Deposit Types

Gold mineralization on the property belongs to the structurally controlled Archean lode gold class of deposits. Structurally hosted, low-sulphide, lode gold vein systems in metamorphic terrains from around the world possess many characteristics in common, spatially and through time; they constitute a single class of epigenetic precious metal deposits.

The majority of lode gold deposits formed proximal to regional terrane-boundary structures that acted as vertically extensive hydrothermal plumbing systems. Major mining camps are sited near deflections, strike slip or dilational jogs on the major structures. Accordingly, the mineralization and associated alteration is most intense in these flanking domains.

The Superior Province is the largest exposed Archean craton in the world, and has accounted for more gold production than any other Archean craton, with more than 55 million ounces produced to date. The following table lists the 25 largest known deposits; each of these has produced, or is known to contain, more than 1 million ounces (30 tonnes) of gold.

Gold content (production and/or reserves) of the 25 largest gold mines in the Superior Province.

GOLD MINE (MILLIONS OF TROY OUNCES)
1. Hollinger, Porcupine 19.4
2. Dome, Porcupine 10.8
3. McIntyre, Porcupine 10.6
4. Kerr Addison, Larder Lake 10.1
5. Page Williams, Hemlo 9.1
6. Lake Shore, Kirkland Lake 8.5
7. Golden Giant, Hemlo 6.7
8. Campbell Red Lake, Red Lake 5.5
9. Wright- Hargreaves, Kirkland Lake 4.8
10. Lamaque, Val d'Or 4.7
11. Teck-Hughes, Kirkland Lake 3.7
12. Sigma, Val d'Or 3.3
13. David Bell, Hemlo 3.0
14. Pamour (no.1), Porcupine 2.9
15. East Malartic, Val d'Or 2.9
16. Macassa, Kirkland Lake 2.6
17. Aunor (no.3), Porcupine 2.5
18. Madsen, Red Lake 2.4
19. Dickenson, Red Lake 2.3
20. Malartic Goldfields, Val d'Or 1.7
21. Sylvanite, Kirkland Lake 1.7
22. Hallnor (no.2), Porcupine 1.6
23. Preston, Porcupine 1.5
24. Camflo, Val d'Or 1.5
25. Detour Lake Mine, Detour Lake 1.5

The Abitibi belt is clearly the most prolific gold-producing greenstone terrain in the Superior Province: the Timmins (Porcupine) camp alone has contributed in excess of 51 million ounces of gold, far greater than production from the Kalgoorlie camp in Western Australia, or from the Homestake deposits in South Dakota.