The Windpass showings were discovered and staked in 1916 by Olie Johnson, T.H. Campbell and Oscar Hargen. During subsequent years, small shipments of high-grade ore were made from shallow workings. The property was bonded late in 1922 to the Trites, Woods & Wilson interests of Fernie, who incorporated Windpass Gold Mining Company Limited in January 1923. The Sweet Home vein (MINFILE 092P 040) was discovered and staked at about the same time. Development work to the end of 1924 failed to prove the continuity of the ore zones and the Windpass property closed.
In 1925, Windpass bonded the property to B.N. Sharp for New York interests. Development work during the year included 82 metres of raising and sinking, over 30 metres of crosscutting and 152 metres of drifting. The bond was given up early in 1926 to Windpass for 18 claims, including the Windpass Nos. 1-3, and Sweet Home (Lots 3839-3841, 3844 respectively).
In 1929, an additional 14 claims were Crown-granted to the company. Windpass re-opened the mine in 1933. An aerial tramline 4 kilometres in length was installed between the Windpass workings and the north end of Dunn Lake, where a 50 ton-per-day mill was built; milling began in March 1934. Ore shipments from the Sweet Home workings began in 1935. Operations continued until early in 1939 when the mine closed.
The company charter was surrendered in August 1939. Lessors apparently shipped small amounts of ore from the property during 1941, 1942 and 1944. The Windpass workings to 1939 included approximately 457 metres of drift and crosscuts in the main (200 level) adit. Two inclined shafts, the Pioneer and Telluride, were sunk from surface to the adit level. An internal shaft (Davis winze, on an incline averaging 25 degrees) was sunk to the 900 level and drifting carried out east and west on each level. The Sweet Home vein was developed by a 36-metre inclined shaft (30 degrees) which connects with a 106-metre crosscut adit, and 137 metres of drift in the footwall of the vein. In 1960, Fort Reliance Minerals Limited held 3 mineral leases (14 claims).
Geological mapping and a detailed magnetometer survey were carried out. In 1969, Kamad Silver Co. Ltd. purchased a lease on the Windpass and Sweet Home claims from J.F.V. Millar, of Calgary. A magnetometer survey and limited trenching were carried out.
In April 1972, Kamad optioned the property to Dalton Resources Ltd. Work during the year included magnetometer and VLF-EM surveys over 31.8 kilometres, stripping and about 152 metres of drilling.
The company name was changed in 1973 to Dalton Developments Ltd. The option agreement with Kamad was terminated in February 1974. Surveying and sampling of the Windpass and Sweet Home dumps indicated 32 655 tonnes at 6.99 grams per tonne gold and 16 146 tonnes at 0.68 gram per tonne gold, respectively (Sookochoff, April 1973).
Kamad Silver reported a geological review, surveying and sampling of the old workings in 1980 and diamond drilling in 1982 and 1983.
In May 1987, Kerr Addison Mines Limited optioned a 60 per cent interest from Kamad under a joint venture agreement; Texaco Canada Resources Ltd. held a royalty interest. Work by Kerr in 1987 included geological mapping, a magnetometer survey, trenching and 2016 metres of diamond drilling in 11 NQ holes. Highlights include drillhole WP87-02, which returned 0.43 metres grading 9.03 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 16764).
In 2003, Molycor Gold Corp. purchased the Windpass gold property from Mr. Hilton and Mr. Saunders. Norm Tribe and Associates Ltd. was contracted by Molycor Gold Corp. to complete a review of the Windpass property.
In 2004, Molycor Gold Corp. completed soil geochemistry, surface rock chip sampling, geological mapping, diamond drilling and a magnetometer geophysical survey. Highlights include rock chip sample W03AR2, which assayed 90.8 grams per tonne gold over 0.5 metres (Assessment Report 27373).
In 2005, Molycor Gold Corp. hired Rich River Explorations Ltd. to conduct a VLF geophysical survey on the Windpass property.
In 2009, Molycor Gold Corp. completed rock chip sampling, trenching and a 12-hole diamond drill program. Highlights include sample WP09-AR-07, which assayed 316.5 grams per tonne gold, and drillhole WP09DDH5, which returned 1.52 metres grading 15.85 grams per tonne gold (Press Release, Molycor Gold Corp., July 27, 2009; November 3, 2009).
In 2012, Molycor Gold Corp. changed their name to Nevada Clean Magnesium Inc. and optioned the Windpass property to MillenMin Ventures Inc. Work completed by MillenMin Ventures Inc. in 2012 consisted of 910 metres of diamond drilling. Highlights include drillhole WP12-5, which returned 1.52 metres grading 3.34 grams per tonne gold (Press Release, Nevada Clean Magnesium Inc., January 28, 2013).
In 2013, MillenMin Ventures Inc. abandoned their option on the Windpass property.
