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File Created: 22-Nov-1988 by Steve B. Butrenchuk (SBB)
Last Edit:  20-Sep-2023 by Garry J. Payie (GJP)

Summary Help Help

NMI
Name BRANCH F Mining Division Fort Steele
BCGS Map 082G093
Status Prospect NTS Map 082G14W
Latitude 049º 58' 10'' UTM 11 (NAD 83)
Longitude 115º 27' 04'' Northing 5536383
Easting 611072
Commodities Gypsum Deposit Types F04 : Bedded celestite
F02 : Bedded gypsum
Tectonic Belt Foreland Terrane Ancestral North America
Capsule Geology

The Branch F prospect consists of gypsum exposed in an outcrop, measuring 45 by 20 metres, located along a logging road locally called Branch F. Additionally, small sinkholes, many of which contain gypsum or possibly anhydrite, are present over an area measuring 300 by 100 metres.

In the Lussier River - Coyote Creek area, individual gypsum showings have been traced from about 2 kilometres north of the confluence of the Lussier River and Coyote Creek to the northern boundary of the Top of the World Park.

Gypsum observed in the Lussier River valley is vertical to steeply dipping. Faulting may have been important in the localization and preservation of these deposits. The dominant structural feature is a north-trending syncline with shallow dipping limbs. Gypsum is present along both limbs and the axis is located along the height of land separating the Lussier River and Coyote Creek.

The gypsum, tentatively assigned to the Devonian Burnais Formation, is overlain by a black limestone breccia which may be a collapse structure caused by solution of the underlying gypsum. The gypsum is underlain by Devonian dolomite and grey limestone.

The gypsum, laminated and locally massive, is grey to dark grey to black in color. Its thickness is estimated at 30 metres. Native sulphur was observed in trace amounts.

The gypsum varies from 85 to 92 per cent in purity with minor amounts of dolomite and quartz. The results (in per cent) from analysis of a sample were as follows (Open File 1991-15):

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Al2O3 0.19

CaO 35.52

Fe2O3 0.09

K2O < 0.03

MgO 2.19

MnO < 0.01

Na2O 0.03

P2O5 0.04

SiO2 1.04

TiO2 < 0.01

SO3 40.52

H2O 17.84

Cl < 0.01

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There is a potential for approximately 2 to 3 million tonnes of gypsum from this deposit.

Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. acquired the property in 1999 and subsequently conducted exploration and drilling programs. The 2007 program delineated an extension of the gypsum to the north, noting that the visual aspect of the gypsum is atypically buff to white, indicative of selenite development and lack of impurities. Drill holes intersected gypsum with varying thickness of approximately 25-45 metres underlain by anhydrite.

WORK HISTORY

In 1989, in the area covered by the Coyote Creek claims, Steve Butrenchuk of the BC Geological Survey discovered three significant new gypsum showings which were exposed by forestry road construction. Butrenchuk described the geology and gypsum occurrences in the Coyote Creek and Lussier River drainages (Open File 1991-15).

In 1999 and 2000, Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. acquired tenure in the Coyote Creek area looking for base metal mineralization associated with a package of black shales and carbonates. Eagle Plains carry out geologic mapping, soil geochemical sampling program, trench sampling, and diamond drilling (Assessment Report 26331).

In 2005, work by Eagle Plains consisted of a ten-hole diamond drilling program in the area of the Branch F West occurrence (082GNW077). Nine of the diamond drill holes cored the gypsum deposit through to the underlying anhydrite formation, with an average gypsum thickness of 31 meters. Geochemical analysis of the gypsum indicates a very high purity (Assessment Report 28171).

In 2006, Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. drilled 540 metres in 14 diamond-drill holes on the Coyote Creek property in May-June (Assessment Report 28786). The eleven-hole 2006 diamond drilling program conducted by Bootleg Exploration Inc. for U.S. Gypsum Inc. focused primarily in the area between the Coyote (082GNW078) and Branch F West (082GNW077) showings, and three holes collared at the Branch F (082GNW071).

In 2007, U.S. Gypsum Inc (CGC Inc) optioned the Coyote prospects and contracted Bootleg Exploration Inc to drill the deposits. A total of 23 holes were collared within the Branch F, Branch F West, and Coyote target areas (Assessment Report 29727). Ten 2007 drill holes tested the north, south, east, and western extensions of the Branch F West deposit. The 2007 Branch F program delineated an extension of the gypsum resource to the north of historical drilling. Of note is the visual aspect of the gypsum which is atypically buff to white, indicative of selenite development and the lack of impurities.

In 2018, Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. conducted a 2000-hectare LiDAR and Satellite Image acquisition survey over their 2048-hectare Coyote Creek property (Assessment Report 37821).

Bibliography
EMPR ASS RPT 26331, *28171, *28786, *29727, 37821
EMPR FIELDWORK *1988, pp. 502-503
EMPR OF 1988-14; *1991-15
EMPR PFD 882059, 882060
GSC MAP 11-1960
GSC MEM 76

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