MINERAL
INVENTORY FILE NO.
637
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRODUCT
NICKEL
NTS AREA
64C14SE
REF.
NI 2
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
NAME OF PROPERTY
LYNN LAKE “EL MINE” (ELB No. 147)
OWNER OF
OPERATOR ADDRESS
1993-Black Hawk Mining Inc.
2000 - 95 Wellington St.
West
Toronto, ON M5J 2N7 www.bhkmining.com
OBJECT LOCATED
EL Shaft
MINING
DIVISION
The Pas
Latitude
56°49'0 N
Longitude
101°03'10 W
Uncertainty
(m)
100 m
UTM Zone
14V
Easting
375400
Northing
6298600
L.S./Quarter
Section
5
Section
22
Township
90
Range
22 WPM
DESCRIPTION OF
DEPOSIT
The EL Cu-Ni orebody occurs within the central portion of a vertical,
cylindrical, pluton 3.5 km south of the A shaft at Lynn Lake (see Mind No. 636).
The composite mafic to ultramafic pluton intruded acid volcanic rocks belonging
to the Precambrian Wasekwan Group. The diameter of the pluton is 0.4 km (on
surface), but it tapers to 0.2 km below 610 m (2000 ft.). The pluton consists of
a marginal unit of gabbro and a composite core unit of mineralized amphibolite
and altered peridotite.
Within 100 m of the surface (above a major fault, the
upper EL fault), the ore is high-grade and it consists largely of
inclusive-bearing sulphide breccia. Below the fault, the ore is lower in grade,
consisting of disseminated sulphides in peridotite, amphibolite, and gabbro.
Mineralization has been detected sporadically throughout the central core of the
pipe from surface to depths below 610 m (2000 ft.) level.
The mineralization
consists of pyrrhotite, pentlandite, chalcopyrite, and minor pyrite.
Intergrowths of pyrite, pentlandite and chalcopyrite reportedly yield very high
Co values (Vellet, 1963). The sulphides commonly display mineral zoning about
inclusion material in the massive sulphide breccias.
ASSOCIATED
MINERALS OR PRODUCTS OF VALUE
Cobalt, fertilizers (ammonium sulfate, anhydrous ammonia) zinc,
gold
HISTORY OF
EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT
The EL mine is situated approximately 3.2 km southeast of the A
shaft (See: Mind No. 636) at Lynn Lake. Lynn Lake is accessible via Provincial
Road 301 and by air (Transair) from Winnipeg.
In 1941, Austin McVeigh found a
small showing of nickel-bearing sulphides on a rock knoll, north of East Lynn
Lake. While prospecting with a magnetometer in 1943, McVeigh found several
anomalies in that area. A large scale staking program was started at Lynn Lake
in 1945. By fall, Sherritt Gordon Limited had staked the 35 claims (of the Elb
groups) covering the discovery outcrop and nearly anomalies.
The EL shaft is
located on mineral claim Elb No. 147, staked January 10, 1946 by John Rycroft
(P10259). Four mouths later, it was assigned to Eldon Lake Brown, and a land
survey approved in the same year.
The high-grade EL orebody was actually
found in January 1947. By May, 5195 m (17 047 ft.) of diamond drilling had been
completed. In the first three months of 1947, the EL orebody was shown to
contain 1 300 000 tonnes (t) (1 400 000 tons) of high-grade ore, averaging 3.42%
Ni and 1.18% Cu. The discovery of the EL was the turning point in the
establishment of the Lynn Lake mining operations (Ruttan, 1955).
In 1948,
Sherritt Gordon was drilling deep holes from which to carry on geophysical
exploration at depth attempting to locate a lower lens of EL (Northern Miner,
July 29, 1948).
Sinking of the EL shaft had begun in November, 1948.
On
March 29, 1949 the property was assigned from E.L. Brown to Sherritt Gordon
Mines Limited, and in August of that year, a lease was issued (M2342). The
calculated tonnage of EL in 1949 was 2.445 million t averaging 2.5% Ni and
0.933% Cu (Sherritt Gordon Mines Limited, Annual Report 1949.)
By 1951, the
EL mine plant construction was nearly completed. The former Sherridon
(See: Mind 839) East shaft steel headframe was erected at the EL (Ibid.
1951).
In 1952, a financial agreement was arranged with Newmont Mining
Corporation, and a group of American banks and insurance companies. By 1953, the
EL shaft was completed, as well as all surface installations (Ibid.
1953).
Production from the EL mine began in May 1954, operating at
455-725 t (500-800 tons) per day. All ore from this orebody was transported to
the “A” mine crushing plant over a 4 km (2.5 mi.) small gauge railroad (Winnipeg
Tribune, August 11, 1955).
In 1955, all development on the EL was directly
connected with the mining of the orebody itself. At the end of 1955, the tonnage
of ore in both the A and EL mines that was drilled and ready to blast, amounts
to 346 300 t (381 740 tons) (Op. Cit., 1955).
Stripping of the EL orebody was
started in 1958, and completed in 1960. The bulk of the mill feed continued to
come from the A and EL orebodies in 1960, with the balance coming from three of
the smaller orebodies in the A plug (Ibid. 1960.)
In 1961, only 60% of the
mill feed came from the A and EL. Some good ore intersections were obtained
during exploration of EL below the 610 m (2000 ft.) level. The EL open pit
excavation was completed in 1962. At this time, the bulk of the mill feed came
from orebodies other than the A and EL and the average grade was below the
average of the ore reserve.
Production from the EL mine was completed,
except for cleanout, in 1963. By 1964, the mine had been stripped and closed
down.
Ownership of the EL was transferred to a subsidiary of Sherritt
Gordon’s, Sherrgold in 1985, along with all of Sherritt’s Lynn Lake properties.
Sherrgold was sold to Hayes Resources in 1987 as a bid to lower Sherritt’s
massive debt. Hayes Resources renamed the company Lynngold, but did no further
work on the EL. In 1989, due to dropping gold prices and an increase in the cost
of production in the nearby LynnGold-owned MacLellan gold mine, Lynngold
declared bankruptcy. The El, along with the rest of the Lynn Lake properties
were held in trust by DCC equities until 1993, when as part of the Keystone Gold
Project, Black Hawk Mining Inc. purchased 100% of the interest of the El
mine (Black Hawk Mining Inc, Annual Report, 1994). As of 2002, Black Hawk
has not completed any work on the EL deposit.
HISTORY OF
PRODUCTION
Production from the EL mine in May 1954. NOTE: The following
production figures for
Lynn Lake includes production from the A mine as well
as the EL mine as no distinction was
made in the literature.
In
1953, mill feed was derived from the development work at the EL and A mines. In
the first year, 13 324 t averaging 1.36% Ni and 0.58% Cu were milled; 966 t of
Ni concentrate was produced at 15.95% Ni and 1.84% Cu; 173 t of Cu concentrate
was produced averaging 0.54% Ni and 30.55% Cu. In 1954, the EL operated at
455-725 t (500-800 tons) per days (Winnipeg Tribune, August 11, 1955.)
1.2
million t (1 362 693 tons) of ore was milled from the EL and A mines during the
total operating life of the EL mine (1953-64) (Sherritt Gordon Mines
Limited, Annual Reports). During the last year of production, 1964, a total of
1.2 million t (1 362 393 tons) of ore was milled at Lynn Lake (A mine and EL
mine are combined).
REFERENCES
Allan, J.D. 1950: The Lynn Lake Nickel Area, Manitoba; Trans-Canada
Institute of Mining and
Metallurgy, v. 53, p. 343-348.
Charleswood,
G.H. 1952:, Base Metals in Manitoba; Precambrian Volume 25, No. 4, p. 14,
30.
Charleswood, G.H. 1952:, 1954a: Geology and Mineral Properties of the
Lynn Lake Region;
Precambrian, Volume 27, No. 4, p.
14-15.
Charleswood, G.H. 1952:, 1954b: Geology of the Lynn Lake Area;
Western Miner, Volume 27,
No. 6, p. 48-51.
Coates, C.J.A., Quirke,
T.T. Jr., Bell, C.K., Cranstone, D.A., Campbell, F.H.A., 1972: Geology
and
Mineral Deposits of the Flin Flon, Lynn Lake and Thompson Areas, Manitoba and
the Churchill-Superior Front of the Western Precambrian shield, Field Excursion
A-31-C31, 24th International Geological Congress.
Cole, G.E. 1946: The
Lynn Lake Project; Western Mining, Volume 24, No. 8, p. 50-1.
Davies,
J.F., Bannatyne, B.B., Barry, G.S. and McCabe, H.R. 1962: Lynn Lake District in
Geology
and Mineral Resources of Manitoba; Manitoba Mines
Branch.
Dornian, N. 1950: A Study of the Sulphides and Oxides of the
Nickel-Copper Deposits of Lynn
Lake, Manitoba; Unpublished M.Sc. Thesis,
University of Manitoba.
Hunter, H.E. 1950: Geological Investigations of
the Lynn Lake Basic Intrusive Body, Northern
Manitoba, Unpublished M.Sc.
thesis, University of Manitoba
Milligan, G.C. 1960: Geology of the Lynn
Lake District; Manitoba Mines Branch, Publication 57-1.
Manitoba Mineral
Resources Division: Corporation Files, Sherritt Gordon Mines Limited
SE 14,
64C,
Ruttan, G.D. 1955: Geology of Lynn Lake, CIM Bulletin, Volume 48, p.
3390348; CIMM,
Volume 2.
Vellet, V. 1963: Unpublished Company Report,
Sherritt Gordon Mines Limited.
MAP REFERENCES
Coates,
C.J.A., Quirke, T.T. Jr., Bell, C.K., Cranstone, D.A., Campbell, F.H.A. 1972:
Map Fig. 10
Surface Geological Plan of the Lynn Lake mine; 1:31 680 scale,
geological map accompanying I.G.C Guidebook Excursion A31-C-31.
Coates,
C.J.A., Quirke, T.T. Jr., Bell, C.K., Cranstone, D.A., Campbell, F.H.A. 1972:
Map, Lynn
Lake-Southern Indian Lake Area; 1:633 600 scale, geological map,
accompanying I.G.C. Guidebook, Excursion A31-C31.
Manitoba Mines Branch
1963: Map 2378G, Lynn Lake; Manitoba Mines Branch, aeromagnetic,
scale 1:63
360.
Milligan, G.C. 1960: Map No.1, Lynn Lake; 1:126 720 scale,
geological map accompanying
Manitoba Mines Branch, Publication
57-1.
Allan, J.D. 1950: The Lynn Lake Nickel Area, Manitoba;
Trans-Canada Institute of Mining and
Metallurgy, v. 53, p.
343-348.
Charleswood, G.H. 1952:, Base Metals in Manitoba; Precambrian
Volume 25, No. 4, p. 14, 30.
Charleswood, G.H. 1952:, 1954a: Geology and
Mineral Properties of the Lynn Lake Region;
Precambrian, Volume 27, No. 4, p.
14-15.
Charleswood, G.H. 1952:, 1954b: Geology of the Lynn Lake Area;
Western Miner, Volume 27,
No. 6, p. 48-51.
Coates, C.J.A., Quirke,
T.T. Jr., Bell, C.K., Cranstone, D.A., Campbell, F.H.A., 1972: Geology
and
Mineral Deposits of the Flin Flon, Lynn Lake and Thompson Areas, Manitoba and
the Churchill-Superior Front of the Western Precambrian shield, Field Excursion
A-31-C31, 24th International Geological Congress.
Cole, G.E. 1946: The
Lynn Lake Project; Western Mining, Volume 24, No. 8, p. 50-1.
Davies,
J.F., Bannatyne, B.B., Barry, G.S. and McCabe, H.R. 1962: Lynn Lake District in
Geology
and Mineral Resources of Manitoba; Manitoba Mines
Branch.
Dornian, N. 1950: A Study of the Sulphides and Oxides of the
Nickel-Copper Deposits of Lynn
Lake, Manitoba; Unpublished M.Sc. Thesis,
University of Manitoba.
Hunter, H.E. 1950: Geological Investigations of
the Lynn Lake Basic Intrusive Body, Northern
Manitoba, Unpublished M.Sc.
thesis, University of Manitoba
Milligan, G.C. 1960: Geology of the Lynn
Lake District; Manitoba Mines Branch, Publication 57-1.
Manitoba Mineral
Resources Division: Corporation Files, Sherritt Gordon Mines Limited
SE 14,
64C,
Ruttan, G.D. 1955: Geology of Lynn Lake, CIM Bulletin, Volume 48, p.
3390348; CIMM,
Volume 2.
Vellet, V. 1963: Unpublished Company Report,
Sherritt Gordon Mines Limited.
MAP REFERENCES
Allan, J.D. 1950: The Lynn Lake Nickel Area, Manitoba; Trans-Canada
Institute of Mining and
Metallurgy, v. 53, p. 343-348.
Charleswood,
G.H. 1952:, Base Metals in Manitoba; Precambrian Volume 25, No. 4, p. 14,
30.
Charleswood, G.H. 1952:, 1954a: Geology and Mineral Properties of the
Lynn Lake Region;
Precambrian, Volume 27, No. 4, p.
14-15.
Charleswood, G.H. 1952:, 1954b: Geology of the Lynn Lake Area;
Western Miner, Volume 27,
No. 6, p. 48-51.
Coates, C.J.A., Quirke,
T.T. Jr., Bell, C.K., Cranstone, D.A., Campbell, F.H.A., 1972: Geology
and
Mineral Deposits of the Flin Flon, Lynn Lake and Thompson Areas, Manitoba and
the Churchill-Superior Front of the Western Precambrian shield, Field Excursion
A-31-C31, 24th International Geological Congress.
Cole, G.E. 1946: The
Lynn Lake Project; Western Mining, Volume 24, No. 8, p. 50-1.
Davies,
J.F., Bannatyne, B.B., Barry, G.S. and McCabe, H.R. 1962: Lynn Lake District in
Geology
and Mineral Resources of Manitoba; Manitoba Mines
Branch.
Dornian, N. 1950: A Study of the Sulphides and Oxides of the
Nickel-Copper Deposits of Lynn
Lake, Manitoba; Unpublished M.Sc. Thesis,
University of Manitoba.
Hunter, H.E. 1950: Geological Investigations of
the Lynn Lake Basic Intrusive Body, Northern
Manitoba, Unpublished M.Sc.
thesis, University of Manitoba
Milligan, G.C. 1960: Geology of the Lynn
Lake District; Manitoba Mines Branch, Publication 57-1.
Manitoba Mineral
Resources Division: Corporation Files, Sherritt Gordon Mines Limited
SE 14,
64C,
Ruttan, G.D. 1955: Geology of Lynn Lake, CIM Bulletin, Volume 48, p.
3390348; CIMM,
Volume 2.
Vellet, V. 1963: Unpublished Company Report,
Sherritt Gordon Mines Limited.
MAP REFERENCES
Coates,
C.J.A., Quirke, T.T. Jr., Bell, C.K., Cranstone, D.A., Campbell, F.H.A. 1972:
Map Fig. 10
Surface Geological Plan of the Lynn Lake mine; 1:31 680 scale,
geological map accompanying I.G.C Guidebook Excursion A31-C-31.
Coates,
C.J.A., Quirke, T.T. Jr., Bell, C.K., Cranstone, D.A., Campbell, F.H.A. 1972:
Map, Lynn
Lake-Southern Indian Lake Area; 1:633 600 scale, geological map,
accompanying I.G.C. Guidebook, Excursion A31-C31.
Manitoba Mines Branch
1963: Map 2378G, Lynn Lake; Manitoba Mines Branch, aeromagnetic,
scale 1:63
360.
Milligan, G.C. 1960: Map No.1, Lynn Lake; 1:126 720 scale,
geological map accompanying
Manitoba Mines Branch, Publication
57-1.
Manitoba Mineral Resources Division: Map SE14, 64C, “Circa 1975”,
Claim Map Series Mining
Recording, Manitoba Mineral Resources Division, claim
map, scale 1:31 680.
Manitoba Mineral Resources Division:Map, Untitled,
unpublished; Manitoba Mineral Resources
Division, Sherritt Gordon Mines
Limited, Corporation file, claim map, unknown scale.
Surveys &
Mapping Branch 1972: Map 64 C/14, Lynn Lake; Surveys & Mapping
Branch,
Ottawa, topographic map (2nd Edition), scale 1:50 000.
URL
N/A
Images
Images/637-1
REMARKS
Description of Deposit by R. Pinsent, Manitoba Mineral Resources
Division, 1977.
NOTES
Revised 03-03
Compiled/Revised
by:
DEK; SMH; JJJ
Date
8-75; 11-75; 05-02
