Ontario Mineral Inventory

Ontario Geological Survey
Permanent Link to this Record: MDI52K15NW00019

Record: MDI52K15NW00019

General

Commodities

Primary Commodities: Zinc, Copper

Secondary Commodities: Silver

Location

Township or Area: Belanger

Latitude: 50° 57' 51.69"    Longitude: -92° 52' 51.99"

UTM Zone: 15    Easting: 508349   Northing: 5645868    UTM Datum: NAD83

Resident Geologist District: Red Lake

NTS Grid: 52K15NW

Point Location Description: E-Zone on map in Assessment report 52K15NW0019

Location Method: Data Compilation

Access Description: Location point is the Copper-Lode E deposit.

Exploration History

1962: Prospecting during the summer resulted in the discovery of the B and C zones. The property was optioned to Falconbridge Nickel Ltd., and geological mapping and reconnaissance Mag and EM surveys completed. 1962-63: Claims transferred to Zinc Metal Corp. Ltd. 1964: Copperlode Mines Ltd. acquired the property and conducted an airborne Mag/EM survey, ground IP and EM geophysical surveys, prospecting, geological mapping, and limited trenching. Approximately 80 diamond drill holes totalling approximately 10,000 m were completed to test the known mineralized zones and anomalies generated. This work resulted in the discovery of the D and E Zones, 1972-86: Selco Mining Corp. Ltd. optioned the Copperlode Property and completed airborne and ground Mag and EM surveys (including UTEM), relogged old drill core and drilled several diamond drill holes under the E-Zone at the -100m level. 1992-95: Noranda acquired the Copperlode property and began a systematic exploration program consisting of geological mapping, lithogeochemical sampling, and ground geophysical surveys (Mag, HLEM, IP, DeepEM), and drilled 16 DDH totalling 8214.2 m. 2002: Tribute Minerals Corp. optioned the property and drilled 2 DDH totalling 400 m. 2003: Tribute Minerals carried out line cutting and resistivity and IP surveys. 2006: Tribute Minerals carried out line cutting and resistivity and IP surveys. 2007-08: Tribute Minerals drilled 9 DDH totalling 4629.1 m. 2021: Frontline Gold Corp. carried out prospecting and sampling.

Assessment Work on File

Geology

Province: Superior

Subprovince: Uchi

Terrane: North Caribou

Domain: Uchi

Belt: Birch-Uchi

Geological Age: Archean  

Geology Comments

Sep 30, 2022 (Therese Pettigrew) - The Coppertode Property is underlain by a felsic-intermediate to mafic volcanic sequence consisting of pyroclastics, spherulitic to pillowed flows and related subvolcanic intrusives representative of the third volcanic cycle of the Confederation Lake - Uchi Greenstone Belt (Assessment report 52K15NW0019).

Lithology

Lithology Comments

Sep 30, 2022 (Therese Pettigrew) - The Copperlode Property is underlain by dominantly submarine, arc-related, felsic pyroclastic volcanic rocks of the third volcanic cycle (III) of the Confederation Lake Greenstone Belt as defined by Thurston (1985). The rocks define a NE-trending volcanic sequence approximately 850-1000 m wide, thickening to the northeast. The volcanic sequence has been intruded to the north by a medium-grained gabbro to leucogabbroic mafic intrusive and to the south by a recrystallized medium grained granite. The volcanic rocks possess a well developed pervasive foliation and locally preserved bedding with vertical to steeply north dips. Superimposed metamorphic mineral assemblages define metamorphic grades to lower amphibolite facies. The rocks are strongly recrystallized, possessing sucrosic textures which tend to destroy primary relict volcanic textures. As a result detailed stratigraphic interpretation of the felsic volcanic sequence is impossible based on outcrop examination alone. The felsic volcanic stratigraphy is dominated by a coarser pyroclastic blue quartz-eye crystal tuff to lapilli tuff unit which is interbedded to the NE with a thickening wedge of massive to finely laminated siliceous (cherty) ash tuff. Locally, the felsic volcanics have been intruded by quartz-feldspar porphyritic subvolcanic intrusives, thin <50 m) amphibolitized diabase dykes (possibly mafic flows) and minor gabbroic dykes and sills. Pervasive alteration mineral assemblages are observed exclusively in the quartz-eye tuff / lapilli tuff pyroclastic unit which also hosts the known mineralization. Alteration mineral assemblages are visually striking in outcrop and consist of fine, pervasive biotite-muscovite, increasing to coarser chlorite-biotite-garnet-andalusite+/-anthophyllite+/-staurolite mineral assemblages with increasing alteration. The observed alteration assemblages are interpreted to represent a metamorphic overprint of earlier synvolcanic hydrothermal alteration related to a VMS hydrothermal system.

Mineralization

Mineralization Comments

Sep 30, 2022 (Therese Pettigrew) - The Copperlode Property hosts a number of historical Cu-Zn bearing massive sulphide and stringer sulphide mineralized zones, hosted in strongly altered felsic volcanic pyroclastic rocks. The mineralization and associated alteration are typical of Archean Cu-Zn VMS deposits similar to the Mattabi-type VMS deposits occurring in the Sturgeon Lake Mining Camp. The historic Copperlode B, C, D and E zones are subparallel, NE-trending, steeply dipping sulphide zones associated with the southern alteration zone. The stringer mineralized zone may be associated with the northern alteration zone. The B-Zone was delineated by diamond drilling for a strike length of 365 metres to a depth of 60 m. The best drill intersection returned 1.68% Cu, 2.5% Zn over 6.25 m. Mineralization consists of massive sulphide (Po, Sp, Cp) localized at the contact of a quartz-biotite-garnet-sericite schist carrying 2-5% disseminated Py-Cp and garnetiferous amphibolite. The C-Zone was delineated by diamond drilling for a strike length of 215 m to a depth of 45 m. The best drill intersection returned 6.02% Cu, 0.21% Zn over 1.5 m. Mineralization consists of massive sulphide (Po, Cp, Sp) at the contact of an intermediate quartz-feldspar tuff with an amphibolite. The D-Zone was delineated by diamond drilling for a strike length of 165 m, to a depth of 100 m. Best diamond drill hole intersections include: 1.75% Cu, 0.86% Zn, 7.7 opt Ag and 0.32 opt Au over 3.4m; and 0.72% Cu, 12.6% Zn and 1.0 opt Ag over 2.25 m. Mineralization is localized within a siliceous rhyolite fragmental, proximal to a quartz-feldspar porphyritic rhyolite. The E-Zone is the most significant sulphide zone on the property. The zone is traced by diamond drilling for a strike length of 300 m to a vertical depth of 100 m and appears to be plunging to the east. Tonnage estimates range up to 300,000 tonnes grading 0.60% Cu, 4.36% Zn, 0.40 opt Ag, which includes 160,000 tonnes grading 1.02% Cu, 8.28% Zn, 0.70 opt Ag. Mineralization consists of massive to stringer sulphide hosted by a siliceous rhyolite fragmental adjacent to quartz-feldspar porphyritic rhyolite/subvolcanic intrusive. A zone of stringer sulphide mineralization was intersected by five drill holes along a 100 m strike length, to a depth of 200 m approximately 300 m north of the E-Zone on L600W at 250N. The Stringer Zone consists of stringer to massive sulphide mineralization consisting of pyrite-pyrrhotite and lesser sphalerite and chalcopyrite over a 57m interval. Assays returned anomalous Cu, Zn values up to 0.34% Cu and 2.33% Zn. A deeper hole drilled under C-74 reportedly intersected stronger increased sulphide mineralization with increased Zn values. Incomplete assays include 0.15% Cu, 3.17% Zn/4.6m. The Hornet Zone is a blind sulphide zone discovered at moderate depths as a result of the 1994- 95 drill program. The zone is located approximately 250 m south of and parallel to the E- Zone, extending from L1000W to L400W at a vertical depth of 330 to 550 m. Mineralization consists of massive to stringer sulphide composed of Po-Sp-Cp, hosted in an intensely altered (chlorite - biotite - garnet - andalusite - staurolite) felsic volcanic unit which defines the South alteration zone. Drilling has traced the sulphide zone over a 600 m strike length at the -300 to -550 m level. The zone remains open at depth and up dip below the -200m level. Notable drill hole intersections include 1.13% Cu, 4.07% Zn, over 5.03 m (including 2.13% Cu, 6.52% Zn over 2.1 m); and 0.08% Cu, 7.56% Zn over 6.6 m, (including 0.08% Cu, 10.25% Zn over 3.8 m) (Assessment report 52K15NW0019).

Mineral Record Details

Mineral Zones - Size and Shape

References

File - Resident Geologist files AF RL 1972 Belanger #12

Publication Number: Date: 1972

Author:

Publisher Name:

Location: Red Lake RGP

Map - Geological series, Operation Kenora-Ear Falls, Bruce-Bluffy lakes sheet, District of Kenora

Publication Number: P1199 Scale: 1:63,360    Date: 1976

Author: Breaks F.W., Bond W.D., Desnoyers D.W., Stone D., Harris N.

Publisher Name: Ontario Division of Mines

Location:

File - Resident Geologist files AF RL 1973 Belanger #3

Publication Number: Date: 1973

Author:

Publisher Name:

Location: Red Lake RGP

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

Publication Number: MDC012 Page: 145-146  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 Red Lake Resident Geologist District Office