Preliminary Report on Gowganda Mining Division District of Nipissing Ontario — John Shaqi
Preliminary Report on Gowganda Mining Division District of Nipissing OntarioCollins, W. H. (William Henry)
Science
Preliminary Report on Gowganda Mining Division District of Nipissing Ontario
Collins, W. H. (William Henry)
Geology -- Ontario; Mines and mineral resources -- Ontario
The properties owned by Messrs. Crawford and Dobie about half a mile
farther south were not visited, but were generally reported to be of
about the same richness as that in T.R. 1966. Immediately north of
Hanging-stone lake Mr. F. A. McIntosh was conducting active prospecting
in a coarse gabbroid, locally syenitic, form of the diabase, intersected
by aplite dikes. A discovery of native silver has been made since then
and the property sold to Messrs. F. R. Bartlett & Co., of Toronto,
together with other claims located between the north-east and north-west
arms. Other discoveries are reported just south-east, also a short
distance north of Milne lake.
No silver had been obtained in the eastern diabase strip, although the
geological conditions appear identical and calcite veins are abundant.
An exceptionally large vein, about 18ʺ wide, and traceable across two
adjoining claims was seen on the property of Messrs. McLaughlin and
McIntosh, about half a mile north-east of the north-west arm.
Mineralization in it near the surface was very slight. Several veins
carrying small amounts of chalcopyrite, pyrite, bloom and smaltite were
seen on the properties of Messrs. Elstone and Reilly (T.R. 1961, 1962
and 1903). In one of them small amounts of bismuth are present; another
contains an unusually heavy black substance which proved to be calcite
filled with minute crystals of magnetite.
In the western strip less exploration had been performed and little
could be learned about the ore deposits. Loose pieces of native silver
had been found by W. H. Margueratt in narrow fissures on M.R. 1798, but
the vein material was not exposed.
Outside the Gowganda area systematic prospecting was in progress at only
one point—Wapus creek. Under the management of Mr. Robert Lett a group
of nine claims was being stripped and trenched, with the result that
numerous calcite veins had been traced through a diabase showing the
same complex intermingling of basic and acid phases and aplite dikes as
at Gowganda. Chalcopyrite and cobalt bloom were abundant, and smaltite
had been found as disseminations in the wall rock. Lumps of native
bismuth weighing several ounces had been taken from a fissure in an
aplite dike, analyses of which showed it to contain silver.
Tentative exploration was being conducted along Duncan lake and east of
Firth lake, but not with the closeness and persistence which the
topography of these veins require. In general the veins seen on Duncan
lake are exceptionally rich in quartz, and gash veins are common.
Chalcopyrite, pyrite and galena are the most noticeable metalliferous
minerals, but cobalt bloom stains are frequently observable. So far as
known no attention has been given to the large diabase body between
Duncan lake and the West branch, although its size and varied
composition are thought to make it a desirable prospecting ground.
FUTURE POSSIBILITIES.
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