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File Created: 24-Jul-1985 by BC Geological Survey (BCGS)
Last Edit:  27-Jul-1989 by Peter S. Fischl (PSF)

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NMI
Name SMITH INLET, LOT 403 Mining Division Skeena
BCGS Map 092M035
Status Past Producer NTS Map 092M06E
Latitude 051º 21' 59'' UTM 09 (NAD 83)
Longitude 127º 08' 52'' Northing 5692198
Easting 628938
Commodities Limestone, Dolomite Deposit Types R09 : Limestone
Tectonic Belt Coast Crystalline Terrane Plutonic Rocks
Capsule Geology

A band of limestone, hosted in granitic rocks of the Jurassic to Tertiary Coast Plutonic Complex, outcrops on both sides of Smith Inlet in the vicinity of Nalos Landing. The limestone strikes 110 degrees and dips nearly vertical to the northeast. On the north side of the inlet the band is 700 metres wide and continues inland for 800 metres. On this side of the inlet the limestone is intruded by some mafic dykes that commonly parallel the strike of the band. These dykes vary up to 9 metres in width, but are usually less than a metre wide. They become numerous towards the edges of the deposit. Abundant dykes intrude the limestone on the south shore of the inlet.

The band on the north shore is composed of white, medium to coarse-grained interbedded high calcium limestone and dolomite that contains a trace of disseminated pyrite. The dolomite also occurs within the calcium limestone as irregular masses, up to 7.6 metres in diameter, and as fine disseminations in varying concentrations. The limestone becomes siliceous and more dolomitic along the edges of the deposit.

A sample taken across a 15 metre width in the centre of the deposit on the north shore of the inlet analyzed 53.39 per cent CaO, 1.14 per cent MgO, 1.08 per cent SiO2, 0.02 per cent Al2O3, 0.08 per cent Fe2O3 and nil sulphur (CANMET Report 811, page 175, Sample 27B). A sample of white dolomite analyzed 32.48 per cent CaO, 19.61 per cent MgO, 0.058 per cent SiO2, 0.19 per cent Al2O3, 0.09 per cent Fe2O3 and nil sulphur (CANMET Report 811, page 175, Sample 27A).

In 1929 two quarries were opened up on the deposit on Lot 403 along the north shore of Smith Inlet by Coast Calcite Co. Ltd.; no production figures are available. Operations were suspended a short time afterwards.

Bibliography
EMPR OF 1992-18, p. 55
GSC MAP 92A; 1386A
GSC P 1968-1A, pp. 37-40
GSC SUM RPT 1908, pp. 38-40
CANMET Report *811, Part 5, pp. 166,167,175

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