MINERAL
INVENTORY FILE NO.
0681
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRODUCT
Gold
NTS AREA
63K13SE
REF.
Au 2
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
NAME OF PROPERTY
Tartan Lake Mine (Killarney)
OWNER OF
OPERATOR ADDRESS
1998- Claude Resources Inc.
200- 224 4th Ave. S.
Saskatoon, SK
S7K 5M5
www.clauderesources.com
OBJECT LOCATED
Mine
MINING
DIVISION
The Pas
Latitude
54°51'22
Longitude
101°43'50
Uncertainty
(m)
100
UTM Zone
14U
Easting
324800
Northing
6081900
L.S./Quarter
Section
5
Section
6
Township
68
Range
28 WPM
DESCRIPTION OF
DEPOSIT
The area is underlain by several phases of dioritic to gabbroic rocks,
that intrude Amisk Group basalt to andesite flows and pyroclastic rocks. The
Tartan Lake deposit consists of two gold-bearing shear zones: the Main
zone and the South zone. The Main zone does not outcrop; however, the South zone
is well exposed and is characterized by a central zone of
chlorite-carbonate-quartz, fuchsite, tourmaline, sericite schist, a marginal
zone of weakly schistose chlorite-carbonate-quartz and an outermost zone of pale
green, schistose to weakly schistose, chloritic rock. Fine-grained, massive
gabbro with weak carbonate alteration is found at the margins of the
shear.
Most of the property's reserves are confined to the Main zone shear
and consist of two gold-bearing lenses that strike 090°, dip steeply to the
north, and plunge steeply west to northwest (Northern Miner, January 20, 1985;
Kreczmer and Deveaux, 1986). Lens number 1 has a strike length of 60 m and
extends vertically to the 90 m level. Lens number 2, which is located 5-10 m on
the footwall side of lens 1, has a strike length of 40 m near surface,
increasing to 200 m long, on the 200 m level.
ASSOCIATED
MINERALS OR PRODUCTS OF VALUE
N/A
HISTORY OF
EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Gold was found on two adjacent claims on the east side of the narrows,
at the bend in Tartan Lake. Flin Flon is approximately 13 km SW of these
claims.
Killarney (P87) and Monica 2 (P214) were staked in 1931 by T.
Creighton and E. Tahey, respectively. The following year, Consolidated Mining
and Smelting Company of Canada Limited did surface work on the west side of
Killarney and optioned Monica 2. Assays from Killarney yielded $1.80 Au over 15
ft. and up to $100.20 Au across 1 ft. Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co. Limited
sampled Monica 2 and found from $2.20 Au over 3 ft. to $2.80 Au over 7 ft.
(Brownell, Unpublished Information File).
By the end of 1933, 14 pits and
trenches had been put down on the two claims. Some of this work may have been
done by Ventures Limited, which located a zone assaying up to 102 grams/tonne
(g/t) (3 oz Au/ton) over narrow widths (Northern Miner, Sept. 28, 1945). In
1939, Killarney was leased as
M-1070.
Nesnah Mining and Exploration
Company Limited took an option on Killarney in 1945. Nesnah traced a mineralized
shear across three claims. In the autumn of 1945, the company began X-ray
diamond drilling on Monica 2. One 3 m (9.7 ft.) core section averaged 23.62 g/t
(0.689 oz/ton) Au. At least 37 holes were drilled by the time drilling ceased in
1946. Most of this was done in exploration of the extent of the high-grade
intersection, found the previous year. Reserve estimates, based on 1100 m (3600
ft.) of diamond drilling, were 64 t (70 tons/ft) per vertical 0.3 m, averaging
19 g/t (0.56 oz/ton) Au or 90 t (100 tons) per vertical 0.3 m (1 ft.) grading 14
g/t (0.416 oz/ton) Au. The best section returned 260 g/t (7.58 oz/ton) Au across
0.3 m (1 ft.) in a 3 m (9 ft.) section, which averaged 29 g/t (0.847 oz/ton) Au
(Nesnah Corp. File).
The later histories of the claims are tabulated
below:
Claim Year Activity
Killarney 1960 Cancelled
1961
Restaked as Lin (P897857) by J. Murray
1962-74 Surface work reported
1976
Cancelled
Monica 2 1971 Cancelled
1972 C.B. 4885 staked by A.T.
Jacobson
1974 Cancelled
In September 1981, Granges Exploration
Aktibolag staked CB 12297 over the property. Granges, in joint venture with
Scandinavian Minerals Syndicate (SMS) and Aberford Resources, carried out
diamond drilling. In May 1984, they announced the discovery of significant gold
mineralization. Hole 43 had intersected 17 m (55.2 ft.) averaging 21g/t (0.6
oz/ton) Au, with one 3m (10.5 ft.) section averaging 77 g/t (2.25 oz/ton) Au.
From May 1984 until the Tartan Lake mine went into production in May
1987, Granges and joint venture partner Abermin Corporation (formerly Aberford
Resources), carried out an extensive diamond drilling ore delineation program.
The program outlined reserves of 465 000 t (513 000 tons) at a grade of 12 g/t
(0.349 oz/ton) Au (Northern Miner, January 12, 1987).
In early 1986, the
joint venture partners commenced work on the first phase of their property
development plan with the construction of a 29 km (18 mi.), all weather road.
Work on the underground program began in April with development of a decline.
The second phase of development included assembly of a 454 t (500 ton) per day
mill, the extension of the decline to the 244 m (800 ft.) level and the
extraction of a 908 t (10 000 ton) bulk sample from the "Main Zone". In June
1987, the mine went into production, at a rate of 227 t (250 tons) per day. Mill
throughput was expected to jump to350 t/day by September 1987 and 454 t (500
tons) per day at an annual production rate of 1338 kg (43 000 oz) per year, by
the end of 1987. Capital cost of the project was $20.5 million.
In 1988,
Granges started an expansion plan with the goal of increasing recovery by 90%,
however, the expansion was delayed with the discovery of water problems
underground, as well as false grading reports due to the presence of nuggets
(Northern Miner, April 4, July 4, 1988). In the same year, Abermin had been
asked to pay its share of outstanding joint venture costs. When Abermin failed
to meet that payment, under the joint venture agreement the interests in the
mine shifted to 60% Granges and 40% Abermin. In late 1988, after an unprofitable
4 years, Abermin rescinded from its joint venture agreement with Granges and
totally dissociated itself from the property (Northern Miner, November 28,
1988). Shortly after, Abermin filed a lawsuit stating that the company was led
to believe the grading and forecasts were higher than they actually were and was
seeking the $17 million that they invested in the project and/or damages
(Norther Miner, September 5, 1988).
In 1989, following the introduction of
Granges to the American and London Stock Exchange, Granges Exploration Ltd.
changed its name to Granges Inc. Shortly afterwards, production was put on hold
at Tartan due to excessively low gold prices.
In 1990, the British
Columbia Supreme Court ruled in Grange’s favour, awarding the company 100%
interest in the property, as well as a $5 million settlement. Abermin had
declared bankruptcy during the lawsuit (Canadian Mines Handbook,
1991-1992).
The property remained on hold until Granges began a new 3000 m
drilling program in 1994. This program resulted in the discovery of a new gold
zone, 100-200m southwest of the main zone, with mineable resources standing at
375 000 t ore grading 6.27g/t Au (Canadian Mines Handbook, 1995-1996).
In
1996, Granges amalgamated with Da Capo Resources Ltd., on a share for share
basis, to form Vista Gold Corp.
From after the amalgamation in 1996 to 1998,
Aur Resources may have held Tartan. Aur purchased a group of properties
from Granges in this period, but it is unknown if Tartan was
included.
Claude Resources Ltd. acquired Tartan in 1998, however as of
2002, no further work has been done on the property (Claude Resources Ltd.,
Annual Report, 2001).
HISTORY OF
PRODUCTION
Year Gold Produced (oz)
1987 5 010
1988 13 463
1989 17
341
REFERENCES
Bateman, J.D. 1945: Gold Deposits East of Flin Flon; Geological Survey
of Canada, Paper 45-12,
and the Precambrian June 1945, p. 7,
8.
Bateman, J.D. and Harrison, J.M. 1944: Mikanagan Lake; Geological
Survey of Canada, Paper
44-22, 1944.
Brownell, G.M. 1932:
Tartan Lake Group, SE 13, 63 K; Unpublished Information File
Manitoba
Mines Branch.
Canadian Mines Handbook 1991: Granges Inc.; Canadian Mines
Handbook, 1991 -1992 p.181.
Canadian Mines Handbook 1996: Granges Inc.;
Canadian Mines Handbook, 1995 -1996 p. 189.
Claude Resources Ltd. 2001:
Annual Report; Claude Resources Ltd.
George Cross Newsletter: various
issues.
Kreczmer, M.J. and Deveaux, P.J. 1986: Exploration and geology of
Tartan Lake and Puffy Lake
deposits, Flin Flon area, Manitoba; in Gold
in the Western Shield (L.A. Clark, ed.); The Canadian Institute of Mining and
Metallurgy, Special Volume 38, p. 359-360.
Manitoba Mines Branch: Monica
2, File 15387; Pas Mining Recording Files, Manitoba
Mines
Branch.
Manitoba Mines Branch: Nesnah Mining & Exploration
Company Limited, SE 13, 63 K;
Corporation File, Manitoba Mines
Branch.
Manitoba Mines Branch: Tartan Lake, SE 13, 63 K;
Unpublished Information File,
Manitoba Mines Branch
Northern Miner
1945: Northern Miner September 8, 1945.
Northern Miner 1985: Northern
Miner January 20, 1985.
Northern Miner 1987: Northern Miner January 12,
1987.
Northern Miner 1988: “Granges applies mining knowledge”; Northern
Miner April 4, 1988.
Northern Miner 1988: “Granges, Hycroft fast learners
in Nevada region”; Northern Miner July 4,
1988.
Northern Miner 1988:
“Abermin pursues claim despite numerical odds”; Northern Miner
November 28,
1988.
Peloquin, S., and Gale, G.H. 1985: Geological setting of the
Tartan Lake gold deposit; in
Manitoba Energy and Mines, Geological
Services, Report of Field Activities 1985, Report GS-16,
p.71-73.
Peloquin, S., Tannahill, B. and Gale, G.H. 1986: Geology of the
Tartan Lake gold deposit; in
Manitoba Energy and Mines, Minerals
Division, Report of Field Activities 1986, Report GS-11, p. 56-64.Manitoba Mines
Branch.
Wright, J.F. and Stockwell, C.H. 1934: Gold Occurrences of the
Flin Flon District; Geological
Survey of Canada, Summary Report 1933, Part C,
p. 8-10.
MAP REFERENCES
Anonymous: Map 632, Flin Flon, Geological map, Scale 1:63
360.
Bateman, J.D. and Harrison, J.M. 1944: Map 44-22 A, Mikanagan Lake,
1:31 680 scale,
geological map, accompanying paper 12944,
GSC.
Bateman, J.D. and Harrison, J.M. 1944: Map 832 A, Mikanagan Lake,
1:63 360 scale, geological
map, accompanying Marginal Notes by Bateman &
Harrison (1945), GSC.
Manitoba Mines Branch & GSC 1963: Map 2454 G,
Flin Flon, Manitoba Mines Branch & GSC
Aeromagnetic map, scale 1:63
360.
Surveys & Mapping Branch 1981: Map 63 K/13 E, Flin Flon, Surveys
& Mapping Branch,
Ottawa, topographic map (3rd Edition), scale 1:50
000.
Manitoba Mines Branch: Map ER 79-6-4, (West Part); accompanying
Economic Geology
Report 79-6, Manitoba Mines Branch.
Manitoba Mines
Branch: Maps, SE 13, 63 K,"Circa 1960"; Claim Maps Series, Mining
Recording,
Manitoba Mines Branch, claim map, scale 1:31 680,
.
Manitoba Geological Services: Preliminary Map 1986 F-2, 63
K/13,Tartan Lake-Lac Aimee;
Manitoba Geological Services, scale 1:15
840.
Manitoba Geological Services: Preliminary Map, 1985 MI-1, 63 K/13,
Tartan, Manitoba Geological
Services, scale 1:5 000.
URL
N/A
REMARKS
Gold mineralization in a similar environment was reported on the
Dublin claim, south of and adjacent to Killarney M.C. (Bateman, 1945 and Wright
et al., 1934).
NOTES
N/A
Compiled/Revised
by:
SMH HRW HRW DJR JJJ
Date
02-77 06-84 03-85 06-87 06-02
