Details


SMDI #
2671
Current Showing Name
Konuto Lake Mine
Historical Showing Names
Amisk Lake Cu-Zn Deposit; Denare Beach Base Metal Deposit; Hoffman Option Mineralized Zone, Konuto Lake Mine
Company Name
Project Name
UTM Easting (NAD83 Z13)
689895.2200
UTM Northing (NAD83 Z13)
6060103.5800
NTS Sheet
063L09
TRM (Township-Range-Meridian)
65-01-2
Primary Commodities
Copper
Associated Commodities
Arsenic, Gold, Iron, Molybdenum, Silver, Tellurium, Zinc
Discovery Type
Drillhole
Status
Deposit: Post-Production
Geological Details
The Paleoproterozoic Amisk Lake Deposit, also known as the Konuto Lake Base Metal Deposit, was discovered during the drilling of Spectrem airborne EM anomalies in 1994. The mafic hosted, back arc, rift-type deposit is located 1.12 miles (1.8 km) west southwest of the Birch Lake Deposit or SMDI 0113 and 1 km due east of Denare Beach, Saskatchewan. The deposit area, as mapped by D.J. Thomas is underlain by Amisk Lake Group Birch Lake Assemblage unit 27 or arc-type aphanitic to fine-grained, dark grey to greenish black, massive, variably amygdaloidal, locally aphyric to sparcely feldspar-phyric mafic flows which are cross-cut by abundant epidote+ plagioclase+quartz± carbonate veins and stockworks. The contact metamorphism and alteration,exhibited by this 1000 m (3280.8 ft) wide belt of mafic metavolcanics which extends from Birch Lake through Konuto Lake to Table Lake, is related to the large mafic sill-like intrusions which occur on either side of the metavolcanics. Hudson Bay Exploration and Development considers the deposit to lie within the same package of pillowed, chloritized, silicified, and carbonatized island arc tholeiitic basaltic flows with minor intercalated mafic metasediments which which host the Flexar, Birch, and Coronation Mines. The deposit is made up of four north-northeast striking, 75° to 80°E dipping, steeply south plunging, en echelon, stacked massive sulphide lenses (lenses 1, 3,4, and 5) which occur over a maximum strike length of 180 m (590.6 ft) across an average width of 4.0 m (13.1 ft) to a depth of 570 m (1870.1 ft). These lenses have a rake which is colinear with the F2 fold axis. The zones have been designated (east to west) Lens No. 1 [the Red Zone or Main Zone - footwall], Lens No. 2 [the Green Zone], and Lens No. 3 [the Blue Zone - hanging wall zone]. The ore-hosting lenses occur within a broad zone of oblique-reverse faulting. The ore consists of sulphide breccias and stockwork type ore mainly composed of chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite, and minor pyrite. Lens No. 1, which extends to within 30 m (98.4 ft) of surface, is conformable with the local stratigraphy. Lens No. 2, which is located 25 to 50 m (82.0 to 164.0 ft) east of the Lens 1, is hosted by strongly chloritized and carbonatized schists. Lens No. 2, the feeder zone for lenses 1 and 3, occurs within silicified amygdaloidal basalt. Lenses 2 and 3 consist of discordant stringer type mineralization. Lens No. 1 massive sulphide has a strike length of 120 to 180 m (393.7 to 590.6 ft), a plunge length of 310 m (1017.1 ft), and an average horizontal width of 5.62 m 18.4 ft). It is made up of weakly banded massive sulphide which contains 20 to 80% basaltic blocks. Lens No. 2, the feeder zone for lenses 1 and 3, consists of chlorite with stringers of pyrite-chalcopyrite stringer mineralization over a strike length of 25 to 60 m (82.0 to 196.9 ft) and a plunge length of 400 m (1312.3 ft). Lens No. 3, the second largest lens, is similar to lens 1 and has a strike length of 75 to 100 m (246.1 to 328.1 ft), a plunge length of 315 m (1033.5 ft), and an average width of 2.25 m (7.38 ft). Lens contains 58% of the tonnage and Lens 3 has 26% of tonnage. Hydrothermal alteration occurs close to the zones of sulphide mineralization. The host volcanics have been biotized, chloritized, sericitized, carbonatized, and silicified and they contain significant amounts of epidoite-quartz±plagioclase±carbonate stringers and stockwork type net veining. The zones consist of massive to disseminated chalcopyrite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, lesser sphalerite, and localized arsenopyrite. Locally, thin bands of magnetite occur in the sulphide ore. Microscopic examination of the ore reveals significant bornite as intergrowths with chalcopyrite and trace amounts of cubanite, mackinawite, vallerite, tellurobismuthite, molybdenite, and native gold. The basaltic mid-oceanic ridge type deposit occurs within the same horizon which hosts the Birch and Flexar deposits.
Geological Domain
Flin Flon
Host Rocks
Host Minerals
Arsenopyrite, Magnetite, Molybdenite, Pyrite, Pyrrhotite
Indicators
Exploration History
3/5/1998 The first recorded work in the area was the completion of anomaly drilling on the nearby TIK claims in 1953 by Hudson Bay Exploration and Development (AF 63L09-0034). In 1954, Byers and Dahlstrom geologically mapped the showing area for the Province of Saskatchewan. The showing area was first staked as the BIFF 8 (S-6586) and BON 1 (S-8321 claims by Hudson Bay Exploration and Development. Between 1955 and 1956, Hudson Bay completed 10 drill holes on the claims (AF 63L09-0003). The showing was next covered by GRIN claims Nos 3 and 4 (S-70546, S-80043). No work was reported on these claims and they were allowed to lapse. In the 1960's the showing area was staked successively by CBS 819, CBS 2097, and CBS 2165. No work was reported on these claim blocks. In 1965, Shore Mines and Oils Ltd. Completed a regional airborne EM survey which covered the showing area (AF 63L-0002) Between 1978 and 1979, F.H. McDougall mapped the area at 1:50,000 for the University of Regina. On 1 June 1984, SMDC staked the showing area as CBS 7371. In the same year regional mapping, prospecting, and rock sampling was completed on the claim (AF 63L09-0341). In 1985, SMDC completed a regional lithogeochemical program over CBS 7370 and CBS 7371 (AF 63L09-0306). This work resulted in the discovery of the Konuto North Gold Showing or SMDI 2205 in May of 1993. In 1987, further reconnaissance geological mapping, prospecting and lithogeochemical sampling were completed on the property (AF 63L09-0334) and detailed mapping and soil and chip sampling were completed on the Konuto North Showing (AF 63L09-0341). In the following year, Cameco completed further detailed geological mapping and channel sampling on the Konuto North Showing (AF 63L09-0362). No further work was completed in the immediate showing area and CBS 7371 was allowed to lapse. In 1991, D.J. Thomas re-mapped the immediate showing area at a scale of 1:12,500. On 2 January 1994, Hudson Bay Exploration and Development staked the showing area as S-99618 and optioned adjacent claim S-99668 from Dale Hoffman. In the same year, Hudson Bay established the Konuto grid over the claims and completed ground HLEM and magnetic surveys (AF 63L09-0393). Drilling completed in May of 1994 resulted in the discovery of the Konuto Base Metal Deposit. The adjacent Hoffman option was anomaly drilled and the deposit was delineation drilled in 1994 (AF 63L09-0392 and -0394). During this year, S-99618 was converted to ML 5509 under the name of Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Company Limited. In 1994, W. Slimmon mapped the area immediately to the south of the showing at a scale of 1:12,500. Between 1994 and 1996, a ground TDEM survey was completed over the Konuto grid (AF 63L09-0408), drill holes HOF-3 to HOF-7 were completed on the adjacent Hoffman Option (AF 63L09-0409 and -0414), a 33 hole NER-67 to -99) delineating drilling program (AF 63L09-0394), and a 43 hole delineation drilling program was completed on the Konuto Deposit (AF 63L09-0416). In 1994, Hudson Bay completed a rock sample survey over the NER 29 grid which covered the showing (AF 63L09-0399). In 1995, Hudson Bay Exploration and Development completed an environmental impact assessment. It was stated that the deposit would be mined underground, using conventional methods, and the ore would be trucked to the Flin Flon smelter for processing. In the winter 1995 to 1996 Northerner (p17) the deposit reserves were listed. At this time, the ore in the three zones had been proven to the 550 level. On 18 July 1997, Hudson Bay received approval from the Saskatchewan Government to proceed with the development of the mine at Konuto Lake. On the same day, Hudson Bay announced that they were delaying the project due to a higher than normal financial risk. In 1997, ground TDEM and magnetic surveys were completed on the Konuto North grid (AF 63L09-0423). In this year, hole HOF-8 was completed on the Hoffman Option - no significant values (AF 63L09-0427). In December of 1998, Hudson Bay published the mineable deposit reserves. In September of 1999, revised reserves were published. During the development of the mine, some ore was produced. Commercial production at the mine started on 1 April 1999. The mine reached full production (800 tpd) on 1 July 1999. On 5 May 2000. Hudson Bay Exploration and Development announced new reserves figures and rekleased a geological resource estimate for the deposit. On 27 February 2001, Hudson Bay announced that he mine would temporarily close in March 2001 due to financial circumstances and due to depressed market conditions. The mine re-opened on 1 August 2001. In 2002, Hudson Bay Exploration completed a ddh PEM survey on drill hole HOF-7 (AF 63L09-NE-0444). In the same year, Hudson Bay completed 17 underground drill holes (KX-033 to KX-047 and KD-236 to KD-251) on the deposit to further define mineralized lense 5 (AF 63L09-NE-0451). Drill hole PEM surveys were completed on holes KX-042, KX-044, and KX-045 (AF 63L09-NE-0452). In 2003, Hudson Bay completed drill hole HOF-009 on the Hoffman Konuto Option mine grid to test for a possible south extension of the deposit lens 5 orebody (AF 63L09-NE-0445) and they completed a borehole PEM survey on the hole (AF 63L09-NE-0453). The hole encountered stringer style Cu-Zn mineralization. In the same year, a ground TDEM survey was completed over the HOF-1 grid (AF 63L09-NE-0446) and drill hole HOF-010 and underground holes KX-56 to KX-59 were completed (AF 63L09-NE-0447). This drilling failed to intersect mineable mineralization. At the same tie, Hudson Bay completed borehole PEM surveys on existing drill holes HOF-10, KX-56, KX-57, and KX-58 (AF 63L09-NE-0450). DRILLHOLE INTERSECTION WIDTH PCT PCT G/T G/T MINERALIZATION NUMBER (M) (M) CU ZN AU AG ENCOUNTERED _____________________________________________________________________________ HOF-010 147.9 - 148.5 0.6 0.21 ---- ---- ---- 3% po, tr cpy KX-056 58.4 - 59.0 0.6 1.12 0.03 0.79 5.12 61.0 - 62.0 1.0 0.83 0.06 2.02 1.54 3-10% cpy, 10-20% Sf 67.4 - 73.3 5.9 1.67 5.79 2.97 6.76 3-10% cpy, 10-20% Sf 127.2 - 134.9 7.7 3.55 0.17 0.45 11.77 8% cpy, 2% py, 5% po 139.7 - 140.0 0.3 1.22 0.08 0.07 4.22 8% cpy, 2% py, 5% po KX-057 1.3 - 2.6 1.3 5.25 5.56 3.27 10.43 1-5% cpy, 3% Sf 9.7 - 10.6 0.9 2.28 0.11 0.48 4.08 3% cpy KX-058 1.4 - 2.7 1.3 0.83 0.03 0.13 1.08 1% cpy, 3-10% po 128.3 - 128.4 0.1 2.45 0.09 0.96 2.33 134.0 - 135.0 1.0 2.29 0.13 0.27 1.13 2-3% cpy, 2-7% po KX-059 13.4 - 14.9 1.5 2.35 0.57 1.24 13.75 8% py, 17% py 134.1 - 139.3 5.2 2.49 0.03 0.43 1,21 3-12% cpy, 2-7% po On 8 October 2004, it was announced that Ontzinc Corporation had purchased Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting from Anglo American International SA for $325 million and the company was renamed Hudson Bay International Minerals Corporation. Mining of the deposit ceased in November of 2005 due to depletion of ore.
Production History
Production Period: 2006-01-01 to 2006-12-31 0.00 tonnes Summary: - Copper @ 3.90 % - Gold @ 1.65 g/tonne - Silver @ 9.15 g/tonne - Zinc @ 1.81 % Production Period: 2005-01-01 to 2005-12-31 344,434.00 tonnes Summary: - Copper: 12,177.00 tonnes @ 3.90 % - Gold: 514.20 kilograms @ 1.65 g/tonne - Silver: 5,860.40 kilograms @ 9.15 g/tonne - Zinc: 5,665.00 tonnes @ 1.81 % Production Period: 2004-01-01 to 2004-12-31 327,234.00 tonnes Summary: - Copper: 13,308.00 tonnes @ 4.07 % - Gold: 628.00 kilograms @ 1.92 g/tonne - Silver: 3,141.00 kilograms @ 9.60 g/tonne - Zinc: 6,793.00 tonnes @ 2.08 % Production Period: 2003-01-01 to 2003-12-31 321,476.00 tonnes Summary: - Copper: 11,991.00 tonnes @ 3.73 % - Gold: 639.00 kilograms @ 1.99 g/tonne - Silver: 3,053.00 kilograms @ 9.50 g/tonne - Zinc: 5,850.00 tonnes @ 1.82 % Production Period: 2002-01-01 to 2002-12-31 298,930.00 tonnes Summary: - Copper: 12,137.00 tonnes @ 4.06 % - Gold: 604.00 kilograms @ 2.02 g/tonne - Silver: 2,266.00 kilograms @ 7.58 g/tonne - Zinc: 6,337.00 tonnes @ 2.12 % Production Period: 2001-01-01 to 2001-12-31 200,595.00 tonnes Summary: - Copper: 9,033.00 tonnes @ 4.50 % - Gold: 412.00 kilograms @ 2.06 g/tonne - Silver: 1,692.00 kilograms @ 8.44 g/tonne - Zinc: 2,788.00 tonnes @ 1.39 % Production Period: 2000-01-01 to 2000-12-31 300,846.00 tonnes Summary: - Copper: 13,800.00 tonnes @ 4.58 % - Gold: 681.00 kilograms @ 2.26 g/tonne - Silver: 2,651.00 kilograms @ 8.81 g/tonne - Zinc: 3,600.00 tonnes @ 1.20 % Production Period: 1999-07-01 to 2006-12-31 2,065,150.00 tonnes KONUTO BASE METAL MINE ANNUAL PRODUCTION YEAR TONNES ORE GRAMS/TONNE PCT PCT GRAMS X 1000 TONNES TONNES MINED AU AG CU ZN AU AG CU ZN _____________________________________________________________________________ 1998 45,531 1.78 8.54 3.91 1.200 ---- ---- 1,780 546 1999 226,104 1.68 9.98 4.46 1.090 380.0 2,257.0 10,100 2,500 2000 300,846 2.26 8.81 4.58 1.200 681.0 2,651.0 13,800 3,600 2001 200,595 2.06 8.44 4.50 1.390 412.0 1,692.0 9,033 2,788 2002 298,930 2.02 7.58 4.06 2.120 604.0 2,266.0 12,137 6,337 2003 321,476 1.99 9.50 3.73 1.820 639.0 3,053.0 11,991 5,850 2004 327,234 1.92 9.60 4.07 2.080 628.0 3,141.0 13,308 6,793 2005 344,434 1.65 9.15 3.897 1.813 514.2 2,860.4 12,177 5,665 2006 0 1.65 9.15 3.897 1.813 0.0 0.0 0 0 ___________________________________________________________________________ TOTAL 2,065,150 3,858.0 17,920.0 84,326 34,079 NOTE: there was no mine production during 2006. Summary: - Copper: 84,326.00 tonnes - Gold: 3,858.00 kilograms - Silver: 17,920.00 kilograms - Zinc: 34,079.00 tonnes Production Period: 1999-01-01 to 1999-12-31 226,104.00 tonnes Summary: - Copper: 10,100.00 tonnes @ 4.46 % - Gold: 380.00 kilograms @ 1.68 g/tonne - Silver: 2,257.00 kilograms @ 9.98 g/tonne - Zinc: 2,500.00 tonnes @ 1.09 % Production Period: 1997-07-01 to 1998-12-31 45,531.00 tonnes The ore body is accessed by a ramp that was sunk starting in August of 1996. Production started in July of 1997. Ore is trucked to the Flin Flon smelter for processing. Summary: - Copper: 1,780.00 tonnes @ 3.91 % - Gold @ 1.78 g/tonne - Silver @ 8.54 g/tonne - Zinc: 546.00 tonnes @ 1.20 %
Reserves and/or Resources
2005-01-01 Konuto has proven and probable reserves of 0.22 M t of ore grading 4.14% Cu, 0.90% Zn, 2.21 g/t Au and 6.89 g/t Ag and mineable resources of 0.038 M t grading 3.55% Cu, 0.47% Zn, 1.02 g/t Au, and 2.71 g/t Ag. Summary: Konuto: Historic probable reserve of 220,000.00 tonne - Copper @ 4.14 % - Gold @ 2.21 g/tonne - Silver @ 6.89 g/tonne - Zinc @ 0.9 % mineable resources: Historic reserve (unspecified) of 38,000.00 tonne - Copper @ 3.55 % - Gold @ 1.02 g/tonne - Silver @ 2.71 g/tonne - Zinc @ 0.47 % 2003-01-01 Mineable reserves and resources of 876,558 t of ore grading 3.89% Cu, 1.31% Zn, 2.14 g/t Au and 8.63 g/t Ag. Summary: Historic reserve (unspecified) of 876,558.00 tonne - Copper @ 3.89 % - Gold @ 2.14 g/tonne - Silver @ 8.6 g/tonne - Zinc @ 1.31 % 2000-05-05 Geological reserves: 1.14 million tonnes grading 4.69% Cu, 1.47% Zn, 9.99 g/t Ag, and 2.13 g/t Au. Summary: Geological reserves: Historic reserve (unspecified) of 1,140,000.00 tonne - Copper @ 4.69 % - Gold @ 2.13 g/tonne - Silver @ 9.99 g/tonne - Zinc @ 1.47 % 1999-09-01 Mineable reserves: 1.6 million tonnes, grading 4.0% Cu and 1.2% Zn. Lens 1 reserves: 826,461 tonnes ore grading 4.24% Cu and 0.73% Zn. Lens 2 reserves: 234,953 tonnes ore grading 3.15% Cu and 0.14% Zn. Lens 3 reserves: 488,745 tonnes ore grading 4.00% Cu and 2.51% Zn. Summary: Lens 2: Historic reserve (unspecified) of 234,953.00 tonne - Copper @ 3.15 % - Zinc @ 0.14 % Mineable reserves: Historic reserve (unspecified) of 1,600,000.00 tonne - Copper @ 4 % - Zinc @ 1.2 % Lens 3: Historic reserve (unspecified) of 488,745.00 tonne - Copper @ 4 % - Zinc @ 2.51 % Lens 1: Historic reserve (unspecified) of 826,461.00 tonne - Copper @ 4.24 % - Zinc @ 0.73 % 1998-12-01 Mineable reserves: 1,410,000 tonnes 5.27% Cu, 1.44% Zn, 2.10 g/t Au, and 10.47 g/t Ag. Summary: Mineable reserves: Historic reserve (unspecified) of 1,410,000.00 tonne - Copper @ 5.27 % - Gold @ 2.1 g/tonne - Silver @ 10.47 g/tonne - Zinc @ 1.44 % 1996-01-01 1.44 million tonnes ore averaging 6% Cu along with gold, silver, and zinc. Summary: Historic reserve (unspecified) of 1,440,000.00 tonne - Copper @ 6 % - Gold - Silver - Zinc
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