The Buckhorn Mt. gold deposit ranks among the largest "gold skarns" in North America.
Gold mineralization is associated with a variety of skarn mineral assemblages, and is concentrated in a variety of stratigraphic/structural settings. The extent of "economic" (i.e.>0.042opt Au) mineralization is described as having dimensions of about 3,000ft x 1,000ft x 800ft. Sulfide mineralization, principally pyrrhotite, is more extensive. Within the broad zone of gold mineralization, no economic concentrations of other metals have been identified. The overall Au:Ag ratio in the Buckhorn Mountain gold deposit is about 2:1.
Several discrete mineralized zones comprise the Buckhorn Mountain gold deposit. On the basis of location, geometry, associated skarn mineralogy, and perceived protolith; BMG defined four "ore" types. In order of importance with respect to the gold mineral resource, these "ore" types are:
* Southwest Zone,
* Gold Bowl Garnet,Gold Bowl Magnetite, and
* Andesite.
Gold mineralization constituting the Buckhorn Mountain gold deposit occurs within a broad zone of pyrrhotite mineralization. Macroscopically, gold in all ore types is spatially associated with occurrences of bismuth minerals and of arsenopyrite. Bismuth minerals are reported to be more abundant in the GB than in the SWZ, although gold grades are on average much higher in the SWZ. Visible gold had been considered rare overall. However, visible gold was logged in over ........
