Mineral Exploration

16 Mineral Exploration | amebc.ca PHOTOS: SKEENA RESOURCES LIMITED; BARKERVILLE GOLD MINES Old Camps, New Tricks New growth from historical resources in the Cariboo and Golden Triangle By MICHAEL SCHWARTZ R ecent exploration projects in British Columbia have taken place at sites that have previously experienced exploration and/ or mining. This article looks at how such previous activity has influenced and benefited Barkerville Gold Mines and Skeena Resources Limited. It also investigates the interface between historical workings and First Nations experience and expertise. Barkerville Gold Mines Barkerville Gold Mines' (BGM) properties comprise roughly 182,222 hectares across a belt 67˜kilometres long by 25˜kilometres wide. The area includes 101 creeks reporting placer gold production and five past-producing mines. The area is part of the Cariboo Gold Belt, which has attracted investment since the Cariboo Gold Rush of 1861. Historical estimates suggest gold production in the Cariboo Gold Belt of approximately 3.2 million ounces from alluvial production and 1.3 million ounces from lode mines. Maggie Layman, BGM's exploration manager, explains the importance of past exploration and working: "Exploration in the Barkerville area dates back to the [1860s] Cariboo Gold Rush and the discovery of the Cariboo Gold Quartz Mine in 1929, which is now known as Cow Mountain. "In 2016, we gained access to historical mine workings at both Cow Mountain and Mosquito Creek at Island Mountain, where significant structural mapping and geological sampling took place and aided in our interpretation of the geologic model and gold mineralization controls. This work, in conjunction with re-logging over 55,000˜metres of historic[al] drill core, enabled us to come up with a sound geologic model to generate targets and advance our exploration program to 10 drills." At present, BGM is exploring and delineating with six diamond drills on the Island Mountain Shaft Zone, three drills on the Valley Zone and a 10th drill currently expanding known mineralization on the BC Vein. A total of 140,000˜metres will be drilled this year. BGM's mineralized veins are vertically dipping and are typically drilled to a vertical depth of about 550˜metres; many veins are open at depth and will be explored in the future with underground drilling methods. Recent drilling highlights include 18.84 grams per tonne gold over 30.85˜metres at the Shaft Zone in hole IM-17-024. This intersection occurred 20˜metres down dip of hole IM-17-078, which intersected 11.42 g/t gold over 28.55˜metres. More recent Valley Zone intersections include 10.94 g/t gold over 7.85˜metres in hole CM-17-023. BGM confirmed that it continues to discover new mineralized vein corridors and to expand existing veins at both the Shaft and Valley zones. BGM has been greatly helped by the involvement of local First Nations. Says Layman, "First Nations engagement is very Landing on a flagship property: Snip and its airstrip. Environmental work for Barkerville Gold Mines. Drilling in the historic Cariboo Gold Belt.

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