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File Created: 24-Jul-1985 by BC Geological Survey (BCGS)
Last Edit:  08-Jul-2020 by Nicole Barlow (NB)

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NMI 082L16 Gem1, Be1
Name MOUNT BEGBIE, BEGBIE 1, GSC, GIAGANTOR, HERB, WM, ROSE Mining Division Revelstoke, Vernon
BCGS Map 082L089
Status Showing NTS Map 082L16E
Latitude 050º 53' 18'' UTM 11 (NAD 83)
Longitude 118º 14' 52'' Northing 5638149
Easting 412235
Commodities Gemstones, Beryl, Rare Earths, Lithium, Rubidium, Gallium Deposit Types O01 : Rare element pegmatite - LCT family
Tectonic Belt Omineca Terrane Monashee
Capsule Geology

The Mount Begbie occurrence is located on the north east side of Mount Begbie approximately 11 kilometres south- south west of Revelstoke.

The area is underlain by quartzite, quartz arenite sedimentary rocks and calc-silicate metamorphic rocks of the Proterozoic to Lower Paleozoic Monashee Complex. The strata strikes northwest and dips moderately to the northeast.

Locally, numerous tourmaline-bearing pegmatite dikes occur in laminated, gently dipping micaceous quartzites of the Precambrian-Paleozoic(?) Monashee Complex (Group). The quartzites, which cap Mount Begbie, also contain disseminated tourmaline as an accessory component. The pegmatites are considered to be Mesozoic and occur as lenticular sill-like sheets. Some dikes cut sharply across bedding planes along fault-fractures. Conspicuous amounts of black tourmaline (schorlite) are evident in the dikes and occur in thick, prismatic crystals up to 7.6 centimetres long. Five areas of possible beryl- bearing pegmatites have been identified in the area and consist of the original Mount Begbie zone, Begbie 1 (GSC), Giagantor, Herb (WM) and Rose zones.

The original Mount Begbie occurrence is described as a small dike (up to 1.5 metres wide) on the northeast side of Mount Begbie peak, on the lower edge of a snowfield, and contains black, green and red varieties of tourmaline, green beryl, garnet and lepidolite. The crystals of tourmaline are scattered and are up to 2.5 centimetres.

The Begbie 1 (GSC) occurrence, located at 2100 metres elevation, consists of two large pegmatite sub-crop boulders hosting small areas of lepidolite, green-pink-black tourmaline with minor beryl and garnet. In 2013, a rock sample (BEGBIE1A) assayed greater than 0.2 per cent for each of lithium, caesium and rubidium (Assessment Report 34399).

The Giagantor occurrence, located at 2000 metres elevation, consists of two pegmatite dikes, 2 to 6 metres wide, hosting black tourmaline with minor lepidolite and green-pink opaque tourmaline up to 2 centimetres wide and 6 centimetres long. The dikes strike 105 degrees and dip 75 degrees to the north. In 2016, rock samples assayed up to 0.910 per cent lithium, 0.097 per cent caesium and greater than 0.2 per cent rubidium (Assessment Report 36581).

The Herb (WM) occurrence, located at an elevation of 2200 metres, consists of a 2- metre wide pegmatite dike hosting a pocket of lepidolite with green-pink tourmaline. The dike is exposed over 50 metres and strikes 020 degrees with a dip of 60 degrees to the north west. In 2013, a rock sample (13B-004) assayed 0.03 per cent caesium, greater than 0.01 per cent gallium with greater than 0.2 per cent lithium and rubidium, respectively (Assessment Report 34399).

The Rose occurrence, located at 2100 metres elevation, consists of a 2 to 4- metre wide pegmatite dike hosting rose quartz, black tourmaline and a patch of beryl. The dike strikes 110 degrees and dips 90 degrees.

In 2013 and 2016, the area was prospected and sampled as the Begbie claims.

Bibliography
EMPR ASS RPT *34399, *36581
EMPR PF (Prospectors Report 2001-7 by William Welsh)
GSC EC GEOL *23, pp. 60,61
GSC MAP 235A; 1059A
GSC MEM *296, p. 162
GSC OF 481; 658
Lane, R. (2017-01-10): Technical Report on the Kootenay Lithium Project.

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