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File Created: 24-Jul-1985 by BC Geological Survey (BCGS)
Last Edit:  27-Nov-2018 by Karl A. Flower (KAF)

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NMI 082E2 Au1
Name ATHELSTAN (L.1065), JACKPOT (L.2224), ATHELSTAN-JACKPOT, ATHELSTAN FR. (L.1320), JACKPOT FR. (L.3158), BUTTE (L.1067), WINDFALL (L.1210S), WELLINGTON CAMP, IRON CLAD (L.1489) Mining Division Greenwood
BCGS Map 082E008
Status Past Producer NTS Map 082E02E
Latitude 049º 03' 54'' UTM 11 (NAD 83)
Longitude 118º 33' 57'' Northing 5435862
Easting 385622
Commodities Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead, Talc, Chromium Deposit Types I05 : Polymetallic veins Ag-Pb-Zn+/-Au
E08 : Carbonate-hosted talc
Tectonic Belt Omineca Terrane Slide Mountain, Plutonic Rocks
Capsule Geology

The Athelstan-Jackpot past-producing mine is located 8.5 kilometres south east of Greenwood and 1.5 kilometres north west of the confluence of Skeff and July creeks. Access to the mine is from an abandoned railway grade at an elevation of 1150 metres, connecting roads from the Winnipeg past-producing mine (MINFILE 082ESE033) and Hartford Junction to the northwest, and Highway 3 to the east.

Ultrabasic rocks and diorite dikes are the main rocks exposed in these workings. Included in the ultrabasic rocks are light-coloured talc-carbonate lenses, known locally as 'listwanites'. These rocks weather brown and contain talc and ferromagnesian carbonate in various proportions. Their outcrops are marked by limonitic gossan produced by the oxidation of the carbonate. The rocks show some variation in lithological character from one locality to another. Sheared varieties consisting largely of talc and serpentine with subordinate amounts of carbonate are common near the contacts of talc-carbonate rocks with serpentine. Massive varieties, largely made up of a brown-coloured ferromagnesian carbonate, probably ankerite, and some calcite, are well exposed around the Athelstan surface workings. Other varieties containing a conspicuous green mica, probably mariposite, are common in the underground workings of the Jackpot mine. Contacts between the talc-carbonate rocks and serpentine are usually gradational. The total extent of exposed talc-carbonate rock is not known, but it extends from an elevation of 1280 metres at the top of the hill above the Athelstan adit, at least as far as the Jackpot adit and outcrops over a maximum width of approximately 168 metres. (GSC Paper 45-20).

The rocks are traversed by an irregular system of pre-mineral fissures that have strongly influenced the rising ore- bearing solutions by providing channel-ways for them, and gouge- filled barriers capable of deflecting them.

The common ore minerals are pyrite and arsenopyrite, which form replacements in the listwanite rocks. Disseminations of chromite occur locally in the sheared listwanite, such as on the adjoining Butte (Lot 1067) claim, where 17.1 per cent chromium has been reported from a 3-metre wide open cut. Near surface the ore is oxidized to limonite and a white arsenous oxide, which attained shipping grade locally. Green fuchsite (or mariposite) commonly occurs adjacent to mineralized zones with in the serpentinite.

The shape and size of several ore bodies that were mined in the early days can be inferred from the accessible workings. At the Jackpot mine the two ore bodies mined from the present adit crosscut were crescentric in plan and plunged from 10 to 40 degrees to the east along their longest axis. They ranged in thickness from 1 to 7.6 metres and probably averaged 3 metres. They were stoped over a length of at least 30.5 metres and across a width of at least 12 metres. Narrower parts of these same ore bodies have been mined in past years. At the Athelstan mine the only accessible stope is approximately 18 metres long, averaging approximately 12 metres wide, and ranging from 1 to 2.4 metres in height. A winze, which was sunk in the floor of this stope to a depth of 3.6 metres during the summer of 1936, is entirely in ore. Ore- grade mineralization is reportedly exposed by pits and trenches on the Butte and Iron Clad Crown grants.

The footwalls and hanging walls of the ore bodies commonly follow well-defined fissures; occasionally such fissures also form the lateral limits of the ore bodies. Sulphides may extend for several centimetres beyond these fissures, but these are extremely erratic.

Chemical composition of the wallrock has also had a marked influence on ore deposition. Those rocks containing a high percentage of carbonates were most susceptible to replacement by the ore- bearing solutions, whereas those containing appreciable amounts of serpentine were apparently the least susceptible.

The ore bodies are displaced by several north west- dipping normal faults, however, movements are not thought to be large. Locally the faulted-off segments of the ore have been found within the mine workings.

Ten principle areas of mineralization, extending over an approximate area of 960 by 240 metres, are known on the property: the Athelstan, Jackpot, A, B, J-11, J-34, Oro, Bay Horse, Butte and Iron Clad zones. A complete description and sampling history of each zone can be found in Assessment Report 27510. There are no available ore reserve estimates for this mine.

Production from the property from 1900 to 1940, resulted in 16,739 tonnes or ore containing 186.7 kilograms of gold, 157.2 kilograms of silver, 50.8 tonnes of copper and 193 kilograms of lead.

In 1978, surface sampling yielded: 19.9 grams per tonne gold and 33.5 grams per tonne silver over 0.6 metre from the Butte zone (sample A-7); 3.8 grams per tonne gold over 0.9 metre and 12.2 grams per tonne gold from a sample of stockpiled ore from the Athelstan zone; 19.9 grams per tonne gold with 176 grams per tonne silver over 0.3 metre of massive sulphides (sample J-2) and 34.1 grams per tonne gold with 180.3 grams per tonne silver from a dump sample near the Jackpot zone and 1.0 gram per tonne gold over 0.9 metre of massive sulphides and 2.1 grams per tonne gold with 43.1 grams per tonne silver from a dump sample on the Iron Clad zone (Property File - A.R. Grant [1978-11-01]: Surface Sampling - Athelstan-Jackpot-Iron Clad).

In 1980, 29 samples taken from the Athelstan stope averaged 3.6 grams per tonne gold, while those from sulphide shear zones yielded from 4.8 to 30.5 grams per tonne gold over 0.30 to 2.0 metres; 23 samples from the Jackpot stope averaged 4.35 grams per tonne gold, while those from sulphide zones yielded from 2.1 to 28.8 grams per tonne gold over 1.0 to 2.2 metres (Property File - Rimacan Resources Ltd. [1983-06-03]: A report on the Athelstan-Jackpot Mineral Property).

In 1981, highlights of underground sampling of the Athelstan stope included: 12.7 grams per tonne gold with 14 grams per tonne silver over 0.95 metre (sample R4) from the south western wall and 6.9 grams per tonne gold over 0.65 metre (sample R17) from the north western end of the stope, while a sample (R10) from a column or pillar yielded 30.4 grams per tonne gold with 17 grams per tonne silver over 0.3 metre (Property File - D.K.W. [1981-06-01]: Detail Map - Athelstan and Jackpot Stopes).

Underground sampling of the Jackpot stope yielded: 11.3 grams per tonne gold with 42.0 grams per tonne silver over 4 metres (sample R78) from drift near the southern shaft; 9.78 grams per tonne gold over 2 metres (sample J17) from a south western wall; 4.48 grams per tonne gold over 2 metres (sample J15) from a north western drift; 6.5 grams per tonne gold over 1.3 metres (sample J7) from a northern wall face and 11.3 grams per tonne gold with 15.7 grams per tonne silver over 2 metres (sample J9) from a column or pillar (Property File - D.K.W. [1981-06-01]: Detail Map - Athelstan and Jackpot Stopes).

Highlights of diamond drilling, in 1981, include: 3.64 grams per tonne gold with 9.8 grams per tonne silver over 1.5 metres in hole P-81-1; 1.0 gram per tonne gold over 4.5 metres in hole P-81-5; 0.81 gram per tonne gold with 94.4 grams per tonne silver over 1.5 metres in hole P-81-9A; 2.2 grams per tonne gold with 14.0 grams per tonne silver over 6 metres, including 5.17 grams per tonne gold with 25.0 grams per tonne silver over 1.5 metres, in hole P-81-10; 6.45 grams per tonne gold with 9.7 grams per tonne silver over 1.5 metres in hole P-81-12; 0.51 gram per tonne gold over 13.5 metres in hole P-81-13 and 0.89 gram per tonne gold over 13.5 metres, including 4.45 grams per tonne gold over 1.5 metres, in hole P-81-14 (Property File - unknown [1981-01-01]: Drill Hole Assays - P-81-1 to P-81-14 - Athelstan-Jackpot). Holes P-81-1 through P-81-10 were located between the Athelstan and Jackpot stopes.

In 1983, surface sampling yielded: 9.26 grams per tonne gold with 31.9 grams per tonne silver over 0.7 metres of a rusty shear zone near the Athelstan stope; 8.23 grams per tonne gold with 29.3 grams per tonne silver from a grab sample of dump material near the Jackpot stope and 17.1 grams per tonne gold with 42.9 grams per tonne silver from a grab sample of dump material near the Butte workings (Property File - Rimacan Resources Ltd. [1983-06-03]: A report on the Athelstan-Jackpot Mineral Property).

In 1987, diamond drilling yielded intercepts of 15.9 grams per tonne gold over 0.15 metre in hole 87-2, located near the Athelstan stope, and 11.6 grams per tonne gold over 1.83 metres in hole 87-8, located near the Jackpot stope (Property File - Minnova Inc. [1987-08-11]: Drill Hole Record for Holes 87-1 to 87-8 at the Athlestan-Jackpot Project).

In 1989, drilling of the A and J-34 zones yielded 12 grams per tonne gold over 1.8 metres in hole 87-8. Trenching later in the year returned up to 6.6 grams per tonne gold and 12 grams per tonne silver over 3.7 metres (Assessment Report 27510).

In 1990, a sample (BCS 18490) from a rusty shear zone exposed by a trench assayed 85 grams per tonne gold, 302 grams per tonne silver and 0.93 per cent copper, while a 2 metre chip sample (BCS 18488) across a fault assayed 4.1 grams per tonne gold (Property File - L. Lee [1990-01-01]: Property report: Athelstan-Jackpot).

In 2003, sampling of the J-12 zone returned 21.8 grams per tonne gold across 0.8 metres of an oxidized shear zone in diorite. Trenching on the B-1 zone, 500 metres east of the J-12 zone, returned 8 grams per tonne gold and 190 grams per tonne silver over 1.3 metres (Assessment Report 27302).

In 2004, a sample from a 0.7 to 1.0- metre wide shear zone in former Jackpot workings that contained oxidized pyrite and arsenopyrite yielded 10.1 grams per tonne gold, 2.36 per cent arsenic and 0.446 per cent copper (Assessment Report 27510).

Exploration and mining on the Athelstan (Lot 1065) and Jackpot (Lot 2224) claims began independently with no interconnection of workings. In 1900, operations commenced on the Athelstan claim with shaft development, drifting and the installation of a small plant. Additional exploration and development was completed between 1909 and 1912. The Jackpot adit, located 335 metres to the east and 90 metres below the Athelstan mine, is connected to an inclined, 17- metre shaft with levels at depths of 10 and 16 metres. By 1942, the combined underground development included 91 metres of shaft sinking and 570 metres of tunnelling.

Limited exploration programs were carried out on the property during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s by Sabina Mines, Colby Resources and Scurry Rainbow Oil and Gas. This work included 12 percussion drill holes, eight of which encountered open stopes. Mr. W. Hallauer acquired the claims from W.E. McArthur in the 1970’s.

Arrowhead Resources Ltd. explored the property during 1978 through 1983, under the direction of A.R. Grant. Significant work programs were completed including geological mapping and sampling of surface outcrops and mine workings, soil sampling, and magnetometer and VLF/EM surveys. Arrowhead Resources also drilled 28 vertical percussion drill holes over an area of approximately 200 by 600 metres, to test for a near surface, open-pit resource. The property was optioned to Rimacan Resources Ltd. in 1983 and Canadian Pawnee in 1985. Max Minerals Inc optioned the property in 1986 and significant work programs were carried out in 1986 and 1987. Detailed geochemical and geophysical programs were completed. In 1989, Toscano Resources completed 13 diamond drill holes, totalling 452 metres, which led to identification of the A and J-34 zones.

In 1990, Minnova Inc. optioned the claims and completed a six- hole diamond drill program, totalling 946 metres, the following year. A program of trenching was carried out in the summer of 2002 to test oxidized massive arsenopyrite mineralization, with gold, in listwanite at the A and J-34 zones.

Mineralogical and metallurgical testing was also conducted during 2002. Results indicate that cyanide leach is a suitable method for recovering gold from oxide ore, with up to 91 per cent gold and 29 per cent silver recovery achieved in tests (Assessment Report 27510). In 2003, trenching, mapping and sampling were completed at the J-34, J-12 and B zones.

Bibliography
EMPR AEROMAG MAP 8497G
EMPR AR 1898-1122,1194; 1900-870; 1901-1051,1052,1062,1063; 1903-170, 171,172; 1904-209,211,219,222; 1905-179,183; 1906-158,161; 1908-116,248; 1909-133,134; 1910-118,122; 1911-174,176,285,291; 1912-163, 167,326; 1914-353; 1932-122; 1934-A24,D3; 1935-D10; 1936-D55; 1937-A36,D33; 1938-A33,D38; 1939-35,90; 1940-23,75; 1941-72; 1942-67; 1945-95
EMPR ASS RPT 12131, 25251, 26822, 27044, 27302, 27510
EMPR BC METAL MM00816
EMPR BULL 1 (1932), p. 84
EMPR INDEX 3-188
EMPR MR MAP 6 (1932)
EMPR OF 1988-19; 1990-25
EMPR P *86-2, pp. 27-29
EMPR PF (Dyakowski, C. [unknown]: Property report: Athelstan-Jackpot; unknown [unknown]: Notes on Athelstan Jackpot; unknown [unknown]: Sketch of section at Athelstan Jackpot; unknown [unknown]: Sketches of Athelstan; unknown [unknown]: Geochemical sketch map at Athelstan, Jackpot, and Butte claims; unknown [unknown]: Sketch of section at Athelstan Jackpot; unknown [unknown]: Geology map at Athelstan Jackpot; J.A. Coryell [unknown]: Plan of Iron Clad Mineral Claim Lot 1490; J.A. Coryell [unknown]: Claim Map of the Mollie Pritchard, Iron Clad, Jack Pot and Buttercup Claims; unknown [unknown]: Geological Cross Sections of the Athelstan-Jackpot Property; unknown [unknown]: List of Samples Taken at the Athelstan-Jackpot Property; R.V. Kirkham [unknown]: Location Line Sections - Neff Creek - July Creek; unknown [unknown]: Notes on Athelstan Jackpot; unknown [unknown]: Plan of Lot 1067 Butte Mineral Claim, Wellington Camp; unknown [unknown]: Summary Notes: Tertiary Volcaniclastic and Flow rxs; F.M. Kerby [1898-11-07]: Plan Lot 1065 "Athelstan" Fractional Mineral Claim - Wellington Camp; F.M. Kerby [1898-11-07]: Plan Lot 1554 Mollie Pritchard Mineral Claim Wellington Camp; F.M. Kerby [1898-11-07]: Plan Lot 3158 "Jack Pot" Fractional Mineral Claim - Wellington Camp; F.M. Kerby [1898-11-07]: Plan Lot of "Athelstan Fraction" Fractional Mineral Claim; F.M. Kerby [1898-11-07]: Plan of Coronet Fr. Mineral Claim Lot 677; C.M. Campbell [1915-05-01]: Report - Ironclad Mining Claims; Galloway, J.D. (1927): Report on Mineral Properties in Greenwood Mining Division - Butte, Wellington Camp; P.G. Dobson [1934-11-26]: Projections and Sections - Athelstan. Jackpot Group; E.O. Chisholm [1969-01-20]: Report on the Toney and Athelstan Groups; H. Kim [1970-11-01]: Correspondence Re: Monthly Report, October, 1970 - Jackpot; *A.R. Grant [1978-11-01]: Surface Sampling - Athelstan-Jackpot-Iron Clad; A.R. Grant [1978-11-01]: Surface Sampling - Athelstan-Jackpot-Iron Clad; Acme Analytical Laboratories Ltd. [1981-01-01]: Summary Core Logs and Assays - P81-1 to P-81-3 and P15 to P25 - Athelstan-Jackpot; *unknown [1981-01-01]: Drill Hole Assays - P-81-1 to P-81-14 - Athelstan-Jackpot; Tri Basin Resources [1981-04-10]: News - Exploration - Athelstan-Jackpot Property; *D.K.W. [1981-06-01]: Detail Map - Athelstan and Jackpot Stopes; Tri Basin Resources [1981-10-04]: GCNL News Clippings - Athelstan-Jackpot Property; A.R. Grant [1981-11-24]: Letter Re: Summary of Exploration Results 1981 Athelstan-Jackpot Project; Arrowhead Resources Ltd. [1981-12-17]: Percussion Hole Location, Rock and Soil Sample Results - Athelstan-Jackpot Property; Rimacan Resources Ltd. [1983-01-01]: Mines and Mineral Production - Greenwood-Phoenix Area; Rimacan Resources Ltd. [1983-01-01]: Mineral Occurrences Map - Athelstan-Jackpot Area; Rimacan Resources Ltd. [1983-01-01]: Mineral Claims and Geology Maps - Athelstan-Jackpot; Rimacan Resources Ltd. [1983-01-01]: Local Geology - Athelstan-Jackpot Min. Prop.; Rimacan Resources Ltd. [1983-01-01]: Geology Map - Athelstan-Jackpot; Rimacan Resources Ltd. [1983-01-01]: Claim Map - Athelstan-Jackpot Min. Prop.; Rimacan Resources Ltd. [1983-05-30]: Claim maps at Athelstan Jackpot; *Rimacan Resources Ltd. [1983-06-03]: A report on the Athelstan-Jackpot Mineral Property; Rimacan Resources Ltd. [1983-06-28]: Letter and Report on Jackpot-Athelstan Property; Kermeen, J.S. [1983-06-28]: Letter and Report on Jackpot-Athelstan Property; Rimacan Resources Ltd. [1983-07-01]: News Release - Acquisition: Athelstan-Jackpot Mineral Property; A.R. Grant [1983-11-29]: Summary Report and Recommendations Athelstan-Jackpot Property; J. Carson [1986-01-30]: Mineral Property Submittal - Athelstan/Jackpot; Max Minerals Inc. [1986-10-30]: Geophysical Map of the Athelstan-Jackpot Property; Unknown [1987-01-01]: Summary Notes on the Athelstan-Jackpot Drilling Program; Unknown [1987-01-01]: Summary notes on 1987 Drilling at Athelstan Jackpot; Unknown [1987-01-01]: Plan map of 1987 Drill Program on the Jackpot-Athelstan Project; *Minnova Inc. [1987-08-11]: Drill Hole Record for Holes 87-1 to 87-8 at the Athelstan-Jackpot Project; Dyakowski, C. [1987-09-11]: News Release; Max Minerals [1987-09-16]: No. 178 (1987); Max Minerals [1987-09-16]: No. 178 (1987) - Athelstan-Jackpot, Erickson, Spider mine; M.M. [1988-01-12]: MINFILE revision - Athelstan; MIN-EN Laboratories Ltd. [1989-12-21]: ICP Report - 9V-1637-HJ1 - Minnova Inc. - Brenda Reconnaissance Project; J.J. McDougall [1989-11-01]: Report on the Athelstan-Jackpot Property; Minnova Inc. [1990-01-01]: Selected 1990 Preliminary Sampling Results for the Athelstan-Jackpot Property; L. Lee [1990-01-01]: Regional and Prop Exams - Field Notes - Book 1 and 2; L. Lee [1990-01-01]: Regional and Prop Exams - Sample Tags - Book 1 and 2; L. Lee [1990-01-01]: Property report: Athelstan-Jackpot; *L. Lee [1990-01-01]: Property report: Athelstan-Jackpot; Lee, L. (1990-01-05): Report on Athelstan-Jackpot Property; unknown [1990-04-27]: Field Notes on Mapping at the Athelstan-Jackpot Project; L. Lee [1990-05-01]: Report on Athelstan-Jackpot Property; Minnova Inc. [1990-10-01]: Correspondence RE: Third Quarter Progress Report-Athelstan Jackpot Property; Minnova Inc. [1990-10-01]: Geological Map - Athelstan-Jackpot Property; unknown [1990-10-20]: Geology sketch maps at Athelstan Jackpot; MIN-EN Laboratories [1990-11-09]: Assay Certificate - 0V-1682-RA1 - Minnnova Inc. - Athelstan-Jackpot; Unknown [1991-01-01]: Sketch maps at Athelstan Jackpot showing surface geology; Unknown [1991-01-01]: Quick Logs for the Athelstan-Jackpot 1991 Drill Programme; Unknown [1991-01-01]: Notes on Athelstan-Jackpot; D.R. Heberlein [1991-01-01]: Brenda General (PN 658); unknown (1991-01-01): Sketch maps at Athelstan Jackpot showing surface geology; unknown [1991-01-01]: Field Notes on Drilling and Sampling at the Athelstan-Jackpot Project; unknown [1991-01-01]: Field notes at Athelstan Jackpot; C.J.C. [1991-03-01]: Schematic Section Through Athelstan-Jackpot Property; Minnova Inc. [1991-03-01]: 1991 Budget Proposal for the Brenda Joint Venture; Minnova Inc. [1991-03-01]: Minnova Inc. 1990 Annual Report on the Brenda-Okanagan Joint Venture; MIN-EN Laboratories Ltd. [1991-03-07]: ICP Report for Athelstan Jackpot; Minnova Inc. [1991-04-02]: Correspondence RE: Athelstan-Jackpot Quarterly Report - First Quarter, 1991; Minnova Inc. [1991-05-03]: Sample Tags - Athelstan-Jackpot; R. Holler [1991-05-03]: Original Field Sample Book - Athelstan-Jackpot Samples 15226-15275; R.J. Holder [1991-05-27]: Drill Hole Record for Hole AJ91-1 at the Athelstan-Jackpot Project; R.J. Holder [1991-05-30]: Drill Hole Record for Hole AJ91-2 at the Athelstan-Jackpot Project; Min-En Laboratories Ltd. [1991-05-31]: Assay Certificates - 1991 - Minnova Inc. - Athelstan Jackpot PN 666; R.J. Holder [1991-06-01]: Drill Hole Record for Hole AJ91-3 at the Athelstan-Jackpot Project; R.J. Holder [1991-06-02]: Drill Hole Record for Hole AJ91-4 at the Athelstan-Jackpot Project; R.J. Holder [1991-06-04]: Drill Hole Record for Hole AJ91-5 at the Athelstan-Jackpot Project; R.J. Holder [1991-06-05]: Drill Hole Record for Hole AJ91-6 at the Athelstan-Jackpot Project; MIN-EN Laboratories Ltd. [1991-07-03]: ICP Report - 1991 - Minnova Inc. - Athelstan Jackpot; Min-En Laboratories Ltd. [1991-11-01]: Assay Certificates - 1990 - Minnova Inc. - Athelstan Jackpot PN 666; Minnova Inc. [1991-12-01]: Collected Minnova Press Releases - Western Canada Exploration - Porphyry and Epithermal Exploration - 1991 Progress Reports - Iskut Compilation; R.E.M. [2002-02-27]: Compilation Map - A-J Group Property; R.E.M. [2002-02-27]: Map - Soil Geochemistry B1 - Jaworski Trenching B6 - A-J Group Property; Terry, D. [2002-08-27]: Re: Terry Report - Aug. 27/02; Terry, D. [2002-09-06]: Mineral Exploration Activity - South-central BC - Athelstan)
EMPR PRELIM MAP 59
EMR IR 785 (1937), p. 150
GSC MAP 83A; 828; 45-20A; 6-1957; 10-1967; 1500A; 1736A
GSC MEM 38
GSC OF 481; 637; 1969
GSC P *45-20, pp. 2-24; 67-42; 79-29
GSC SUM RPT 1900, pp. 58A,66A; 1902, p. 135A
GCNL #70,#117,#143,#150, 1981
W MINER Aug. 1952, p. 49

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