Highlights
The property contains the old Witch Bay Mine which lies about 2.5 km northeast of the past producing Wendigo Gold-Copper Mine, the second largest gold producer in the region next to the St. Anthony Gold Mine. The Wendigo Mine was in operation from 1899 to 1943 producing 67,000 oz of gold, 14,760 oz of silver and 1,866,246 lb. of copper from 206,504 tons milled. The average grade of the one milled was 0.33 oz gold/ton.
The Witch Bay Mine was discovered in the early 1930’s. A Government reports assays from the quartz vein of 8.2 to 29.5 g/mt across 0.33 (1.1ft) over a known length of 240m (787 ft). No production recorded. Chalcopyrite is present in the quartz vein at the No.2 Shafto.
Area Geology
The Witch Bay property lies in the GIBI Lake area which comprises the eastern part of the Lake of the Woods Metavolcanic-Metasedimentary Belt within the western part of the Wabigoon Sub province of the Superior Province.
The belt consists generally of easterly to northeasterly isoclinals folded meta-volcanic and sediments intruded by mafic to ultramafic and intermediate to felsic intrusions. An example is the gold-copper mineralization at the Wendigo Mine which is associated with folded, differentiated and ultramafic to mafic intrusions. The Mine development lies on the outside of the south limb of a large fold structure(s). The vast majority of the various rock units have been metamorphosed from the greenschist to lower amphibolite.
Larger granitoid intrusives; ie:, Dryberry Batholith, have deformed and reoriented the earlier developed isoclinal folds. The area’s major shearing/faulting is east and northeasterly with minor sets striking northwesterly.
Area's Historical Exploration
Historically, the area was prospected for gold during the late 1800’s continuing into the early 1930’s. This resulted in 4 golf discoveries: the Stella, Triggs, Wendigo and Witch Bay mines.
Considerable trenching and underground work was performed at all the above sites. The Wendigo Mine (1899 to 1934) was the only gold-copper producer in the area.
After the former years pf prospecting and mine development; exploration activities in the are has been sporadic to none existent up to the present. Work consisted of additional pitting, trenching, geological mapping, drilling and geophysics. The primary areas of geological interested being held in old mining claim patents and leases.
Witch Bay Mine History
The Witch Bay Gold Mine (1934) is situated about 30m south of Kite Lake. The main showing consists of lenticular masses of white quartz occupying a shear zone in basaltics. The exposed zone had a length of 280 feet striking N 85 degrees E and dipping 45 to 70 degrees south. The maximum surface width of the quartz is about 1.5 ft. Three shafts were sunk on this vein starting with No.1 on the west, No.2 and No.3 on the east. The No. 2 had the best gold encouragement and was deepened. A mill plant was installed but work was discontinued in the winter of 1935.
South of this quartz bearing fault zone is a well pronounced rusty shear zone in basalt striking N 60 degrees E dipping 57 to 80 degrees NW. The No.4 shaft was developed at the south end.
Between 1950 and “53, Rexora Mining Corp. Ltd. conducted geological mapping, diamond drilling and trenching. In 1985, Mistango Consolidated and Goldstreet Resources Ltd carried out additional geological mapping and drilling. Canadian Nickel Company Ltd. (Fort Knox Resources) in 1987 performed geological mapping, rock assaying and geophysical work north of the Witch Bay Mine.
Discussion
During early June 2008, geological reconnaissance was conducted on the claim block. The claim boundary lines, roads and trails were used for traverse control. Approximately, 18.5 km was covered. A truck and 2 quads assisted in the ground program.
The purpose of the field survey was to get a visual handle on the geological terrain in conjunction with previous historical exploration work. This work was conducted on portions of the ground controlled by cut north-south grids. Their focus was gold and base metals. Frill testing was limited, and geological mapping was general with no report of surface sampling and assaying.