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File Created: 24-Jul-1985 by BC Geological Survey (BCGS)
Last Edit:  22-Mar-2022 by Nicole Barlow (NB)

Summary Help Help

NMI 082F6 Au8
Name GOLDEN AGE, GOLDEN AGE 2 Mining Division Nelson
BCGS Map 082F034
Status Past Producer NTS Map 082F06E
Latitude 049º 23' 26'' UTM 11 (NAD 83)
Longitude 117º 13' 18'' Northing 5470897
Easting 483914
Commodities Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Tungsten Deposit Types I05 : Polymetallic veins Ag-Pb-Zn+/-Au
L01 : Subvolcanic Cu-Ag-Au (As-Sb)
Tectonic Belt Omineca Terrane Quesnel
Capsule Geology

The Golden Age occurrence is located on the west side of the Salmo River, approximately 11.2 kilometres south of Nelson. The Euphrates (MINFILE 082FSW186) past-producing mine lies on the east side of the river directly across from the Golden Age.

The area is underlain by highly schistose volcanics of the Lower Jurassic Elise Formation (Rossland Group). The volcanics comprise andesite, andesite lapilli tuff (unit Je8l), augite porphyry basalt and flow breccias (unit Je4), tuffaceous siltstone and sandstone (unit Je10), mafic tuff (unit Je7f) and tuffaceous conglomerate (unit Je11b; Open File 1989-11). The volcanics have been intruded by lamprophyre dikes.

The Golden Age workings followed a fault/vein structure striking between 310 and 325 degrees and dipping 60 to 80 degrees south. Mineralization occurs in bulbous quartz sulphide lenses along a fault trace. Shearing is common in both the hangingwall and footwall. Shearing and silicification are discontinuous and apparently en echelon. Sheared and mineralized sections are often bounded by dikes and/or faults. Fault gouge is common and the attitude of the faults is variable. Some of the faulting is post-mineralization. The mineralized shear is closely associated with mafic dikes and is similar to the Euphrates (MINFILE 082FSW186) showing to the southeast. The quartz stringers often exhibit boudinage and drag fold structures.

Mineralization consists of one or more poorly defined shear zones with discontinuous stringers, veinlets and knots of quartz. These quartzose zones are up to 1 metre wide by 1 to 30 metres long and appear to be better developed in the arcuate or curvilinear sections of the shears. The quartz zones host pyrite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, minor galena and sphalerite, scheelite, tetrahedrite and malachite associated with chalcopyrite. Gangue consists of calcite, ankerite and sericite. Minor tourmaline is observed associated with the quartz. Metallurgical studies have determined that 40 per cent of the gold and silver occur as locked particles with pyrite (Assessment Report 17464).

In 1966, samples yielded up to 41.0 grams per tonne gold and 212.0 grams per tonne silver, whereas a sample from the end of the no.2 adit yielded 6.8 grams per tonne gold, 44.5 grams per tonne silver, 0.33 per cent lead and 0.39 per cent zinc over 1.2 metres (Property File - F.H.P. Explorations [1966-08-01]: Preliminary Reports on the FHP Exploration Ltd. Properties - Euphrates).

In 1971, a suite of 20 channel samples along a strike length of 107 metres indicated grades on the order of 7.2 grams gold, 28 grams silver and 0.29 per cent copper (Assessment Report 3304). In 1976, check samples of vein material yielded up to 0.35 per cent tungsten tri-oxide (Property File - Espina Copper Developments Ltd. [1977-04-07]: Report on the Golden Age Mine). In 1985, a grab sample of quartz material yielded 0.35 per cent tungsten (Assessment Report 13682). In 1988, a channel sample across 1 metre of highly sheared, sericitized and siliceous andesite from the main adit (AGE-88-010) assayed 2.6 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 17464).

In 1966, a probable reserve of 36 287 tonnes worth $40.00 per tonne in gold and silver was reported (Property File - F.H.P. Explorations [1966-08-01]: Preliminary Reports on the FHP Exploration Ltd. Properties - Euphrates).

In 1971, a probable reserve of 1388 tonnes, along with a possible resource of 3338 tonnes averaging 7.2 grams per tonne gold, 28.0 grams per tonne silver and 0.29 per cent copper over a width of 0.84 metres was reported (Property File - Espina Copper Developments Ltd. [1977-04-07]: Report on the Golden Age Mine).

In 1984, it was reported that approximately 4536 to 5443 tonnes of mineable ore was developed (Property File - Oscar Resources [1984-02-02]: GCNL Clippings - Golden Age). The grade of the ore was not reported.

Intermittent production, during 1928 through 1973, yielded 155 tonnes of ore producing 9.67 kilograms pf silver, 1.24 kilograms of gold, 227 kilograms of zinc, 225 kilograms of lead and 107 kilograms of copper.

The discovery of gold-quartz float on the lower slope of the mountain led to intensive prospecting of the area by E. and S. Terzian, and the staking of nine claims in 1922. Trenching and several short adits led to the discovery of the vein in place. The owners incorporated The Golden Age Mining Company, Limited, in August 1923. The company installed a 20-stamp mill, which was used very little since there was no ore available. Some development work was done in 1924 by Carl Anderson, of Spokane, under a lease agreement. In 1927 and 1928, the mill operated occasionally on ore from the Euphrates property. The mill was destroyed by fire in 1929. Small shipments were reported by the owners in 1931 and 1940.

Trimetals Mining, Inc., of Spokane, Washington, acquired the property in 1941 and carried out underground development work and diamond drilling during 1941-42. Some ore was milled at the Euphrates mill before work ceased in April 1942. Further development work was done by the company in 1945 and 1946, with a small amount of ore being shipped at that time; work ceased in October 1946. The workings at that time included three adits located at elevations of approximately 900, 916 and 942 metres. The lower adit, 15 metres below the road, consisted of a 40-metre drift and a 6-metre crosscut; the main (middle) adit, at road level, consisted of 440 metres of drift and three short crosscuts to the west and the upper adit, 27 metres above the main adit, consisted of a 53-metre-long drift.

Foremost Construction Ltd. shipped 62 tons of crude ore from the property in 1963. Nelway Mines Ltd. held the property in 1966 as the T.P.M. and J groups of 26 recorded claims. During 1966 and 1967, the company carried out stripping, sampling, and three diamond drill holes, totalling 61 metres. Robert Mines Ltd., incorporated May 1969, acquired the T.P.M., I and 2 claims. These claims and adjacent ground were restaked as the PIA 1-10 claims. The company also acquired the Euphrates property. During 1971, the main adit, on the PIA 7 claim, was reopened and extended 11 metres, and geochemical, magnetic, electromagnetic, and self-potential surveys were carried out. In 1972 and 1973, a program of two diamond drill holes, totalling 34 metres, was completed on the PIA 7 claim, along with trenching and stripping on the PIA 3 claim. In 1976, Espina Copper Developments Ltd. examined the area. In 1985, Oscar Resources completed a program of geological mapping, trenching and rock sampling. In 1988, a program of geological mapping and rock sampling was completed.

Bibliography
EMPR AR 1922-208; 1923-217; 1924-192; 1927-192; 1928-324; 1929-346; 1931-138; 1937-E30; 1940-26; 1941-64; 1942-27,60; 1945-43; 1946-140; 1963-449; 1966-211; 1967-243
EMPR ASS RPT *3303, *3304, 6379, *13682, *17464, 22410, 29992
EMPR BC METAL MM01004
EMPR BULL 41; 109
EMPR EXPL 1977-E47
EMPR FIELDWORK 1980, pp. 149-158; 1981, pp. 28-32, pp. 176-186; 1987, pp. 19-30; 1988, pp. 33-43; 1989, pp. 247-249; 1990, pp. 291-300
EMPR GEM 1970-439; 1971-404; 1972-52; 1973-65
EMPR MAP 7685G; RGS 1977; 8480G
EMR MP CORPFILE (The Golden Age Mining Company Ltd.; Nelway Mines Ltd.; Robert Mines Ltd.)
EMPR OF 1988-1; *1989-11; 1991-16; 1991-17
EMPR PF (Taimetals Mining Inc. [1942-06-01]: Golden Age - Underground Plan; Nelson Daily News [1946-07-29]: Ymir-Salmo Mines Busy Despite Labor, Machinery Shortages; *F.H.P. Explorations [1966-08-01]: Preliminary Reports on the FHP Exploration Ltd. Properties - Euphrates; *Espina Copper Developments Ltd. [1977-04-07]: Report on the Golden Age Mine; *Oscar Resources [1984-02-02]: GCNL Clippings - Golden Age)
GSC MAP 51-4A; 1090A; 1091A; 1144A
GSC MEM *191, p. 58; 308, p. 156
GSC OF 1195
GSC P 51-4
GCNL #12,#23, 1984
Giroux, G., Grunenberg, P. (2012-04-30): Technical Report on the Kena Property, Nelson, BC.
Giroux, G., Park, V. (2013-02-07): Technical Report for the Kena Property, Nelson, BC.
Giroux, G., Park, V. (2017-06-02): Technical Report for the Kena Project, Nelson, BC.
Moose Mountain Technical Services (2021-05-03): NI 43-101 Resource Estimate for the Kena and Daylight Properties, Moose Mountain Technical Services (2021-07-19): NI 43-101 Resource Estimate for the Kena and Daylight Properties
EMPR PFD 2654, 3258, 3262, 752849, 680165

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