Nelson conference reflects interest in Kootenay

The conference was sponsored by British Columbia’s Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources in conjunction with the Chamber of Mines of Eastern B.C., and although registration was expected to be 150, the final tally was more than 200.

Frank Fowler, exploration manager for Antelope Resources (VSE), discussed exploration activity in the Rossland Camp near the old Le Roi mine. Antelope has drilled more than 40,000 ft on its property under a joint venture agreement with Bryndon Ventures (ASE).

Although massive sulphide targets on the property are relatively small, they have yielded large amounts of gold, silver, and copper. Before production ended in 1941, the Le Roi mine produced 6.2 million tons of ore with a recovered grade of 0.47 oz gold, 0.6 oz silver and 1% copper from a relatively small area.

Fowler predicted they would need “several hundred thousand ounces” to get going again. Although past production was mostly direct-smelted at nearby Trail, he said they could produce a decent sulphide float. About 40% of the gold is free milling, he added.

Discussing the Bar discovery, a structurally-controlled hydrothermal copper-gold occurrence in the Moyie River area, Peter Kleuchuk of Chapleau Resources (VSE) said the deposit could be at least four million tons. Located on the Cranbrook fault, it has extensive quartz, copper minerals (including native copper) and anomalous gold, he told the gathering.

Barry Devlin of Esperanza Explorations (VSE) discussed the Tillicum Mountain property. Exploration outlined what might be a major gold deposit of several million tons in the East Ridge zone, averaging about 0.2 oz. Gold mine ralization is associated with a large skarn, but a major structural control is present, he noted. The property is near Burton, B.C., and more work is planned this year.

Michael Henrick of Queenstake Resources (TSE) gave an update on the Moyie River placer project where low production costs of about $260(C) per oz of gold are due to the deposit’s high grade.

David Makepeace of Dickenson Mines (TSE) discussed activities at Dickenson’s Silvana mine at New Denver. The silver-lead-zinc producer can only be described as a survivor given today’s silver prices. Significant amounts of lead and zinc are produced there as well.

The Geological Survey Branch has outlined potential for “high tech” minerals in the area and this was the subject of a talk by Jennifer Pell. Minerals such as zirconium, gallium, germanium and yttrium, and rare earths beryllium and niobium are known to exist in the Kootenays. Detailed information is available from the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Geological Survey Branch. Large reserves of marble granite are also available which meet ASTM standards, she said. A finishing plant in Delta, B.C., is the only one west of the Mississippi River.

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