in 1990 during a regional
geochemical sampling
program by Ottarasko Mines.
Tracing float led to the first
vein discovery in a shallow
trench
distance of 20 meters for an
extensive surface sampling
program. Assays of the material
collected averaged 2 ounces per
ton, and samples were sent for
metallurgical evaluation to
Westcoast Mineral Testing and to
Westmin's Premier mill operation
in Stewart, B.C.
The ore proved to be extremely
amenable to cyanidation, with
recoveries of 95% to 99% of the
gold content.
6 holes established continuity of
the mineralization to a depth of 30
metres, the decision was made to
extract a bulk sample of 200 tons
from a surface open cut. This
sampling program was designed
not only for grade estimation, but
also to gather all possible data
about the structure, ore
characteristics, grade continuity
and possible mining techniques.
was shipped to Westmin's Premier mill in Stewart, B.C. for custom processing. A gold recovery of 98.9% was
achieved through the cyanidation process, and the sample yielded 370 ounces of gold, for an average grade of
1.94 oz/ton over the entire bulk sample.
The near vertical vein was mined in an open cut by benching . Due to the excellent fragmentation
characteristics of the vein quartz and the presence of a very narrow clay alteration envelope to the vein, it was
possible to extract the bulk sample with minimal dilution by making extensive use of stulling during the
extraction, and using minimal dynamite charges for blasting the ore.
Northern Miner, the Mining Review, and Exploration in B.C. 1992.
campaign of 9 holes was
conducted to test the down-dip
potential of the Victoria vein.
Altogether 15 holes have been
drilled on the property. All the
holes intersected the shear
zone structure hosting the
vein. In the central section,
over an ore shoot strike length
of 45 metres and to a depth of
55 metres, 9 drill intersects
give vein widths of 0.21 metres
to 1.12 metres, and gold grades
ranging from 0.171 oz/ton to
1.820 oz/ton.
Premier operation, the ore has
been shipped to the Cominco
smelter in Trail,B.C., where it is
processed under the silica flux
schedule, and therefore at a much
lower cost per ton.
Prior to shipment, the ore is stored
at the orepad located 150 metres
from the decline portal.
