Report Covering Ely Township Property
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GM 01982-A REPORT COVERING ELY TOWNSHIP PROPERTY 144 e0 1" ~.-.; ~.. REPORT COVERING ELY TOWNSHIP PROPERTY OF LAURENTIDE (CHIBOUGAMAU) MINES LIMITED QUtçiEt, D's_1'Af:Ï"s9>_''iT O: arold G. Wa Ph.D. Sherbrooke, P. Q. OCT 1 rl 1952 July 15, 1952. fkl;NcRAL BRANCH INTRODUCTION: ./.7Î.1 A. Recenn s - ce exploration in `"EÏy Township, County of Shefford, in the Province of Quebec has exposed excellent width and length of copper-bearing dolomite. As a result of examinationsand sampling of these surface exposures followed by preliminary metal- lurgical tests it is obvious that intensive exploration is fully warranted and justified. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS: Surface exposures of a copper-bearing band of dolomite display widths up to 35 feet and a length of over 400 feet. The copper content, consisting of the rill) copper mineral chalcocite, is dissemnated through- out the band in quantities that appear to be distinctly commercial. `:':sere is an excellent chance that ' .lamond drilling wll indicate at least one ore body and followed by underground exploration production can be antic-tpated. Preliminary metallurgical tests of the ore show that an excellent recovery of premium grade copper concentrate can be obtained using a simple flow sheet at a minimum cost for reagents. The writer has no hesitation in recommending an immediate program of diamond drilling on a substantial scale. The results of this program will automatically outline the mine-making possibilities. PROPERTY - LOCATION, ETC„: The property herein described includes 629.07 acres in Ranges VI and VII, South Ely Township, electoral district of Shefford and ad- joining the Town of Valcourt,, in the Province of Quebec. Following detailed search of titles the base metal rights were properly transferred to Laurentide (Chibougamau) Mines Limited and the gold and silver rights acquired from the Crown. More specifically the property is described as follows: 1. Miner's Certificate No. 51250 and Development License No. 20+7+7 cover claims Q-61+728 to Q-61+730 incl. , claims 1, 2 and 3 of 100 25 and 75 acres respectively and being on the east part of Lot No. 596 corresponding to the east half of block 3 primitive; the east half of lot 595 corresponding to the north part of the east half of lot 2 primi- tive. The east part of lot 593 corresponding to the south part of the INOMEIMMINErr- -2- east half of lot 2 primitive, Range VII, Township of Ely, electoral district of Shefford. 2.Mineras certificate No. 52001 and Development License No. 20446 covering claims Q-64724 to Q-64727 incl., claims 1 to 4, of 27 25, 53 and 105 acres respectively. On that part of lot 527 to the west of the road, corresponding to the north half or the north half of the north half of the west half of Lot 4, Range VI primitive; that part of lot 526 to the vest of the road corresponding to the south half of the north half of the west half of Lot 4, Range VI primitive; that part of lot 525 to the west of the road corresponding to the south half of the west half of lot 4, Range VI primitive; that part of lot 523 to the west of the road, corresponding to the west half of lot 3, Range VI primitive, Township ut' Ely, electoral district of Shefford, Quebec. 3. Miner's certificate No. 58298 covering the claims Q-72216 and Q-72217 for 106.57 and 112.50 acres respectively for claims 2 and 3, In lot 591 of Cadestral lot, being the central part of lot 1 of primitive lot; and on lot 601 of Cadestfal lot, being the east half of lot 4 of primitive lot; Range VII in the Township of South Ely, electoral district of Shefford, Quebec. ACCESSIBILITY: A network of gravel roads traverses the area of which one leads directly to the shaft and surface exposures on the property. The Town of Valcourt is approximately two miles distant. Highway No. 35 leads directly to either Richmond or Waterloo on highways 5 and 1 respectively that extend between Montreal and Quebec City. The City of Sherbrooke lies about forty miles to the northeast. HISTORICAL REVIEW: Copper was discovered on Lot 3, Range VII, Ely Tovn -Iiip in 1865, at which time a shaft was sunk to a depth of 25 feet, Record of an assay of chalcocite in a gancue of dolotite and quartz showing 46.14% copper and 1.094 oz. of silver per ton is mentioaed in the G.S.C. 1879-80, pp. 1711 and 19H as coming from the Ely Mine. n 1881, the shaft was extended to a depth of 55 feet; and 3.07 tons of 9.2%, 6.88 tons of 8% and 0.55 tons of 6.6% copper were taken by team to Acton Vale station, 18 miles distant, and shipped to the Orford Copper and Sulphur Company then at Capelton. In 1901, the shaft was extended to a depth of 75 feet. Mr. J.R. Woodward, previous owner, states that in that year he sent to Mr. Herbert Carmichael, of Boston, a very rich mass of grey copper ore weighing 1156 pounds which contained 57.84% copper and 535 pounds containing 26.77%. The property has beer.r idle and the shaft is now filled with debris) old timbers and water. During the past few months a series of test pits and cross trenches have traced the mineralized zone for a length of over 400 feet and fresh exposures blasted to enable represitative samples to be taken. An office has been built at the shaft site. -3- GENERAL GEOLOGY: There has been no detailed mapping of the property and hence the sequence of rock formations is unknown. The favorable hand of impure"dolomite" limestone in which the copper occurs strikes north- easterly in conformity to the Appalachian uplift and dips at 50 to 65 degrees in a westerly direction more or less in conformity co the slope of the ridge along which it extends. The footwall of the zone is slate and, as in the case of other mineral deposits throughout the Eastern Townships, probably acted as a dam to the circulation of mine- ralizing solutions. Scattered outcrops to the west of the showings indicate that the hanging wall consists of interbedded quartzites and sericitic slates or volcanics. The limestone band appears to widen rapidly immediately north of the shaft. In the two most northerly trenches, located at approximately 200 and 300 feet northeasterly of the shaft, a width of 30 to 35 feet of dolomitic limestone has been exposed and blasted. There is disseminate chalcocite across these widths and one is imme- diately impressed with the strength of the copper mineralization. The higher grade streaks of chalcocite follow the schistosity and there is reason to believe that the mineral is primary. There is considerable malachite stain on weathered surfaces and some secondary cuprite has been noted under the microscope. Sampling of fresh surfaces across 30 and 35 feet in the two most northerly trenches respectively showed 1.73% and 1.27% copper contents and 0.24+ and 0.52 ounces of silver per ton. None of the high grade streka of chalcocite were included in the sampling. This higher grade material, sampled separately, showed 8.91% copper content which confirms the grade of cobbed copper that was hauled by teams in the early days of the property. It will be noted from the metal- lurgical discussion that follows that if sufficient tonnage can be indicated that even low grade material will produce an excellent con- centrate. METALLURGICAL RESEARCH: Preliminary report on the metallury of the ore dated July 11th by Metallurgical Engineer Guy Pare is as follows: EXAMINATION OF THE SPECIMEN The gangue consists of pure white calcite. No sulphide except chalcocite is visible to the naked eye although the samhles displayed some variation in color due to slight alteration of the chalcocite. Under the microscope, polished specimens showed chalcocite as the only sulphide present„ The size of chalcocite particles varies from coarse grains to very tiny grains disseminated throughout the gangue. PROCEDURE The sample was passed twice through a laboratory jaw crusher, then screened dry through a 10 mesh screen. The plus 10 mesh was tested for sink and float process and the minus 10 mesh was weighed, quartered for assay purposes and the remainder was kept for a flotation test. SINK AND FLOAT TEST The plus ten mesh sample was tested in heavy liquids to find how the ore would respond to a sink and float process. The specific gratity of the liquids were 2.95 - 2.84 - 2.77 and 2.72 The specific gravity of the rock 'being 2.71 would appear that a density of 2.72 would be the lowest which could be used on that type of ore. No particles would sink when specific gravities of 2.95 and 2.84 were used. Product We~ht (grams) % Weight % Copper Distribution r Sink 2.77 257 7.5 1.53 1ç,. Float 2.77 Sink 2.72 26 9.41 5.4 Float 2.72 1590 46.8 0.46 36.4 Minus 10 Mesh 1285 37.9 0.61 39.o From the above results even if the lowest possible specific gravityr were taken for the medium (2.72) the highest recovery is only 3.6%. From this single test it would not seem exonomical to use the sink and float process on this ores as the recovery would be too low. FLOTATION TEST The feed for this test was the minus ten mesh material assaying 0.61% copper.