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Location: 52 km NE from Watertown, New York, United States
408 Sylvia Lake RoadGouverneurNew York, United States13642
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The mineralization at ESM has been classified as sedimentary exhalative (Sedex) in origin. The composition of the mineralization is unique, composed of primarily massive sphalerite and only minor galena and pyrite. Massive and semi-massive sphalerite-bearing deposits occur in siliceous dolomitic and evaporite-bearing marbles of the Upper Marble Formation of the Balmat-Edwards marble belt. These zinc-sulphide deposits lie in the core of the Sylvia Lake Syncline, a major poly- deformed fold lying between Balmat and Edwards. Zinc mineralization tends to follow evaporate deposition in the stratigraphic sequence. The region has experienced multiple metamorphic and intrusive events and large-scale ductile structures are common.The property contains 14 known zones of sphalerite mineralization. Three clusters have been defined consisting of three to five deposits each. Geometry of mineralization varies, ranging from tabular to podiform and shallow to steeply dipping. Areas defined to date contain tonnages ranging from roughly 0.5 Mt to over 10 Mt. Typical thickness ranges from 2 ft to 12 ft thick. Mineralization tends to be very continuous along strike, ranging from 50 ft to 800 ft Plunge-lengths may exceed 6,000 ft. There are two mineralization styles recognized in the district. Stratiform high-grade massive sphalerite is interpreted as primary mineralization contemporaneous with deposition of the Upper Marbles. Discordant breccia-like “durchbewegung” textured sphalerite is considered to be secondary and remobilized along brittle-ductile shear zones. Mine geologists conceptualize a primary- secondary relationship, where the stratiform mineralization is the primary source and the crosscutting zone, locally called “durch”, is the secondary. The structural model suggests that secondary resources are formed from sphalerite remobilized during metamorphism. The sphalerite migrates along structural conduits laterally from their source. The remobilized zones share similar trace element geochemical signatures with the interpreted primary zones. The durch often contains significant quantities of occluded wall rock material which imparts a distinctive texture. Previous workers have experienced exploration success using the structural model, defining four new zones in the 1990’s.The zinc-lead ratio is approximately 35:1 in most mineralized areas. ESM has slightly higher-than- average grade for a sediment-hosted lead-zinc deposit. Typical grades of sediment-hosted lead-zinc deposits may average 7.9% Pb and Zn combined. The average grade was 8.6% Zn, while the average for the greater Balmat-Edwards zinc district is even higher at 9.4% Zn. Galena is characteristic of primary stratiform mineralization with the secondary deposits exhibiting very minor amounts. Mine geologists have hypothesized that intense metamorphism may have concentrated the sphalerite, perhaps fractionating zinc sulphide (sphalerite) from lead and silver sulphides (galena) and remobilizing them to different locations leading to the high zinc grades observed at ESM. Galena and pyrite are occasionally observed within an aureole adjacent to some resources concentrated as fine veinlets or disseminations on the order of a few inches to feet particularly within the more brittle lithologies.
