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File Created: 24-Jul-1985 by BC Geological Survey (BCGS)
Last Edit:  10-Jan-2022 by Del Ferguson (DF)

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NMI
Name PROSPER, BES, PAKEHA, ISOB Mining Division Alberni
BCGS Map 092F032
Status Past Producer NTS Map 092F05E
Latitude 049º 23' 36'' UTM 10 (NAD 83)
Longitude 125º 44' 35'' Northing 5474801
Easting 300962
Commodities Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead, Zinc Deposit Types I06 : Cu+/-Ag quartz veins
Tectonic Belt Insular Terrane Wrangell
Capsule Geology

The Prosper occurrence is located near the junction of the Bedwell River and Ursus Creek, approximately 4.2 kilometres north-northeast of Bedwell Sound, and 30 kilometres northeast of Tofino, B.C.

The area is underlain by volcanics of the Upper Triassic Karmutsen Formation, Vancouver Group. These consist of fine grained andesites and black or dark green basalts. Large areas to the immediate west of the head of Bedwell Sound and a few kilometres to the north are underlain by rock of the Early to Middle Jurassic Island Intrusions. These plutonic rocks vary in composition from gabbro to quartz monzonite but are mainly granodiorite and quartz diorite. Lenses of recrystallized limestone also occur in the region.

The Prosper vein occurs in a shear zone that ranges from about 0.3 to 1 metre in width, strikes generally at 065 degrees and dips between 56 and 68 degrees to the northwest. The vein ranges from 15 to 70 centimetres in width but is typically 25 to 35 centimetres wide. The vein can vary from a solid vein of quartz, to parallel footwall and hangingwall branches, to zones of silicified breccia. The vein is mineralized with pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite, visible gold and malachite. A weighted average of assays from 11 samples taken on the vein gave 16.59 grams per tonne gold and 34.63 grams per tonne silver over an average width of 39 centimetres (Assessment Report 17620).

The vein has been explored intermittently since the beginning of the century and is currently exposed by two adits and two surface trenches. The lower adit, at an elevation of 110 metres, is reported to be 128 metres in length. The upper adit, at an elevation of 158 metres, follows the vein for 35 metres and then branches for 3 metres as the vein splits. A raise begun at a point 80 metres from the portal of the lower adit intersects the bottom of a winze in the upper adit.

Bralorne Mines Ltd. held an option on the property and in 1942 and 1950, produced 90 tonnes of ore from the upper adit, 6,687 grams of gold, 6,283 grams of silver and 37 kilograms of copper were recovered (Mineral Policy data). In 1966, the property was option by Leitch Gold Mines and programs of soil sampling, geological mapping and a magnetometer survey were completed. In the 1970's, the Isob trench and adit was begun by Golden Hinde Mines and were driven for 10 metres along the vein. In 1981, the property was acquired by Canamco Resources who rehabilitated the mine workings and old trenches. In 1985, three diamond drill hole were completed on the Prosper vein, intersecting it at vertical depths of 20 to 40 metres below the lower adit. In 1986- 1987, Tamara Resources drove a raise from the lower Prosper adit to the base of the winze in the upper adit. In 1988, Intercontinental Ventrues optioned the property and completed various exploration programs including three diamond drill holes on the Isob vein. In 1991, Golden Hinde Mines completed a program of soil geochemical sampling and VLF-EM and magnetometer surveys.

The vein has been calculated to contain probable reserves of 900 tonnes grading 26.74 grams per tonne gold and possible reserves of 7250 tonnes containing 32.57 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 17620). In addition, the upper adit dump is estimated to contain 500 tonnes grading 13.7 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 21444).

The Isob vein occurs about 40 metres north of the Prosper vein, striking from 055 to 060 degrees and dipping moderately to the northwest. It consists of quartz, with minor calcite, containing chalcopyrite, pyrite, galena and visible gold. The observed part of the vein is from 30 to 40 centimetres wide. The assays of 5 samples taken on the vein gave a weighted average of 10.87 grams per tonne gold and 53.83 grams per tonne silver over an average vein width of 37 centimetres (Assessment Report 17620). In 1988, diamond drilling returned up to 71.8 grams per tonne gold and 29.8 grams per tonne silver over 1.22 metres (Assessment Report 21444).

The Isob vein is exposed by a 5 metre long adit and two surface cuts over a strike length of 130 metres and a vertical distance of 65 metres.

The Prosper Property, extending across Bedwell River between Mount Cotter and Ursus Mountain, was acquired by New Sunro Copper Ltd. in 2016 and historic workings were re-sampled. A select grab sample from a 0.5 metre thick exposure of the Prosper Vein at the back of the Upper Prosper Adit, 4 metres from the adit portal, yielded values of 125 grams per tonne gold, 115 grams per tonne silver, 1.67 per cent copper and 982 ppm lead. A duplicate of the rock sample was sent to the geochronology laboratory at UBC for lead isotope analyses, which yielded a similar radiogenic response as known Eocene age mineralization from Catface Copper and the Zeballos Gold District on Vancouver Island (Assessment Report 37149).

Bibliography
EMPR AR 1946-183; 1947-181
EMPR ASS RPT 2997, 3629, *5506, 7439, 13571, 14067, *17620, *21444, *37149
EMPR BC METAL MM00096
EMPR BULL *8, pp. 22-26; 13
EMPR EXPL 1975-E97, 1976-E113, 1977-E111, 1978-E128, 1979-130, 1980-171, 1985-C145, 1988-C85
EMPR GEM 1973-232
EMPR PF (Assay Plan of the Upper Tunnel, Prosper Mine, Scale 1:120, March 14, 1942; Prosper Mine, Vertical Projection, Scale 1:120, March 14, 1942; Cross-section of the workings, Feb., 1942; *Preliminary Report on the Prosper Vein by J.S. Stevenson, B.C. Department of Mines, May 4, 1972; Prospectus: Regarding the Development of an Underground Mining, Milling and Cyanide Leaching Project at the Prosper Mine, by Krueckl Consulting Services Ltd., April 10, 1986, for Tamara Resources Inc.; Tamara Options the Prosper Mine on Vancouver Island, Article by S. Stone in the May/June 1986 issue of Prospector(?); *Prospectus: Intercontinental Ventures Ltd., Jan.6, 1988; Article (unknown year and source) Walter Guppy - The Scent of Gold)
GSC MAP 17-1968; 1386A
GSC MEM 204, p. 25
GSC OF 463
GSC P 68-50, p. 38; 72-44; 79-30; 80-16
Carson, D.J.T. (1968): Metallogenic Study of Vancouver Island with Emphasis on the Relationships of Mineral Deposits to Plutonic Rocks, Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, Carleton University
GCNL #40,#221, 1986; #32,#74, 1987
Times Colonist, The New Islander, Nov. 16, 1997, p. 7
V STOCWATCH APRIL 14, 1987

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