Located 12 miles southeast of Truro, N.S., the Smithfield property has been known to host zinc, lead and silver since 1880. Probable reserves of 550,000 tons grading 3.5% zinc and 2.7% lead were calculated in 1951. But 21 holes have been drilled since then.
The most recent work was done by Granges Exploration between 1981 and 1985 when base metals prices were in the doldrums. One hole in that 19-hole program intersected 27 ft of material grading 11.38% zinc and 4.4% lead, Dale Dunlop says. Another hole cut 42 ft of 5.92% zinc. 1.06% lead and 11 oz silver per ton.
“Clearly the grades are there,” Dale Dunlop told The Northern Miner, “its just a technical matter to solve the mining and milling problems.” The deposit is a Mississippi Valley-type reef deposit located at the contact between continental sediments of the Horton Group and marine sediments of the Windsor Group rocks.
It is located about 15 miles from Westminer Canada’s mill at Gays River, N.S.
Fundy also owns a 50% interest in the Walton mine property in Hants Cty., N.S. Between 1940 and 1978 some 5-million tons of barite and 4 1/2 million oz of silver were mined from the deposit by open pit and underground methods. Base metals values were 4.33% lead, 1.44% zinc and 0.56% copper.
Dynamic Consolidated Resources (ASE) of Calgary has an option to earn a 50% interest in the ground by spending $500,000. That company farmed out a 25% interest to Gunnar Gold (TSE) which financed the program.
That drilling program, drawn up by Nova Scotia Department of Mines and Energy geologist Jim Patterson, was designed to find the extension of the silver/base metals deposit at depth. Several holes intersected the marker horizon (the Horton/Windsor contact) but results are still being evaluated.
Fundy has contracted engineers Jacques Whitford & Associates to re-examine the original drill core and logs which, until now, have been locked up due to a legal dispute. They will determine the extent of the reserves below the 1,600-ft level and will determine whether or not the deposit flattens out at depth.
The conclusions of this study will spell out the economics of re-opening the mine, Dale Dunlop says. The $60,000 study is being funded partially by a grant from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
About 900,000 tons of direct- shipping barite remain in the mine, according to Patterson.
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