Zenith Mine, Pays Plat Lake Area, Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canadai

Regional Level Types
Zenith Mine	Mine
Pays Plat Lake Area	Area
Thunder Bay District	District
Ontario	Province
Canada	Country

Geology :
The two Zenith deposits occur within massive gabbro. No. 1 Deposit: Has been traced along the north shore of Kenabic Lake for about 183 m. It has been opened up by two shafts and an adit. Despite the variations in thickness from a few inches to many feet that occur in short distances, the deposit has an overall lenticular shape. In one drill hole (5D) it was found to have a thickness of about 33.5 m. It dips 35-45 degrees NE. There are 3 types of mineralization: 1). irregularly shaped bodies and lenses; 2). small dykelets and tongues of sp along fragments in the host rock and in places cementing breccia fragments; 3). sparse disseminations of sp and other sulphides in the host rock adjacent to the massive sulphide occurrences. In certain places, the irregularly shaped bodies and lenses are enclosed by diorite or gabbro containing sparsely disseminated sp, and there are no sharply defined boundaries between them and the surrounding rock. Tanton (1930) concluded the Zenith deposit may have formed as a result of some process of magmatic segregation. No. 2 Deposit: occurs about 152.4 m NW of the No. 1. It dips 60 degrees NE and occurs along a sheared zone that has been traced in a direction of N70 degrees N, for approximately 106.7 m. Mineralization consists of irregular masses and lenses of sphalerite, together with disseminations of sp, in massive, fine-to-medium-grained diorite or gabbro. The Zenith Deposit was demonstrated by Corporation Falconbridge Copper to represent a rafted or dislodged portion of the Winston Lake Deposit approximately 1 km to the west. The massive sulphide and associated host rock xenoliths were dislodged and transported by a multi-phase intrusive gabbro.

History:
1879: McKellar brothers originally staked property.
1891-1899: A total of 1065 tons of ore averaging about 45% zinc was shipped to a smelter.
1899-1901: 2700 tons of sphalerite was mined and concentrated by Grand Calumet Mining Company Limited. 1928: Further exploration to try to find extensive ore bodies. 1952-1953: Diamond drilling of 109 holes by Zenmac Metal Mines, including the Cleaver Lake copper deposit. 1964-1968: Underground development, surface plant and mining, production began in 1966. 1970: Production ceased due to exhhaustion of the ore body. 180,000 tons of 16.5 % zinc was mined out.
1972: A geophysical survey was preformed.
1978: Falconbridge Copper completed reconaissance mapping and lithogeochemical surveys.
1979: Winston Lake area was staked by Corporation Falconbridge Copper.
1980: Zenith Mine property optioned to Corporation Falconbridge Copper. 1982: Discovery of the Winston Lake Deposit.
1987: Official opening of the Winston Lake Division Mine.
1994: Metall Mining Corporation conducted surface diamond drilling.
1998: Winston Lake Mine closes.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References