Recent geologic studies in northern Minnesota indicate a greater potential for gold and silver in the area than was previously estimated, J.R. Clark, a U.S. Geological Survey scientist, told a meeting of mining engineers and geologists in Utah last month. “Geologic mapping and geochemical surveys have revealed mineralized shear zones and fractures similar to those in known gold- and silver-producing districts, including nearby areas in Canada,” said Clark.
According to the USGS, the potential for gold and silver mineralization in Lake of the Woods, Koochiching and St. Louis counties was previously unrecognized because of the thick layer of glacial deposits, which makes conventional exploration techniques impractical.
New analytical methods allowed the USGS to detect extremely small geochemical differences in samples. Although the new methods did not detect any economically minable quantities of gold, the scientists did find high concentrations of a number of elements often associated with gold.
Near International Falls, Clark identified mineralized basement fractures similar to those in the silver mining district 130 miles to the east near Thunder Bay, Ont. Clark also noted a correlation between the two most significant anomaly trends in the area and two major, northwest-trending structures.
Further structural interpretation in the Lake of the Woods area revealed three fault zones with mineralogy, structure and geochemistry similar to lode-gold deposits found in Baudette, Minn.
High concentrations of silver, arsenic, bismuth, tellurium and tungsten, all of which may indicate the presence of gold, are associated with the fault zones. And, similar to gold-producing areas in Canada, “all three fault zones contain abundant quartz-chlorite-carbonate alteration, making them geologically favorable for the occurrence of shear zone-hosted gold deposits,” said Clark.
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