Decrepitation results from "The Ovens" Au deposit, Nova Scotia

Kingsley Burlinson, Burlinson Geochemical Services P/L.

Results from a quick visit to the area.

Nine samples collected from shallow bulldozed old worked areas were analyzed. These were not from the coastal cliff exposures but from an area some 200-400 m back from the coast. It is not clear if this area produced gold but it had been cleared and shallow trenches and waste heaps were present.

The most obvious feature is that 2 of the 9 samples show high CO₂content - with a prominent peak around 260 C. But not all samples show this, so there are significant differences between the quartz samples which are not easily noticed in the field, and which may be useful in an exploration context in trying to identify potentially auriferous quartz veins.

Decrepitation of these samples shows that the method readily discriminates several different types of quartz and is applicable to Nova Scotia auriferous quartz deposits. However it is necessary to carry out more extensive and thorough research to understand the relationships of the observed variations in fluid inclusion characteristics.

H1400 Sample# 1902A Can99 NS 0.5g -420+200u
Ovens Au deposit, Nova Scotia - surface mullock and o/c
Coarse semi transl massive white qtz. Fe stains. Boulder in mullock

H1401 Sample# 1902B Can99 NS 0.5g -420+200u
Ovens Au deposit, Nova Scotia - 2cm thick sulphidic vein in slate
Banded semi transl massive white qtz. Fe stains. S= casts

H1402 Sample# 1902C Can99 NS 0.5g -420+200u
Ovens Au deposit, Nova Scotia - 3cm thick vein in arkose float boulder
semi transl milky white qtz.

H1403 Sample# 1903A Can99 NS 0.5g -420+200u
Ovens Au deposit, Nova Scotia - Foliation parallel qtz vein in outcrop
1cm thick semi transl. white qtz. Trace country rock slate

H1404 Sample# 1903B Can99 NS 0.5g -420+200u
Ovens Au deposit, Nova Scotia - Foliation parallel qtz vein in outcrop
cse semi transl. white qtz. Vugs, with many crystal faces

H1405 Sample# 1903C Can99 NS 0.5g -420+200u
Ovens Au deposit, Nova Scotia - Foliation parallel qtz vein in outcrop
cse semi transl. white qtz. Fractured, much Fe staining

H1406 Sample# 1904A Can99 NS 0.5g -420+200u
Ovens Au deposit, Nova Scotia - 5-10 cm thick qtz veins in float boulders
cse semi transl. white qtz. Massive, Fe staining

H1407 Sample# 1904B Can99 NS 0.5g -420+200u
Ovens Au deposit, Nova Scotia - 5-10 cm thick qtz veins in float boulders
cse milky white qtz. much fresh S=

H1408 Sample# 1904C Can99 NS 0.5g -420+200u
Ovens Au deposit, Nova Scotia - 5-10 cm thick qtz veins in float boulders
cse Semi transl. white qtz. Fe stains

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