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Selwyn Resources Ltd. announced the commissioning of a helicopter-borne, Versatile, Time Domain, Electromagnetic geophysical survey to evaluate its large mineral claim holdings in Nova Scotia.
This survey will cover key areas known to contain historic mine production of both zinc and lead, as well as gold, silver, copper and barite. Selwyn has contracted Geotech Ltd. of Aurora, Ontario to begin flying the VTEM surveys during the first week of February 2012. The key work areas being targeted by the airborne geophysical surveys will entail approximately 1,551 flight-line kilometres spaced at approximately 200 metres covering approximately 205 square kilometres. A map of Selwyn’s mineral properties is available on Selywn’s web site www.selwynresources.com. Key advantages of the helicopter-borne VTEM geophysical system include its superior depth penetration and high spatial resolution, which provides for excellent resistivity discrimination and the detection of weak anomalies. It is expected that the airborne geophysical survey will be completed by mid-February 2012, including initial interpretations. The key work areas include the former producing Walton mine (Hants County, Nova Scotia), the former producing Smithfield mine (Colchester County, Nova Scotia), and the former producing Stirling or Mindamar mine (Richmond County, Nova Scotia). Jason Dunning, Vice President Exploration of Selwyn states, “The helicopter-borne VTEM survey is a very important first step for Selwyn to initiate grassroots exploration in Nova Scotia for base metals such as zinc and lead. The application of a modern airborne geophysical survey is expected to identify new targets in the overburden covered areas that are largely unexplored.” The key work areas cover highly prospective geological strata that contain former producing mines. Former producing mines include: Walton mine: This area in Hants County is host to carbonate replacement deposits such as the Walton mine; which was in production from 1941 to 1978, primarily for barite; however, did yield lead, zinc, copper and silver as well. Mineralization was extracted employing both open pit and underground mining techniques. The mineralization is characterized by the replacement of carbonate strata where intersected by fault structures. Smithfield mine: This area is known to host deposits similar in nature to the CRD in the Walton area. The Smithfield mine was the first known occurrence of a zinc-lead-silver deposit in Nova Scotia. It was discovered in 1880 and saw production through 1889. The property remained inactive until 1951 when an economic evaluation was undertaken; however, no mining occurred. Additional exploration work occurred sporadically between 1975 and 1992. Mineralization in this area tends to be structurally controlled. Stirling mine: This area, located in the southeast portion of Cape Breton, hosts Nova Scotia’s only known occurrence of volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits. VMS mineralization in the Stirling mine occurs in late Precambrian volcaniclastic and volcanic strata that have been intruded by both gabbroic and granitic intrusions. The mine was discovered in the 1890’s, primarily as a copper occurrence from an open trench; however, by 1925 zinc and lead were discovered and underground activities ensued and continued to 1931, whereupon the property laid dormant until 1949 when activities restarted. Work at the mine continued to 1956 when mining ceased. |
