The Alexandra (Lot 225) occurrence is located on the western shore of Phillips Arm, approximately 2.1 kilometres south-southwest of Bullveke Point. Five adits are exposed from sea level to 130 metres in elevation.
The area is underlain by a persistent band, greater than 12 kilometres long, of stratified metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks of the Upper Triassic Quatsino and Karmutsen formations (Vancouver Group). The band trends north- west and separates Jurassic to Cretaceous Coast Plutonic Complex rock of two different compositions, diorite and granodiorite.
The mine straddles the sheared contact between diorite to the southwest and metamorphosed rocks to the northeast. The shear zone dips approximately 75 degrees to the southwest and locally truncates the contact. It can be traced from the Alexandria through the Enid-Julie (MINFILE 092K 024) and Doratha Morton (MINFILE 092K 023) and on to the Commonwealth (MINFILE 092K 025) occurrences, respectively, for a distance of 6.5 kilometres.
The workings explore the highly silicified and quartz-veined shear zone. Pyrite and minor chalcopyrite within the quartz veins are known to carry high gold and silver values.
In 1981, a chip sample (20764) from the main vein at the portal of the Alexandria mine assayed 4.1 grams per tonne gold and 10.9 grams per tonne silver over 2.0 metres (Assessment Report 10399).
In 1983, underground drilling on the No.2 adit yielded mineralized intersections of (Assessment Report 11839):
____________________________________________________________Hole From To Width Gold Silver (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) U-1 72.8 73.2 0.4 93.6 147.1 U-3 43.8 43.9 0.1 17.8 27.1 U-3 58.3 58.6 0.3 4.2 9.3 U-3 58.6 59.0 0.4 6.4 17.5 U-3 59.6 59.8 0.2 12.7 44.9 U-3 60.0 60.2 0.2 43.7 84.7 U-3 65.6 66.1 0.5 4.5 13.7 U-3 66.1 66.4 0.3 10.0 30.5 U-3 67.5 67.8 0.3 41.2 92.6 U-3 69.0 70.0 1.0 7.7 16.8 U-6 61.3 61.6 0.3 4.1 9.6 U-6 63.3 63.7 0.4 31.2 68.6 U-6 63.7 64.3 0.6 15.5 34.6 ____________________________________________________________ |
In 1985, underground drilling on the No.1 adit yielded intercepts of 1.0 metre grading 11.8 grams per tonne in DDH 85-3, 1.15 metres grading 6.45 grams per tonne in DDH 85-1 and 0.82 metre grading 5.8 grams per tonne gold in DDH 85-2 (Assessment Report 14466).
In 1991, a float sample (19-B), taken from a creek immediately south west of the former Alexandria mine, assayed 14.9 grams per tonne gold, 89.6 grams per tonne silver, 0.33 per cent copper, 0.12 per cent lead, 0.49 per cent zinc and 0.02 per cent molybdenum (Assessment Report 22515).
Indicated and inferred reserves of 17,500 tonnes grading 10.49 grams per tonne gold were estimated, based on work by Premier in 1933 to 1934 (G.A. Noel, Oct. 8, 1980 in Statement of Material Facts 57/81, Corpac Minerals Limited).
Drill indicated reserves are 25,600 tonnes grading 10 grams per tonne gold (Exploration in British Columbia 1986, page C274).
The area has been historically explored in conjunction with the nearby Doratha Morton (MINFILE 092K 023) and Enid-Julie (MINFILE 092K 024) occurrences. Seven claims, the Alexandra, Waterloo, Emperor Fr., Highland Laddie, Duke, Jubilee Fr. and Duchess (Lots 225-131 respectively) were Crown-granted in 1897 and 1898 to H. Rhodes of Vancouver. Phillips Arm Gold Mines Limited was incorporated in January 1897 to acquire the property. Development work in several adits continued into 1899. On the nearby All Up claim, an adit had been driven from the beach for approximately 33 metres following an irregular quartz vein approximately 60 centimetres wide. No further activity was reported until 1919, when Mr. Rhodes, on behalf of the company, reopened, resurveyed, and sampled the workings. In 1923, C.H. Dickie and Beaton and Hemsworth of Vancouver, acquired a lease and bond on the property. Rehabilitation of the workings and raising from the lower adit was carried out.
Alexandria Mining Company Limited was incorporated in British Columbia in September 1925 by Mr. Dickie, H.M. Waters and associates to acquire the property. Some development work was reported during 1925 to 1926 but apparently finances were limited. Alexandra Gold Mines Limited was incorporated in Ontario in December 1927 by H.W. Waters and associates as a holding company to acquire a block of shares in Alexandria Mining Company. Development work resumed in 1928 and continued until late in 1931. The workings at that time included five adits between the beach and the 122 metre elevation, comprising approximately 580 metres of drifts and crosscuts; the lower No. 1 adit was driven from the beach for 168 metres westerly, with three crosscuts, each approximately 90 metres long, and a 15 metre raise to No. 2 adit. At a point 91 metres from the portal of the lower adit a shaft was sunk to 82 metres and levels driven at 30 metres and 60 metres; the 30 metre level was driven westerly for 152 metres. The No. 5 adit, located at the 75 metre elevation between Nos. 2 and 3 adits, was driven in 1929.
Premier Gold Mining Company Limited optioned the property late in 1933. Approximately 460 metres of drifting and crosscutting was done in extending the 30 metre and 60 metre levels in the shaft and Nos. 1 and 2 adits. The underground workings were sampled; zones of economic interest were identified in the lower adit, and on the 30 metre level from the shaft. Approximately 13,600 tonnes of material at approximately 10.3 grams per tonne gold were indicated in a shoot between the two levels (Report of Minister of Mines, British Columbia, 1934, p. F 8). The company gave up its option in August 1934.
Lessee F.H. Fox shipped some ore from the property in 1939. Alex Limited, incorporated in April 1940, shipped ore in 1940. Production totalled 1694 tonnes, mainly from a stope above the lower adit, from which 40,590 grams of silver, 22,239 grams of gold, and 1761 kilograms of copper were extracted.
In 1980, Corpac Minerals Limited optioned the Alexandra group and the adjacent Enid-Julie property. Work by Corpac in 1980 included a geochemical soil survey (105 samples) and rock sampling. The following year, a program of geological mapping and soil sampling was completed.
In November 1982, Charlemagne Resources Ltd. optioned 17 reverted Crown grants. Work in 1983 included 576 metres of underground development and 482.3 metres of underground diamond drilling in five holes on the No.2 adit. Falconbridge Limited entered into an agreement with Charlemagne and in 1985 and 1986 carried out geochemical surveys comprising 1687 soil and 440 rock samples, airborne magnetometer and electro-magnetic surveys over 300 kilometres, and a ground electromagnetic survey over 200 kilometres on the Alexandra and adjacent ground. A geophysical anomaly was found some 5 kilometres to the northwest on the Commonwealth claims (MINFILE 092K 025). In the Alexandra underground workings, diamond drilling totalled 759 metres in 15 holes.
The area was prospected as the Cordero property in 1991 and 1992 by Ripple Creek Resources. In 1996 and 1997 Norwood Resources conducted ground electromagnetic and magnetic surveys, soil geochemical surveys, prospecting, trenching and road building on the property. The soil survey on the adjacent Ben claims on the Alexander property tests the area between the Dorotha Morton mine (MINFILE 092K 023) and the Enid-Julie workings (MINFILE 092K 024). The purpose was to determine if the Dorotha Morton gold trend continues into the Alexandria property.
During 1997 through 2000, Thurlow Resources conducted exploration programs on the area, renamed the DM and Picton properties, on the HY, LO and FILL 2-19 claims. The programs consisted of soil sampling, rock sampling, and geological mapping. In 2008, Cuda Capital completed a 561.4 line-kilometre airborne magnetic survey on the area.
