Mineral Exploration is the official publication of the Association of Mineral Exploration British Columbia.
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/225045
s Ltd. optioned the Pie, Cirque East and Yuen properties that are contiguous to its Cirque project, and exploration commenced there in October. At the Ruddock Creek lead-zinc project, east of Vavenby, Imperial Metals Corporation focused on engineering, metallurgy and environmental baseline studies on this Monashee-type, massive sulphide prospect in preparation for a feasibility study and formal environmental review in 2014. Barker Minerals Ltd. focused on its Frank lead-zinc prospect, a Kurokostyle VMS target east of Likely. The prospect occurs in an overturned sequence of Cambrian-age volcanic and sedimentary rocks. The Adams Plateau area, east of Barriere, saw renewed interest after several quiet years. Exploration is anchored by continued work on Yellowhead Mining Inc.'s Harper Creek Project, which is now being prepared for formal environmental review. Newport Exploration p78-103_BCExploration.indd 95 13-11-01 10:17 AM Ltd. acquired the Chu Chua massive sulphide deposit from Reva Resources Corp. and commenced metallurgical testing. Astral Mining Corporation optioned the Barrier Ridge and Honeymoon projects. Victory Ventures Inc. optioned the Fortuna claims. First Americas Gold Corporation reported successful use of Ah horizon soil geochemistry and novel VLF inversion techniques on its Kamloops Copper-Gold property near Chu Chua. Northeast of Revelstoke, Huakan International Mining Inc. continued prefeasibility metallurgical test work at the J&L gold-silver-lead-zinc property at the north end of the Kootenay Arc trend. In the East Kootenays, there was ongoing exploration for Sullivan-type base metals and related polymetallic vein systems. Northwest of Fort Steele, MMG Limited continued exploration on the Findlay property for stratabound and exhalative-type sulphide mineralization. The year's program included geochemical sampling, gravity and magnetic surveys. Also near Fort Steele, Santa Fe Metals Corp. drilled deep targets at the Sully property to test a deep gravity anomaly in Sullivan-time rocks. The drilling used enhanced drill stabilization techniques and oriented core to target depths of over 1,500 metres. Bluefire Resources Ltd. prospected, mapped and sampled the K9 property east of Kimberley in search of strata bound massive sulphide mineralization. The work tested anomalies identified by a regional TEM geophysical survey. On central Vancouver Island, underground exploration drilling continued at Nyrstar NV's Myra Falls operations, seeking extensions to mineralized zones and additional VMS lenses. In recent years, exploration and definition drilling has generally replaced reserves at about the same rate they are mined. There were some disruptions to production in 2013, but higher grades were anticipated toward the end of the year, partially making up the shortfall. w i n t e r 2 0 1 3 95 13-11-27 10:13 AM