Cariboo Zn-Pb Deposit (Developed Prospect)
Barker Minerals' Cariboo Prospect (Project Area #2), also known as the Maybe Prospect and classified as a developed prospect, was explored during 1986 and 1988 by Gibraltar Mines Ltd. The prospect contains three main stratiform lenses of ankerite, quartz, sphalerite, galena and minor pyrite enclosed in limestone-rich strata of probable Middle Devonian age. The large Zn/Pb ratio, moderate silver content and low gold content are similar to those of many carbonate-hosted, replacement Zn-Pb deposits, including those in the Early Cambrian platform carbonates of the Kootenay arc. Sampling of the zone intermittently over a 1.6 km strike length returned concentrations up to 37% combined Zn and Pb. Limited bulldozer trenching and 21 diamond drill holes by Gibraltar Mines resulted in an estimated historical mineral inventory of 400,000 tonnes with an estimated grade of 4% Zn+Pb. This is not an appropriate category and does not comply with the requirements of current securities legislation.
During 1996 Barker Minerals conducted reconnaissance geological mapping and rock sampling, with some grab samples returning results of up to 37% Zn with 2.4% - 4.5 % Pb. The zinc and lead sulphides display enrichment in Hg and Sb, and the zone shows other characteristics of an epithermal system such as overall phyllic and advanced argillic alteration, quartz-carbonate and carbonate stockwork, and crustiform banded massive sphalerite and galena (Roach 96).
Exploration Plans
Detailed geological mapping will be continued in the Cariboo prospect area in order to help determine the extent of deformation and in order to explore for targets of Zn+Pb replacement deposits along strike of the known zones.
Barker Minerals' Cariboo Prospect (Project Area #2), also known as the Maybe Prospect and classified as a developed prospect, was explored during 1986 and 1988 by Gibraltar Mines Ltd. The prospect contains three main stratiform lenses of ankerite, quartz, sphalerite, galena and minor pyrite enclosed in limestone-rich strata of probable Middle Devonian age. The large Zn/Pb ratio, moderate silver content and low gold content are similar to those of many carbonate-hosted, replacement Zn-Pb deposits, including those in the Early Cambrian platform carbonates of the Kootenay arc. Sampling of the zone intermittently over a 1.6 km strike length returned concentrations up to 37% combined Zn and Pb. Limited bulldozer trenching and 21 diamond drill holes by Gibraltar Mines resulted in an estimated historical mineral inventory of 400,000 tonnes with an estimated grade of 4% Zn+Pb. This is not an appropriate category and does not comply with the requirements of current securities legislation.
