Recent magnetic, gravity, seismic-reflection, and magnetotelluric geophysical data give evidence for buried crustal fault zones that are contemporaneous with the Carlin and Battle Mountain-Eureka mineral trends. It is thought that these faults may be the underlying controls for the alignment of mineral deposits. The section 22 gold prospect lies within the Battle Mountain-Eureka mineral belt (one of the most prolific gold belts in the world with gold reserves over 50+ million ounces). Reconnaissance geologic exploration by Cameco Gold (US) in 1998 along the western flank of the Sheep Creek Range, in North-Central Nevada – Lander County, Nevada, indicated the existence of a structurally controlled, intrusive related, major metal bearing (Carlin-type), hydrothermal system in Section 22, T34N, R45E.
Section 22 is located approximately 18 kilometers north of the town of Battle Mountain, Nevada and has many geologic and geochemical similarities to gold deposits found in the Battle Mountain area. Both rock and soil geochemical data indicate elevated concentrations of gold, silver, arsenic, antimony, mercury, copper, molybdenum, zinc, lead, bismuth, cobalt, cadmium, barite and other metals. A total of 325 rock samples have been collected. Elevated gold-in rock values range from 10 to 407 ppb Au. The same rock samples contain elevated arsenic from 100 to 1910 ppm As; antimony from 50 to 534 ppm Sb; mercury from 1 to 69 ppm Hg; molybdenum from 10 to 520 ppm Mo; zinc from 100 to 4730 ppm Zn; lead from 100 to 1495 ppm Pb; and tungsten from 50 to 360 ppm W. In addition standard and CheLeach/Enzyme Leach soil surveys verify the rock geochemical data and help define two structurally controlled gold-bearing zones. One zone trends N60ºE to E-W and is approximately 500 feet wide and over 2000 feet long and is open to the east. The other zone trends N35°W and is over 500 feet wide and 1000 feet in length and is also open in an easterly direction.
N30º-60ºE, N20º-50ºW and E-W structural directions are dominant as evidenced by associated rhyolite porphyry dikes and elevated metal concentrations obtained from both rock and soil samples. Two episodes of mineralization appear to be present: a) an early base metal episode consisting of ¼” to 1” thick “bull” quartz veins (the quartz veins contain visible galena, molybdenite, spahlerite, stibnite and pyrite) and associated stock-work quartz veining, probably associated with a buried igneous stock which generated metal bearing hydrothermal fluids and mineralized rhyolite quartz-eye porphyry dikes. The hydrothermal fluids and dikes ascended along northeast, east-west and northwest striking, high-angle faults; and b) a second, and younger epithermal event consisting of a re-activation along pre-existing faults with accompanying fluid movement and micro-quartz veining, silica-flooding, jasperoid development and associated gold, arsenic, antimony, and mercury metallization..
Moderate to strong replacement silica; argillic clay alteration; bleaching; quartz veining; introduced pyrite; crystallized barite-lined open spaces; jarosite; hematite; and limonite occurrences, accompanies the geochemical metal concentrations found in the micaceous sandstone, feldspathic sandstone, calcareous sandstone/siltsone, arkose, chert, and quartzite of the Upper Devonian – Mississippian age Harmony Formation. The Tertiary age (?) rhyolite quartz-eye porphyry dikes exhibit strong sericitic, argillic and pyritic mineralization.
The area has been geologically mapped at a scale of one inch equals 500 feet. Three drill targets have been defined by both geology and geochemistry. Potential Carlin-style gold targets include: 1) mineralized structural zones (both high and low angle) and their intersections; 2) gold mineralization in calcareous and receptive beds within the Harmony Formation (Phoenix type); 3) major fracture zones within the Harmony Formation (Phoenix type); 4) Carlin-style gold mineralization in the underlying Antler sequence (Twin Creeks, Lone Tree, Phoenix types); 5) carbonate-replacement skarn in calcareous horizons in the Harmony and underlying Antler sequence (Fortitude type); and 6) mineralized Tertiary basaltic andesite (Mule Canyon type).
