All Case Studies

Quartz Rise Project, Seabridge Gold Inc.

Northern BC

Overview

Dias Geophysical successfully imaged geological structure, lithology and mineralization at the Quartz Rise project in British Columbia’s Golden Triangle region. A rolling 3D DIAS32 survey images the epithermal vein systems in the near-surface, and when combined with geology and magnetic data, identifies a potential porphyry source at depth.

Situation

Three years of exploration work at Quartz Rise have isolated a promising source of the lithocap above the old, high-grade Johnny Mountain Mine. Further geophysical, geochemical and geological mapping surveys have been completed, and an initial grill program totaling up to 8,000 m has been designed to test the large intrusive system that is likely responsible for the lithocap and elevated gold and copper concentration. This area has a geological environment astonishingly similar to KSM.

  • Imaged resistive features that were successfully tested for epithermal vein mineralization
  • Imaged a deep conductive and chargeable feature currently being tested as a possible porphyry source
  • The DIAS32 data set assisted in upgrading the geologic knowledge of this project, moving from epithermal to porphyry

DIAS32 Solution

A rolling 3D survey with CVR was completed over the 1.5 km X 0.8 km survey area with the DIAS32 system. A line spacing of 50 m and a reciever spacing of 25 m provided detailed 3D imaging of the subsurface given the epithermal vein target. The CVR data set provided multi-scale and multi-azimuthal data for 3D inversion. The final 3D resistivity and chargeability models were resolved to 5 m.

Outcome

The DIAS32 3D survey imaged the vein system and identified an unexpected east-west trend. Drill targeting of the high resistivity features was successful, and analysis of the core identified a breccia vein, which suggests the presence of a proximal porphyry source. A successive DIAS32 survey was completed in 2019 to close out the chargeability anomaly, and integration of this data with geology, geochemistry and magnetic data interpreted a priority target for the potential porphyry source and is currently being drill tested.