Mineralogy and Petrography of the Silver King Shear Zone, Nelson ...

Mineralogy and Petrography of
the Silver King Shear Zone,
Nelson, British Columbia
By
Caroline Klein
Department of Geology, Brandon University
Brandon, Manitoba
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Bachelors of Science (Honours)
May 2008

Abstract
The Silver King Shear Zone is located approximately seven kilometers from Nelson
British Columbia and is comprised of multiple quartz-carbonate-polymetallic veins. The veins
that make up the Silver King Shear Zone are largely sub-parallel to the shear zone and are: the
Main Silver King Vein, the King Vein, the Iroquois Vein, the Kohinoor Vein and many, as of
yet, undelineated sub-parallel veins.
The shear zone contains four distinct alteration and rock types that were identified on the
basis of mineralogical assemblages. The main rock and alteration types that were identified are:
(1) meta-volcanics, including a unique meta-gabbro; (2) phyllitic rocks; (3) altered plagioclase
porphyries; and (4) breccias, including meta-volcanic breccias, hydrothermal breccias and
hematite breccias. A direct relationship between copper and silver quantities was observed in the
mineralizing event indicated by the silver-bearing sulphides compared to the copper-bearing
sulphides.
i

Table of Contents
Abstract................................................................................................................................ i
Table of Contents................................................................................................................ ii
List of Figures....................................................................................................................iii
List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... v
Introduction......................................................................................................................... 1
History................................................................................................................................. 1
Regional Geology ............................................................................................................... 5
Structure and Tectonics....................................................................................................... 8
Geology of the Silver King Property ................................................................................ 10
Geology of the Silver King Vein Complex....................................................................... 12
Mineralogy of the Silver King Shear Zone....................................................................... 14
Discussion/Interpretation .................................................................................................. 32
Mineral Paragenesis……………………………………………………………………32
Important Findings and Implications for Exploration ...................................................... 36
Acknowledgements........................................................................................................... 36
References......................................................................................................................... 37
Appendix A: Samples examined in Thesis ..........................................................................I
Appendix B: Petrographic Reports ................................................................................... III
ii

List of Figures
Figure 1: Location of the Silver King Mine Property..................................................................... 2
Figure 2: Geology of the Silver King Shear Zone, after Hoy and Andrew, 1989. ....................... 11
Figure 3: Geology of the Silver King Property............................................................................... 1
Figure 4: Stereomircoscope photo of polished drill core showing chlorite and tourmaline veining.
....................................................................................................................................................... 20
Figure 5: Photomicrograph taken in cross-polarized transmitted light showing alteration of
plagioclase to sericite.................................................................................................................... 20
Figure 6: Photomicrograph taken in plane polarized reflected light showing lath like hematite
and magnetite inclusion. ............................................................................................................... 21
Figure 7: Stereomicroscope photo of a polished hand sample of a meta-gabbro. ........................ 23
Figure 8: Photomicrograph taken in cross-polarized transmitted light of alteration in a metagabbro..
......................................................................................................................................... 23
Figure 9: Photomicrograph taken in plane polarized reflected light of iron silicate intergrowths in
magnetite....................................................................................................................................... 24
Figure 10: Stereomicroscope photo of a hand sample showing quartz and carbonate intergowths.
....................................................................................................................................................... 24
Figure 11: Photomicrograph taken in cross-polarized transmitted light showing weak foliation
with carbonate and quartz. ............................................................................................................ 25
Figure 12: Photomicrograph taken in cross-polarized transmitted light showing quartz, chlorite
and sericite veining in a carbonate-rich groundmass.................................................................... 25
Figure 13: Stereomircoscope of altered plagioclase phenocrysts in plagioclase porphyry. ........ 26
iii

Figure 14: Photomicrograph taken in plane polarized reflected light showing hematite
disseminated and skeltetal hematite pseudomorphing an unknown primary mineral.. ................ 26
Figure 15: Photomicrograph taken in cross polarized transmitted light showing hematite
pseudomorphism of a primary iron-rich mineral.......................................................................... 27
Figure 16: Stereomircoscope photo of a polished slab of drill core showing alteration of a metavolcanic
breccia.. .......................................................................................................................... 29
Figure 17: Photomicrograph taken in plane polarized transmitted light of an altered metavolcanic
breccias........................................................................................................................... 29
Figure 18: Steromircoscope photo of a polished hand sample showing the nature of the
hydrothermal breccias................................................................................................................... 30
Figure 19: Photomicrograph taken in plane polarized reflected light of the rare mineral
Stromeyerite.,................................................................................................................................ 30
Figure 20: Photomicrograph taken in plane polarized reflected light of gold mineralization. The
gangue minerals are quartz and carbonate.................................................................................... 31
Figure 21: Stereomicroscope photo of a polished section of drill core showing hemitization in
hematite breccias…………………………………………………………………………………33
Figure 22: Photomicrograph taken in cross-polarized transmitted light of seritization of
plagioclase………………………………………………………………………………………..33
iv

List of Tables
Table 1: Mineralogy of the Silver King Shear Zone by Sample (modal %)..................... 15
Table 2: Mineralog of the Silver King Shear Zone by Rock Type (modal %)................. 19
Table 3: Mineral Paragenesis............................................................................................ 34
v

Introduction
The purpose of this study is to examine the mineralogy and the petrography of the
Silver King Shear zone near Nelson, British Columbia, Canada. This shear zone hosts
the Siver King Mine, a former producer of silver and copper with minor byproduct
amounts of lead, zinc and gold. It is located approximately seven kilometers southwest of
the town of Nelson British Columbia. Currently the property is being explored and
developed by Excalibur Resources Limited (Figure 1).
The Silver King deposit is a polymetallic vein system enriched in silver, copper,
zinc, lead and gold, which is a common type found in parts of the Canadian Cordillera.
Polymetallic veins have been historically considered to be related to the intrusion of
granitic batholiths and stocks. There has been much supporting evidence for this in the
Nelson mining district as many of the veins have been discovered along or within the
margins of the Nelson batholith and many other related smaller stocks. The polymetallic
veins typically include galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and pyrite in a quartz and
carbonate gangue assemblage.
History
The deposit was first staked in 1885 by the Hall brothers. Production started in
1889 and continued until 1914. The Silver King Mine produced a total of roughly 4.4
million ounces of silver, 15 million pounds of copper, 31,000 pounds of lead, 7,400
pounds of zinc and 280 ounces of gold from approximately 222,000 tons of direct
smelting ore (Aylward 1983). The majority of the mining took place between 1889 and
1

Figure 1: Location of the Silver King Mine Property
2

1913; however there were sporadic instances of insiginicant production between 1914
and 1943.
The initial production of a hundred tons of hand-picked ore in 1889 was brought
down the mountain by pack train (horse) and shipped to Butte, Montana for smelting.
Between 1889 and 1895 a wagon road was completed to the property and the Hall Mines
Co. Ltd. of London England developed the mine, built a smelter at Nelson and completed
an aerial tramway with 875 buckets and a capacity of ten tons per hour. During the years
of 1896 to 1902 a ‘large-scale’ operation produced more than116,000 tons of ore grading
3.3% copper and 638 g/t (t=short for ton) of silver.
In 1903 the mine was leased by Mr. M.S. Davys and only operated on a small
scale. In 1904 Davys entered into a partnership with the Hall Mining and Smelting
Company Limited with the intention of developing the ore below the seventh level.
Additionally the program included some diamond drilling. The partnership was
terminated in 1906, however between 1904 and 1907 a total of roughly 6,000 tons of ore
was mined from the property. The smelter was closed in 1907 due to a lack of ore from
the Silver King Mine and other sources.
In 1908, the Kootenay Development Syndicate leased the property and shipped a
minor amount of ore to the Trail Smelter. A power line was completed to the mine site
and preparations began for the development on and below the Dandy level. In 1909 a fire
on the property destroyed part of the surface infrastructure and the mine was closed due
to a lack of working capital.
3

During the period of 1912 to 1914, the Consolidated Mining and Smelting
Company purchased a controlling interest in the property and the Dandy Tunnel was
driven to connect with the shaft and the surface plant was rebuilt. A 1,640 meter diamond
drill program was completed and a total of 15,477 tons of ore was mined at 1.85%
copper, 261 g/t silver and 0.6% g/t gold. The mine was closed again in 1914 due to the
outbreak of World War II; however, during the war a limited amount of development
work and 2,128 meters of diamond drilling was completed.
The property lay dormant until 1965 to 1967 when New Cronin Babine Mines
Limited undertook an extensive re-evaluation of the property. Road access to the property
was developed along Giveout Creek to along with sampling and rehabilitation of the
underground workings. A total of 54 holes totaling 3,710 meters of “AX” core were
drilled as well as 23 short X-ray holes which were drilled to test the near-surface Main
Vein Structure. The work identified a new vein, which was called the King Vein and
increased the mineral inventory of the property.
In 1973, Sproatt Silver Mines conducted a geochemical and geophysical survey
which outlined two coincident anomalies, one over the Iroquois vein and a second on a
new target located 200 meters farther south. In 1981, Hecate Gold carried out additional
sampling and mapping. Then again in 1983 Mine Quest Exploration Associates Limited
conducted an exploration program for Host Ventures Limited that consisted of 555
meters of drilling, with considerable trenching, mapping and sampling.
In 1998, Amulet Resources Limited, which has been recently renamed Silver
King Mines Limited, acquired the property and completed a program of line cutting, soil
geochemistry, and induced polarization surveying.
4

Regional Geology
The Silver King property lies within the Rossland-Nelson map area, which falls
into the Omineca belt which is a zone of variably deformed and metamorphosed
Phanerozoic and Tertiary rocks along the boundary between accreted terranes and
ancestral North America. The Omineca belt was developed in Jurassic through Early
Cretaceous time as the Quesnellia terrain was thrust over the margin of the North
American and Kootenay terrain rocks, and subsequently displaced eastward by thrust
faulting and folding. The Mesozoic compressional deformation was followed by
extensional tectonics in the Eocene. The plutonic rocks found in the Omineca belt are
common and represent magmatism associated with both extensional and compressional
tectonics.
The tectonic boundary between the Quesnellia terrain and North American rocks
is marked by mafic volcanics and the associated ultramafic rocks of the oceanic Slide
Mountain terrane. South of Nelson, the boundary is defined by the Waneta and Tillicum
fault system, although the contact is locally obscured or cut by the Middle Jurassic
Nelson Batholith or Late Cretaceous intrusive rocks.
The Rossland Group is Jurassic in age and is broken down into: 1) the Archibald
Formation and correlative Ymir Group; 2) the Elise Formation, which consists of
dominantly volcanic rocks; and 3) the fine grained clastic rocks of the Hall Formation.
The Archibald Formation is named for the thick exposure of sedimentary rocks
along Archibald Creek, southwest of Salmo. It correlates with the Ymir Group on the east
limb of the Hall Creek Syncline and may be correlative with the upper part of the Slocan
Group exposed north of Nelson. The Archibald Formation comprises a succession of
5

interbedded siltstones, sandstones, and argillites with prominent sections of interbedded
conglomerate. The total exposed thickness of this formation varies from a few tens of
meters of conglomerate to more than 2,550 meters of fine clastic material. It is in contact
with the Elise Formation which varies from abrupt to gradational.
The Silver King deposit is hosted by basic to intermediate rocks of the Upper
Elise Formation which are part of the volcanic package of the Lower Jurassic Group. The
Elise Formation comprises up to 5,000 meters of dominantly mafic volcanic rocks,
including mafic flows, thick pyroclastic layers, epiclastic rocks, and locally interlayered
fine to medium grained sedimentary rocks. The Elise Formation has been subdivided into
an Upper and a Lower portion by Hoy and Andrew in 1989 (McMillan 2000). It is
exposed on the limbs of the Hall Creek Syncline from Nelson to Salmo and extents west
to underlie a large part of the block faulted area between Salmo and Montrose. It also
forms a north-dipping homoclinial succession from the Washington border to Rossland,
and is exposed as isolated roof pendants in Nelson-aged intrusions in the northwest.
The Elise Formation includes a basal succession of mafic flows overlain by
dominantly mafic to intermediate pryoclastic rocks. The mafic flows predominantly
consist of coarse grained augite porphyry flow breccias, and less commonly consist of
non-brecciated flow units up to a meter thick, and pillow basalts. The augite porphyry
flows and flow breccias are also found it the upper Elise but are considered to be minor
components. Also found in the basal succession are lahars, mafic tuffs and argillite
interbeds. The upper portion of the Elise is comprised of a sequence of mafic to
intermediate flows, tuffs and minor epiclastic deposits up to 2,500 meters thick. In the
6

pyroclastic rocks there are a number of cyclical sequences that are typically grading
upwards from lapilli tuff to a crystal tuff or a fine ash tuff.
The Hall formation consists of approximately 2,100 meters of sedimentary rocks
that underlie the volcanics of the Elise Formation. The contact with the Elise Formation
is conformable to locally unconformable with a coarse erosional conglomerate. The Hall
Formation has been divided into three members; the first is a lower, rusty-weathering
black siltstone and argillite succession, which passes upwards into the second member, a
coarse sandstone and conglomerate sequence of the middle Hall which is overlain locally
by the third division, a dominantly carbonaceous siltstone which comprises the upper
Hall.
The layered volcano-sedimentary sequence is intruded by the Nelson Batholith
(Middle to Late Jurassic), many small coeval Mid-Eocene Coryell syenites and by
Tertiary rhyolite and lamprphyre dykes.
Plutonic rocks are extensive in the Rossland-Nelson area and include: (1) mafic
sills and stocks which have been interpreted to be Early Jurassic in age and related to
Elise arc magmatism, (2) abundant Middle Jurassic batholiths and stocks, which includes
the Silver King plutonic suite and the Nelson Batholith, and (3) a number of Late
Cretaceous stocks that cut Mesozoic fabrics in the area. The Silver King intrusions
consist of a number of highly deformed feldspar porphyries that occur within the Elise
Formation. Copper, lead, zinc, silver and gold mineralization occurs and is associated
with these intrusions.
The Silver King plutonic rocks are typcialy porphyritic, characterized by
plagioclase phenocrysts in a fine grained groundmass. The porphyry has few preserved
7

mafic minerals and the plagioclase composition is typically anorthosite (greater than fifty
percent), classifying it as a leucodiorite porphyry. The plutons that originated in the
Middle Jurassic are typically complex. Early alkaline magamtism was followed by
calcalkaline intrusions that formed two mica granites. These plutons include the
Kuskanax, Nelson, Bonnington and Trail batholiths plus numerous smaller stocks. Most
of the phases that occur within the Nelson Batholith are dated at ca. 167 million years ago
(Ma) with a younger coarse megacrystic phase dated at 161 ±1 Ma, and an equigranular
biotite granite dated to be 158.9±1 Ma (Hoy and Dunne 2001).
Structure and Tectonics
The Rossland Group is built on deformed and possibly imbricated Permian arc
derived clastic sedimentary rocks, ophiolitic assemblages and associated sediments, and
possibly a thin layer of continental crustal rocks. The youngest and most eastern being
the volcanic arc rocks of the Quesnellia terrain.
During the Early Jurassic, tectonism associated with volcanic arc development in
the Rossland Group involved extension with uplift and erosion in the west, and
deposition of the coarse clastic material of the Archibald Formation in a deep structural
basin to the east. There are no recognizable ultramafic rock fragments to confirm
imbrication and uplift of the Slide Mountain rocks prior to deposition of the arc volcanic
assemblage. Also, the unconformably overlying Hall Formation shows post-arc
deposition in a marine structural basin. A suite of plagioclase porphyry intrusions, the
Silver King intrusions, are interpreted to be syntectonic plutons that may record the first
onlap of the Quesnellia terrain with the edge of the North American craton.
8

The Middle Jurassic was a time of continued compression as the eastern edge of
the Quesnellia was thrust over top of the North American miogeoclinal rocks. The age of
the deformation and the related regional metamorphism is constrained by plutonic rocks
(Hoy and Dunne 2001). The ca. 174-178 million year old Silver King intrusion is
deformed, but to the west, folds in the Elise Formation are cut by the ca. 167 Ma Nelson
Batholith. The Middle Jurassic deformation in the Nelson area is dominated by eastverging
folds and thrust faults. The above mentioned folds are broadly to locally tight,
generally south-plunging, have a prominent axial planer foliation and show pronounced,
local fold axes and mineral lineations. Generally within the Rossland Group, the intensity
of deformation and grade of metamorphism increases to the south and east.
The Hall Creek Syncline is the most prominent fold in the Rossland-Nelson area.
The Hall Creek syncline is cored by the Hall Formation, is a tight, south plunging and
west-dipping overturned fold that extends from west of Nelson to southwest of Ymir, and
then continues southwest of Salmo as the Hellroaring Creek syncline. There is a
pronounced cleavage in the clastic rocks of the Hall Formation and a penetrative foliation
in the Elise Formation parallel to the axial plane of the fold. To the northwest of the
closure up to the Hall Formation and at deeper structural levels, the core of the syncline
forms a zone of intense shearing that extends for more than a kilometer in width. The
shear zone is referred to as the Silver King shear, which continues northwestwards into
the Elise Formation and into the intrusive rocks of the Eagle Creek plutonic complex.
The shearing appears to die out at higher structural levels along the limbs of the Hall
Creek syncline (Hoy and Dunne 2001). This shear zone is host to the Silver King deposit
and other sulfide mineralization.
9

Geology of the Silver King Property
The Silver King property lies within the Nelson gold-silver camp, which is an
area of numerous skarn and vein type deposits composed of gold, silver, copper, as well
as several occurrences of copper-molybdenum porphyry type mineralization.
The structure of the Silver King property and the Toad Mountain area is
dominated by northwest trending tight folds and associated shear zones. The most
prominent fold in the area is the Hall Creek syncline which is a south-plunging, west
dipping overturned fold feature. There is a pronounced cleavage developed in the clastic
rocks and a penetrative deformation is developed in volcanics and some intrusive rocks
parallel to the axial plane of the syncline. On the Silver King property, the core of the
syncline forms a zone of intense shearing which has been called the Silver King Shear.
This shear zone reaches 1,000 meters in width and is commonly associated with quartz,
sericite, chlorite, carbonate alteration and Fe-oxide alteration (Figure 2).
The Elise Formation is the main host to mineralization and comprises mainly
augite phyric volcanic rocks and chlorite schist. The volcanic rocks are either coarse
mafic pyrclastic breccias or flow breccias. There are lenses and pods of siliceous and/or
rhyolitic material that has been interpreted to be metasedimentary or metavolcanic in
origin, but also could be intrusive (McMillan 2000). The Silver King Porphyry is a
plagioclase porphyry of quartz diorite composition which outcrops to the northeast of the
Silver King Mine area, but it is not a major host to the ore. The Silver King Shear trends
northwest from the Hall Creek syncline through the Elise Formation into the Eagle Creek
Plutonic Complex.
10

Figure 2: Geology of the Silver King Shear Zone, after Hoy and Andrew, 1989.
11

Geology of the Silver King Vein Complex
The Silver King Vein complex is comprised of multiple polymetallic veins, which
include the Main Silver King Vein, the King Vein, the Iroquois Vein, the Kohinoor Vein and
many, as of yet, undelineated, sub-parallel spur and cross-cutting veins (figure 3). The veins
primarily consist of quartz, calcite, siderite and rhodochrosite, with relatively minor hematite and
sulphides including pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite, tetrahedrite and bornite. The area
within the Silver King Shear has been regionally hydrothermally altered to include the
development of carbonate minerals and replacement of mafic minerals by chlorite, siderite,
sericite, iron-oxides and local potassium feldspar close to mineralized zones.
The Main Silver King Vein is a series of quartz and carbonate filled shears that are
mainly responsible for the tonnage that has been mined to date. The mined portion of the vein
has a strike length of more than 700 meters and widths up to 15 meters. The mineralized zone
consists of irregular stringers and massive quartz containing sulphide minerals, commonly
concentrated in cross fractures. Along with the more common minerals listed above, the Main
Silver King Vein also is characterized by the uncommon mineral stromeyerite (AgCuS); an
important silver mineral.
The King Vein is located about three hundred meters east of the open-pit area at the east
end of the Main Silver King Vein. Drilling in the 1965 and 1967 programs outlined a small
resource, however the vein was not mapped on surface until a drilling and trenching program
was initiated in 1983. At surface the mineralization is identified by a half meter interval
containing pyrite, galena and chalcopyrite hosted within the augite phyric and altered Elise
Formation volcanic rocks.
12

Figure 3: Geology of the Silver King Property
13

The sub-parallel Iroquois Vein structure is located approximately 300 meters south of the Main
Silver King Vein complex. It has been traced for a length of 300 meters. It comprises irregular
stringers and massive quartz with disseminated pyrite, lesser amounts of chalcopyrite, galena,
sphalerite, and minor bornite. Sulfides are commonly concentrated in east-west cross fractures
within the ‘shear’. The immediate hanging-wall and footwall are bleached probably due to
sericite and silica alteration.
Mineralogy of the Silver King Shear Zone
Mineralogy of the Silver King shear zone was invesitgated by examination of 45 field
and drill core samples collected by H. Mumin in October 2007, and 17 selected polished thin
sections. The thin sections were examined in transmitted and reflected light using a NIKON
E600 POL Petrographic Research Microscope in the Laboratory for Applied Research in
Geosciences. Drill core samples are from holes SK-06-01, SK-06-02, and SK-06-03 which were
drilled by Sultan Minerals in 2006. The surface samples were collected from various locations
along the Silver King Vein Complex.
The samples have been classified and described according to rock type. The mineralogy
of each sample of the Silver King Shear Zone is listed in Table 1. There is a large variety of
minerals present in the sampled set, including plagioclase, quartz, carbonates, potassium
feldspar, tourmaline, sericite, chlorite, iron-oxides, limoenite, hematite, magnetite, pyrite,
chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite-tennatite, bornite, covellite, digenite, galena and sphalerite. Gold was
detected in one sample, and a rare orthorhmbic silver-copper sulfide mineral Stromeyerite
(AgCuS) was observed in minor quantitities in some samples.
14

Table 1: Mineralogy of the Silver King Shear Zone by Sample (modal %)
Rock Type Meta-
Volcanic
Breccia
Meta-
Volcanic
Breccia
Hydrothermal
Breccia
Hematite
Breccia
Meta-
Volcanic
Meta-
Volcanic
Sample
Number SKC-1 SKC-38 SKC-42 SKC-26 SKC-4 SKC-5
Minerals
Amphibole
Biotite 7
Bornite 15 3 tr tr
Carbonate 10 1 30 40 60 55
Chalcopyrite tr tr

Table 1 Continued:
Rock Type
Meta-
Volcanic
Meta-
Volcanic
Meta-
Volcanic
Meta-
Volcanic
Meta-
Volcanic
Meta-
Volcanic
Sample
Number SKC-22 SKC-24 SKC-28 SKC-32 SKC-35 SKC-19
Minerals
Amphibole
Biotite
Bornite tr 5
Carbonate 35 20 40 25 25 30
Chalcopyrite 10 tr 3 tr 10
Chlorite 5 10 3 5 5
Covellite tr 5
Digenite 3

Table 1 Continued:
Rock Type Meta-
Volcanic
Meta-
Gabbro
Altered
Plagioclase
Porphyry
Altered
Plagioclase
Porphyry
Phyllite
Sample
Number SKC-9 SKC-36 SKC-17 SKC-25 SKC-37
Minerals
Amphibole 15
Biotite 10 3
Bornite tr tr
Carbonate 40

Four basic rock types have been identified on the basis of mineral assemblages. They are:
(1) meta-volcanic rocks; (2)altered plagioclase porphyries; (3) phyllite; and (4) breccias of
multiple varieties. Each rock type is characterized by a certain mineral assemblage as
documented below and in Table 2.
Meta-Volcanics
The meta-volcanic rocks make up the majority of the samples examined. One of the
samples examined was a unique kind of meta-volcanic a meta-gabbro. The meta-volcanics as a
whole dominantly consist of 36% carbonate (2-60%), 14% plagioclase (7-35%), 10% quartz (5-
30%), 10% sericite (5-20%), 7% tourmaline (0-10%), 7% hematite (0-20%), 5% chalcopyrite (0-
10%) with minor amounts of amphibole, biotite, chlorite, epidote, potassium feldspar, siderite,
magnetite, malachite, covellite, digenite, galena, pyrite, sphalerite, stromeyerite, and tetrahedritetennanite.
Meta-volcanic rocks comprise the largest percentage of the rocks within this vein
complex. They contain plagioclase phenocrysts in a quartz-carbonate groundmass. The
plagioclase phenocrysts are quenched indicating a primary volcanic origin. However, due to
hydrothermal activity they are partially to completely altered to sericite. The groundmass is
dominantly composed of carbonate ranging from 20-60% and quartz ranging from 5-30%. Other
hydrothermal minerals present are tourmaline and epidote. The sulphide mineralization is
primarily disseminated throughout these rocks. However, there can be patches of sulphides that
are infilling veins (figures 3, 4 and 5).
18

Table 2: Mineralog of the Silver King Shear Zone by Rock Type (modal %)
Rock Type Meta –
Volcanic
Meta-
Gabbro
Phyllite
Hydrothermal
Breccia
Altered
Plagioclase
Porphyry
Hematite
Breccia
Meta-
Volcanic
Breccia
Minerals
Amphibole 15
Biotite 10 3 3.5
Bornite tr tr 15 3
Carbonate 36

Figure 4: Stereomircoscope photo of polished drill core showing chlorite and tourmaline
veining. Sample SKC-32. F.O.V. is 13.4 mm. Qtz = Quartz, Chl = Chlorite and
Tour = Tourmaline.
Figure 5: Photomicrograph taken in cross-polarized transmitted light showing alteration of
plagioclase to sericite. Sample SKC-32. F.O.V. is 1.70mm. Hem = Hematite,
Carb = Carbonate, Qtz = Quartz, Plag = Plagioclase and Ser = Sericite.
20

Figure 6: Photomicrograph taken in plane polarized reflected light showing lath like
hematite and magnetite inclusion. The gangue minerals are quartz and
carbonate. Sample SKC-32. F.O.V. is 1.70 mm. Hem =Hematite and
Mgt = Magnetite.
21

Meta-Gabbro
Meta-gabbros are a unique variety of meta-volcanic rocks. They are characterized by
high quantities of amphiboles (likely actinolite-tremolite), biotite, and epidote. These rocks
contain porphyritic and groundmass plagioclase which is altering to sericite. These rocks contain
disseminated hematite and growths of magnetite over an unknown iron silicate mineral (figures
6, 7, and 8).
Phyllite
Phyllites are generally thought to have a meta-sedimentary origin due to the presence of
alignment of micaceous materials and the phyllitic textures exhibited in the rock. Micaceous
material makes up approximately 10% of the rock and primarily consists of biotite, chlorite and
sericite. The groundmass is made primarily of carbonate with lesser amounts of quartz
intergrowths and veinlets. The sulphide mineralization is believed to have been derived from
hydrothermal fluids migrating through the rock and primarily consists of chalcopyrite, sphalerite
and covellite. However, there are minor amounts of tetrahedrite-tennantite, pyrite and galena
present (figure 9, 10 and 11).
Altered Plagioclase Porphyry
The altered plagioclase porphyry rocks are porphyritic with large plagioclase phenocryts.
Generally, the groundmass is made up of carbonate, quartz and tourmaline. However, lesser
amounts of chlorite and muscovite do appear. Overall plagioclase shows seriate textures making
up 7-45% of the rock and is partially to fully altered to sericite. Mineralization is very sparse in
these rocks, with the majority of the opagues being hematite with minor amounts of chalcopyrite,
tetrahedrite-tennanite and magnetite (figures 12, 13, and 14).
22

Figure 7: Stereomicroscope photo of a polished hand sample of a meta-gabbro. Sample
SKC-36. F.O.V. is 26.6mm. Plag = Plagioclase and Amph = Amphibole.
Figure 8: Photomicrograph taken in cross-polarized transmitted light of alteration in a
meta-gabbro. The opaques are magnetite. Sample SKC-36. F.O.V. is 1.70 mm.
Ep = Epidote, Bio = Biotite, Amph = Amphibole and Plag = Plagioclase.
23

Figure 9: Photomicrograph taken in plane polarized reflected light of iron silicate
intergrowths in magnetite. The gangue minerals are quartz, amphibole and
plagioclase. Sample SKC-36. F.O.V. is 0.85mm. Mgt = Magnetite.
Figure 10: Stereomicroscope photo of a hand sample showing quartz and carbonate
intergowths. Sample SKC-37. F.O.V. is 6.7mm. Carb = Carbonate,
Cpy = Chalcopyrite and Qtz = Quartz.
24

Figure 11: Photomicrograph taken in cross-polarized transmitted light showing weak
foliation with carbonate and quartz. Sample SKC-37. F.O.V. is 1.70mm.
Carb = Carbonate, Qtz = Quartz and Ser = Sericite.
Figure 12: Photomicrograph taken in cross-polarized transmitted light showing quartz,
chlorite and sericite veining in a carbonate-rich groundmass. Sample SKC-37.
F.O.V. is 1.70mm. Chlor = Chlorite, Carb = Carbonate, Qtz = Quartz and
Ser = Sericite.
25

Figure 13: Stereomircoscope of altered plagioclase phenocrysts in plagioclase porphyry.
Sample SKC-25. F.O.V. is 13.4mm. Plag = Plagioclase.
Figure 14: Photomicrograph taken in plane polarized reflected light showing hematite
disseminated and skeltetal hematite pseudomorphing an unknown primary
mineral. Gangue minerals are plagioclase, sericite and carbonate. Sample
SKC-25. F.O.V. is 1.70mm. Hem = Hematite.
26

Figure 15: Photomicrograph taken in cross polarized transmitted light showing hematite
pseudomorphism of a primary iron-rich mineral. Sample SKC-25. F.O.V. is
1.70mm. Hem= Hematite, Plag = Plagioclase and Ser = Sericite.
27

Breccias
Several types of tectonically and or hydrothermally brecciated rocks occur, including:
meta-volcanic breccias, hydrothermal breccias and hematite breccias. The breccias as a group
consist primarily of 28% plagioclase (5-40%), 20% carbonate (1-40%), 18% limonite (0-35%),
9% sericite (5-15%), 6% tetrahedrite-tennantite (0-20%), 5% bornite (0-15%) and 3%
chalcopyrite with minor amounts of biotite, quartz, tourmaline, epidote, siderite, covellite,
digenite, galena, gold, pyrite, stromeyerite, hematite and magnetite.
Meta-volcanic Breccia
Meta-volcanic breccias are matrix supported breccias thought to be of primary volcanic
origin. Clasts are dominantly plagioclase and carbonate with minor sideritic clasts. The matrix is
dominantly limonites from recent weathering of what was a highly sulphide-rich zone. However,
minor amounts of chalcopyrite and pyrite persist in the matrix. Overall these rocks contain 40-
50% plagioclase that is partially altered to sericite. The other hydrothermal mineral that is
present is tourmaline (figures 15 and 16).
Hydrothermal Breccia
Hydrothermal breccias are matrix supported breccias. The clasts are dominantly
carbonate and quartz with minor plagioclase-rich clasts. The matrix has abundant tetrahedritetennanite,
bornite and stromeyerite. However, minor amounts of covellite, chalcopyrite, galena
and gold also still present in the matrix. These breccias are hydrothermally altered which is
shown by the high amounts of sulphides present in the matrix and exsolutions of chalcopyrite in
bornite. (figures 17, 18, and 19).
28

Figure 16: Stereomircoscope photo of a polished slab of drill core showing alteration of a
meta-volcanic breccia. Sample SKC-1. F.O.V. (field of view) is 13.4mm.
Lim = Limonite, Sid = Siderite and Plag = Plagioclase.
Figure 17: Photomicrograph taken in plane polarized transmitted light of an altered metavolcanic
breccias. Plagioclase is altering to sericite ± carbonate. The opaques
are limonite and/or iron hydroxyl oxides. Sample SKC-38. F.O.V is 1.70mm.
Plag = Plagioclase and Carb = Carbonates.
29

Figure 18: Steromircoscope photo of a polished hand sample showing the nature of the
hydrothermal breccias. Sample SKC-42. F.O.V is 13.4 mm. Qtz = Quartz,
Cpy = Chalcopyrite, Bor= Bornite and Tet-Ten = Tetrahedrite-tennanite.
Figure 19: Photomicrograph taken in plane polarized reflected light of the rare mineral
Stromeyerite. The gangue minerals are quartz and carbonate Sample SKC-42.
F.O.V. is 1.7mm.. Stro = Stromeyerite, Bor = Bornite,
Tet-Ten = Tetrahedrite-tennatite.
30

Figure 20: Photomicrograph taken in plane polarized reflected light of gold mineralization.
The gangue minerals are quartz and carbonate. Sample SKC-42. F.O.V. is
0.43mm. Au = Gold, Bor = Bornite, Stro= Stromeyerite,
Tet-Ten = Tetrahedrite-Tennatite.
31

Hematite Breccia
Hematite breccias are matrix supported breccias that are thought to be of volcanic origin.
They are no strongly altered by hydrothermal solutions. The clasts are dominantly composed of
carbonate and plagioclase. However, there are minor quartz-rich clasts. The matrix is primarily
composed of hematite with minor amounts of magnetite, chalcopyrite, bornite and tetrahedritetennantite.
The hematite is also disseminated throughout the rock giving it a reddish appearance.
Overall the rock contains 15% plagioclase which is being pseudomorphically replaced by sericite
and quartz (figures 20 and 21).
Discussion/Interpretation
Mineral Paragenesis
In this study of the Silver King vein complex there are five documented phases of
alteration including: least altered igneous rocks, pre-mineralization, main mineralizing event,
post-mineralization and weathering. Table 3.
During the least altered igneous phase, plagioclase is the most abundant mineral formed
during this phase followed by amphibole, ilmenite, biotite, magnetite and potassium feldspar.
Remnant primary minerals present in mafic rocks and porphyry include: plagioclase, amphibole
and biotite. There are almost no primary sulphides present; the only sulphide that appears is
minor amounts of pyrite. There is a small amount of primary magnetite present.
The pre-mineralization phase is characterized by the formation of carbonate, quartz,
sericite hematite and chalcopyrite with lesser amounts of bornite, covellite, pyrite, tetrahedritetennantite,
sphalerite, tourmaline, epidote and magnetite. Non-economic hydrothermal minerals
in approximate order of abundance are: carbonate, sericite and
32

Figure 21: Stereomicroscope photo of a polished section of drill core showing hemitization
in hematite breccias. Sample SKC-26. F.O.V. is 13.4mm. Qtz = Quartz,
Hem = Hematite and Plag = Plagioclase.
Figure 22: Photomicrograph taken in cross-polarized transmitted light of seritization of
plagioclase. Sample SKC-26. F.O.V. is 1.70mm. Qtz = Quartz,
Carb = Carbonate, Ser = Sericite and Plag = Plagioclase.
33

Table 3: Mineral Paragenesis
Least Pre-
Altered Mineralization
Igneous
Main
Mineralizing
Event
Post-
Mineralization
Weathering
Minerals
Amphibole
Biotite
Bornite
Carbonate
Chalcopyrite
Chlorite
Covellite
Digenite
Epidote
Fe-oxides 1
Galena
Gold
Hematite
Ilmenite
Limonite
Magnetite
Malachite
Muscovite
Plagioclase
K-Feldspar
Pyrite
Quartz
Sericite
Siderite
Sphalerite
Stromeyerite
Tet-Ten 2
Tourmaline
Min P
Min Q
1= Unidentified secondary iron hydroxyl-oxides
2= Tetrahedrite-Tennantite
Min P = unidentified opaque mineral
Min Q = unidentified opaque mineral
= Abundant
= Moderate
= Minor
34

tourmaline. Hydrothermal iron-oxides include hematite (most abundant) and magnetite. The only
non-economic sulphide present is pyrite.
The main mineralizing event is characterized by the formation of chlorite, siderite,
digenite, stromeyerite and gold. Stromeyerite is most abundant in the most intensely mineralized
samples along with bornite, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite-tennantite and covellite. The association of
stromeyerite, bornite and tetrahedrite-tennantite explains the important relationship between
copper and silver quantities in the system, silver occurs in stromeyerite, and likely tetrahedritetennanite.
Other sulphides that are found within the vein complex are galena, sphalerite and
digenite, and are closely associated with chalcopyrite and/or stromeyerite. The economic
sulphides present include copper-bearing minerals (bornite, digenite, chalcopyrite and covellite),
silver-bearing minerals (stromeyerite, tetrahedrite-tennantite and possibly bornite), zinc is found
in sphalerite and lead in galena.
In the post-mineralization phase, there is only one new mineral formed, which is
muscovite and it is formed from the increased sericitization of plagioclase. This is also evidence
that cross cutting veinlets of quartz and carbonate are formed. Most sulphides and gangue
minerals become less abundant as this phase comes to an end; the only mineral that continues to
be formed is hematite as the system moves into the final phase.
During weathering, all primary sulphides are destroyed and altered to limonite and other
iron ± manganese hydroxyl oxides, including: limonite, goethite, hematite, and ilmenite, with
minor amounts of malachite. Most rocks show some evidence of weathering indicated by the
presence of very fine grained iron hydroxyl oxides.
However, it must be noted that this paragenesis is based on a simple model where the
hydrothermal system gradually heats up and cools down. As well, all rocks examined in this
35

study proved to be strongly altered by hydrothermal solutions and most were subject to varying
degrees of shearing and brecciation.
Important Findings and Implications for Exploration
Important findings in this study include:
(1) All rocks in the study are altered and most are strongly sheared;
(2) The most intensely mineralized rocks examined are characterized by high quantities
of stromeyerite, tetrahedrite-tennantite and bornite;
(3) Silver is contained in stromeyerite and likely in tetrahedrite-tennantite, and possibly
in bornite;
(4) Carbonate minerals (Fe- and Mn-rich) are very abundant where economic sulphides
are in highest concentrations; and
(5) Secondary weathering of primary sulphides is common, and appears to have persisted
to at least 45 meters depth along the sheared and mineralized rocks. Since weathering
results in metal leaching, it is possible that overall grades of some metals may increase at
depths below the influence of weathering.
Acknowledgements
The author would like to sincerely thank Excalibur Resources Limited for their financial
support and the information and materials supplied. The author also wishes to thank Dr. H.
Mumin, of Brandon University as thesis advisor for this report.
36

References
AYLWARD, P.S. 1983. Silver King Property: Drilling, Trenching and Compilation of Previous
Work. British Columbia Geological Survey. Assessment Report No. 12,611, p2-4, 8-14, 16-19.
HOY, T and DUNNE, K.P.E., 2001 Metallogeny and Mineral Deposits of the Nelson-Rossland
Map Area; Part II: the Early Jurassic Rossland Group, Southeastern British Columbia. British
Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines Bulletin 109, p 1, 3-10, 11, 36-40.
LONGE, R., 1998. Silver King Mineral Property: History, Mineral Potential and Proposed
Exploration Program. British Columbia Geological Survey. Assessment Report MINIFILE No.
082FW176, p4, 7-8,12-14.
MCMILLIAN, R.H., 2000. Silver King Mine Property; Soil Geochemistry Survey and Property
Examination, prepared for Silver King Mine Ltd. British Columbia Geological Survey.
Assessment Report No. 26356, p6-10.
MUMIN, H. , 2007 Exploration and Development of the Former Silver King Mine Property,
Nelson British Columbia Canada. Brandon University, p5-6.
37

Appendix A: Samples examined in Thesis
Sample
Number
SKC-1
SKC-4
SKC-5
SKC-9
SKC-17
SKC-19
SKC-22
SKC-24
SKC-25
SKC-26
Location
Drill hole SK-
06-01 42.6
meters
Drill hole SK-
06-02, 4.3
meters
Drill hole SK-
06-02, 4.9
meters
Drill hole SK-
06-02, 46.3
meters
Drill hole SK-
06-03, 13.7
meters
Drill hole SK-
06-03, 20.4
meters
Drill hole SK-
06-03, 38.4
meters
Drill hole SK-
06-03, 48.5
meters
Drill hole SK-
06-03, 5.4
meters
Drill hole SK-
06-03, 54.5
meters
Description
Vuggy, massive, aphanitic, brecciated, matrix consisting of
carbonate with high quantities of iron oxides
Massive, aphanitic rock with abundant iron and/or manganese
staining, with a carbonate groundmass.
Massive rock with an aphanitic groundmass of quartz and
carbonate. Porphyritic grains of altered plagioclase and visible
disseminated mineralization
Massive, dense, veins of quartz, aphanitic rock, with a quartzcarbonate
groundmass/matrix. Weakly magnetic. Quartz veins
cross-cutting foliations and carbonate amygdules.
Massive, porphyritic with an aphanitic ground mass, weakly
magnetic with cross-cutting veinlets of quartz
Massive, aphanitic matrix of quartz carbonate. Visible
indications of stress. Very small fractures which are filled in by
carbonate.
Massive, aphanitic groundmass, disseminated chalcopyrite and
galena with cross-cutting veins of a fine black material
Massive, aphanitic matrix of carbonate and quartz. Cross cutting
veins of quartz carbonate. Slightly myltonized.
Massive, porphyritic rock with an aphanitic groundmass of
quartz carbonate
Massive, aphanitic groundmass, weakly magnetitic, infilled
fractures of quartz carbonate. Breccitated.
I

SKC-28
SKC-32
Drill hole SK-
06-03, 60.9
meters
Drill hole SK-
06-03, 82.4
meters
Massive, brecciated, aphanitic matrix of carbonate and quartz
with veins of iron staining. Amygdules filled with carbonate.
Massive, aphanitic matrix of quartz carbonate veining,
moderately magnetic.
SKC-35
AM-4
Massive to weakly foliated, consists of an aphanitic matrix of
quartz-carbonate. Weakly magnetic in places.
SKC-36
SKC-37
Roadcut
AM-3-Bonaza
Pit Shaft
Massive, large phenocrysts of feldspar, consist of a quartz
carbonate aphanitic matrix. Minor cross-cutting veinlets of
quartz.
Massive to moderately foliated, homogeneous rock. Quartz
carbonate aphanitic matrix with iron stained veining, carbonate
amygdules.
SKC-38
AM-5-Mid Pit
Massive, with an aphanitic matrix, homogeneous rock with
approximately 15% vugs. Slightly brecciated
SKC-42
#4 Portal Waste
A massive, brecciated rock that is matrix supported. The matrix
consists of mainly sulphides.
II

Appendix B: Petrographic Reports
Sample Number: SKC-1
Hand sample Description: Weathered dark brown and cream rock. Contains numerous vugs and iron-oxide staining running through the sample. The sample contains
visible epidote/chlorite, carbonate and groundmass. Massive, aphanitic, brecciated, matrix consisting of carbonate.
Location: Drill Hole SK-06-01, 42.6m
Mineral
Modal Size Shape Altered Altered Inclusions Associated Textures
Other Notes
% mm
To From
Minerals
Plagioclase 40 0.2-10 Subhedral Sericite - SER Sericite, Psuedomorphic
Sericite 10 0.01-
0.2
Subhedral - PLAG - PLAG Needles—sheaf, veins,
Psuedomorphic
Siderite 5 0.3-4 Anhedral - CARB - CARB Fractured Heavy Festaining
Carbonate 10 0.4-5 Anhedral SID - - SID Can’t determine
types
Tourmaline Trace

Sample Number: SKC-4
Hand sample Description: The sample is a light brown/tan rock that shows effects of hydrothermal alteration, large patches of iron-oxides and some carbonate
alteration. Appears to be slightly mottled. Massive, aphanitic rock with abundant iron (iron magnesian) staining, with a carbonate groundmass.
Location: Drill Hole SK-06-02, 4.3m
Mineral Modal Size Shape Altered To Altered From Inclusions Associated Minerals Textures Other Notes
% mm
Carbonate 60 0.3-10 Anhedral Epidote Plagioclase Calcite, Sidertie,
Ankerite, Manganite
Groundmass
Quartz 10 0.5-2 Anhedral - - - PLAG, Epidote Fracture fill
Sericite 5

Sample Number: SKC-5
Hand sample Description: This specimen is light green grey in color with visible disseminated mineralization. There are visible clots of epidote/chlorite, carbonate
and visible grains of pyrite/chalcopyrite. Massive rock with an aphanitic groundmass of quartz and carbonate. Porphyritic grains of altered plagioclase visible.
Location: Drill Hole SK-06-02, 4.9m
Mineral Modal Size Shape Altered To Altered From Inclusions Associated Textures
Other Notes
% mm
Carbonate 55 0.5-
6.5
Quartz 10 0.1-
0.9
Plagioclase 20 0.5-
10
Anhedral - PLAG PLAG,
Quartz
Minerals
Calcite, Dolomite,
Ankerite,
Manganite, PLAG
Ratty
Anhedral - - - Carbonate, PLAG Hydrothermal
Suhedral
Sericite,
Carbonate
- Epidote,
Sericite
Sericite, Quartz,
Epidote
Locally rimmed by
Carbonate, Highly
altered, quenched,
porphyritic Seriate
Fracture fill, alteration
product
Sericite 7

Sample Number: SKC-9
Hand sample Description: Dark grey brown in color, quartz veins cross-cutting foliations, visible chalcopyrite and hematite/sphalerite/magnetite. Carbonate
amygdules. Broken edge appears to highly chloritized. Massive, dense, veins of quartz, aphanitic rock, with a quartz-carbonate groundmass/matrix. Weakly magnetic in
places.
Location: Drill Hole SK-06-02, 46.2 m
Mineral Modal Size Shape Altered To Altered From Inclusions Associated Textures Other Notes
% mm
Minerals
Quartz 10 0.1-3 Anhedral - - - PLAG, carbonate Vein Fill
Plagioclase 25 0.3-8 Subhedraleuhedral
Sericite - Sericite,
Epidote, Quartz
Sericite, Epidote,
Quartz, Carobnate
Porphyritic,
seriate,
quenched
Sericite 6

Sample Number: SKC-17
Hand sample Description: Grey and white porphyritic rock with carbonate amygdules. Local sections with iron-staining, and cross-cutting veinlets. Massive,
porphyritic possibly seriate rock with an aphanitic ground mass of quartz and carbonate. Weakly magnetic in places.
Location: Drill Hole SK-06-03, 13.73
Mineral Modal Size mm Shape Altered To Altered Inclusions Associated Textures
Other Notes
%
From
Minerals
Chlorite 4 0.1-1 Subhedral Plagioclase Sericite - Plagioclase,
Sericite, Quartz,
Carbonate
Tourmaline 4 0.2-2 Subhedral - - - PLAG, SER,
QTZ, CARB
Carbonate 10 0.1-2 Subhedral Plagioclase - Quartz, Chlorite Plagioclase,
Quartz, Chlorite,
TOUR
Sericite 15 0.01-0.8 Anhedral Chlorite Plagioclase - Chlorite,
Plagioclase,
TOUR
Plagioclase 45 0.01-7 Subhedral Sericite,
Chlorite,
Carbonate
- Chlorite,
Carbonate,
serictie
Sericite, Chlorite,
Carbonate, TOUR
Quartz 7

Sample Number: SKC - 19
Hand sample Description: This specimen is stress indicated by the elongate orangey-pink grains which are possibly carbonate. There are minor very small fractures
which are filled in by the orangey-pink mineral (possibly siderite). Massive, aphanitic matrix of quartz carbonate.
Location: Drill Hole SK-06-03, 20.42 m
Mineral Modal Size Shape Altered Altered Inclusions Associated Minerals Textures Other Notes
% mm
To From
Carbonate 30

Sample Number: SKC -22
Hand sample Description: Light grey to brown, containing visible disseminated CPY and Galena. The galena is predominate around grains of carbonate minerals. The
sample is highly iron stained. Contains veins of a fine grained black material. Massive, aphanitic groundmass of quartz and carbonate.
Location: Drill Hole SK-06-03, 38.4 m
Mineral Modal Size Shape Altered To Altered Inclusions Associated Textures
Other Notes
% mm
From
Minerals
Carbonate 35

Sample Number: SKC -24
Hand sample Description: This sample is a dark grey-white sample, with multiple cross-cutting veins of white minerals (QTZ CARB). Contains a few vugs, patches
of Malachite, and appears slightly myltonized. Massive, aphanitic matrix of carbonate and quartz.
Location: Drill Hole SK-06-03, 48.5 m
Mineral Modal Size Shape Altered To Altered Inclusions Associated
Textures Other Notes
% mm
From
Minerals
Chlorite 10 0.1-1 Subhedral - K-spar.
PLAG, SER
- K-spar, PLAG, SER Vein filling, Veins Brownish w/ Higher
Birefr., Fe-staining
Quartz 10 0.2-1 Subhedral - - - PLAG, K-spar, HEM Interstitial, in fill,
corona
Rimmed by HEM,
rimming CARB
Carbonate 20 0.2-5 Anhedral - - - HEM, PLAG, QTZ Interstitial Rimmed by HEM
K-spar 3 0.5-2 Subhedral Chlorite,
Sericite
- Chlorite, Sericite PLAG, SER,
CHLOR
Plagioclase 7 1-12 Subhedral SER - SER, CARB,
BORN, CHLOR
SER, CARB,
BORN, CHLOR,
QTZ
Sericite 20

Sample Number: SKC-25
Hand sample Description: This specimen is dark green grey in color with visible clots of a green mineral (possibly replacing feldspar). The rock appears to have been
stressed due to the elongate nature of the green colored grains.
Location: Drill Hole SK-06-03, 51.3 m
Mineral Modal Size Shape Altered To Altered Inclusions Associated Minerals Textures Other Notes
% mm
From
Carbonate 30 0.2-6 Subhedral - - HEM, TOUR HEM, TOUR, PLAG,
Qtz
Plagioclase 7 0.1-5 Anhedral Sericite,
Muscovite
- MUS, SER Muscovite, Sericite,
CARB
Sericite 25 0.01- Euhedral - PLAG - PLAG, Muscovite,
0.1
SER
Granoblastic
Relict , Granoblastic
Granoblastic, Sheaf,
psuedomorphic of
feldspar
Muscovite 2 0.1-1 Subhedral - PLAG
SER
Quartz

Sample Number: SKC-26
Hand sample Description: Dark grey black sample with white vein-like bodies running through the rock. Shows a high amount of iron staining, massive. Slightly
magnetite in sections, with a dark aphanitic matrix and quartz carbonate veining. Fractured which have been in-filled by the quartz carbonate. Breccitated.
Location: Drill Hole SK-06-03, 54.4m
Mineral Modal
%
Size
mm
Shape Altered To Altered
From
Inclusions Associated Minerals Textures Other
Notes
Carbonate 40 0.1-7 Subhedral- - - QTZ QTZ, PLAG, SER, Pseudomorphic Possible
Euhedral
TOUR
Plagioclase 15 0.01- Anhedralsubhedral
Sericite - Sericite QTZ, CARB, TOUR Pseudomorphic,
15
Corona
Sericite 15 0.01- Subhedral - PLAG - CARB,QTZ, PLAG, Fracture fill, Viens,
0.3
TOUR
Pseudomorphic
Quartz 5 0.1-3 Anhedral - - - CARB, PLAG Interstitial,
Pseudomorphic
Tourmaline Trace 0.1-1 Subhedral - - - CARB, SER
Sphalerite Trace-1 0.1-1 Anhedral - - - CPY, HEM, T-T, GAL Framboydial
siderite
Majority is
K-spar
Chalcopyrite 5 0.2-30 Anhedral BORN, T-
T, DIG
- BORN MAG, T-T, BORN,
SHPAL, MIN P, PY
Framboydial, ratty
edges, HT
Bornite 3 0.2-1 Anhedral DIG CPY CPY CPY, DIG, MAG Framboydial,
Diginite 2 0,01-
0.2
Anhedral - BORN,
MIN P
- BORN, MIN P, CPY,
MAG
Corona around MIN P
and BORN
Tetrahedrite- 3 0.2-2 Anhedral - CPY CPY, MIN P CPY, SPHAL, MIN P
Tennantite
Magnetite 5 0.2-6 Euhedralsubhedral
- HEM CPY, HEM<
BORN, DIG
CPY, HEM
Pitted, mainly smooth
edged
Hematite 10 0.01-4 Anhedral MAG - CPY, MAG CPY, MAG Framboydial
MIN P trace 0.2-
0.6
Euhedral DIG - - CPY, DIG White cubic
pinkish
Pyrite Trace 0.1- Subhedral - - - CPY,
0.3
Galena Trace 0.2-3 Anhedral - - - SPHAL
Rock Name: Hematite breccia
XII

Sample Number: SKC-28
Hand sample Description: Massive, brecciated, aphanitic matrix of carbonate and quartz with veins of iron staining. Highly strained and fractured. Amygdules filled
with carbonate.
Location: Drill Hole SK-06-03, 60.9 m
Mineral Modal Size Shape Altered Altered Inclusions Associated Minerals Textures Other Notes
% mm
To From
Carbonate 40 0.2-9 Euhedralsubhedral
- - MAG, Siderite, QTZ, psuedomorphic
PLAG, MAG, HEM
Quartz 7 0.1-4 Anhedralsubhedral
- - - MAG, HEM, CARB Interstitial, corona
textures
Plagioclase 7 0.3-8 Anhedral Sericite - Sericite Sericite, CARB, QTZ Psuedomorphic
Sericite 15 0.01- Subhedral - PLAG - PLAG, QTZ, CARB Veins, psuedomorphic
0.1
Tourmaline 5 0.1- Subhedral - - - - Needles, vein fill
0.8
Chalcopyrite 3 0.2-4 Anhedral PY MAG, HEM, PY Embayed, ratty
Sphalerite 3 0.1-1 Anhedral - - - PY, CPY
Pyrite

Sample Number: SKC-32
Hand sample Description: Massive, aphanitic matrix with quartz carbonate veining, moderately magnetic in sections. Minor Iron staining, with multiple carbonatequartz
filled voids and tourmaline() veining. Massive seritization of feldspar.
Location: Drill Hole SK-06-03, 82.4 m
Mineral Modal
%
Size
mm
Shape Altered To Altered
From
Inclusions Associated Minerals Textures Other
Notes
Tourmaline 5 0.2-4 Subhedral - - - SER, PLAG, QTZ, CARB Bladed, vein fill
Carbonate 25 0.2-6 Subhedral - - - QTZ, PLAG, Sericite, Granoblastic
Tourmaline
Quartz 5 0.1-2 Anhedral - - - PLAG, Sericite,
Granoblastic, vein fill
Tourmaline, CARB
Sericite 15 0.01- Subhedral - PLAG - PLAG, QTZ Mesh, sheaf, vein fill
0.3
Plagioclase 25 0.2-13 Subhedral Sericite, - Sericite Sericite, Chlorite Porphyroblastic, seriate
chlorite
Chlorite 3 0.1-0.4 Suhedral - PLAG - PLAG, Sericte veins
Magnetite 7 0.2-5 Euhedral - - HEM HEM, PY Disseminated
Hematite 15 0.2-4 Subhedraleuhedral
- - MAG MAG Bladed, fibrous-like
rosettes
Chalcopyrite Trace 0.01-.7 Euhedral - - - SPHAL Disseminated
Sphalerite Trace-1 0.3-3 Subhedral - - - PY, HEM, CPY
Pyrite Trace 0.01- Euhedral - - - SPHAL Disseminated
0.4
Rock Name: Meta-Volcanic
XIV

Sample Number: SKC-35
Hand sample Description: Massive to weakly foliated, grey green specimen with manganese oxide staining on surface. There are visible grains of chalcopyrite and
Tetrahedrite-Tennantite () or Sphalerite. Consists of an aphanitic matrix of quartz-carbonate. The oxidized surface indicates malachite and azurite are also present.
Weakly magnetic in places.
Location: AM-4
Mineral
Modal
%
Size
mm
Shape Altered To Altered
From
Inclusions Associated
Minerals
Textures
Carbonate 25 0.2-6 Anhedralsubhedral
- - CPY QTZ, CPY, MAL
Chlorite 5 0.01- Subhedral - PLAG - PLAG Sericite, Veins
0.8
SPHAL
Quartz 30 0.2-2 Subhedral - - TOUR CARB, TOUR Granoblastic, Interstitial
Plagioclase 10 0.2-4 Suhedral Sericite, - Sericite Sericite, Chlorite
Chlorite
Sericite 7 0.01- Suhedral - PLAG - PLAG, Chlorite Vein fill
0.4
Malachite

Sample Number: SKC-36
Hand sample Description: a massive, green colored sample with large phenocrysts of K-spar () and relict pyroxene (). Consist of a quatz carbonate aphanitic matrix.
Contains a couple cross-cutting veinlets that appear to be in-filled with quartz. Moderately to strongly magnetic in places.
Location: Roadcut
Mineral Modal Size Shape Altered To Altered Inclusions Associated Textures Other Notes
% mm
From
Minerals
Chlorite 5 0.4-9 Subhedral – - - - BIO, AMPH, EPI
Euhedral
Plagioclase 35 0.3-70 Subhedral Sericite, - EPI, SER, SER, EPI, BIO, Porphyritic Slightly sericitized
EPI, CARB
CARB AMPH, CARB
Biotite 10 0.4-8 Anhedralsubhedral
- - - CHLOR, AMPH,
EPI
Sericite 5 0.01- Euhedral - PLAG - PLAG, EPI Mesh
0.2
Amphibole 15 0.5-10 Suhedral- EPI - BIO,
Euhedral
CHLOR
BIO, CHLOR Intergrown w/
micas
Carbonate Trace-2 0.2-4 Subhedral - - - BIO, AMPH Interstitial
Epidote 15 0.3-10 Subhedraleuhedral
- PLAG - PLAG AMPH, -
AMPH
BIO, CHLOR
Magnetite 5 0.4-6 Subhedral HEM Gangue HEM, GANGUE Disseminated
material
Hematite 3 0.1-1 Subhedral - MAG - MAG, GANGUE Disseminated
Fine 5

Sample Number: SKC-37
Hand sample Description: Massive to moderately foliated, homogeneous grey green rock with visible chalcopyrite. Quartz carbonate aphanitic matrix with iron stained
veining, carbonate amygdules. The oxidized surface of this specimen has indications of malachite and manganese oxide.
Location: AM-3 Bonanza Shaft Pit, 478435 E, 5474106N
Mineral Modal Size Shape Altered To Altered Inclusions Associated Minerals Textures Other Notes
% mm
From
Quartz 10 0.3-6 Anhedral - - - CARB, PLAG Vein fill,
stressed
Carbonate 40 0.3-20 Anhedral- - - Sphalerite QTZ PLAG Groundmass
Subhedral
Biotite 3 0.1-3 Subhedral Chlorite - - Chlorite PLAG, QTZ, Vein fill
CARB
Sericite 3 0.1-0.4 Subhedral - PLAG - PLAG, Chlorite,
Biotite
Plagioclase 5 0.3-1 Anhedral Sericite, EPI - Sericite,
EPI
Sericite, EPI, Chlorite,
Biotite, CARB
Epidote 5 0.3-2 Subhedral - PLAG - PLAG, chlorite, Vein fill
Sericite
Chlorite 5 0.2-5 Subhedral - Biotite - Biotite, CARB, PLAG
Chalcopyrite 15 0.4-15 Anhedral COV,
SPHAL, T-
- - COV, SPHAL, T-T,
Pyrite
Corona rims,
vein-like
T
Pyrite Trace-1 0.2-1 Euhrdral - - - CPY Disseminated
Tetrahedrite- Trace 0.2-0.8 Subhedral - CPY - CPY
Tennantite
Sphalerite 3 0.2-3 Anhedral - CPY CPY CPY, CARB, GAL Disseminated Rimmed by CPY
Galena Trace 0.1-3 Anhedral - -- - SPHAL,COV, CPY
Covellite 2 0.01- Anhedral - CPY - CPY, GAL Disseminated
0.1
MIN P Trace 0.3-3 Subhedral - - - COV, CPY
Fine Alteration 7

Sample Number: SKC-38
Hand sample Descrip tion: Massive, grey-green-brown homogeneous rocks with approximately 15% vugs. The aphanitic matrix is made up of altered potassium
feldspar. The specimen appears to be slightly brecciated and the oxidized surface shows indications of Manganese-oxide.
Location: AM-5 Footwall of Main Pit 478201 E 5474300 N
Mineral
Modal Size Shape Altered Altered Inclusions Associated Textures Other Notes
% mm
To From
Minerals
Plagioclase 50 0.1-9 Subhedral Sericite CARB SER SER, CARB Poryphyrtic ,
Sericite 5 0.1-0.3 Subhedral - PLAG - PLAG, CARB
Biotite 7 0.2-3 Subhedral - - - -
Relict Carbonate 1 0.4-3 Anhedral PLAG - - FELD, Sericite
Tourmaline Trace 0.2-2 Anhedral - - - - Random pieces
Limonite/ Iron manganese
hydroxy oxides
35

Sample Number: SKC-42
Hand sample Description: A massive, hydrothermally altered breccias with an aphanititic matrix of quartz and carbonate. There are multiple varities of visible sulfides,
including, Chalocpyrite, bornite, tetrahedrite-tennantite, and covellite. The weathered surface shows indications of malachite and iron staining.
Location: #4 Portal Waste
Mineral Modal
%
Size
mm
Shape Altered To Altered
From
Inclusions Associated Minerals Textures Other
Notes
Carbonate 30 0.3-16 Anhedral- - - BOR PLAG, Sericite CARB, Granoblastic
Euhedral
BOR
Quartz 7 0.2-4 Anhedral - - - CARB
PLAG 5 02-4 Subhedral Sericite - Sericite, CARB Sericite, CARB
Sericite 2 0.1-0.2 Subhedral - PLAG - PLAG, CARB
Bornite 15 0.4-30 Anhedral COV, DIG CPY CPY, STRO, T-T, CARB,
CPY. COV,DIG, GAL
Exsolution lamella of
CPY, vein fill
Digenite Trace-2