Publisher Name:
Location: CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL
Publication - Talc deposits of Canada; Geological Survey of Canada, Economic Geology Series 2
Publication Number: EconGeol 2 Date: 1926
Author: Wilson, M.E.
Publisher Name: Geological Survey of Canada
Location: https://doi.org/10.4095/102438
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