- SMDI #
- 0671
- Current Showing Name
- Wapaw Bay Mine
- Historical Showing Names
- Wapaw Bay Mine
- Company Name
- Project Name
- UTM Easting (NAD83 Z13)
- 521753.2200
- UTM Northing (NAD83 Z13)
- 6079388.4700
- NTS Sheet
- 073I15
- TRM (Township-Range-Meridian)
- 68-18-2
- Primary Commodities
- Leonardite
- Associated Commodities
- Coal
- Discovery Type
- Quarry
- Status
- Deposit: Production
- Geological Details
- The showing consists of an exposure of lignite coal located near the mouth of a lagoon about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) northeast of the east side of Wapaw Bay.
The coal rests on a clayey base in quartz sands of the Cretaceous Blairmore Formation. Other coal outcrops occur 2.4 miles (3.9 km) northeast at Aurt Point and 0.44 miles (0.7 km) to the southwest at Wapaw Bay and have been interpreted to be extensions of the same seam or secondary deposits of Pleistocene origin. The coal/ leonardite seams are covered by an average of 6.1 m (20.2 ft) of sandy overburden.
The coal seams at all three locations occur interbedded with white quartz sands and sandstone. The seam dips at a low angle to the south. The greatest thickness of coal observed is approximately 4 ft (1.2 m).
A test pit was excavated over 17 ft (5.2 m) from the face of the outcrop. The coal seam measured 4.1 ft (1.2 m) thick, while 17 ft (5.2 m) back from the face the coal seam is 5.2 ft (1.6 m) thick. The test pit has been obliterated by slumping.
One sample was analyzed and returned 11.23% moisture, 30.97% volatile combustible matter, 34.8% fixed carbon and 23.0% ash.
Between 1998 and 1999, the Potie brothers sampled the coals in the immediate showing area for leonardite. The leonardite present returned 81.85% to 85.67% alkali soluble organic acids (the best returns world wide are 80% to 88%). The sampled seams were 0.5 to 1.0 m (1.6 to 3.2 ft) thick - a mineable width.
DRILLHOLE SAMPLE SAMPLE CEC PERCENT PERCENT
NUMBER NUMBER DEPTH (M) VALUE HUMIC ACIDS HUMIC ACID
_______________________________________________________________
8 8-25 7.62 116.3 58.36 10.70
8-28 8.53 114.2 53.14 8.02
8C 8C-19 5.79 138.4 64.24 10.96
10B 10B-20 6.10 101.5 63.18 0.89
NOTE: % humic acids is an assay of the collective value
for 29 or more acid radicals found in humic matter
% humic acid is the acid radical that is alkali
soluble but insoluble in acid, methyl ethyl ketone
and methyl alcohol.
2003-04 PCT
TRACKHOE SAMPLE PCT HUMIC CEC
TRENCH NUMBER H2O ACID MEG/100G
________________________________________
H-1M 26539 32.78 10.07 94.9
H-4M 26540 37.23 56.30 123.0
H-5M 26541 34.16 39.53 89.1
H-5B 26542 48.15 69.76 123.5
HD-5S 26543 30.76 64.20 138.5
H-10M 26544 35.35 38.87 90.9
H-10B 26545 23.32 19.29 82.8
H-13M 26546 42.79 77.17 132.8
H-13S 26547 45.15 51.85 114.8
H-14M 26548 35.81 24.62 97.4
L-99 26549 47.39 64.20 110.5. 2013 sampling program for leonardite (AF MAW00340). Shallow drilling program with analyses for humic acid content and other constituents. 14 sites totalling 274 m of drilling with 81 samples. 2014 sampling program for leonardite (MAW00525) with 15 test holes for a total of 92 m with 15 samples.
- Geological Domain
- Wapawekka-Estevan
- Host Rocks
- Host Minerals
- Indicators
- Exploration History
- 5/3/1989 The occurrence was first documented in 1921 by W.G. Worcester of the Department of Labour and Industries. The sample analysis was completed at this time.
The area was investigated by W.J. Pearson in 1961 who carried out an investigation of silica sand and coal occurrences on Wapawekka Lake.
The area of the occurrence was mapped in 1967 by W.A. Padgham for the Saskatchewan Geological Survey.
In 1970, the showing area was covered by C.R. 593. The area was investigated by P. Guliov for industrial minerals in 1971.
Between 1970 and 1971, Flin Flon Mines Ltd. acquired special permission to examine the reserve for kaolinized sand. The showing area was prospected and a series of test holes were completed well to the west of the showing (AF 73I14-0011).
By 1983, the showing was within MPP 1139. Granges Exploration completed a airborne INPUT and magnetic survey that covered the showing area (AF 73I15-0002). The permit was allowed to lapse.
On 15 July 1993, the showing area was staked as S-101564 by Currie Rose Resources Inc. In the same year, as part of a diamond exploration program, Currie Rose completed a ground VLF-EM and magnetic survey which covered the showing (AF 73I15-0015). The claim was allowed to lapse on 1 January 1996.
On 19 March 1998, Philippe and Alphonse and Raymond Potie staked the showing area as S-106093. Between 1998 and 1999, the brothers prospected, trenched, and sampled in the immediate showing area (AF 73I15-0016). The purpose of the program was to explore for leonardite.
In 2001, the Potie brothers cleaned up existing logging roads to access the property and completed 23 sonic holes to sample the leonardite seams that constitute this coal-leonardite showing (AF 73I15-0017). At this time, initial reserves were calculated based on the seam being between 2.0 to 5.2 ft (0.6 to 1.6 m) thick (average is 3.6 ft (1.1 m) thick.
Between 2003 and 2004, R. Potie completed 9 trackhoe pit sampling of the showing to test for leonardite (AF 73I15-SE-0020). Assay results are given.
- Production History
- Publication Date: 1999-01-01
Wapa Bay Resources have had a long-term, small-scale quarry operation on the southwest shore of Wapawekka Lake in central Saskatchewan where they mine leonardite, which is a weathered coal product, from Cretaceous Mannville Group sub-bituminous coal. The leonardite is processed at their Zenon Park facility to produce humic acids which are packaged as 10 litre jugs and 1000 litre totes. Humic acids are used as a soil additive for horticulture and agriculture.
Summary:
- Leonardite
- Reserves and/or Resources
- 2000-01-01
Potie Brothers
Based on the assumption that the leonardite covers 40,000 square meters, has an average width of 1.1 m and a density of 0.8, it is calculated that the deposit contains 35,200 metric tons of leonardite in the "lagoon" area. They estimate a proven reserves of approximately 40,000 metric tons of medium to high grade leonardite.
Summary:
Historic reserve (unspecified) of 35,200.00 ton
- Leonardite: 35,200.00 tonne
Historic proven reserve of 40,000.00 ton
- Leonardite: 40,000.00 tonne