Dixie Lake

Mineralization

Structural controls play a key role in the high grade mineralization zones and follows a dominant down plunge direction. The mineralization is believed to be "folded and transposed into the dominant penetrative foliation, which actually transects the 88-04 zone" (Lee 2006). This model suggests that the mineralization comprises a series of "stacked lenses" in the 88-04 zone, instead of continuous, down-plunge shoots.

Mineralized horizons at the Dixie Lake property comprise cherty, silicified tuffaceous volcaniclastic rocks and/or iron formations with variable quartz content (Hughes 2006). Sedimentary rocks have also been observed associated with the mineralization, i.e., silt-argillites, which may form a "significant component". The mineralization is suggested to be syngenetic, which includes pyrrhotite, pyrite, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite. Hughes (2006) suggests the rocks and associated mineralization "formed in a shallow marine setting relatively close to active venting, with probably several pre-existing anoxic basins subsequently modified by this activity".

The 2006 Grandview Gold drilling results showed that the most important mineralization was encountered in sulphidic iron formations that are separated by pyroclastic to turbidic   volcaniclastic lithologies. The drillhole DL_2006_05 intersected a 20 metre thick iron formation that contained 2-5% sulphides, with grades up to 3.87 g/t Au.

Mineralogical observations undertaken by staff of the Alberta Star/Fronteer Joint Venture describe the ore in the 88-04 zone as follow. The zone is characterized "as a silicified and sulphidized sedimentary rock occurring with a sequence of mafic volcanic rocks." Quartz-calcite veins are observed to be replaced by silica-carbonate alteration. Sulphide minerals comprise pyrrhotite (2-40%), pyrite (2-15%), and arsenopyrite (1-4%), chalcopyrite (2%), with minor sphalerite (<2%) and trace magnetite. Visible gold has been found in association with pyrrhotite, arsenopyrite, and pyrite.

Alteration is observed primarily in the form of biotite that overprints amphibolite grade metamorphism. This latter is suggested to have undergone minor "diapthoresis" prior to the alteration by biotite. Sericitization is obvious in intermediate to felsic volcanic rocks. Two episodes of carbonate alteration have been identified by Hughes (2006), 1) an early calcite-quartz +/-Fe-calcite, 2) calcite +/- quartz. These are believed to be be pre-kinematic, however the second episodes can be late to occasionally post-kinematic.

Other mineralized zones that have been identified that are not part of the 88-04. These comprise the Belgold D Zone, which reveals quartz veins that contain pyrrhotite, pyrite, and minor chalcopyrite and tourmaline. The South Zone contains semi-massive pyrrhotite, pyrite, and minor chalcopyrite. The C-zone comprises pyrite bedded sedimentary rocks that are associated with proximal quartz-porphyry dikes.