Details


SMDI #
1210a
Current Showing Name
Box Mine
Historical Showing Names
Box Gold Deposit, Box Gold Mine, Box Mine
Company Name
Fortune Bay Corp.
Project Name
UTM Easting (NAD83 Z13)
300284.4500
UTM Northing (NAD83 Z13)
6595761.1000
NTS Sheet
074N07
TRM (Township-Range-Meridian)
120-15-3
Primary Commodities
Gold
Associated Commodities
Copper, Lead, Zinc
Discovery Type
Status
Deposit: Post-Production
Geological Details
The Box Mine is located on the south shore of Lake Athabasca approximately 15 km (9.3 miles) southeast of Uranium City. The orebody of the Box Gold Mine is hosted by a granitic sill-like body that contains abundant albite (peraluminous granite). The sill-like body, which is 2,000 feet (609.6 m) long and an average 120 feet (36.6 m) wide, intrudes granitized quartzose metasediments of the Tazin Group. The sill and its enclosing rocks strike NE and dip 42°SE. The mine is located on the west limb of the Goldfields synclinorium. The host Box Granite sill is described as being an arcuate, lensoidal, reddish, locally porphyroblastic, homogenous granite composed of quartz, perthite, plagioclase, muscovite, and minor secondary chlorite The sill, which dips 35° to 42°SE, varies in width from an average of 36 m (120 ft) to a maximum width of 53 m (173.9 ft). This host sill is cut by a stockwork of quartz veins which contain pyrite, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and free gold. There are two generations of auriferous veining. The earlier veins occur as two major sets with a stockwork of anastomosing offshoots. One set, which is confined to the footwall, approximately parallels the strike and dip of the Mine Granite. These veins are rarely auriferous. The second set strikes N10°W and dips subvertically. This set, along with irregular off-shoot veins carries most of the. The gold occurs as free gold, as inclusions and coatings on pyrite, rarely in association with chalcopyrite, and even more rarely in association with sphalerite and galena. Lesser gold concentrations occur as specks in the vein quartz and adjacent granite - probably in a manner similar to the occurrences at the Athona property. Minor radioactive anomalies occur in the Mine Granite asociated with narrow fractures that have a strike length of a few feet. A veinlet of pitchblende was noted in one of these fractures and fragments of pitchblende were noted south of the No. 2 shaft. The deposit is known for having a non-uniform distribution of gold. Higher grades appear to be generally associated with increased vein density and with increased sulphide content. The blocks and pods of high grade ore are of sufficent size that they can be selectively mined. DRILLHOLE INTERSECTION WIDTH OZ/TON NUMBER (M) (M) AU __________________________________________ B94-109 32.0 - 40.0 8.00 0.166 B94-110 14.0 - 36.0 22.00 0.109 B94-113 55.0 - 67.0 12.00 0.161 B94-115 45.0 - 50.0 5.00 2.620 B94-117 16.0 - 47.0 31.00 0.151 B94-118 56.0 - 65.0 9.00 0.118 B94-119 34.0 - 37.0 3.00 0.498 B94-150 129.0 - 163.0 34.00 0.401 Box Mine Granite. 2010-11 infill drill program results (AF 74N07-0347;-0348). Drill hole B10-303 (NAD 83/Zone 12, 6592954 N, 640413 E; 227 masl elev.; 317 Az./-57 Incl.) intersections of 2.28 g/t Au/31 m from 192.5-223.5 m in pink gneiss and Box Granite including 7.5 g/t Au/5 m from 201.5-206.5 m. Hole B10-304 (83/12, 6592988 N, 640462 E; 224 masl; 317/-60) intersections of 2.52 g/t Au/41.7 m from 192-233.7 m mostly in Box Granite with trace sulphides, including 6.84 g/t Au/13.9 m from 192-205.9 m. Hole B10-305 (83/12, 6592879 N, 640363 E; 235 masl; 317/-60) intersections of 1.68 g/t Au/6 m from 217.7-223.7 m in gneissic granite and 0.57 g/t Au/6.0 m from 242.7-248.7 m in Box Granite with trace sulphides. Hole B10-306 (83/12, 6593050 N, 640511 E; 231 masl; 317/-71) intersections of 2.61 g/t Au/17 m from 193-210 m, including 5.58 g/t Au/4 m from 193-197 m, and 3.37 g/t Au/5 m from 200-205 m all in Box Granite. Hole B10-307 (83/12, 6593142 N, 640630 E; 214 masl; 317/-65) intersections of 0.71 g/t Au/21 m from 206-227 m including 2.62 g/t Au/4.0 m from 223-227 m in Box Granite with minor sulphides. Hole B10-314 (83/12, 6593189 N, 640718 E; 211 masl; 292/-89) intersections of 2.3 g/t Au/1.0 m from 215-216 m and 1.34 g/t Au/1.0 m from 222-223 m in Box Granite with minor sulphides. Hole B11-315 (83/12, 6592899 N, 640455 E; 218 masl; 320/-60) intersections of 2.26 g/t Au/3.0 m from 237-240 m and 6.34 g/t Au/6.0 m from 249-255 m in Box Granite. Hole B11-316 (83/12, 6592899 N, 640455 E; 218 masl; 320/-75) intersections of 3.47 g/t Au/23 m from 231-254 m and 2.25 g/t Au/7.0 m from 296-303 m in Box Granite. Hole B11-317 (83/12, 6592918 N, 640473 E; 219 masl; 304/-59) intersections of 1.57 g/t Au/0.85 m from 229.15-230 m, 1.23 g/t Au/1.0 m from 239-240 m, 6.56 g/t Au/1.0 m from 249-250 m all in Box Granite and 2.63 g/t Au/1.0 m from 258-259 m in grey and red granite. Hole B11-318 (83/12, 6592918 N, 640473 E; 219 masl; 301/-75) intersections of 2.19 g/t Au/9.0 m from 231-240 m, 1.12 g/t Au/6.0 m from 279-285 m, and 1.29 g/t Au/15.42 m from 290-305.42 m all in Box Granite. Hole B11-319 (83/12, 6592964 N, 640271 E; 242 masl; 329/-51) intersection of 7.26 g/t Au/3.0 m from 169-172 m in Box Granite. Hole B11-320 (83/12, 6592944 N, 640278 E; 236 masl; 326/-51) intersections of 3.8 g/t Au/5.0 m from 145-150 m in gneiss and 1.57 g/t Au/4.0 m from 157-161 m in Box Granite. Hole B11-321 (83/12, 6592995 N, 640280 E; 238 masl; 320/-60) intersections of 3.61 g/t Au at 132.5 m in gneiss; and 20.5 g/t Au/1.0 m from 145-146 m and 2.67 g/t Au/2.0 m from 160-162 m in Box Granite. Hole B11-322 (83/12, 6593028 N, 640330 E; 236 masl; 314/-50) intersection of 7.88 g/t Au/27.7 m from 145.3-173 m in Box Granite. Hole B11-323 (83/12, 6593056 N, 640514 E; 227 masl; 315/-50) intersections of 10.31 g/t Au/1.0 m from 171-172 m in gneiss, and 1.87 g/t Au/13 m from 189-202 m in Box Granite. Hole B11-324 (83/12, 6593273 N, 640461 E; 256 masl; 315/-50) intersections of 8.62 g/t Au/11.3 m from 60.7-72 m and 3.49 g/t Au/2.0 m from 101-103 m in Box Granite. Drill hole B11-325 (83/12, 6593229 N, 640347 E; 248 masl; 315/-50) intersections of 1.19 g/t Au/3.0 m from 68-71 m and 1.55 g/t Au/6.83 m from 96-102.83 m in Box Granite. Hole B11-326 (83/12, 6593194 N, 640325 E; 248 masl; 315/-50) intersections of 2.66 g/t Au/8.97 m from 61.03-70 m and 1.31 g/t Au/1.0 m from 91-92 m in Box Granite. Hole B11-327 (83/12, 6593184 N, 640273 E; 247 masl; 315/-45) intersections of 3.57 g/t Au/2.0 m from 73-75 m and 44.1 g/t Au/2.0 m from 84-86 m in Box Granite. Hole B11-332 (83/12, 6593041 N, 640499 E; 225 masl; 315/-65) intersections of 2.02 g/t Au/1.0 m from 197-198 m and 5.01 g/t Au/1.0 m from 206-207 m in Box Granite. Hole B11-333 (83/12, 6592928 N, 640192 E; 237 masl; 320/-60) intersections of 1.93 g/t Au/1.0 m from 133-134 m in granite and amphibolite; and 1.66 g/t Au/3.0 m from 145-148 m and 2.0 g/t Au/1.0 m from 154-155 m in Box Granite. Outcrop grab samples from 2015 program. Sample 10807 (83/13, 6596062 N, 300299 E) with analyses of 5.34 g/t Au and 2.3 g/t Ag from a pyritic quartz vein with trace malachite in silicified Box Granite in a trench. Sample 10808 (83/13, 6596136 N, 300488 E) with analyses of 37.1 g/t Au and 9.7 g/t Ag from a trench of Box Granite with >30% quartz veins with trace to minor pyrite.
Geological Domain
Beaverlodge
Host Rocks
Host Minerals
Indicators
Exploration History
12/1/2023 On the north shore of Lake Athabasca, Fortune Bay Corp. plans to continue exploration in their 100 per cent–owned Goldfields project, aiming to connect mineralization between the Athona and Box deposits along the Goldfields syncline. Exploration efforts in 2022 resulted in expansion of the Athona deposit mineralization to the south while confirming gold mineralization down-dip of the Box deposit. (Saskatchewan Exploration and Development Highlights 2023, p.11) (See also Reserves/Resources, from Saskatchewan Exploration and Development Highlights 2023, Table 4, p.12) 12/1/2024 (See Reserves/Resources, from Saskatchewan Exploration and Development Highlights 2024, Tables 5-7, p.12-13) 7/25/1989 The Box property, VIC group of 17 claims and one fraction, was staked in 1934 by Tom Box and Gus Nyman for the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company of Canada Ltd. The property is located about 3/4 of a mile (1.2 km) west of the former town site of Goldfields. After a preliminary sampling and diamond drilling (35 holes), No.1 shaft was begun in July 1935. It was a 2 compartment shaft inclined 42° to the southeast following the contact of the surrounding rocks. Shaft No.2 was started at the same year, 1280 feet (390.1 m) northeast of No.1 along the strike of the rocks. Between the two shafts 3 levels at depths of 100, 300, and 500 feet have been driven. Lateral development and diamond drilling has been done on all 3 levels. A 1,000 ton per day mill was constructed; and a 3,300 hp. unit was installed in a 6,000 hp. hydroelectric powerplant built at Wellington Lake to run the mill at Box Mine, 22 miles away. Up to June 1939, when the mill commenced production, it was estimated that $4,000,000 including $1,500,000 spent on the power plant, was spent on the property. Initial development work by the company indicated a large volume of ore averaging about $4.80 per ton. Further development work showed definite signs that the value of the ore was considerably less and could not be mined at anything like the grade estimated. Deposit reserves were listed at the end of 1939. The mine operated from June 1939 to May 1942. The operations were suspended because of shortage of manpower caused by World War II. Since 1949, the company has supplied power developed at the Wellington Lake plant to the property of Eldorado Mining and Refining (1944) Limited, situated north of Beaver Lodge Lake. The head frames and mill were dismantled in 1976. The Box Property was covered by ML 4998. In 1968, Dejour Mines Ltd. completed detailed geological mapping and radiometric prospecting. The work discovered a number of radioactive fractures on Box Mine VIC claim No. 2. In the same year, a small amount of diamond drilling was completed to test the fracture system. One hole intersected pitchblende filled fractures that assayed 14.0% U3O8 and 0.66% U3O8 over 6 inches, respectively. In 1987, Greater Lenora Resource Corporation optioned both the Box and Athona properties from Cominco Ltd. In 1988, SMDC completed drill hole VI-88-1 at the north end of Vic Lake near the mine dump and took a series of grab samples on adjoining CBS 5664 and drill hole LB-88-3 was completed under Neiman Bay to test for an extension of the Box Mine granite (AF 74N07-0328). Gold values were encountered in hole LB-88-3. In the same year, Greater Lenora completed a pre-feasibility ore reserves calculation, using 1934 to 1988 data (AF 74N-0005). In 1989, Greater Lenora completed on-site metallurgical testing, bulk sampling and 3,199 m of reverse circulation drilling on the Box property and 1,037 m reverse circulation drilling on the Athona property (AF 74N-0005). In 1990, Greater Lenora Resources announced new reserves for the deposit. The reserves were calculated using the Krieging and the inverse distance weighing, and polygonal methods. On 20 August 2001, Greater Lenora Resources announced that Glacier Resources had acquired a 50% equity in Greater Lenora. They stated that an environmental impact study had been completed and Gekko of Australia tried simple gravity separation of Box ore and received excellent recoveries. Greater Lenora also concluded that the Box Mine is an unconformity type Au-PGE deposit that is similar to the Coronation Hill deposit in Australia. In 1992, Greater Lenora Resources calculated the combined reserves for the Box and Athona deposits (Toronto Stock Exchange - January 20, 1992). RJK Mineral Corporation also listed the Box Mine reserves. In 1994, they completed released the results of drill holes B94-109 to -150. These infill drill holes were designed to test the deposit below the level of the existing mine workings (press release). Between 1994 and 1995 delineation holes B95-151 to 250 and an environmental impact study were completed on the deposit (AF 74N-0006). The Box reserves were re-calculated at this time. In 1995, 17 drill holes and an environmental impact study was completed on the Box-Athona mines (AF 7408-0150). October 1995, the combined reserves for Box-Athona were published. The combined reserve of 1the Box-Athona Depsoits was also published. The Box Mine is open in all directions and the Athona Mine is open to the southwest. In 1996, Greater Lenora announced a new, lower combined reserves calculation for Box-Athona deposits (labelled a resource calculation). This was published in The Northern Miner 13 May 1996, p1-2). In 1997, Behre Dolbera completed an ore reserves audit published reserves for the combined Box-Athona deposits. In 1997, Pearson, Hoffman & Associates completed the following resource evaluation of the Box Mine. In the same year, they flew an airborne EM, resistivity, magnetic, and spectrometer survey over the property (AF 74N-0007). In 1999, Greater Lenora Resources announced intentions to proceed with a small-scale development and production plan which will focus on open pit mining a part of the Box deposit.
Production History
Production Period: 1939-06-01 to 1942-05-01 1,418,320.00 tons The No. 1 inclined exploration shaft was completed in the footwall at the west end of the deposit and the three compartment No. 2 production shaft was completed at the east end of the deposit 350 m (1148.3 ft) north of the No. 1 shaft. A vent raise is located 100 m (328.1 ft) southeast of the No. 1 shaft. Levels were established at 100 ft (30 m), 300 ft (91 m) and 500 ft (152 m). The mine operated from June 1939 to May 1942. The first gold brick was poured on 15 August 1939. Mining ceased in 1942 due to a shortage of mine labour (due to the war). During this period, 1,418,320 tons of ore produced 64,066 ounces (1,868 kg) of gold. Production costs were $ 1.50 to $ 2.00 per ton. Summary: - Gold: 64,066.00 oz
Reserves and/or Resources
2024-12-01 Summary: Box: Inferred Mineral Resource of 3,300,000.00 tonne - Gold: 112,800.00 troy oz @ 1.08 g/tonne (Cutoff: 0.3) Box: Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource of 15,800,000.00 tonne - Gold: 729,700.00 troy oz @ 1.44 g/tonne (Cutoff: 0.3) Box: Proven and Probable Mineral Reserve of 16,502,247.00 tonne - Gold: 800,000.00 troy oz @ 1.51 g/tonne (Cutoff: 0.72) 2023-12-01 Summary: Box: Inferred Mineral Resource of 3,300,000.00 tonne - Gold: 112,800.00 troy oz @ 1.08 g/tonne (Cutoff: 0.3) Box: Proven and Probable Mineral Reserve of 16,502,247.00 tonne - Gold: 800,000.00 troy oz @ 1.51 g/tonne (Cutoff: 0.72) Box: Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource of 15,800,000.00 tonne - Gold: 729,700.00 troy oz @ 1.44 g/tonne (Cutoff: 0.3) 2022-10-31 Summary: Box: Indicated Mineral Resource of 15,800,000.00 tonne - Gold: 729,700.00 oz @ 1.44 g/tonne (Cutoff: 0.3) Box: Inferred Mineral Resource of 3,300,000.00 tonne - Gold: 112,800.00 oz @ 1.08 g/tonne (Cutoff: 0.3) 2011-10-06 NI 43-101 Reserves (October 6, 2011) of 16,502,247 tonnes grading 1.51 g/t Au. Summary: of 16,502,247.00 tonne - Gold: 16,502,247.00 tonne @ 1.51 g/ton 2005-01-01 Box and Athona deposits combined reserves of 17,334,000 tonnes grading 0.056 oz/ton (1.92 g/t) Au. Summary: Historic resource (unspecified) of 17,334,000.00 tonne - Gold: 17,334,000.00 tonne @ 0.056 oz/ton 1998-01-01 The Box Mine has an indicated mineral resource (using a 0.5 g/tonne cutoff) of 14.6 million tonnes grading 1.92 g/t Au totalling about 901,000 ounces Au. This includes an indicated resource of 12.5 million tonnes grading 1.99 g/t Au (799,000 ounces Au) within a defined open pit outline. Summary: Historic indicated resource of 14,600,000.00 tonne - Gold: 901,000.00 oz @ 1.92 g/ton (Cutoff: 0.5) 1997-01-01 Combined Box-Athona in situ all resource category resource: 10,494,448 tonnes grading 2.2 g/t Au (0.064 oz/ton Au). Summary: Historic reserve (unspecified) of 10,494,448.00 tonne - Gold: 10,494,448.00 tonne @ 2.2 g/ton 1997-01-01 BLOCK MODEL ESTIMATE (NO CUTOFF) ZONE MILLIONS TONNES G/T AU OUNCES AU BOX GRANITE 17 g/t Au 27.0 1.14 991,000 30 g/t Au 27.0 1.28 1,112,000 47 g/t Au 27.0 1.28 1,199,000 no high cut 27.0 1.53 1,330,000 SIMMONS PIT (to 250 m depth) 17 g/t Au 21.8 1.25 875,000 30 g/t Au 21.8 1.41 987,000 47 g/t Au 21.8 1.52 1,064,000 no high cut 21.8 1.71 1,197,000 BLOCK MODEL ESTIMATE (0.5 G/T CUT-OFF) 17 g/t Au 15.5 1.85 919,000 30 g/t Au 15.5 2.09 1,039,000 47 g/t Au 15.5 2.26 1,124,000 SIMMONS PIT (to 250 m depth) 17 g/t Au 13.3 1.93 823,000 30 g/t Au 13.3 2.18 931,000 47 g/t Au 13.3 2.37 1,012,000 Summary: BOX GRANITE: Historic reserve (unspecified) 1996-01-01 Resource calculation for Box and Athona: Proven and possible values of 7.2 million tonnes grading 1.85 g/t Au plus a possible 8 million tonnes grading 1.5 g/t Au. Summary: Historic possible reserve of 7,200,000.00 tonne - Gold: 7,200,000.00 tonne @ 1.85 g/ton Historic possible reserve of 8,000,000.00 tonne - Gold: 8,000,000.00 tonne @ 1.5 g/ton 1995-01-01 Combined Box and Athona reserves: 22,350,000 tonnes with 1,321,000 oz Au. Summary: Historic reserve (unspecified) of 22,350,000.00 tonne - Gold: 1,321,000.00 oz 1992-01-01 Ore reserves calculated using the polygon method (0.015 o/t cut-off): 10,709,236 proven tons grading 0.071 plus 11,852,010 proj. tons grading 0.053 (ttl 22,561,246 tons grading 0.062 oz/ton) to 870 ft. Summary: Historic reserve (unspecified) of 11,852,010.00 ton - Gold: 11,852,010.00 ton @ 0.053 oz/ton Historic proven reserve of 10,709,236.00 ton - Gold: 10,709,236.00 ton @ 0.071 oz/ton (Cutoff: 0.015) 1992-01-01 4,500,000 tonnes grading 0.05 oz/ton Au. Summary: Historic reserve (unspecified) of 4,500,000.00 tonne - Gold: 4,500,000.00 tonne @ 0.05 oz/ton 1992-01-01 1,618,829 ounces Au with 976,820 ounces in the proven category. Summary: Historic proven reserve of 1,618,829.00 oz - Gold: 976,820.00 oz 1990-01-01 Reserves calculated using the Inverse Distance Weighing Method (0.015 o/t cut-off: 12,775,486 proven ounces grading 0.057 o/t Au plus 11,852,010 projected tons grading 0.055 o/t (total 24,627,496 tonnes grading 0.055 oz/ton Au) to 870 ft. Summary: Historic reserve (unspecified) of 11,852,010.00 ton - Gold: 11,852,010.00 ton @ 0.055 oz/ton Historic proven reserve of 12,775,486.00 oz - Gold: 12,775,486.00 oz @ 0.057 oz/ton (Cutoff: 0.015) 1990-01-01 Box Mine reserves (cut-off 0.015 o/ton) calculated using the Kreiging method: 13,140,248 proven tons grading 0.054 oz/ton Au and 11,852,010 projected tons grading 0.053 oz/ton Au (total 24,992,258 tons grading 0.054 oz/ton) to 870 ft. Summary: Historic reserve (unspecified) of 11,852,010.00 ton - Gold: 11,852,010.00 ton @ 0.053 oz/ton Box Mine reserves: Historic proven reserve of 13,140,248.00 ton - Gold: 13,140,248.00 ton @ 0.054 oz/ton (Cutoff: 0.015) 1988-01-01 Total reserves of 19,000,000 tons grading 0.056 oz/ton Au. Summary: Historic reserve (unspecified) of 19,000,000.00 ton - Gold: 19,000,000.00 ton @ 0.056 oz/ton 1987-01-01 Box and Athona Mine joint reserve: an estimated 1.23 million ounces Au. Summary: Historic reserve (unspecified) of 1,230,000.00 oz - Gold: 1,230,000.00 oz 1939-01-01 Probable ore: 2,328,000 tons grading 0.061 oz/ton Au. Possible Ore: 264,000 tons grading 0.091 oz/ton Au Possible Ore: 10-15 million tons @ 0.03-0.04 o/tn Summary: Historic possible reserve of 264,000.00 ton - Gold: 264,000.00 ton @ 0.091 oz/ton Historic probable reserve of 2,328,000.00 ton - Gold: 2,328,000.00 ton @ 0.061 oz/ton Historic possible reserve of 12,500,000.00 ton - Gold: 12,500,000.00 ton @ 0.035 oz/ton
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