Overview
Stage | Restarting |
Mine Type | Underground |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
|
Processing |
- Dewatering
- Filter press plant
- Flotation
- X-Ray Transmission (XRT) sorting
|
Mine Life | 6.5 years (as of Jan 1, 2021) |
September 2021 - Over $100 million of usable infrastructure in place. 700 tpd mill. Underground workings are accessible to 350 metres below surface.
Permitting underway – Major Mines Permit – (6-8 months). |
Latest News | Braveheart Resources Closes $826,250 Financing February 16, 2022 |
Source:
p. 8
Deposit Type
- Breccia pipe / Stockwork
- Vein / narrow vein
Summary:
The Bul River deposit has been described as a Churchill-type vein copper-silver deposit (Lefebure, 1996). The deposit type displays relatively low tonnage characteristics (typically range from 10 kt to 1 Mt) but high-grade (typically range from 1% to 4% Copper). Frequently occurring in Proterozoic- age extensional sedimentary basins, Churchill-type deposits are associated with rifting, can comprise single vein to complicated vein systems that vary from centimetres to tens of metres in width, and can extend hundreds of metres along strike and down dip. Commonly hosted in clastic meta-sediments, veins and vein systems are often spatially associated with mafic dykes and sills. The veins are generally associated with major faults related to a crustal extension that controls the ascent of hydrothermal fluids to favourable sites for metal deposition. Fluids are believed to be derived from those mafic intrusives that are associated with the vein systems.
Local Geology
The GBRM deposit is hosted within poorly exposed graded turbidite beds of the middle Aldridge Formation of the Middle Proterozoic Purcell Supergroup. Interbedded quartzites, siltstones, and argillites make up a turbidite sequence whose bedding plane strikes approximately east-west and dips 20° to 30° to the north (Baldys, 2001). The host rocks of the deposit are a northward pinching series of anticlines and synclines (de Souza, 2000).
The quartzite unit is described by Baldys, 2001 as, in fact, thickly bedded quartz arenite and quartz wacke. The quartz arenite is dominated by sand-size fragments of quartz while the quartz wacke consists of poorly sorted mineral and rock fragments in a matrix of clay and fine silt. These arenite and wacke beds are up to one metre in thickness and are massive to graded, fining upward. Arenaceous beds are medium to thickly bedded and are commonly separated by thin layers of argillaceous siltstone.
Laminated siltstone is composed of organic carbon, biotite, feldspar, detrital quartz, sphene, tourmaline, apatite and, diagenetic pyrite, and pyrrhotite. Wispy or disseminated pyrrhotite is common and, along with pyrite, makes up less than two percent of unaltered rock.
The Aldridge Formation is intruded by a series of dykes varying in composition from diorite to gabbro known as the Moyie intrusive suite. The mid-Proterozoic Moyie dykes trend approximately east- west and dip at 30° to 80° to the south and are composed predominantly of hornblende and plagioclase phenocrysts in a fine grained groundmass of plagioclase, quartz, hornblende, chlorite and epidote (Baldys, 2001). These dykes have been traced from the Bull River eastward to the flank of Iron Mountain where they form the target of two adits (de Souza, 2001).
Overburden consists of Pleistocene glaciofluvial and colluvial sediments and varies in thickness across the GBRM property up to 200 m in thickness as defined by gravity surveys conducted in 2006.
Mineralization
The GBRM mineralized zones comprise a vertical to subvertical network of sulphide-bearing quartz carbonate veins striking approximately east-west hosted in sheared and brecciated Aldridge Formation sediments. The vein systems form complex networks within, and adjacent to, the shear zone and often encompasses crushed, deformed and brecciated host rocks (Baldys, 2001). Host rocks are either partly silicified and chloritized argillites, argillaceous quartzites and quartzites (Masters, 1990). The veins pinch and swell forming stockworks or thick tabular bodies that are often cut by smaller veins and stringers of quartz and quartz-siderite. The main vein structure and associated stringer zones can range from a few centimetres to 30 m wide. In 1991, Masters defined five subparallel to en echelon “vein systems” and differentiated them from the Pit Zone that lies within the footwall (Masters, 1991).
Mineralization consists of pyrite, pyrrhotite, and chalcopyrite with minor local galena, sphalerite, arsenopyrite, and cobaltite and traces of tetrahedrite and native gold. Sulphides range from massive, irregular bodies within the vein system to thin discontinuous veins, veinlets, and disseminations in the host rock (Höy et al., 2000). Gangue mineralogy of the veins is variable, with the eastern parts of the deposit consisting of quartz and siderite. The western part of the vein system is dominated by siderite (Baldys, 2001).
The extent of the currently known mineralization is approximately 1200m along strike, varies in width from 2.5m to 30m and has a down-dip extent of 200m based on currently drilling, which remains open at depth.
Summary:
Braveheart plans to advance the BRM Project in a phased approach. During Phase 1, the existing ore stockpile (stored within the waste rock dump) will be processed through the mill, and filtered tailings will be stored on the surface in a new Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) using filtered tailings or dry stack tailings as a Best Available Technology.
Phase 2, which will involve a subsequent permit application process, includes the resumption of underground mining operations, with a planned mining rate of 700 tonnes per day for an initially projected mine life of 6.5 years. To re-start mine operations, BRMC will require authorization to increase the mining production rate from the currently permitted 205 tonnes per day and place tailings in the TSF.
No underground mining will occur during Phase 1. The underground will continue to be maintained in a dewatered condition. Exploration drilling may be conducted from the underground to define the downdip extension of the current resource.
An underground mine plan was filed with the MEMPR in 2007, and subsequent underground work was completed following the plan's parameters. Work underground continued until 2009, when operations were suspended due to a lack of funds. BRM personnel have reported that excavation models of the underground workings are current to the suspension of mining in 2009. Approximately 22,000 metres of underground development have occurred, including exposure of the mineralized structures on seven levels along access drives and crosscuts. Mapping and sampling of these headings were conducted by BRM personnel and independent consultants. Some material has been processed in test batches using an on-site pilot mill, but the mine has not engaged in production stoping.
Underground infrastructure includes 22,000 metres of underground developments on seven levels, and the mine is being maintained in a dewatered condition.
Flow Sheet:
Crusher / Mill Type | Model | Size | Power | Quantity |
Jaw crusher
|
.......................
|
|
|
1
|
Cone crusher
|
|
|
|
1
|
Ball mill
|
|
10' x 14'
|
|
1
|
Regrind
|
|
5' x 8'
|
|
1
|
Processing
- Dewatering
- Filter press plant
- Flotation
- X-Ray Transmission (XRT) sorting
Flow Sheet:
Summary:
The mill is not currently operational. During Phase 1, the mill will be refurbished and used to recover payable metals from the mineralized material by crushing and grinding, followed by flotation. The final product will be a granular concentrate composed primarily of copper sulphide, with silver and gold. This will represent approximately 5% of the material fed into the mill; the remaining 95% of the mill feed will be waste tailings. The tailings will be dewatered and placed on the surface in a dry stack TSF.
The process plant will include conventional crushing and grinding operations and conventional froth flotation to recover a mineral concentrate of chalcopyrite (copper sulphide), with minor gold and silver from the ground ore. The concentrate will be transported to designated smelters worldwide for subsequent reduction into copper metal.
Mill throughput is approximately 700 dry tonnes per operating day. During Phase 1, the plant will operate two 12 hour shift ........

Operational Metrics:
Metrics | 2021 |
Daily milling capacity
| ......  |
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Reserves at September 1, 2021:
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Indicated
|
1.51 Mt
|
Copper Equivalent
|
2.263 %
|
87,552,178 lbs
|
Inferred
|
0.34 Mt
|
Copper Equivalent
|
1.86 %
|
13,942,033 lbs
|
Operating Costs:
| Units | 2021 |
Processing costs ($/t milled)
|
CAD
| 19.3 * |
G&A ($/t milled)
|
CAD
| ......  |
* According to 2021 study.
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2021 Study Costs and Valuation Metrics :
Metrics | Units | LOM Total |
Pre-Production capital costs
|
$M CAD
|
......
|
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Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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News:
News | Date |
Braveheart Resources Closes $826,250 Financing
|
February 16, 2022
|
Braveheart Announces 57% Increase in Copper Metal in New Mineral Resource at Bull River Mine
|
December 8, 2021
|
Braveheart Intersects 2.60% Copper, 33.5 g/t Gold and 18.9 g/t Silver Over 2.5 Metres at Bull River Mine
|
September 30, 2021
|
Braveheart Provides Up-Date on Permitting and Construction Progress at Bull River Mine
|
August 24, 2021
|
Braveheart Intersects Additional Copper Mineralization at Bull River Mine Project
|
July 8, 2021
|
Braveheart Resources Procures Flotation Tank Cells for Bull River Mine Project
|
December 3, 2020
|
Braveheart Resources Inc. Provides Up-date on 2020 Underground Drilling Program at Bull River Mine Project
|
March 23, 2020
|
Braveheart Resources to bring Bull River Mine into production
|
June 14, 2019
|
Aerial view:
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