Elk Gold Project, mesothermal gold deposits
Mesothermal Veins
Mesothermal gold deposits are formed from hot water that precipitates gold under high temperature and pressure, generally at great depths in the earth’s crust (around 10km). This process has formed throughout geologic history but younger examples such as the Elk Gold Mine include the Mother Lode District, California and the Bralorne-Pioneer District, B.C. In these deposits, high gold grades tend to be continuous over large vertical ranges. Nearly 80% of B.C.’s gold production has been mined from mesothermal veins. The Elk property is underlain by Upper Triassic volcanics and sediments of the Nicola Group and by Middle Jurassic granites and granodiorites of the Osprey Lake Batholith. Gold-silver mineralization is hosted primarily by pyritic quartz veins and stringers hosted by altered granite and in some cases volcanic rocks.
To date a total of 8 mineralized veins have been discovered on the property, and 4 veins systems have been drilled in the Siwash North Area: the Siwash Vein, the WD Vein, the GCW Vein, and the Bullion Creek.
Siwash Vein
The Siwash Vein system has been the focus of most of the work on the Elk property to date. Shallow portions of the high grade section of the system - named the “Mother Shoot” - have been successfully mined by open pit. The B zone is a significant area in the Siwash system with a strike length of 900m. A 2004 drill program tested the B Vein to a 400m depth.
WD Vein
Located 200m north of the B Vein, the WD zone has been tested at intervals of 25m along a strike zone of 710m and to a depth of 430m. A 2005 drill program confirmed the continuity of the vein structure and gold grade across this area with all holes intersecting the vein. Four additional holes confirmed the continuity of the WD zone to the south and west of the 2004 drill grid.
Gold Creek West Vein
The Gold Creek West Vein is a relatively recent discovery and represents another significant drill target.
Bullion Creek
The Bullion Creek Vein is another recent discovery, which has only been pierced by 6 drill holes to date and tested to a depth of 75 meters.
https://www.almadenminerals.com/Projects/Siwash.html