EXTECH III: 3D Drillhole Data for the
Yellowknife Mining Camp
Garth D. Kirkham
Kirkham Geosystems Ltd.
3178 Three Cedars Drive,
Vancouver, BC V5S-4K5
Hendrik Falck
James P. Siddorn
R.L Hauser
D.F. Wright
C.D. Anglin
ABSTRACT
As part of the EXTECH III Project, a 3D GIS model has been created which, for the first time integrates the two major gold mines of the Yellowknife Mining camp, Con and Giant Mines. Historic mining areas, such as the Yellowknife Camp, have produced a great deal of gold in the past and have been repeatedly assumed to be at the end of their lives, only to have new life with a change in circumstance or a new discovery. With new ideas and technology, the potential exists to find additional resources, which will not only to sustain the mining operations but also the communities that they support.
The objective of the ongoing study is the creation of a 3D GIS model, forming the basis for further research in the area, especially with the target of future mineral development. A secondary objective is to retain the data in a digital format as both a historical reference, because it is a part of Canada’s rich mining history and as a database for future environmental and remediation activities.
The data used to create the 3D GIS models are sourced from the two active mines along with regional exploration studies of the Yellowknife Greenstone Belt. These data sets include (surface, underground, exploration and production) drillhole data, surface geology, topography and bathymetry, transportation and infrastructure, geology sections and plans, current and historic mining plans. This release contains the enormous drillhole database, a critical component of the 3D GIS.
OVERVIEW
This release
encompasses the drillhole data collected, imported, transformed and input which
has been utilized in the creation of a
3D GIS model of the Yellowknife mining camp for EXTECH III. “EXploration science and
TECHnology” is an integrated, multi-disciplinary program designed and
implemented by the Geological Survey of Canada to develop new ideas and
technologies to help the mining industry replenish reserves in a specific
mining camp and thereby contribute to the creation of new mining-related jobs
and maintain existing ones.
Historically and geologically, the Yellowknife Camp has been divided by differing corporate agendas and Proterozoic Faults respectively. While the deposits were undoubtedly genetically linked, the mining culture of the camp has discouraged the exchange of ideas between geologists and hampered the development of a unifying deposit model. This project is the first attempt to create a 3D GIS model of the known, or at least the better understood, structures around and between the two active mine sites in the Yellowknife camp, forms an ideal basis for furthering the understanding of the genesis of the rich gold deposits. This improved understanding could result in developing targets for further exploration drilling and increasing the potential for continued gold mining in the Yellowknife area.
Previous 3D GIS modelling activities have been undertaken at both the Con and Giant mines, separately. However, in both mines, the modelling has been limited to tracking the location of exploration drilling in three dimensions. Both mines have entered a certain amount of mining-related data into the 3D GIS systems, limited to locating mine workings and key geological features on two-dimensional sections, which are not correctly referenced in three-dimensional space. To further compound the data problems, a wide variety of systems, formats, and coordinate systems have been used over the years. This project has the advantage of creating a 3D GIS model of the whole Yellowknife Camp is that in one unified view. With this new compilation, we may uncover correlations and interrelationships that have not previously been evident.
The 3D GIS model sources data from both the mine sites in the Yellowknife camp (Miramar Con Mine and the former Royal Oak Giant Mine) as well as data imported from various government departments in Yellowknife (DIAND, GNWT).
Introduction to Yellowknife Belt
(Adapted from Proceedings from Gold in Archean Greenstone Belts: Focus on Yellowknife Greenstone Belt, Nov. 1998, editors D.L. Archibald, C.D. Anglin)
The Yellowknife mining camp encompasses two producing mines (Giant and Con), four past producers and numerous gold showings. Historically, this area has produced approximately 13,000,000 ounces of gold and at times it has been the home to Canada’s largest producing gold mine (Giant Mine; Northern Miner July 15, 1965). Including the present known reserves the 15,000,000-ounce camp is comparable with other gold camps in Canada (e.g. Timmins, Red Lake, Kirkland Lake, and Val d’Or), however, at current production rates, the predicted lifetime for both Giant and Con is less than three years.
Yellowknife’s economy is currently based on two sectors – the mining industry and government and the impact of closing both mining operations will be significant. Recent employment levels at both Yellowknife gold mines total 610 people with an estimated 4 to 5 spin-off jobs per direct job created. Because both mining operations are for the most part high-cost producers, they are subject to the vagaries of the gold price, which is just recovering from an 18-year low. While it may be necessary to subsidise these operations for the short term in order to ensure the sustainability of the mining industry in Yellowknife, long-term solutions must be sought. The most effective long-term strategy for sustaining mining activity in the region involves increasing the quality and quantity of reserves at the current operations, and discovering new deposits in the region. In the context of “Sustainable Development”, it is imperative to ensure that historic mining areas are completely exploited as their environmental footprint already exists and the need for new development is postponed.
Prior to the EXTECH III program, the genetic and deformational history of both the Giant and the Con mines (individually and in relationship to each other) was poorly understood. With a better understanding of the processes related to mineralization, a refined genetic model for the deposits could be developed (i.e., one that encompasses geophysical, geochemical, structural, and geochronological characteristics). This model would in turn provide a more effective framework for exploration efforts, and may assist the present mining operations in identifying areas of previously unrecognised potential.
3D DRILLHOLE DATA
As drill holes are the primary exploration tool, their logs and analyses form the cornerstone of the 3D GIS. The sources for drillhole data in the Yellowknife camp are the two active mine sites, Con mine and Giant mine. These sites contain a wealth of subsurface information in a wide variety of formats, but with varying degrees of reliability. The following sections detail the drillhole data that has been collected, stored, input, imported and transferred at the mine sites.
At the two mines over 42, 000 drill holes have been completed for a total length of over 9 million feet. Thus the drillhole databases represent a significant amount of drilling and investment throughout the years and if represented in 2002 dollars is worth between $130,000,000 and $152,000,000 as shown in the table 1.
Table 1: Calculation of drilling costs using December 2002 estimates where surface drilling costs for drillholes less than 2000’ in length are between $20 and $25 per foot, surface holes greater than 2000’ in length are $28 per foot and underground drillholes range between $13 and $15 per foot.
Previous 3D GIS Modeling and Digital Data from the Yellowknife Camp
The data used to develop the 3D GIS model and this database stems from a series of digital and hardcopy collections at the two mines. The Con mine currently utilises the MineSight 3D and Compass Systems from Mintec Inc. and prior to this used the GEORES System, which was developed by Cominco as an in-house system. In contrast, the Giant Mine utilised GEOMIN System followed by the LYNX System from Lynx Geosystems Inc., until the transfer of the property from Royal Oak to Miramar.
In addition, numerous drawings and sections were available in AutoCAD formats, which were mostly 2D. However, it is not possible to superimpose other 3D information on these drawings, such as hole data or surface topography in AutoCAD and incorporating drillholes, which is a key feature for mines, is challenging in AutoCAD. The majority of drillhole data existed in the form of books of paper drill logs, some typed but many still in the logging geologists handwriting. A program of data entry was under taken to capture the most critical elements of each drill hole but the complete geological information remains to be captured.
With the wealth of information, there was the need for fusion of data of all types and residing in a variety of systems into one, comprehensive, integrated 3D model residing in one industry recognised 3D Volumetric Modelling System. In order to disseminate the data and results in a common and accessible format the Microsoft ACCESS database format has been selected.
MIRAMAR – CON MINE
Exploration and Production (diamond) Drilling
The cumulative count for drilling data totals 12,590 holes for the Campbell Shear and 896 holes for the Con Shear for a grand total of 13,486 drillholes at the Con Mine. The MS ACCESS databases called Campbell Shear.mdb and Con Shear.mdb respectively consists of three tables;
DCollar – Consists of the drillhole collar information such as hole name, collar location, collar azimuth and dip along with depth of the hole. The NorthMin, NorthMax, EastMin, EastMax, LevelMin, LevelMax are for location purposes for some software packages such as microLYNX.
Hole = Hole Name.
East = Collar easting coordinate.
North = Collar northing coordinate.
Level = Collar elevation.
Azim = Azimuth of collar.
Dip = Dip of collar.
Depth = Depth of hole.
NorthMin = Minimum north extent of the hole including downhole trace.
NorthMax = Maximum north extent of the hole including downhole trace.
EastMin = Minimum east extent of the hole including downhole trace.
EastMax = Maximum east extent of the hole including downhole trace.
LevelMin = Minimum elevation extent of the hole including downhole trace.
LevelMax = Maximum elevation extent of the hole including downhole trace.
DSurvey – Consists of downhole survey information such as hole name, azimuth and dip at a particular depth down the hole, which is also the start of the interval or “From”, the depth at which the interval ends or “To” in addition to the length of the interval.
Hole = Hole Name.
Depth = Depth from which the interval begins.
To = Depth at which the interval ends.
Interval = Assay interval.
Azim = Azimuth at the beginning of the interval.
Dip = Dip at the beginning of the interval
DSamp – Includes the following fields:
Hole = Hole Name.
Ref# = Numeric reference number for identifying and locating log and assays. This field exists in the Campbell Shear.mdb database however, not in the Con Shear.mdb database.
From = Start of assay interval.
To = End of assay interval.
Interval = Length of assay interval
RockA = Alphanumeric rock code detailed Con lithologic key in Appendix B.
Rock = Numeric rock code defining lithology units as per lithology key in Appendix B.
AU = Gold content in ounces per ton (-1 is undefined).
ASPY = Arsenopyrite content defined as a percentage (-1 is no sample).
PY = Pyrite content defined as a percentage (-1 is no sample).
PO = Pyrrhotite content defined as a percentage (-1 is no sample).
QTZ = Quartz content defined as a percentage (-1 is no sample).
SER = Sericite content defined as a percentage (-1 is no sample).
VG = Visible gold where 1 denotes the appearance of visible gold and –1 denotes the absence of visible gold.
PPBAU = Gold content in parts per billion (-1 is no sample and –2 is undefined).
SHRD = Alphanumeric code which denotes the degree of shearing defined as W, M, S, J, B (where “-“ = undefined).
SHRNO = Numeric code which denotes the degree of shearing defined as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 which represents W, M, S, J, B, respectively.
SHRZN = Digital representation of the occurrence of shear zone with 1 as yes, –1 as no.
LENS = Alphanumeric code for the ore lens from which the sample was taken as defined in Appendix C.
OCODE = Alphanumeric code for the ore lens from which the sample was taken as defined in Appendix C.
CARB = Defines carbonate content as a percentage (-1 is no sample).
SPH = Defines sphalerite content as a percentage (-1 is no sample).
GAL = Defines galena content as a percentage (-1 is no sample).
CPY = Defines chalcopyrite content as a percentage (-1 is no sample).
SS = Defines sulfosalts content as a percentage (-1 is no sample).
ANGS = Represents an angle ranging between 0 and 90 degrees which defines the angle that the sample interval intersects the shear zone. This is used for true thickness calculations.
TSUL = Total sulphides as a percentage.
CAU = Calculated gold values which are not used. This field exists in the Con Shear.mdb database however, not in the Campbell Shear.mdb database.
DTYP = Drillhole type field which is not used. This field exists in the Con Shear.mdb database however, not in the Campbell Shear.mdb database.
OTH = Other elements measured as a percentage.
North = Northing of the sample location in space which is used by a variety of software packages.
East = Easting of the sample location in space which is used by a variety of software packages.
Level = Elevation of the sample location in space which is used by a variety of software packages.
Mine Coordinate System
All data at the Con mine is referenced to a mine grid, which is oriented with true north baseline. Survey data is available that ties the mine grid to the UTM Zone 11 grid used in the Yellowknife area. All grids at the Con mine are in imperial units. All elevations are based on a mine datum.
GIANT MINE DATA
Exploration and Production (diamond) Drilling
Drilling has been extensive at the Giant mine since mining started. The sources of drilling data are a total of 29,345 surface and underground drillholes. The MS ACCESS database called GIANT.mdb also consists of four tables;
DCollar – Consists of the drillhole collar information such as hole name, collar location, collar azimuth and dip along with depth of the hole. This database is based in the Con Mine coordinate system which links the two mines together. The NorthMin, NorthMax, EastMin, etc. are for location purposes for some software packages such as microLYNX.
Hole = Hole Name.
East = Collar easting coordinate.
North = Collar northing coordinate.
Level = Collar elevation.
Azim = Azimuth of collar.
Dip = Dip of collar.
Depth = Depth of hole.
NorthMin = Minimum north extent of the hole including downhole trace.
NorthMax = Maximum north extent of the hole including downhole trace.
EastMin = Minimum east extent of the hole including downhole trace.
EastMax = Maximum east extent of the hole including downhole trace.
LevelMin = Minimum elevation extent of the hole including downhole trace.
LevelMax = Maximum elevation extent of the hole including downhole trace.
DCollar_Giant Geol Grid – Consists of the drillhole collar information such as hole name, collar location, collar azimuth and dip along with depth of the hole. This database is based in the Giant Geology Grid system supplied for users and stakeholders whom wish to view and evaluate the data in this historic system. The NorthMin, NorthMax, EastMin, etc. are for location purposes for some software packages such as microLYNX.
Hole = Hole Name.
East = Collar easting coordinate.
North = Collar northing coordinate.
Level = Collar elevation.
Azim = Azimuth of collar.
Dip = Dip of collar.
Depth = Depth of hole.
NorthMin = Minimum north extent of the hole including downhole trace.
NorthMax = Maximum north extent of the hole including downhole trace.
EastMin = Minimum east extent of the hole including downhole trace.
EastMax = Maximum east extent of the hole including downhole trace.
LevelMin = Minimum elevation extent of the hole including downhole trace.
LevelMax = Maximum elevation extent of the hole including downhole trace.
DSurvey – Consists of downhole survey information such as hole name, azimuth and dip at a particular depth down the hole, which is also the start of the interval or “From”, the depth at which the interval ends or “To” and the length of the interval.
Hole = Hole Name.
Depth = Depth from which the interval begins.
To = Depth at which the interval ends.
Interval = Assay interval.
Azim = Azimuth at the beginning of the interval.
Dip = Dip at the beginning of the interval
DSamp – Includes the following fields:
Hole = Hole Name.
Ref# = Numeric reference number for identifying and locating log and assays.
From = Start of assay interval.
To = End of assay interval.
Interval = Length of assay interval
Rock = Alphanumeric rock code detailed Giant lithologic key in Appendix D.
QC = Percentage quartz ranging from 1-100, -1 is no sample and -2 is undefined.
AU = Defines amount of gold assayed in ounces per ton.
ASPY = Alphanumeric field denoting arsenopyrite content. TR, WK, MOD, ST defines trace, weak, moderate and strong showing respectively. Also includes numeric measures in percent from 0-100%.
PY = Alphanumeric field denoting pyrite content. TR, WK, MOD, ST defines trace, weak, moderate and strong showing respectively. Also includes numeric measures in percent from 0-100%.
PO = Alphanumeric field denoting Pyrrhotite content. TR, WK, MOD, ST defines trace, weak, moderate and strong showing respectively. Also includes numeric measures in percent from 0-100%.
SB = Alphanumeric field denoting stibnite (antimony) content. TR, WK, MOD, ST defines trace, weak, moderate and strong showing respectively. Also includes numeric measures in percent from 0-100%.
SCH = Numeric measure of schist occurrence in percent where -1 is no sample and -2 is undefined.
FLT = Numeric measure of fault occurrence in percent where -1 is no sample and -2 is undefined.
RQD = Represents a numeric measure of the strength of the rock for geotechnical analysis. Very few measurements were input.
TS = Total sulphides field not used.
SHRZN = Digital representation of the occurrence of shear zone with 1 as yes, –1 as no and –2 as undefined.
SHRNO = Numeric representation of shear number, not used at Giant.
Alpha1 = Blank alphanumeric field for user definitions.
Alph2 = Blank alphanumeric field for user definitions.
Num1 = Blank numeric field for user calculations.
Num2 = Blank numeric field for user calculations.
North = Northing of the sample location in space which is used by a variety of software packages.
East = Easting of the sample location in space which is used by a variety of software packages.
Level = Elevation of the sample location in space which is used by a variety of software packages.
Mine Coordinate System
For historical reasons, a variety of grid systems have been used at Giant mine. Data at the Giant mine is referenced to a geological grid for the main portion of the mine site, north of Townsite fault (C Shaft). The geological grid is rotated 30 degrees to true north. An engineering grid covers the same area and is based on true north. The geological grid south of Townsite fault (A Shaft) is same as engineering grid. The Giant Geology grid and Giant Engineering grids are referenced to each other via trigonometric equations for data transformations as follows:
To Calculate Engineering Grid Survey
Coordinates From Geology Section and Reference Lines
IF: N = Survey Northing Required
E = Survey Easting Required
No = Survey Northing of Origin of Geology Reference and Section Lines
Eo = Survey Easting of Origin of Geology Reference and Section Lines
S = Geology Section Line (Northing)
R = Geology Reference Line (Easting)
q = Bearing of Geology Reference Line with Respect to Survey North
THEN: N = No +/- S cosq +/- R sinq
E = Eo +/- Ssinq +/- Rcosq
AT GIANT: N = 11,776.60
E = 7,268.37
q = N 30 o 00’ 00 E
Conversely;
To Calculate Geology Coordinates from
Engineering Grid Survey Coordinates
IF: NS, ES = Survey Coordinates
No, Eo = Survey Coordinates of Origin of Geology Grid
S = Geology Section Line (Northing)
R = Geology Reference Line (Easting)
q = Bearing of Survey North with Respect to Geology Reference Line
THEN: S = (NS - No)cosq + (ES - Eo)sinq
R = (ES - Eo)cosq - (NS - No)sinq
AT GIANT: N = 11,776.60
E = 7,268.37
q = N 30 o 00’ 00 W
Converting all the mine data to be used for 3D GIS modelling to a common grid system was one of the greatest obstacles to the modelling. All the mine grids are flat (non-earth) grids, both mines use imperial units however many of the geology maps were produced in the curved earth Universal Trans Mercator (UTM) Projection using a metric scale. The Yellowknife area falls into at the division between UTM Zone 11 and Zone 12, but zone 11 was used as a standard. The maps were also drafted using North American Datum (NAD) –27 but have been re-projected to NAD-83 datum.
To resolve the
variety of coordinate systems, a common engineering (non-earth) grid, which can
be used to over the entire region was selected and using Canadian Coordinate
Monuments (CCM) that had been surveyed into one of the mine grid coordinate
systems, a transformation to the UTM grid was developed. The Con mine
engineering grid was chosen as the logical grid system for three reasons.
Firstly, it is consistent over the entire Con mine and secondly since Miramar
is the current owner of both mines, it was desirable to have them both in the
same coordinate system. Thirdly, as the Giant mine engineering grid is in the
same orientation as the Con mine engineering grid it requires a simple
calculation to convert between the tow grids in contrast to the more complex
angular relationship of the Giant Geology grid. To facilitate this, ground
surveys were completed and survey files recovered that tie the Giant
engineering grid to the Con grid and subsequently to the local UTM grid (See
Table 2). 
Table 2: Tie points between the Con Mine coordinates and UTM Zone 11 (NAD 27 and 83) along with survey tie points to the Giant Engineering grid. Note that Station 616 (magenta highlight) is the closest to the average value and lowest deviation from adjacent stations and is therefore used as the transform function.
Therefore, in order to transform survey coordinates from the Giant Engineering grid to the Con grid, it is necessary to add 31,628.33 feet to the northing, 4,832.18 to the easting and subtract 484.07 from the elevation. The DCollar Giant Geol Grid Table in the Giant.mdb database illustrate the three coordinate transformations with North, East, Level being the Giant Geology grid, Giant Eng North, Giant Eng East being the Giant Engineering grid (elevation is the same for both grid systems) and Con North, Con East, Con Level being the Con Mine grid.
Down hole
Surveys
The reliability of the down hole surveys for the Giant mine drilling data is questionable. A sort and sample was performed to determine which holes might have suspect downhole surveys checked against logs and corrected. Quality assurance and quality control was performed on the drillhole data attaining a greater than 90% confidence in the accuracy of the data, however due the shear volume of drillhole data and logs, some errors are likely. The only method to be assured of >98% data reliability would be to manually re-input the drillhole logs and compare with the current data.
Terminology
Since their inception, the mine sites have been very separate entities, with little sharing of information, and hence both mine sites have used different terminology for the various geological structures. Different terminologies referring to alteration and rock type will complicate any detailed geological interpretation however a lithologic key has been created for the Con Mine and Giant Mine which are described in Appendix A and C, respectively. As the mines are of sufficient distance apart and interpretation and modelling is very compartmentalized, this has proved not to be an issue.
Although the release of data detailed in this submission is limited strictly to the drillhole data, it is possible to give a taste of the future complete 3D GIS dataset and models.
The advantage of utilising 3D GIS systems is that the different data types (maps, hole data and volume data) can be superimposed on each other from the live databases. In a typical 3D GIS system, 3D data is stored as 3D lines (traverses), 3D points, or 3D shapes (volumes). This allows data to be displayed and plotted or viewed using a 3D visualizer in any angle or orientation, including the standard sections or plans formats. The 3D GIS model developed for the EXTECH III project incorporates all of the following:
· Surface Features,
· Surface geology,
· Structural geology,
· Current and historic mining areas,
· Point sample data (geochemistry and whole rock), and
· Exploration and production drilling.
Surface Features
3D GIS has been used to display surface topography (golden yellow), lake bathymetry (dark blue polylines) and surface features such as townsite (light blue and yellow), transportation infrastructure (red), vegetation (light green), etc. for reference.
Surface Geology
The model also displays
surface geology, based on existing geological maps available from the GSC Open
file 4339 (e.g. Yellowknife Belt Compilation). Surface geological maps are also
draped and extruded to the topography (golden yellow) to show the relief of
various structures. The important geologic markers displayed are the Western
Granodorite in pink, the grey Felsic Townsite Formation, brown diabase dykes, 
light grey Banting Group
rocks and dark blue mafic variolitic flows while the red and aquamarine
demarcates the projection of the Shear Zones to the surface.
Structural Geology
3D models of the major
structural units (especially faults & shears, dykes, tuffs) have been
developed from the existing surface geology maps, down hole picks from
drillhole data, and mine sections & plans. Only the most well-defined and
better-understood structures have been modelled.
This figure illustrates the extent of the subsurface features in the
Yellowknife Belt with the Con Shear in yellow and light blue in the centre of
the screen, the Giant Shear system in light blue up and to the right, all
separated by the grey fault structures. In addition, the yellow claim
boundaries of the North Belt with Crestaurum being the coloured plan section
further to the upper right.
Current & Historical Mining
Historic mining patterns are
generally a very accurate reflection of the mineralization trend, since mining
follows the mineralization very closely. Viewing in 3D, the historic mining
patterns along with key geological structures, is often an effective method for
displaying mineralization trends, particularly in areas where mineralization is
not entirely controlled by geological structures. This has clearly shown the
trends of the Giant (upper) & Con (right) ore zones - indicating how and
where they may connect, and how they relate to some of the more significant
geological structures in the area.
Exploration and
Production Drilling
The extent of the surface
and underground exploration drilling is included in the 3D GIS model. This has
highlighted, in 3D, potential gaps in exploration in and around the two mines.
In some of these gaps additional data layers such as the projection of late
faults traces, can explain the reasons why the shear/ore zones have not been
extended or pinpointed but the remainder are intriguing exploration targets.
Geochemical Data and Models
Over 6000 geochemical data points have been incorporated and subsequently modelled. These include Pb, Zn, As, Au, Ag, Sn, Sb, Na, Oxygen Isotopes, and a wide variety of additional analysis.
Geostatistical Models
Geostatistical models have
been created using the drill hole data for Au grade, %Shear, %Quartz,
%Seracite, %As, %Py. These have been used to delineate trends and be depicted
as contours (isosurfaces) and 3D contours (isovolumes). Masking parameters and
structures, size and orientation of ellipse, block sizes and estimation method
have been chosen with a fairly broad brush in an effort to more easily identify
trends and anomalies in addition to trying to limit the models to a reasonable
size. In addition, the grades from inside mined-out stopes were also included
in the estimation process.
Other Studies
In addition to the EXTECH III project, studies are currently underway by DIAND, Water Resources Division, on the possible remediation or stabilisation of the arsenic trioxide underground storage chambers and stopes in the Giant Mine. Work completed has delineated the structural zones of influence and groundwater flow provinces overlaid on the 3D model, identifying the drillholes that possibly influence groundwater flow. 3D GIS models of the geological structures, excavations and drilling, in and around these areas has been done in detail, and these can be overlaid on predicative flow models to obtain an better understanding of the reliability of the flow model and how the model flow paths are affected by the various structures and openings.
CONCLUSION
As an integral part of the EXTECH III Project, a 3D GIS model has been created which encompasses the Con and Giant Mines stretching along the Yellowknife Greenstone Belt. For the most part, the source data feeding the modelling effort is the extensive surface and underground drillhole data, which has been compiled into databases for this submission.
Creating a 3D GIS model of the known, or at least the better understood, structures around and between the two active mine sites in the Yellowknife camp, has formed an ideal basis for furthering the understanding of the genesis of the gold deposits. This in turn has resulted in improved targets for further exploration drilling and possible increases in the potential reserves and of further gold mining in the Yellowknife potential reserves of, and further gold mining in, the Yellowknife area. Historic mining areas such as the Yellowknife Camp have produced a great deal of gold in the past and they have been assumed to be at the end of their lives. However, with new ideas and technology, there is the potential to find additional resources not only to sustain the mining operations but also the communities that they support.
The ultimate objective of the 3D GIS study is the creation of a 3D Drillhole database and subsequent 3D GIS model, which forms the basis for further studies in the area, especially in the context of future mineral development in the area. A secondary objective is to retain the data in a digital format as both a historical reference, because it is a part of Canada’s rich mining history, and as a resource for future research and studies.
APPENDIX A
Con Mine
Lithology Key
APPENDIX B
Con Mine
LENS and OCODE Key
|
Alpha-numeric Code |
Numeric Code |
Lens |
Description |
|
AFWL |
1 |
A |
FW
Ore Lens |
|
AFW |
1 |
A |
FW
Ore Lens |
|
AL |
3 |
A |
Lens |
|
AHWL |
4 |
A |
HW
Ore Lens |
|
AHW
|
4 |
A |
HW
Ore Lens |
|
BL |
8 |
B |
Lens |
|
CL |
12 |
C |
Lens |
|
DL |
16 |
D |
Lens |
|
EL |
20 |
E |
Lens |
|
FLFW |
23 |
F |
FW
Lens |
|
FL
|
24 |
F |
Lens |
|
FHW |
25 |
F |
HW
Lens |
|
GL |
28 |
G |
Lens |
|
HL |
32 |
H |
Lens |
|
IL |
26 |
I |
Lens |
|
JL |
40 |
J |
Lens |
|
KL |
44 |
K |
Lens |
|
LFW |
47 |
L |
FW
Lens |
|
LL |
48 |
L |
Lens |
|
LLHW |
49 |
L |
HW
Lens |
|
LHW |
50 |
L |
HW
Lens |
|
LHHW |
51 |
L |
HW
HW Lens |
|
MFFW |
57 |
M |
FW
FW Lens |
|
MFW |
58 |
M |
FW
Lens |
|
MHW |
59 |
M |
HW
Lens |
|
MHFW |
60 |
M |
HW
FW Lens |
|
ML |
61 |
M |
HW
FW Lens |
|
NHW |
65 |
N |
HW
Lens |
|
NL |
64 |
N |
Lens |
|
QL |
68 |
Q |
Lens |
|
PL |
72 |
P |
Lens |
|
PLHW |
73 |
P |
HW
Lens |
|
RFWL |
75 |
R |
FW
Lens |
|
RFW
|
75 |
R |
FW
Lens |
|
RHWL |
77 |
R |
HW
Lens |
|
RL |
76 |
R |
Lens |
|
SL |
80 |
S |
Lens |
|
TL |
84 |
T |
Lens |
|
TLFW |
83 |
T |
FW Lens |
|
TLHW |
85 |
T |
HW Lens |
|
WL |
90 |
W |
Lens |
|
XFWL |
93 |
X |
FW Lens |
|
XL |
94 |
X |
Lens |
|
YL |
98 |
Y |
Lens |
|
ZL |
102 |
Z |
Lens |
|
AWL |
105 |
AW |
Lens |
|
AW |
105 |
AW |
Lens |
|
AWFL |
2 |
AW |
FW
Lens |
|
AXL |
106 |
AX |
Lens |
|
AYL |
107 |
AY |
Lens |
|
AY
|
107 |
AY |
Lens |
|
AZL |
108 |
AZ |
Lens |
|
AZ |
108 |
AZ |
Lens |
|
AZML |
109 |
AZM |
Lens |
|
AZM |
109 |
AZM |
Lens |
|
M2L |
112 |
M |
Lens |
|
FWL |
114 |
"FW" |
"FW"
Lens |
|
FW
|
114 |
"FW" |
"FW"
Lens |
|
HWL |
115 |
"HW" |
"HW"
Lens |
|
MSNL |
124 |
M |
Lens
(South of Pud Fault) |
|
RSNL |
125 |
R |
Lens
(South of Pud Fault) |
APPENDIX C
Giant Mine
Lithology Key
|
GIANT
ROCK CODE |
DESCRIPTION |
|
0 |
End
of Hole |
|
? |
Unknown |
|
ALT |
Altered
Zone |
|
AMF |
Altered
Massive Flow |
|
AMP |
Amphibolite |
|
AND |
Andesite |
|
APF |
Altered
pillow flow |
|
APL |
Aplite |
|
ARG |
Argillite |
|
BC |
Broken
or Ground Core |
|
BP |
Bird
Porphyry (Feldspar Porphyry) |
|
BPH |
Bird
Porphyry (Feldspar Porphyry) |
|
BQ |
Barren Quartz |
|
BRK |
Brock
Prophyry |
|
BSDK |
Brock
Shaft Porphyry Dyke |
|
BSP |
Brock
Shaft Porphyry Dyke |
|
BSPM |
Brock
Shaft Porphyry Dyke |
|
BT |
Break
Through into Drift |
|
BX |
Breccia |
|
BXD |
Brecciated
Dacite |
|
BXZ |
Breccia Zone |
|
CAL |
Calcite Alteration |
|
CAR |
Carbonate Vein |
|
CAS |
Casing |
|
CAV |
No
Core |
|
CAVE |
No
Core |
|
CB |
Carbonate |
|
CCS |
Chlorite
Carbonate Schist |
|
CGL |
Conglomerate |
|
CGT |
Conglomerate |
|
CHL |
Chlorite |
|
CHS |
Chlorite
Schist |
|
CHT |
Chert |
|
CL |
Chlorite |
|
CLD |
Chloritic
Dacite |
|
CLG |
Chloritic
Greenstone |
|
CLS |
Chlorite Schist |
|
CMT |
Cement |
|
CON |
Consolidated
Material |
|
CS |
Chlorite
Schist |
|
CSD |
Chlorite
Schist Dacite |
|
CSG |
Casing |
|
CSS |
Chlorite
sericite schist |
|
CT |
Contact
or Chilled margin |
|
CTF |
Cherty
Tuff |
|
DAC |
Dacite |
|
DAD |
Brock
Dacite Tuff |
|
DAF |
Dacite
Flow |
|
DAL |
Altered
Dacite |
|
DAM |
Dacite Massive |
|
DAP |
Dacite Prophyry |
|
DAT |
Dacite Tuff |
|
DAW |
Dacite Tuff |
|
DBX |
Diabase Breccia |
|
DIA |
Diabase |
|
DIKE |
Dyke |
|
DIO |
Diorite |
|
DIOR |
Diorite |
|
DOR |
Diorite |
|
DYK |
Dyke |
|
DYKE |
Dyke |
|
eoh |
End
of Hole |
|
EP |
Epidote |
|
F |
Fault |
|
FAUL |
Fault |
|
FB |
Flow
Breccia |
|
FBX |
Foliated
Breccia |
|
FC |
Flow
Contact |
|
FGG |
Fault
Gouge |
|
FL |
Fault |
|
FLOW |
Pillow
Flow |
|
FLT |
Fault |
|
FOL |
Foliated |
|
FOLD |
Folded |
|
FOX |
Fox
Variolitic Flows |
|
FP |
Feldspar
Porphyry |
|
FPH |
Feldspar
Porphyry |
|
FPP |
Feldspar
Porphyry with Prominent Phenocrysts |
|
FT |
Fault |
|
FVO |
Foliated
Volcanic Rock |
|
GA |
Glowing
Avalanche (Tuff Bed) |
|
GAB |
Gabbro |
|
GC |
Ground
Core |
|
GNT |
Granite |
|
GOUG |
Gouge |
|
GR |
Graphitic |
|
GR.C |
Ground
Core |
|
GRA |
Graphitic |
|
GRD |
Granodiorite |
|
GRN |
Granite |
|
GRNT |
Granite |
|
GST |
Greenstone |
|
GSTS |
Schistose
Greenstone |
|
GWK |
Greywacke |
|
H2O |
Water |
|
IF |
Intermediate
Fragmental |
|
IFS |
Intermediate
Fragmental |
|
IGN |
Ignimbrite |
|
IMG |
Intermediate
(in age) Metagabbro |
|
IND |
Indeterminate |
|
INF |
Intermediate
Flow |
|
INT |
Interflow
Sediments (Tuff Bed) |
|
IVO |
Intermediate
Volcanic |
|
LAM |
Lamprophyre |
|
LAMD |
Laminated |
|
LC |
Lost
Core |
|
LLM |
Fault |
|
LMG |
Late
Metagabbro or Diabase |
|
MBX |
Mafic Breccia |
|
MC |
Missing
Core |
|
MET |
Metagabbro |
|
MF |
Massive
Flow |
|
MG |
Metagabbro |
|
MI |
Massive
Indefinite |
|
MIN |
Mineralized |
|
MNL |
Mineralized |
|
MUD |
Mudstone |
|
MV |
Massive Volcanic |
|
MVO |
Massive
Volcanic |
|
MZ |
Mineralized
Zone |
|
NC |
No
Core |
|
NONE |
Nothing |
|
OB |
Overburden |
|
OMG |
Old
Metagabbro |
|
ORE |
Ore zone |
|
OVB |
Overburden |
|
PBX |
Pillow
Breccia |
|
PEG |
Pegmatite |
|
PF |
Pillow
Flow |
|
PMF |
Porphyritic
Massive Flow |
|
PMG |
Porphyritic
Metagabbro |
|
PO |
Porphyritic
Metagabbro |
|
POR |
Porphyry |
|
PY |
Pyrite |
|
QAC |
Quartz Carbonate |
|
QC |
Quartz Carbonate |
|
QC- |
Quartz Carbonate |
|
QC 1 |
Quartz Carbonate |
|
QCAL |
Quartz Carbonate |
|
QCB |
Quartz Carbonate Breccia |
|
QCBX |
Quartz Carbonate Breccia |
|
QCE |
Quartz Carbonate Epidote |
|
QCS |
Quartz Carbonate Vein |
|
QC-V |
Quartz Carbonate Vein |
|
QEV |
Quartz Epidote Vein |
|
QFP |
Quartz Feldspar Porphyry |
|
QTZ |
Quartz |
|
QV |
Quartz Vein |
|
QV' |
Quartz Vein |
|
QZT |
Quartz |
|
RDC |
Rhyodacite |
|
RHD |
Rhyodacite |
|
RHF |
Fragmented
Rhyolite |
|
RHY |
Rhyolite |
|
RYBX |
Rhyolite
Breccia |
|
SCD |
Sheared
Dacite |
|
SCS |
Sericite
Chlorite Schist |
|
SDAC |
Sheared
Dacite Porphyry |
|
SED |
Sedimentary |
|
SER |
Sericite |
|
SES |
Sericite
Schist |
|
SHE |
Shear |
|
SHR |
Shear |
|
SHZ |
Shear
Zone |
|
SID |
Sheared
Indefinite |
|
SIL |
Silicified |
|
SL |
Slate |
|
SLT |
Siltstone |
|
SS |
Sericite
Schist |
|
SSD |
Sericite
Schist Dacite |
|
SST |
Sandstone |
|
STPE |
Stope |
|
TAT |
Altered
Basalt |
|
TF |
Tuff |
|
TLC |
Talc
Chlorite Schist |
|
TLS |
Talc
Chlorite Schist |
|
TUF |
Tuff |
|
TUFF |
Tuff |
|
VBX |
Volcanic
Breccia |
|
VF |
Variolitic
Pillow Flow |
|
VMF |
Volcanogenic
Massive Flow or Variolitic Massive Flow |
|
VMG |
Variolitic
Metagabbro |
|
VPF |
Variolitic
Pillow Flow |
|
VPV |
Variolitic
Pillowed Volcanics |
|
WBF |
West
Bay Fault |
|
YMG |
Young
Metagabbro |
APPENDIX D
Giant Mine
Lithology Key
|
GIANT
ROCK CODE |
DESCRIPTION |
|
0 |
Eoh |
|
? |
Unknown |
|
ALT |
Altered
zone |
|
AMF |
Altered
massive flow |
|
AMP |
Amphibolite |
|
AND |
Andesite |
|
APF |
Altered
pillow flow |
|
APL |
Aplite |
|
ARG |
Argillite |
|
BC |
Broken
or Ground Core |
|
BP |
Bird
Porphyry (Feldspar Porphyry) |
|
BPH |
Bird
Porphyry (Feldspar Porphyry) |
|
BQ |
Barren Quartz |
|
BRK |
Brock
Prophyry |
|
BSDK |
Brock
Shaft Porphyry Dyke |
|
BSP |
Brock
Shaft Porphyry Dyke |
|
BSPM |
Brock
Shaft Porphyry Dyke |
|
BT |
Break
Through into Drift |
|
BX |
Breccia |
|
BXD |
Brecciated
Dacite |
|
BXZ |
Breccia Zone |
|
CAL |
Calcite Alteration |
|
CAR |
Carbonate Vein |
|
CAS |
Casing |
|
CAV |
No
Core |
|
CAVE |
No
Core |
|
CB |
Carbonate |
|
CCS |
Chlorite
carbonate schist |
|
CGL |
Comglomerate |
|
CGT |
Conglomerate |
|
CHL |
Chlorite |
|
CHS |
Chlorite
schist |
|
CHT |
Chert |
|
CL |
Chlorite |
|
CLD |
Chloritic
Dacite |
|
CLG |
Chloritic
Greenstone |
|
CLS |
Chlorite
schist |
|
CMT |
|
|
CON |
Consolidated
material |
|
CS |
Chlorite
schist |
|
CSD |
Chlorite
schist Dacite |
|
CSG |
Casing |
|
CSS |
Chlorite
sericite schist |
|
CT |
Contact
or Chilled margin |
|
CTF |
Cherty
Tuff |
|
DAC |
Dacite |
|
DAD |
Brock
Dacite Tuff |
|
DAF |
Dacite
Flow |
|
DAL |
|
|
DAM |
Dacite
Massive |
|
DAP |
Dacite
Prophyry |
|
DAT |
Dacite
Tuff |
|
DAW |
Dacite
Tuff |
|
DBX |
Diabase
Breccia |
|
DIA |
Diabase |
|
DIKE |
Dyke |
|
DIO |
Diorite |
|
DIOR |
Diorite |
|
DOR |
Diorite |
|
DYK |
Dyke |
|
DYKE |
Dyke |
|
eoh |
end
of hole |
|
EP |
Epidote |
|
F |
Fault |
|
FAUL |
Fault |
|
FB |
Flow
Breccia |
|
FBX |
Foliated
breccia |
|
FC |
Flow
Contact |
|
FGG |
Fault
Gouge |
|
FL |
Fault |
|
FLOW |
Pillow
flow |
|
FLT |
Fault |
|
FOL |
Foliated |
|
FOLD |
Folded |
|
FOX |
Fox
Variolitic Flows |
|
FP |
Feldspar
porphyry |
|
FPH |
Feldspar
Porphyry |
|
FPP |
Feldspar
Porphyry with prominent Phenocrysts |
|
FT |
Fault |
|
FVO |
Foliated
volcanic |
|
GA |
Glowing
Avalanche (Tuff bed) |
|
GAB |
Gabbro |
|
GC |
Ground
Core |
|
GNT |
Granite |
|
GOUG |
Gouge |
|
GR |
Graphitic |
|
GR.C |
Ground
Core |
|
GRA |
Graphitic |
|
GRD |
Granodiorite |
|
GRN |
Granite |
|
GRNT |
Granite |
|
GST |
Greenstone |
|
GSTS |
Schistose
greenstone |
|
GWK |
Greywacke |
|
H2O |
Water |
|
IF |
Intermediate
Fragmental |
|
IFS |
Intermediate
Fragmental |
|
IGN |
Ignimbrite |
|
IMG |
Intermediate
metagabbro |
|
IND |
Indeterminate |
|
INF |
Intermediate
flow |
|
INT |
Interflow
sediments |
|
IVO |
Intermediate
volcanic |
|
LAM |
Lamprophyre |
|
LAMD |
Laminated |
|
LC |
Lost
Core |
|
LLM |
Fault |
|
LMG |
Late
Metagabbro or Diabase |
|
MBX |
Mafic Breccia |
|
MC |
Missing
Core |
|
MET |
Metagabbro |
|
MF |
Massive
flow |
|
MG |
Metagabbro |
|
MI |
Massive
Indefinite |
|
MIN |
Mineralized |
|
MNL |
Mineralized |
|
MUD |
Mudstone |
|
MV |
Massive volcanic |
|
MVO |
Massive
volcanic |
|
MZ |
Mineralized
Zone |
|
NC |
No
Core |
|
NONE |
Nothing |
|
OB |
Overburden |
|
OMG |
Old
metagabbro |
|
ORE |
Ore zone |
|
OVB |
Overburden |
|
PBX |
Pillow
breccia |
|
PEG |
Pegmetite |
|
PF |
Pillow
flow |
|
PMF |
Porphyritic Massive flow |
|
PMG |
Porphyritic
MetaGabbro |
|
PO |
Porphyritic
MetaGabbro |
|
POR |
Porphyry |
|
PY |
Pyrite |
|
QAC |
Quartz carbonate |
|
QC |
Quartz carbonate |
|
QC- |
Quartz carbonate |
|
QC 1 |
Quartz carbonate |
|
QCAL |
Quartz Carbonate |
|
QCB |
Quartz Carbonate breccia |
|
QCBX |
Quartz Carbonate breccia |
|
QCE |
Quartz Carbonate Epidote |
|
QCS |
Quartz Carbonate vein |
|
QC-V |
Quartz Carbonate vein |
|
QEV |
Quartz Epidote Vein |
|
QFP |
quartz Feldspar Porphyry |
|
QTZ |
Quartz |
|
QV |
Quartz vein |
|
QV' |
Quartz vein |
|
QZT |
Quartz |
|
RDC |
Rhyodacite |
|
RHD |
Rhyodacite |
|
RHF |
Fragmented
rholite |
|
RHY |
Rhyolite |
|
RYBX |
Rhyolite
breccia |
|
SCD |
Sheared
Dacite |
|
SCS |
Sericite
chlorite schist |
|
SDAC |
Sheared
Dacite Porphyry |
|
SED |
Sedimentary |
|
SER |
Sericite |
|
SES |
Sericite
schist |
|
SHE |
Shear |
|
SHR |
Shear |
|
SHZ |
Shear
zone |
|
SID |
|
|
SIL |
Silicified |
|
SL |
Slate |
|
SLT |
Siltstone |
|
SS |
Sericite
schist |
|
SSD |
Sericite
schist Dacite |
|
SST |
Sandstone |
|
STPE |
Stope |
|
TAT |
Altered
basalt |
|
TF |
Tuff |
|
TLC |
Talc
chlorite schist |
|
TLS |
Talc
chlorite schist |
|
TUF |
Tuff |
|
TUFF |
Tuff |
|
VBX |
Volcanic
breccia |
|
VF |
Variolitic
Pillow flow |
|
VMF |
Volcanogenic
massive flow or Variolitic Massive Flow |
|
VMG |
Variolitic
metagabbro |
|
VPF |
Variolitic
pillow flow |
|
VPV |
Variolitic
Pillowed Volcanics |
|
WBF |
West
Bay Fault |
|
YMG |
Young
metagabbro |