Some geopoetry and arm waving FWIW. Just some musings on today's announcement and what it could mean for mining in the future.
Data dump of the main area covered in today's announcement.
IF, just if, the outlined area Alone could be mined by open pit the average thickness would be some 25m over an area of some 400,000 square meters. Using an SG of 2 (conservative??) this would give 15-20Mt. However, the depth to top of mineralisation ranges from 39-130m and grades a touch over 1% combined to the mid to high 2% (except for outliers). At 10+m for most intersections an open pit style of mining would be the way to go.
No real surprises in the last paragraph as results have shown there is this kind of variation throughout Chinook and to the east (Mag, Nav, Tonka, Col) with the localised feeder zones forming vertical zones as distinct from the larger bulk sub horizontal lower grade horizon(s).
It is a difficult deposit to visualise and present meaningful graphics IMO.
I don't especially like the presentation with the %Pb+Zn in DH contour as it ignores thickness (apparently). It certainly highlights the high grade zones which are most likely to be sub vertical.
Equally using m% can exaggerate the grade thickness ratio though it may be a touch more useful. [50m @ 1% combined = 5m @ 10% in m% terms).
Strip ratio in the Chickawin sector?
A simple plot of depth to top of thick (first) intersection gives a hint of what may be required to strip overburden.
Some of the increase in depth to the north may be due to natural slope but I suspect the Chickawin structure plays a role in the rather abrupt change from 60 - 100m (red line)
To reach the top of mineralisation the depth of waste shown needs to be removed. There may be minor layers of potentially mineable material in this as shown in hole 587 (3m @ 0.92% combined from 18m).
At the grades shown removing 60m or more of cover is going to represent a significant up front expense. Step change to 100m even more so.
Many caveats about the above including but not limited to the above.
Does mineralisation continue to the south at gradually shallower depths, albeit into a strongly weathered zone where metallurgy will be different.
This is just one small area covering some 2 Kms of a much larger strike extent.
A starter pit, or pits, on more readily accessible high grade zones would be a likely way to begin any mining, with areas like this to be scheduled (or not) much later.
MRE, scoping - pfs - dfs will consider these and a multitude of other issues. Hopefully will follow this sequence to a successful mine. An exploration target resource exists.......where to from here???
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Google earth is updating their imagery quite frequently with the Spur Kalitan and Camp area now showing activities completed to some point around mid 2022.
Blue star low grade/thickness; Yellow low grade (c1% combined) and variable thickness; Orange moderate grade and good thickness.
The sumps and earthworks are very impressive.
Just to show the resolution available here is detail of the camp (lower left corner)
Drill sites all around the camp!
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Raw data for today's announcement.
Finally results from the holes half way to Sweetwater.
Magenta circles sentinel interpreted sites. Star codes as above.
