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File Created: 24-Jul-1985 by BC Geological Survey (BCGS)
Last Edit:  11-Jun-2015 by Karl A. Flower (KAF)

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NMI
Name ALEXANDER, DOLPHIN, IRON PYRITE, GILLIS, GLADYS, TIN HAT, GILLIS FRACTION, IRON PIRATE Mining Division Vancouver
BCGS Map 092M017
Status Prospect NTS Map 092M02E
Latitude 051º 07' 04'' UTM 09 (NAD 83)
Longitude 126º 41' 31'' Northing 5665456
Easting 661536
Commodities Iron, Magnetite Deposit Types K03 : Fe skarn
Tectonic Belt Coast Crystalline Terrane Undivided Metamorphic Assembl., Plutonic Rocks
Capsule Geology

This occurrence consists of a number of magnetite showings on the Alexander group of claims on the southeast side of Seymour Inlet, a fiord on the western edge of the Coast Mountains. It is located 9 kilometres south of the head of Seymour Inlet. Two other magnetite deposits, the Kitchener (MINFILE 092M 001) and Wigwam (MINIFLE 092M 010) occurrences are also in this area, on the opposite, north west side of Seymour Inlet.

The area is part of the Jurassic to Tertiary Coast Plutonic Complex, a complex of metasedimentary and metavolcanic schists and gneisses, and intrusive rocks typically of dioritic or granodioritic composition (Geological Survey of Canada Map 1386A).

A steep-sided gully drains into Seymour Inlet opposite Wigwam Bay. Locally, the rocks consist of dark- grey, fine to medium-grained hornblende-biotite schists of sedimentary and/or volcanic origin, which are intruded by sheets of diorite, granodiorite, and late-stage dikes (Geological Survey of Canada Economic Geology Report 1926). Commonly the rocks are sheared and epidotized (Minister of Mines Annual Report 1919; Property File - Gilman, E.P., 1903).

At least 11 different zones of magnetite mineralization occur in the vicinity of this gulley, at various elevations ranging from approximately 100 metres to 600 metres above sea level (Property File - Gilman, E.P., 1903). Typically, the zones measure 3 to 5 metres by 10 to 20 metres, and consist of a core of pure, massive, fine-grained, bluish-black to black magnetite, grading into a zone of disseminated magnetite, and finally into barren country rock (Geological Survey of Canada Economic Geology Report 1926). Pyrite is commonly associated with the disseminated magnetite, and some outcrops of mineralization have rusty-weathering oxidation. The magnetite has been interpreted as a replacement deposit, related to the plutonism in the area (Geological Survey of Canada Economic Geology Report 1926).

The zones of magnetite have a strike of 295 degrees and dip subvertically. The mineralization is discontinuous so its actual dimensions are not clear; however, it has been estimated that the maximum "ore" content is 18,000 tonnes, which was not regarded as economic (Geological Survey of Canada Economic Geology Report 1926).

An average sample from one magnetite body was analyzed at 83.82 per cent iron oxide (magnetite), or 60.7 per cent iron (Property File - Gilman, E.P., 1903). The average assay of samples from a number of bodies was 48.5 per cent iron; the maximum assay was 61.2 per cent iron (Property File - Gilman, E.P., 1903).

In 1984, Geddes Resources completed a program of prospecting, geological mapping and bulk sampling the area as the Wigwam group. In 2009, Homegold Resources prospected the area. In 2011, Goldrea Resources completed a program of prospecting, soil sampling and a 2.9 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey.

Bibliography
EMPR AR 1917-65; 1919-210
EMPR ASS RPT 12204, 30692, 32545
EMPR PF (*Gilman, E.P. (1903): Report on the Alexander Group of claims)
GSC MAP 1386A
GSC EC GEOL *3, Vol.1, 1926, pp. 59-62

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