TABLE OF CONTENTS
GEOLOGY and PROSPECTING
CONCLUSIONS and RECOMMENDATIONS
REFERENCES
Appendix
I Statement of Qualifications
Appendix
II Statement of Costs
Appendix
III Assay Certificates
INTRODUCTION
The dolomite and limestone prospects of the Alexis Mineral Claims could possibly be developed to produce various products and by-products, starting with single stage crushing and screening of the dolomite to produce construction aggregates for the local market. With the addition of grinding and packaging facilities, the dolomite could yield fillers and fertilizers for more regional markets. Further potentials include products for national and international markets, such as dead burned dolomite for refractory brick manufacturing, calcined dolomite and caustic calcined magnesia (periclase) for the refractory industry, which would yield quicklime, hydrated lime and magnesia as by-products used by the pulp and paper industry. Finally, magnesium metal could be produced, using either one of the ferrosilicon processes (Pidgeon process or Magnetherm process) or one of the magnesium chloride processes (Kaiser or Dow). Considering the availability of sea water and the relatively low cost of electrical energy in BC, it is likely that a modified magnesium chloride process would enable the production of magnesium metal at a cost near to that of aluminium.
It is envisaged that, if sufficient reserves are defined, then primary crushing and screening would be carried out at the future quarry site, the crushed material would then be trucked to the prospective barge loading facility for shipment to customers or distributors, or the plant site for secondary crushing and further treatment.
The dolomite limestone deposit near Kleindale, also on the Sechelt
Peninsula, contains 3.4% silica and 1.1% other impurities which would have to
be reduced by grinding and heavy media separation prior to any further
processing and is now within a newly proclaimed Provincial Park.
The prospecting work completed in 1999 suggests that continued
exploration work in the way of soil geochemistry and hand trenching is
warranted.
LOCATION and ACCESS
Location Map
The Alexis Claims are located in south-western British Columbia on the
Sechelt Peninsula, about 67 km (42 miles) West-Northwest from Vancouver. Present access to the properties is 10 km
from Halfmoon Bay on paved road and on gravelled logging road. Halfmoon Bay can be reached on 35 km paved
highway from Langdale, which is served by ferry from Horseshoe Bay, in West
Vancouver.
An access road to connect the properties and a prospective barge loading
facility from Sechelt Inlet is also a possibility.
The property is about 850m to 1000m above seal level; on a gently rolling
plateau of the Caren Range hills, which, despite the moderate climate of the
coastal region, remain covered with snow in the short winter season. The year round mean temperature is about
10ºC. Precipitation is also moderate,
ranging from 750mm to 1000mm.
There are several small, swampy mountain lakes in the area, draining into
each other and into Sechelt Inlet by creeks.
The most voluminous water flow is in Carlson Creek, crossing nearly the
entire property and providing more than sufficient water for potential diamond
drilling operations.
Most of the area has been cleared by logging and some areas are covered
by young coniferous trees of second and third growth.
The nearby infrastructure is well developed to facilitate any future
quarry operation. A high voltage
transmission line is planned to cross the properties; timber and water are
available for construction on the site; labour, materials, equipment, transport
and communications are all available at Halfmoon Bay or in Vancouver.
Topographic Map
The Alexis Property consists of the following claims.
TABLE I |
||||||
LIST of CLAIMS |
||||||
|
Claim Name |
Tenure Number |
Size |
Units |
Date Located |
Owner |
* Current Anniversary Date |
|
Alexis 15 |
368104 |
5S4E |
20 |
March 9/99 |
J.T. Shearer |
March 9, 2002 |
|
Alexis 1 |
362388 |
2 post |
1 |
May 5/98 |
J.T. Shearer |
May 5, 2003 |
|
Alexis 2 |
362389 |
2 post |
1 |
May 5/98 |
J.T. Shearer |
May 5, 2003 |
* with application of assessment work documented in this report.
Mineral title is acquired in British Columbia via the Mineral Act and regulations, which require approved assessment work to be filed each year in the amount of $100 per unit per year for the first three years and then $200 per unit per year thereafter to keep the claim in good standing.
Under the present status of mineral claims in British Columbia, the consideration of industrial minerals requires careful designation of the products end use. An industrial mineral is a rock or naturally occurring substance that can be mined and processed for its unique qualities and used for industrial purposes (as defined in the Mineral Tenure Act). It does not include “Quarry Resources”. Quarry Resources includes earth, soil, marl, peat, sand and gravel, and rock, rip-rap and stone products that are used for construction purposes (as defined in the Land Act). Construction means the use of rock or other natural substances for roads, buildings, berms, breakwaters, runways, rip-rap and fills and includes crushed rock. Dimension stone means any rock or stone product that is cut or split on two or more sides, but does not include crushed rock.
Geological mapping and prospecting traverses were keyed to the 1:5,000
enlargement map (of the 1:20,000 trim data) and controlled by compass
bearings. Outcrops and traverse
locations are plotted on the 1:5,000 base map.
The road system is accurately located on the 1:20,000 scale available
mapping, which provides a suitable scale for mapping.
Claim Map
The relatively flat Caren Range Plateau was closely prospected in the
1930’s by
J. Klien, who discovered numerous copper-zinc showings related to skarn
development along the contacts between the carbonate horizons and the enclosing
intrusive phases. The dominantly copper
bearing Cambrian Chieftain and Silurian Chieftain located about 10 km northwest
of the Alexis Property was mined on a small scale into the 1940’s. A copper molybdenum property was explored in
the 1980’s (Cochrane, 1982) north of the Alexis property.
Peninsula Lime and Magnesia Ltd. carried out some stripping and mapping
between 1970 and 1971 in the southeast corner of the Plain Claim and part of
the Alexis 1 Claim. A small crushing (Hammer)
mill was assembled by the company during this time and is still present on the
property. Some material was produced
for the stucco, chip and slab stone market.
A minor amount of work was conducted by Stoney Plain Industries Ltd. in
1978. J. M. Ashton prepared a
preliminary feasibility report on the mining of dolomite products in 1973. Candol Developments Ltd. carried out a small
program of mapping, sampling and diamond drilling (1423 metres) between 1983
and 1987 under the supervision of various companies.
Reserves of limestone and dolomite of a 3-kilometre strike length on the
adjacent Plain Claim were initially estimated by Wright Engineering in
1983. Indicated reserves to a depth of
50 metres and inferred reserves estimated from 50 to 300 metres are given as
follows in tonnes without any drilling:
|
|
Indicated |
Inferred |
Total |
|||
|
Dolomite |
17,500,000 |
100,000,000 |
117,500,000 |
|
||
|
Limestone |
7,500,000 |
20,000,000 |
27,500,000 |
|
||
Drilling between 1985 and 1987 defined a body of dolomite 30 to 80 metres
wide and at least 500 metres in length on the Plain Claim 2 km north of the
Alexis 15 Claim. The drilled dolomite
deposit is estimated to contain measured geological reserves of 3.5 million
tonnes of dolomite averaging 19.2 per cent MgO over an average width of 55
metres, a 500 metre strike length and down to 50 metres in depth (Ditson, 1987,
p.23).
The Coast Belt (Coast Plutonic Complex) comprises a belt of granitic
rocks of Jurassic to Tertiary age that follows the British Columbia coast
northwestward into Alaska. Numerous
screens of metamorphosed country rock, varying from metres to kilometres in
width, are distributed along the length of the complex as wedges and roof
pendants; relatively small carbonate deposits are occasionally preserved in the
pendants. The southern part of the belt
containing the Alexis claims is composed of pendants probably derived from Upper
Triassic units of the Wrangellia Terrane (Quatsino and Karmutsen
formations). Farther north Paleozoic to
early Mesozoic metasediments and metavolcanics of the Alexander Terrane
predominate (Fischl, 1992).
Carbonates incorporated in the Coast Belt almost always show evidence of
high-temperature metamorphism. They are
usually recrystallized and bleached white to lighter shades of grey. Erratic contamination by pyrite and silicates
is quite common and can be extensive.
Skarn zones containing a variety of calcium silicates are sometimes
developed along the margins of the deposits where they contact intrusive rock
and most of the deposits have undergone varying degrees of dolomitization due
to circulating hydrothermal fluids generated by the adjacent intrusions. The dolomite sometimes occurs in beds
several metres thick intercalated with beds of calcium to high-calcium
limestone of similar thickness, as on the east coast of Banks Island. Dolomite is more commonly developed within
the deposits as disseminations, lenses and irregular masses millimetres to
metres in width that become more numerous toward the margins of the
deposits. More uniform dolomitization
over greater widths, such as on the Sechelt Peninsula, is uncommon. Dikes are abundant in some deposits and rare
in others. Carbonates in the northern
part of the belt are commonly interbedded with other metamorphic rocks.
Various masses of dolomite and limestone occur over a 3-kilometre length
in a northwest-trending screen of Karmutsen Formation (?) metavolcanics and
metasediments (Roddick et al., 1979), just northwest of Carlson Lake, 13
kilometres east of Pender Harbour on the Sechelt Peninsula. The beds within the pendant strike northerly
and dip moderately to steeply east.
They are comprised mostly of carbonates outcropping over widths in
excess of 150 metres with some amphibolite, skarn-altered metavolcanics and
north trending, steeply dipping andesitic to basaltic dikes (?) 2 to 20 metres
wide. These units are displaced by
faults commonly trending 160º to 165º.
The carbonates consist of fine to coarse-grained white to medium grey,
banded limestone and fine to medium grained, white to medium grey, massive to
mottled dolomite. Minor to trace amounts
of quartz, muscovite, serpentine, diopside, olivine, talc, graphite and pyrite
are present. The dolomite contains
minor chlorite and quartz. Veins of
dolomite and calcite commonly cut the massive dolomite. Assays of the dolomite range form 16.8% to
20% MgO (Ditson, 1987, p.11).
On the claims area, the geological formations are principally
metasediments and volcanics with limestone-dolomite and volcanics, andesitic
tuffs and related rocks predominating.
The strikes of the bedding is to the northwest and dips are
easterly. The dominant structural
feature is the apparent fault zone to which the Carlson Creek – Lake water
system relates.
On the surface of the adjacent Plain Claim, widths of 150m of carbonate
rocks are exposed, the member strata extending for several miles towards
north. Rock outcrops are pronounced
along ledges, the dolomite strata being more erosion resistant and on steep
slopes. Generally the overburden is
relatively shallow. Typical assays of
dolomite on the Plain Claim are shown in Table II for comparison purposes.
TABLE II
|
||||||||
Assays of Composite Chips Samples Taken on the PLAIN CLAIMSept. 19, 1983 |
||||||||
|
Samples |
|
|
|
|||||
|
Mineral |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
Average |
“High
Purity” Limit |
Theoretical
Maximum Purity |
|
MgO |
21.40 |
19.90 |
17.10 |
18.20 |
21.80 |
19.68 |
20.70 |
21.80 |
|
CaO |
31.60 |
31.00 |
30.20 |
64.20 |
31.80 |
31.76 |
29.80 |
32.60 |
|
SiO2 |
0.40 |
1.03 |
0.70 |
0.89 |
0.98 |
0.80 |
1.30 |
-- |
|
0.42 |
0.43 |
0.36 |
0.42 |
0.37 |
0.40 |
0.70 |
-- |
|
|
Al2O3 |
0.57 |
0.59 |
0.89 |
0.76 |
0.78 |
0.72 |
2.00 |
-- |
|
Na2O |
0.02 |
0.02 |
0.02 |
0.02 |
0.02 |
0.02 |
0.05 |
-- |
|
K2O |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.05 |
0.02 |
0.01 |
0.02 |
0.05 |
-- |
|
0.64 |
0.83 |
0.66 |
0.84 |
0.84 |
0.76 |
0.90 |
-- |
|
|
L.O.I. |
44.94 |
46.12 |
50.02 |
44.65 |
43.40 |
45.84 |
44.50 |
45.60 |
|
|
100.00 |
100.00 |
100.00 |
100.00 |
100.00 |
100.00 |
100.00 |
100.00 |
|
Purity
of CaMg(CO3)2 |
97.94 |
97.09 |
97.32 |
97.05 |
97.00 |
97.28 |
95.00 |
100.00 |
Assays of similar dolomite on the Alexis 15 Claim are not presently
available. Assays of rocks on the
Alexis 1 Claim collected in 1998 are shown in Appendix III, which illustrates
the high purity calcium, limestones also present in the general area.
Mapping by C. Ditson in 1985 is indicated (Ditson, 1987) at a scale of
1:1,000 (Ditson, 1987, figure 3) in an area straddling upper Carlson Creek,
which overlaps the Plain/ Alexis 15 contact, but unfortunately this 1985
mapping is not publicly available. Preliminary
mapping by Darney on his Area #1 (1970) suggests that the sequence of grey,
fine grained siliceous dolomite (Unit 2) and the relatively narrow white, fine
to medium grained dolomite (Unit 1) continue south onto the Alexis 15 Claim. The 1999 prospecting program was
concentrated near the northern portion of the Alexis 15 and western part of
Alexis 1 Claim as shown on Figure 6 (in pocket). This area is covered by a dense second growth forest, which has
subtle small-scale karst topography on a small scale. Considerable time was required to peel away the thick moss to
find the rock exposures below.
The carbonate observed on the north portion of the Alexis 15 and west
side of the Alexis 1 Claim consist mainly of white to medium grey, high calcium
banded marble. Small exposures of
coarsely crystalline diorite were observed southeast of the 1970 Quarry on the
Alexis 1 Claim. The intrusive rocks are
usually calc-silicate altered near the contacts with nearby carbonate units.
Trim Map
The dolomite carbonates are usually mottled light grey in colour and fine
to medium crystalline. The dolomite
exposures have a characteristic rough appearance due to the preferential
dissolution along the vein systems. The
weathered surfaces are usually tan brown to buff in colour. Samples Cave 1 and Cave 2 (Appendix III)
suggest that the apparent dolomite units (maximum of 3.6% MgO) require more
definition. Future programs should
assay all samples collected. Several
lines of soil samples assayed by ICP for Mg and Ca may help in quickly determining
the dolomite horizons.
CONCLUSIONS and
RECOMMENDATIONS
Most of
the limestone production currently mined in British Columbia originates from
Texada Island. The Quatsino Formation
contains the most significant limestone resources situated on or near tidewater
along the British Columbia coast.
The
Quatsino Formation is a thick carbonate sequence conformably underlain by
basalts and andesites of the Lower Triassic Karmutsen Formation. In places these volcanic rocks are
intercalated with limestone. The
Quatsino Formation is composed largely of massive to thickly bedded,
fine-grained (microtic), black to light grey, bluish grey weathering
limestone. The rock is predominantly
calcium to high calcium in composition.
Silica contamination, in the form of chert nodules and beds, is fairly
common.
In
the Plain Claim – Alexis Property Area, the Quatsino Formation has been
intruded by the Coast Plutonic Complex, which has led to the creation of high
purity high calcium limestones and also extensive high purity dolomite units.
Prospecting
in 1999 in the northern part of the Alexis 15 and western portion of Alexis 1
claims has shown that the carbonate horizons do indeed continue to the south
toward Carlson Lake.
Future
work should emphasize assaying of all rocks collected and several soil lines in
which the soil samples are assayed for Mg and Ca.
Respectfully submitted,
J.T. (Jo) Shearer, M.Sc., P.Geo.
Consulting Geologist
May 15, 2000
The Alexis Claims require continued geological mapping and hand trenching in certain areas. If suitable indications of dolomite are defined, then a small diamond drill program is recommended. The nature of industrial minerals suggests that a bulk sample would be useful to conduct test work for specific markets.
Geological Mapping & Drill Supervision
Senior Geologist, 8 days @ $350 $ 2,800.00
Core Splitter/Assistant, 8 days @ $200 1,600.00
GST 308.00
Subtotal $ 4,708.00
Diamond Drilling of 10 Holes @ 100m Depth Each:
Footage price $19.50 x 3000 $60,000.00
Mob/demob 1,800.00
Standby/machine time (if required) Field costs zero
Moving Field costs 3,000.00 or less
Meals/Accommodations At Contractor’s Expense
Set up Field costs 3,000.00 or less
Subtotal $19,500.00
Dozer time in moves/road access
Road - 8 hrs @ $85 $ 680.00
Moves - 6 hrs @ $85 510,00
Diamond Drilling Subtotal $20,690.00
Environmental Survey & Report $ 5,000.00
Application & Preparation of required reports &
documents for Mine Development Certificate 6,000.00
Tote Road Preparation 10,000.00
Bulk Sample Mining & Crushing 10,000 tons + Loadout 45,000.00
Trucking Sample to Loadout 35,000.00
Final Report Preparation 4,000.00
TOTAL $178,698.00
Bacon, W. R., 1957:
Geology of the Lower Jervis Inlet, British Columbia; Bulletin 39, pages
17, 37.
Candol Developments Ltd., 1984:
Prospectus found in drillcore rock.
Cochrane, D. R., 1982:
Geochemical, Geophysical and Geological Report on the WAR Property,
March 12, 1982. Assessment Report
10,352.
Darney, R. J. and Ikona, C. K., 1970:
Preliminary Geology, Plant Site and Intended Production Area of Peninsula
Lime and Magnesia, Halfmoon Bay Property, Dated September 8, 1970, 5 pp.
Ditson, C. I., 1987:
Geological, Geochemical and Drilling Report on the Plain Property;
Assessment Report 15933.
Fischl,
P., 1992:
Limestone and Dolomite Resources in British Columbia, B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines & Petroleum Resources, Open File 1992-18, 150pp.
Mathews,
W. H., 1947:
Calcareous Deposits of the Georgia Strait Area; B.C. Department of Mines
Bulletin 23, pages 87-88.
Mathews,
W. H. and McCammon, J. W., 1957:
Calcareous Deposits of Southwestern British Columbia; B.C. Department of
Mines Bulletin 40, pages 80-82.
McCammon, J. W., 1972:
Peninsula Lime and Magnesia Quarry; in Geology, Exploration and Mining in
British Columbia 1971, pages 465-467.
Riepe, R. C., 1973:
Aerial and Ground Geophysics-Geochemical-Geological Surveys on the MC 1-5
and Ruby, December 14, 1973, Assessment Report 4803.
Roddick, J. A. and Hutchinson, W.
W., 1967:
Coast Mountains Project, British Columbia; in Report of Activities, Paper
1968-1A, pages 37-40.
Roddick, J. A., Woodsworth, G. J. and Hutchinson,
W. W., 1979:
Geology of Vancouver West Half and Mainland Part of Alberni, Open file
611.
Shearer,
J. T., 1998:
Mining Permit Application Summary on the South Slesse Limestone Quarry, Mx7-114,
for I.G. Machine & Fibers Ltd.,
Dated January 10, 1998, 23 pages.
Wahl, H., 1999:
Report on the Plain Claim for Assessment Purposes (filed in August 1999
document work purportedly done in 98-99).
Assessment Report # (still
confidential).
Weymark, W. K., 1973:
Geology and Geophysics on the MC1-5 and Rubi Mineral Claims Assessment
Report 4803, November 7, 1973.
Appendix I
STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS
I, Johan T. Shearer of 1817 Greenmount Avenue, in the City of Port Coquitlam, in the Province of British Columbia, do hereby certify:
1. I graduated in Honours Geology (B.Sc., 1973) from the University of British Columbia and the University of London, Imperial College, (M.Sc. 1977).
2. I have practiced my profession as an Exploration Geologist continuously since graduation and have been employed by such mining companies as McIntyre Mines Ltd., J.C. Stephen Explorations Ltd., Carolin Mines Ltd. and TRM Engineering Ltd. I am presently employed by Homegold Resources Ltd.
3. I am a fellow of the Geological Association of Canada (Fellow No. F439). I am also a member of the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and the Geological Society of London. I am a member in good standing of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (P.Geo., Member Number 19,279).
4. I am an independent consulting geologist employed since December 1986 by Homegold Resources Ltd. at Unit #5 2330 Tyner Street, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia.
5. I am the author of the report entitled “Geological and Prospecting Report on the Alexis Dolomite Prospect, May 15, 2000.
6. I visited the property in May, June and August 1999. I have toured and studied the operating Limestone Quarries on Texada since 1980. I defined and designed the Limestone Quarry at Slesse Creek in 1998. I am familiar with the regional geology and geology of nearby properties. I have become familiar with the previous work conducted on the Alexis and nearby Plain Properties by examining in detail the available reports, plans and sections, and have discussed previous work with persons knowledgeable of the area.
7. I own 100% of the Alexis Property in trust for 2 other partners.
Dated at Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, this 15th day of May, 2000.
Respectfully Submitted
J.T. Shearer, M.Sc., F.G.A.C., P.Geo.
May 15, 2000
Appendix II
Anniversary Date
March 9,2000
STATEMENT of
COSTS
ALEXIS GROUP
May 20, 1999 to
August 30, 1999
Wages & Benefits
J.T. Shearer, M.Sc., P.Geo., Geologist
8 days @ $350 per day
May 20, June 1 & 17, July 7, 28 & 29, August 25 & 26, 1999 $2,800.00
D. Lobdell, P.Eng.,
Prospector
5 days @ $300 per day
May 20, June 1, July 28,
August 25 & 26, 1999 1,500.00
GST 301.00
Subtotal $4,601.00
Transportation, 4x4 Fully Equipped Truck
8 days @ $53.50 428.00
Gas 175.00
Hotel 125.00
Ferry, 6 trips @ $32.50 ea. 195.00
Report Preparation 700.00
Autocad Drafting 450.00
Word Processing and Reproduction 375.00
TOTAL $7,049.00