Big Bend
Summary and Location
| Location | Historic Resources | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Yavapai County, Arizona |
Potential for several million tons grading 0.05 oz/ton Au & 1.2 oz/ton Ag |
Under Contract |
A large-scale, bulk tonnage gold-silver system with the potential for several million tons of ore. A 1983-1984 joint venture confirmed widespread mineralization averaging 0.05 oz/ton gold and 1.2 oz/ton silver in oxidized, heap-leachable host rock before work halted due to a cessation of funding.
Historical exploration has defined two key target areas: the drilled Organ Grinder discovery zone (also part of this project) and adjacent Big Bend property, which hosts a large geochemical anomaly.
The project is in Yavapai County, Arizona, within the Arrastra Mountains, approximately 45 road miles northwest of Wickenburg.
Geology
The project targets a large-scale, heap-leachable gold and silver deposit hosted in a highly sheared and fractured Precambrian granite. Mineralization occurs within a broad, oxidized, hematitic alteration zone expressed as a stockwork of stringers, quartz veinlets, and fractures.
Crucially, gold is not confined to the veins but is also pervasively disseminated within the altered granite host rock. The strong and deep oxidation, determined to extend more than 100 feet, makes the deposit highly conducive to a low-cost, open-pit, heap-leach operation. The naturally fractured nature of the host rock may reduce the need for extensive blasting.
History
After minor historical prospecting, the project saw its most significant exploration in 1983-1984 through a joint venture between Himac Resources Ltd. and New Tyee Resources Ltd. Their work focused on two distinct areas:
Organ Grinder (Southern “Discovery Zone”): This was the initial focus of exploration. Work included extensive trenching, which yielded an average grade of 0.054 oz/ton gold over a 450-foot strike length. This was followed by 925 feet of reverse circulation (RC) drilling, which confirmed mineralization with a true thickness of 10 to 15 feet.
Big Bend (Northern Zone): Exploration on the adjacent Big Bend property led to the discovery of a large, open-ended geochemical soil anomaly measuring approximately 400 feet by 800 feet. This work indicated an ore potential of 26,000 tons per vertical foot. High-grade potential within the broader system was confirmed by random sampling of vein material from dumps, which averaged 0.306 oz/ton gold and 0.76 oz/ton silver.