
Massive sulphide ore with zinc-ore (sphalerite) nodules/clasts
Virtual Museum ID: 19-DP02
Specimen Summary
Massive sulphide ore with zinc-ore (sphalerite) nodules/clasts
Specimen Data
The information listed below relates to the current holding location or collection that the sample is from, and whether the item is viewable at that location or is part of a private collection. Coordinates are given as guides, and we remind you that collecting specimens from these locations is not allowed. Caution is advised visiting such sites and Below BC assumes no responsibility for any injuries or trespassing charges that may occur as a result of the viewer entering these sites.
Collection Details
Original Collection:
Dave Pighin (DP)Sub Collection:
-Collection ID:
DP_02Virtual Museum ID:
19-DP02Accessibility:
Date Added to VM:
2019-06-16Location Information
Sample Origin:
S. of Cranbrook ,B.C.Specific Site:
Vine VeinUTM Easting:
585574UTM Northing:
5472592Datum:
11 (NAD 83)Coordinate Accuracy:
Specimen Details
VM Category:
RockPrimary Features:
Massive sulphide ore with zinc-ore (sphalerite) nodules/clastsPrimary Mineral Formula:
(Zn,Fe)SPrimary Category:
sulphideSecondary Features:
Advanced Geological Information
The following section provides geological data relating to the specimen or the site it was collected from, when available. Information has been obtained from various sources including private and government datasets but may not be up to date. Any geological time periods or ages listed often relate to the primary geology of the area, and may not be the actual date of an event such as mineral formation.
Geological Formation:
Helikian Aldridge Formation (Purcell Supergroup)Geological Period:
Middle ProterozoicStratigraphic Age:
1 to 2.5 Billion YearsGeological Belt:
OminecaGeological Terrane:
Ancestral North AmericaMinfile ID:
082GSW050Site Details:
The Vine 1 occurrence is located west of Peavine Creek at an elevation of 980 metres, approximately 3.1 kilometres north of its mouth on Moyie Lake.
The area lies within the central portion of the Purcell Anticlinorium, which consists of argillites, quartzites and related intruded gabbro sills and dikes of the Helikian Aldridge Formation (Purcell Supergroup).
The occurrence is a shear-related vein system in Middle Aldridge Formation argillites and quartzites. Trenching and drilling has exposed massive and disseminated sulphides (pyrite, sphalerite and galena) within a sheared vein system striking approximately 120 degrees and dipping 45 to 85 degrees to the northwest. Stringer and disseminated sulphides are conspicuous in the shear zone for several metres on either side of the massive sulphides. The mineralized Vine structure has been traced for greater than 1000 metres along strike and along a down dip extension of at least 700 metres.
In 1977, diamond drilling yielded intercepts of (Assessment Report 6863):
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In 1990, diamond drilling of the Vine structure (630 metres depth) intersected three massive sulphide veins. The upper vein has a true width of 4 metres and averages 2.94 per cent lead, 0.2 per cent zinc and 29.13 grams per tonne silver across 4 metres. The middle vein has a true width of 2 metres and averages 36.24 per cent lead, 12.16 per cent zinc, 229.67 grams per tonne silver and 0.34 gram per tonne gold across 2 metres. The lower vein has a true width of 3.4 metres and averages 4.7 per cent lead, 2.09 per cent zinc, 0.36 per cent copper and 35.3 grams per tonne silver across 3.4 metres. The lower vein represents a new sulphide zone within the Vine structure (George Cross News Letter #224 (November), 1991).
In 1994, a drillhole (KV94-57) intercepted a 0.50 metres massive sulphide zone at a depth of 693.6 metres. The zone consists of quartz, pyrrhotite, sphalerite, galena and minor chalcopyrite. A sample across the zone, over 0.50 metre, assayed 5.2 per cent lead, 4.4 per cent zinc and 58.1 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 23740).
In 2012, a channel sample (LJVNR001) of the main Vine vein trench assayed 3.35 grams per tonne gold, 212 grams per tonne silver, 0.19 per cent copper, 16.73 per cent lead and 8.26 per cent zinc over 1.00 metre, while the composite sample (LJVNR001 through LJVNR 003) assayed 2.06 grams per tonne gold, 139 grams per tonne silver, 0.11 per cent copper, 10.94 per cent lead and 4.94 per cent zinc over 1.7 metres (Assessment Report 33874).
Proven and probable reserves for the Vine property are 1,300,000 tonnes grading 2.2 grams per tonne gold, 36.3 grams per tonne silver, 3.12 per cent lead, 3.12 per cent zinc and 0.11 per cent copper (MDAP - Kokanee Exploration Ltd. Prospectus (1990)).
In 1976, massive sulphide boulders were discovered in a road cut north of Moyie Lake and were staked as the Vine 1 claim by Cominco. In 1977, a program of soil sampling and 1386 line-kilometres of combined airborne electromagnetic and magnetic surveys were completed. In 1978, a program of geological mapping and four diamond drill holes, totalling 467 metres, were completed. In 1990, Kokanee Explorations completed four diamond drill holes, totalling 1909.8 metres. In 1992, Ramrod Gold acquired the property and in 1994 a single diamond drill hole, totalling 798.5 metres, was completed. In 2001, Super Group Holdings completed a program of geological mapping on the area as the VP 1 to 20 claims. In August 2004, a small ground electromagnetic geophysics survey (MaxMin and very low-frequency electromagnetic [VLF-EM]) was conducted on select survey lines for a total of 3425 metres. The limited surveying suggested the Vine vein structure and the structure to the northeast may converge toward the Moyie Fault. A zone of structural convergence could be a favourable site for sulphide mineralization to have concentrated (Assessment Report 27624). In 2005, Ruby Red Resources completed a 15.2 line-kilometres ground electromagnetic survey. Later the same year, a five-hole diamond drill program, totalling 248.42 metres, was undertaken on the near-surface portion of the Vine vein to test for the possibility of mineralized crosscutting structures. High-grade sulphide veins intersected by the drilling are mainly the predominant west-northwest trending lenses of sulphides known from previous work. Gold values in some intersections are well above the historic averages determined by previous work and could help to support an open-pit operation to extract the higher grade near-surface massive sulphide zones (Assessment Report 28728). In 2007, a small soil geochemical survey was conducted to determine if any base metal mineralization was present on the area. A small grid of soil sampling on a gabbro dike-bearing structure that parallels the Vine vein identified localized anomalous copper and zinc (Assessment Report 29479). In late 2011, PLX Resources completed a helicopter-borne versatile time domain electromagnetic (VTEM) and aeromagnetic geophysical survey. A total of 68.4 line kilometres were flown over the Vine claim block. Results provided by Geotech Ltd. survey showed anomalous electromagnetic and magnetic values (Assessment Report 32855). In 2012, a program of channel and soil sampling and geological mapping was completed. In 2013, a 4.9 line- kilometre ground electromagnetic survey and a diamond drill hole, totalling 403.6 metres, were completed on the end of a former drillhole (V-78-1). Later that year and in early 2014, PJX Resources completed a gravity survey on the area.
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