BARSELE PROJECT
Barsele is in northern Sweden, 500 km southwest of our Kittila mine in northern Finland. Barsele includes two types of mineralization: intrusive-hosted gold as well as gold-rich volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS). Agnico Eagle acquired a 55% interest in the property in 2015, and we manage the exploration program.
Key Facts
Location
Northern Sweden
Stage
Exploration
Ownership
55%; can earn additional 15%
Property size
46,991 ha
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Overview
Barsele contains intrusive-hosted gold mineralization in the Central, Avan and Skirasen zones, which appears to be similar to the Goldex deposit. The property also hosts gold-rich polymetallic VMS mineralization in the Norra Zone. Gold is generally associated with arsenopyrite and low base metal content, but also occurs as native metal locally. Since mid-2015, we have conducted trenching, structural mapping and drilling, compiled geophysical data, carried out surface and downhole geophysical surveys, and conducted hyperspectral diamond drill core scanning, environmental studies and community relations work.
At December 31, 2020, the Barsele project was estimated (on a 55% basis) to contain an indicated mineral resource of 176,000 ounces of gold (4.3 million tonnes grading 1.27 g/t gold), and an inferred mineral resource of 1.0 million ounces of gold (15.8 million tonnes grading 1.98 g/t gold) at both open pit and underground depths. At open pit depths there is an indicated mineral resource of 111,000 ounces of gold (3.2 million tonnes grading 1.08 g/t gold) and an inferred mineral resource of 91,000 ounces of gold (2.3 million tonnes grading 1.25 g/t gold). At underground depths, there is an indicated mineral resource of 66,000 ounces of gold (1.2 million tonnes grading 1.77 g/t gold) and an inferred mineral resource of 914,000 ounces of gold (13.6 million tonnes grading 2.10 g/t gold).
Geology
The Barsele deposit is located at the intersection of the Skellefte and Gold Line metallogenic trends. The project area covers a sequence of metasedimentary and metavolcanic (Härnö formation) rocks of the Proterozoic Svecofennian system.
The district shows strong potential for gold and base metal mineralization and ore structures. There is an important spatial relationship between the major north-south-trending high strain zones and gold deposits in the area. All economically important deposits in the region are located in the same type and age of structure. The orogenic gold deposits are related to the same structure as the Barsele prospect.
Mineralization
The Avan, Central and Skiråsen zones extend over a strike length of 3.0 km from surface to approximately 700 metres depth, within a fractured granodiorite. There are two types of mineralization in the Central Zone. Low- to moderate-grade orogenic or mesothermal intrusive-hosted gold is associated with networks of thin tourmaline-quartz and quartz-calcite-arsenopyrite veinlets. High-grade gold-silver-lead-zinc mineralization is hosted by syntectonic quartz-sulphide veins, with grades up to 50 g/t gold or higher. The other style of mineralization at Barsele is referred to as “Skellefte-type mineralization”, found in the Norra Zone. It comprises gold-rich VMS mineralization, similar to the Company's LaRonde deposit in Quebec. A new zone of gold mineralization was outlined in 2017 by drilling at Risberget, which is 3.7 km east of the Skiråsen Zone. The new zone is hosted by volcanic rocks, but along the same deformation corridor as Skiråsen, and yielded similar results to the other known mineralized zones.
Exploration
The focus for exploration work at Barsele is to expand and delineate higher grade areas within the known zones and further evaluate the VMS potential.
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Did you know?
- The Barsele deposit is hosted by Paleoproterozoic – that is 1.9 to 1.8 billion years old – supracrustal and associated intrusive rocks that were deformed and metamorphosed simultaneously during the Svecokarelian orogeny.
- Agnico Eagle acquired a 55% interest in the property in June 2015.
- Barsele is 600 km north of Stockholm and 20 km from the town of Storuman, at the crossroads of two major highways with regularly scheduled freight, bus and rail service. Eight hydropower plants and one of Europe's biggest windmill parks are the major sources of electricity in the region, and there is a powerline running through the property. A skilled workforce can be hired locally as the region has a long tradition of exploration and mining activities. Exploration work can be carried out year-round.