The Dyke Hot
Springs property currently consists of two non-contiguous
blocks of unpatented mining claims each of 2 and 6 claims
respectively. These claims are part of a once larger grouping
that cover a pediment and range front play. The area situated
some 80 miles northwest of Winnemucca has always attracted
the attention of prospectors and geologists. There are several
high-grade gold showings in close proximity to the claims
where mineralization is contained in veins and shears in the
Happy Creek volcanics.
Kernow’s original claims were staked
in 1994 to cover an area west of a range front fault where
siliceous breccias and epithermal veins were known to outcrop.
Subsequent research found that 7 drill holes had been completed
near the outcrop and whilst none of the holes penetrated the
main target to any degree they apparently limited the tonnage
potential of the gold mineralization recorded from surface
samples. Those holes that intersected the silicified rock
were moderately (up to 350 ppb) anomalous for gold. The surface
samples assayed between 0.07 g/t and 3.12 g/t gold with the
higher assays being accompanied by elevated values for arsenic
and mercury.
GEOLOGY
Mapping and sampling showed that mineralized
outcrop is related to a series of low angle faults roughly
parallel to the range front faulting. Other steeper structures
were also identified on the western edge of the claims. These
show classic epithermal quartz veining associated with minor
copper mineralization and sulphides as pyrite. These vein
structures when chip sampled by the Company have returned
assays as high as 0.9 opt gold. The veins again are sub-parallel
to the range front system and have been reported as having
a vertical extent in excess of 1,000 feet. Their lateral extent
has not been fully tested.
The possibility for the identification
of gold mineralization is seen to exist in two forms. The
first, at the intersection of low angle faulting and epithermal
veining – the second as epithermal veins or stock works.
During research and compilation of the
data it was noted that a company had drilled several holes
to the east of the range front fault with little success.
However 4 holes were drilled south of the Kernow claim block
in an area that has been designated as the Cherry Creek embayment.
The holes designated, L14, L18, L19 and L21 all intersected
moderate to strong alteration. Several 10 – 20 feet
intersections of high grade (in excess of 5.0 opt) silver
and moderate to strong gold mineralization were also intersected.
Each of the mineralized zones was intersected beneath alluvial
pediment and little or no evidence of alteration is seen on
surface. (Assays are noted in Table 1.). Kernow has now acquired
7 claims covering these holes. NOTE THESE ARE HISTORICAL RESULTS
AND HAVE NOT BEEN VERIFIED BY THE COMPANY BUT ARE BELIVED
TO BE RELIABLE.
In addition to the east west structure
a N45W interpreted structure crosses the area. This structure
is observed to generally trend toward the original Kernow
claim block and interpreted by Sahli and Landrum to thicken
in the north west direction.
The geology of the Dyke property closely
parallels that of the nearby Sleeper mine, both areas possess
similar lithologies and structural characteristics. In the
immediate vacinity of the claims are Triassic and Permian
age limestones, volcanics, volcanoclastics and sediments which
have been variably metamorphosed. In addition there are outcrops
of tertiary andesite and tuffs.
The structures, as mentioned trend north
and north west, while the Tertiary volcanics display a strong
north easterly component. The third set of structures, an
east west, component are most important as they provide an
extra dimension to the comparison with the Sleeper Mine. The
presence of three sets of structures, the contrasting lithologies
and the presence of a nearby active hot spring all lend credibility
to there being a buried paleo hot spring system in the Cherry
Creek embayment which may be located in the immediate vacinity
of holes L14, L18 and L19.
If one is a proponent of “Trends
and Lineations” then a case can be made for the Dyke
property being on trend with the “Sleeper Mine”.
This “Sleeper Trend” would run from the south
east through Cortez, Gold Acres, Fortitude, Adelaide Crown,
Sleeper, The Bottle Creek prospects and on to the Dyke Claims.
Table 1:
|
Hole |
From
(feet) |
To
(feet) |
Interval
(feet) |
Gold
(grams per tonne) |
Silver
(ounces per ton) |
Mercury
(parts per million) |
|
L14 |
145' |
160' |
15' |
0.30 |
5.34 |
20 |
|
L18 |
130' |
150' |
20' |
0.93 |
3.64 |
5 |
|
L19 |
180' |
200' |
20' |
11.10 |
6.81 |
1 |
|
