Report for: Linda Caron, [Link]., [Link].

VP Exploration
Margaux Resources

Sent to: Linda Caron, [Link]., [Link].

Report 170254

June 7, 2017

Petrographic Report on 10 Samples from the Jersey Mine

Area, Kootenay Arc, British Columbia, Canada
for Margaux Resources

Fabrizio Colombo, Ph.D., [Link].

[Link]@[Link]
 Petrographic Report #170254

Table of Contents
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................................3
2. Results.........................................................................................................................................................3
3. Bibliography.................................................................................................................................................6
4. Petrographic Descriptions............................................................................................................................7
Sample 1: E1601 215.5 m...........................................................................................................................7
Sample 2: E1602 199.25 m.......................................................................................................................10
Sample 3: E1602 199.9 m.........................................................................................................................13
Sample 4: E1411 116.5 m.........................................................................................................................16
Sample 5: E1411 119.2 m.........................................................................................................................19
Sample 6: E1411 121.0 m.........................................................................................................................22
Sample 7: E1411 123.2 m.........................................................................................................................24
Sample 8: E1411 124.0 m.........................................................................................................................26
Sample 9: BiAu Zone 1.............................................................................................................................30
Sample 10: BiAu Zone 2...........................................................................................................................32
5. Selected SEM-EDS Spectra......................................................................................................................34

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 Petrographic Report #170254

1. Introduction

Mrs. Linda Caron, VP Exploration of Margaux Resources submitted 10 rock samples to

Vancouver Petrographics for petrographic analysis. The client indicated that the samples were
collected from the Jersey Mine Area, Kootenay Arc, British Columbia, Canada.
Mrs. Caron is interested in understanding the nature of the gold mineralization(s) in the area.
The client provided geochemical data including gold and other ore metal content for the
submitted samples.
The attached “Petrographic Descriptions” section provides the following for each sample: (i)
the petrographic rock classification; (ii) a brief microstructural description; (iii) a table with the
modal percentage and average grain size for each mineral; and (iv) a detailed description of
the minerals in decreasing order of abundance.
Samples 1–10 (see Table 1) were cut and prepared as ~20 × 40 mm polished thin sections
(see the image of the billet on the first page of each description).
The petrographic classification follows the recommendations of Robertson (1999).
The microstructural terminology used in this report follows the recommendations and
definitions of Vernon (2004), Passchier and Trouw (2005), and Ramdohr (1980).
The magnetic susceptibility (see Table 1) was measured with a hand-held KT Magnetic
Susceptibility Meter, and is intended to provide only an approximate estimate of the relative
content of magnetic minerals within each sample.

2. Results

The samples can be subdivided into 4 main suites.

The first suite (Samples 1‒3 and 10) consists of skarn of various compositions. In this suite,
the rock type was assigned by listing the main minerals, in decreasing order of abundance, in
front of the root name “skarn.” This suite is compositionally heterogeneous: the four samples
are extremely different. Sample 1 hosts an essentially anhydrous assemblage of abundant
plagioclase followed by garnet and epidote. Sample 2 is made up of prevailing epidote over
amphibole. Sample 3 is again anhydrous, being formed by clinopyroxene, quartz, and garnet.
Sample 10 is made up of amphibole, pyrrhotite, plagioclase, and epidote.
The second suite (Sample 4) is a microleucogranite. This sample shows a medium-grained
granular microstructure (microleucogranite 1) crosscut by a fine-grained microleucogranite (2)
with a similar modal composition of K-feldspar, plagioclase, and quartz. The coarse-grained
microleucogranite hosts a medium-grained xenoblastic crystal of garnet. SEM-EDS analysis

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 Petrographic Report #170254

(see Photomicrograph 4c and Section 5) determined that the garnet is almandine.

The third suite (Samples 5‒8) is a metamorphic granofels. The plagioclase in these samples
is xenoblastic, and I interpret it as the result of a metamorphic crystallization, which in Sample
8 was accompanied and overprinted by abundant vesuvianite. The original rock may still be
considered as a metamorphosed dyke; however, the minerals contained within it were
completely recrystallized or crystallized during a metamorphic episode.
SEM-EDS analyses confirmed the nature of bismuth and bismuthinite (Sample 7).
Tellurium occurs within the bismuth. The gold deposition can be attributed to the bismuth-
rich deposition, which is associated with the carbonate±quartz infill episode. This infill episode
is spatially associated with, and post-dates, the skarn event.
The association of gold particles with the with the pyrite was confirmed by SEM-EDS analysis
(Photomicrograph 8d, and Section 5). Gold particles were detected within the pyrite and in
contact with the pyrrhotite (Sample 8, and Section 5) .

4
Table 1: List of samples with their magnetic susceptibility and petrographic classification. 1 The gold content listed in the last column was
provided by the client.

Magnetic
Sample
Sample ID Susceptibility Rock Type Au ppm
No.
(SI ·10-3)
1 E1601 215.5 m 0.166 Plagioclase-garnet-epidote skarn 0.3
2 E1602 199.25 m 0.412 Epidote-amphibole skarn; Bismuth-bismuthinite veinlets 59.1
3 E1602 199.9 m 0.314 Clinopyroxene-quartz-garnet skarn 0.1
4 E1411 116.5 m 0.004 Microleucogranite 0.0
5 E1411 119.2 m 0.006 Plagioclase-white mica granofels 10.0
6 E1411 121.0 m 0.057 Plagioclase-white mica-calcite granofels 72.5
7 E1411 123.2 m 0.042 Plagioclase-white mica-calcite granofels 75.8
8 E1411 124.0 m 0.534 Vesuvianite-calcite-plagioclase granofels 46.3
9 BiAu Zone 1 1.41 Dolomite-sphalerite-pyrrhotite±bismuthinite zone(?) —
10 BiAu Zone 2 10.4 Amphibole-pyrrhotite-plagioclase-epidote skarn —

1 Rock classification after Robertson (1999).

 Petrographic Report #170254

3. Bibliography
Deer WA, Howie RA, Zussmann J (1992) An introduction to the rock-forming minerals.
Longman, London
Delvigne JE (1998) Atlas of micromorphology of mineral alteration and weathering. The
Canadian Mineralogist, special publication 3. Mineralogical Association of Canada,
Ottawa
Passchier CW, Trouw RAJ (2005) Microtectonics (2nd edn). Springer, Heidelberg
Ramdohr P (1980) The ore minerals and their intergrowths (2nd edn), vol 1/2. Pergamon
Press, Oxford
Robertson S (1999) Classification of metamorphic rocks. British Geological Survey Research
Report RR 99/02, vol 2. [Link] Accessed
May 2017
Tröger WE (1979) Optical determination of rock-forming minerals, part 1: determinative
tables. Schweizerbart Science Publishers, Stuttgart
Vernon RH (2004) A practical guide to rock microstructure. Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge

This report consists of 41 pages and is signed by

F. Colombo, Ph.D., [Link].
E-mail: [Link]@[Link]
Tel: +1-778-855-3196
Web: [Link]

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 Petrographic Report #170254

4. Petrographic Descriptions

Sample 1: E1601 215.5 m

Plagioclase-garnet-epidote skarn

This sample shows a compositional layering defined by garnet-rich,

plagioclase-epidote, and carbonate-rich zones. The garnet forms a massive
aggregate in the upper part of the polished thin section and encloses fine-
grained crystals of epidote. The plagioclase and the epidote form a clustered xenoblastic
aggregate, and the carbonate forms a foliated domain associated with very fine-grained
unresolved minerals, probably clay.

Mineral Alteration and Modal Size Range Distinguishing Features

Weathering % (mm)
Mineral
low relief, first-order grey
plagioclase 35‒37 up to 0.5 birefringence, albite twinning

garnet 28‒30 up to 10 high relief, isotropic

high relief, high birefringence,
yellow to green pleochroism,
epidote 16‒18 up to 0.2 heterogeneous distribution of the
birefringence colours
high relief, extreme birefringence,
dolomite (and calcite?) 15‒17 up to 0.1 slow reaction to cold dilute (10%)
HCl
low relief, low birefringence (up to
K-feldspar 1‒2 up to 0.2 first-order grey)

clay(?) 1‒2 up to 0.01 earthy unresolved

high reflectance, white,
arsenopyrite 0.2‒0.3 up to 0.1 anisotropic
high reflectance, creamy white,
pyrite 0.1‒0.15 up to 0.1 isotropic
moderate relief, birefringence up
white mica tr up to 0.05 to third-order blue

Garnet is xenoblastic and forms massive aggregates (up to 10 mm thick) in the upper part of
the polished thin section. The garnet hosts fine-grained xenoblastic inclusions of epidote and
very fine-grained aggregates of probable clay after plagioclase(?). The garnet is crosscut by

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fractures and carbonate-bearing veinlets.

Plagioclase prevails over the epidote in the middle zone of the polished thin section (see
white zone in the image above). The plagioclase is xenoblastic and shows complex twinning.
The plagioclase is intergrown with subordinate fine-grained crystals of epidote. In some
cases, the plagioclase is intergrown with subordinate K-feldspar.
Epidote is xenoblastic. It is subordinate to the plagioclase and the garnet in two of the three
zones distinguished in this polished thin section. The epidote crystals tend to form clusters
parallel with the layering in the plagioclase-epidote zone.
Carbonate is concentrated within the lower part of the polished thin section. The slow
reaction to cold dilute (10%) HCl indicates the prevalence of dolomite. However, small
pockets of briskly reacting (calcite) carbonate are dispersed within this zone, in which a
clustering is defined by very fine-grained aggregates of unresolved minerals. Xenoblastic
pseudomorphs (up to 0.5 mm long) made up of very fine-grained white mica are dispersed
within the carbonate.
Fine-grained idioblastic crystals of arsenopyrite and subordinate crystals of pyrite are
dispersed within the carbonates in the lower part of the polished thin section
(Photomicrograph 1c). The sulphides are spatially associated with the clusters of unresolved
material.

Photomicrograph 1a: Clustering of earthy unresolved Photomicrograph 1b: The plagioclase-epidote zone
minerals (clay?) within the carbonate-rich zone. Plane- consists of a granoblastic aggregates of coarser-
polarized transmitted light. grained plagioclase (pl) and subordinate finer-grained
epidote (ep). Plane-polarized transmitted light.

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Photomicrograph 1c: Irregular clusters of fine-grained

arsenopyrite (ap) and pyrite are dispersed within the
carbonate-rich zone. Plane-polarized reflected light.

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Sample 2: E1602 199.25 m

Epidote-amphibole skarn

Bismuth-bismuthinite veinlets

This sample is dominated by an inequigranular xenoblastic aggregate of

epidote, subordinate and heterogeneously dispersed amphibole, interstitial quartz, and
calcite. In the upper left corner of the polished thin section, an inequigranular granoblastic
aggregate of calcite and lesser dolomite(?) occurs. Finely intergrown bismuth-bismuthinite
filled in a thin veinlet crosscutting the xenoblastic microstructure and forms irregular clusters
dispersed within the epidote-rich aggregate.

Mineral Modal % Size Range Distinguishing Features

(mm)
high relief, high birefringence,
yellow to green pleochroism,
epidote 75‒77 up to 1 heterogeneous distribution of the
birefringence colours
moderate relief, strong
amphibole 10‒12 up to 1 long pleochroism with green to brown
tints, extinction angles up to 18°
high relief, extreme birefringence,
calcite and dolomite 7‒9 up to 2 brisk and slow reaction to cold
dilute (10%) HCl
low relief, birefringence up to
quartz 5‒6 up to 1 first-order white
moderately to highly reflectant,
bismuthinite 0.5 up to 0.15 soft, anisotropic, white
highly reflectant, soft, anisotropic,
bismuth 0.4 up to 0.2 creamy white
moderately reflectant, strongly
mineral X tr up to 0.03 bireflectant
moderate to high relief, highly
scheelite tr up to 0.25 birefringent, fluorescent in short-
wave ultraviolet light

Inequigranular xenoblastic crystals of epidote dominate the composition of this polished thin
section. Their grain size ranges from 0.1 mm up to 1 mm. The epidote is intergrown with
interstitial quartz and heterogeneously distributed xenoblasts of amphibole.
Amphibole is inequigranular (up to 0.5 mm long) and xenoblastic, and it is heterogeneously

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dispersed within the epidote-rich aggregate. The amphibole shows strong pleochroism with
brown tints and extinction angles up to 18°.
Quartz forms interstitial crystals intergrown with the epidote and the amphibole. The coarsest
crystals and veinlet-like aggregates are spatially associated with the bismuth-rich veinlets.
Calcite forms interstitial and xenoblastic crystals of up to 2 mm. Dolomite is concentrated in
the upper left part of the polished thin section. In this domain, the dolomite is associated with
finer-grained crystals of calcite, which are distinguished by their brisk reaction to cold dilute
(10%) HCl. The calcite, similarly with the quartz, shows coarser grains and is spatially
associated with the bismuth-rich veinlets (Photomicrograph 2c).
Bismuth shows high reflectance and a white creamy colour in plane-polarized reflected light
(Photomicrograph 2c and 2d). The bismuth is intergrown with less reflectant, anisotropic
crystals of bismuthinite (Photomicrographs 2c and 2d). A less reflectant, light-brown mineral
(mineral X) is intergrown with the bismuth-rich minerals and is unresolved under plane-
polarized reflected light (Photomicrograph 2d).
Two xenoblastic crystals of scheelite (up to 0.25 mm) are intergrown with the epidote, the
quartz, and the subordinate amphibole in one case, and with the bismuth in the other. The
scheelite is fluorescent when lit by short-wave ultraviolet light.

Photomicrograph 2a: Elongate crystal of amphibole Photomicrograph 2b: In most cases, the bismuth and
(am) is intergrown with abundant epidote (ep) bismuthinite form irregular clusters dispersed within the
interstitial calcite. Plane-polarized transmitted light. epidote-rich aggregate. Plane-polarized reflected light.

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Photomicrograph 2c: In one case, the bismuth Photomicrograph 2d: The difference in colour
(creamy white) and the bismuthinite (light blue) are between the two bismuth-bearing minerals is more
concentrated within an irregular veinlet. Plane- evident at higher magnification. A less reflectant
polarized reflected light. unresolved mineral occurs along some of the
boundaries between the bismuth (white) and
bismuthinite (light blue). Plane-polarized reflected light.

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Sample 3: E1602 199.9 m

Clinopyroxene-quartz-garnet skarn

This polished thin section is made up of two main domains. In the upper part,
Domain A is made up of an inequigranular xenoblastic aggregate of
clinopyroxene (diopside?), quartz, calcite, amphibole, garnet, epidote, and sphalerite. In the
lower part (Domain B), an irregular band of garnet and xenoblastic clinopyroxene dominates
the composition.

Mineral Modal % Size Range Distinguishing Features

(mm)
Domain A (~60% of PTS)
two cleavage systems oriented at
clinopyroxene 46‒48 up to 1 90°, high relief, birefringence up
to the second order
low relief, birefringence up to
quartz 8‒10 up to 2.5 first-order white
high relief, extreme birefringence,
calcite 7‒9 up to 3 brisk reaction to cold dilute (10%)
HCl
moderate relief, moderate
amphibole 2‒3 up to 0.5 long pleochroism with green tints;
extinction angles up to 15°
high relief, high birefringence,
yellow to green pleochroism,
epidote 2‒2.5 up to 1 heterogeneous distribution of the
birefringence colours
high relief, isotropic; in some
hydrogrossular 1‒2 up to 1 cases anisotropic

clusters up to
sphalerite 0.1 low reflectance, grey, isotropic
3.5 long
high relief, highly birefringent,
scheelite tr up to 0.2 fluorescent in short-wave
ultraviolet light

chalcopyrite tr up to 0.02 high reflectance, yellow

Domain B (~30% of PTS)

two cleavage systems oriented at
clinopyroxene 21‒23 up to 1 90°, high relief, birefringence up
to the second order

massive band high relief, isotropic; in some

garnet 5‒10 cases anisotropic
2 × 20 mm

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Mineral Modal % Size Range Distinguishing Features

(mm)
high relief, high birefringence,
yellow to green pleochroism,
epidote 2‒4 up to 0.2 heterogeneous distribution of the
birefringence colours
high relief, highly birefringent,
scheelite tr up to 0.2 fluorescent in short-wave
ultraviolet light

Clinopyroxene prevails in Domain A as xenoblastic inequigranular crystals (up to 1.2 mm

long). Its nature is distinguished by the occurrence of perfect cleavages and in the same
crystals oblique extinction up to 40°. In Domain A, the clinopyroxene is overprinted by
subordinate amphibole and is intergrown with subordinate quartz, calcite, garnet, and epidote
(Photomicrograph 3a). In Domain B, the clinopyroxene is associated and in some cases
hosted as inclusions within a band of garnet and sparsely distributed epidote.
Quartz forms xenoblastic patches (up to 2.5 mm), which are heterogeneously dispersed in
Domain A and are spatially associated with increased amounts of epidote.
Calcite is xenoblastic and reaches 3 mm in size. Similarly with the quartz, it is
heterogeneously dispersed within Domain A.
Garnet is dispersed within Domain A as xenoblastic fine- to medium-grained crystals, and as
an elongate band within Domain B. In some cases, the garnet shows birefringent zones
indicating it is a hydrogrossular.
Amphibole is xenoblastic and overprinted the clinopyroxene in Domain A. Its deep green to
brown colour and distinct pleochroism suggest its composition is actinolitic.
Sphalerite forms irregular clusters, which define a discontinuous veinlet within Domain A. The
sphalerite hosts very fine-grained dispersions or exsolution droplets of chalcopyrite.
Rare xenoblastic crystals of scheelite (up to 0.2 mm) are dispersed within the xenoblastic
aggregate of epidote.

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Photomicrograph 3a: Xenoblastic clinopyroxene (cpx) Photomicrograph 3b: An elongate band of garnet
is intergrown with subordinate quartz, (qz) carbonate (isotropic) is associated with and hosts xenoblastic
(cb), garnet, and actinolite (green) in Domain A. Plane- clinopyroxene (highly birefringent) in Domain B.
polarized transmitted light. Crossed Nicols transmitted light.

Photomicrograph 3c: Xenoblastic quartz (white) is Photomicrograph 3d: Rare crystals of scheelite (sc)
interstitial with respect to xenoblastic to subidioblastic are dispersed within the epidote and the clinopyroxene.
clinopyroxene and subordinate epidote. Crossed Nicols Crossed Nicols transmitted light.
transmitted light.

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Sample 4: E1411 116.5 m

Microleucogranite

This polished thin section consists of medium-grained (up to 0.8 mm) granular
microstructure (Photomicrograph 4a) and a fine-grained (up to 0.3 mm)
granular microstructure (Photomicrograph 4b) defined by K-feldspar, plagioclase, and quartz.
In the image of the billet above, the finer-grained part of the granitic rock occupies the entire
lower part of the billet, while in the polished thin section it defines a ~6 mm thick vein-like
domain indicating that the finer-grained granitoid post-dated the coarser-grained granitoid.

Mineral Alteration and Modal Size Range Distinguishing Features

Weathering % (mm)
Mineral
low relief, low birefringence (up to
K-feldspar 35‒37 0.2‒0.8 first-order grey)
low relief, first-order grey
plagioclase (albite) 30‒34 0.2‒0.8 birefringence, albite twinning
low relief, birefringence up to
quartz 30‒32 0.2‒0.5 first-order white
wm: moderate relief,
white mica and
[biotite?] tr up to 0.6 long birefringence up to third-order
clay blue, straight extinction

garnet tr 0.25 high relief, isotropic

high relief, highly birefringent,
scheelite tr up to 0.2 fluorescent in short-wave
ultraviolet light
high reflectance, creamy white,
pyrite tr up to 0.1 isotropic

K-feldspar prevails slightly over the plagioclase in the two granitoids and defines an
inequigranular anhedral aggregate. In some cases, the K-feldspar is perthitic and is subtly
altered by a very fine-grained dispersion of very fine-grained unresolved material. The earthy
dispersions are more abundant in the finer-grained part of the microleucogranite.
Plagioclase forms anhedral crystals, which are subordinate to the K-feldspar and are
characterized by albite twinning and refractive indexes lower than those of the quartz. Its
composition is albitic.
Quartz forms fine-grained anhedral to interstitial crystals associated and intergrown with the
feldspars. No differences in composition are detected between the two portions of the granite

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The rare subhedral crystals of biotite are completely replaced by epitaxial white mica (only in
the coarser-grained microgranite) and clay. The very low amount of ferromagnesian minerals,
assuming the pseudomorphic aggregate of white mica and clay as one of them, indicate a
very low colour index; therefore, the microgranites are both leucocratic.
One anhedral (or xenoblastic?) crystal of garnet (~0.25 mm). The SEM-EDS analysis of the
garnet (see Section 5, Spectrum 2.10) contains Si, Al, Mn, Fe, and subordinate Ca, thus
indicating it is almandine/spessartine. The Ca-poor composition of the garnet and its
occurrence within the coarser microleucogranite (Photomicrograph 4c) suggest that this
apparently preserved magmatic rock predated the skarn event.
Very rare pyrite crystals (up to 0.1 mm) are dispersed within the finer-grained
microleucogranite and very fine-grained pyrite and/or pyrrhotite overprinted some of the
pseudomorphs after biotite.

Photomicrograph 4a: A granular anhedral Photomicrograph 4b: The same constituents shown
microstructure is defined by K-feldspar (kf), plagioclase in Photomicrograph 4a define a finer-grained granular
(pl), and quartz(qz). Crossed Nicols transmitted light. microstructure that forms a vein-like domain within the
polished thin section. Crossed Nicols transmitted light.

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 Petrographic Report #170254

Photomicrograph 4c: An anhedral crystal of garnet

occurs within the medium-grained microleucogranite.
Plane-polarized transmitted light.

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Sample 5: E1411 119.2 m

Plagioclase-white mica granofels

Relicts of medium-grained granular microstructure defined by plagioclase

occur within a moderately to strongly altered aggregate of white mica. The
strongly altered polished thin section is crosscut by a ~2 mm thick quartz-albite vein and
thinner carbonate veinlets.

Mineral Alteration and Modal Size Range Distinguishing Features

Weathering % (mm)
Mineral
alteration zone (~89% of
PTS)
low relief, first-order grey
plagioclase (albite?) 40‒42 up to 1 birefringence, albite twinning
moderate relief, birefringence up
white mica 30‒32 up to 0.5 to third-order blue, straight
extinction

up to 0.2; rare low relief, birefringence up to

quartz 16‒18 first-order white
up to 0.4
high relief, extreme birefringence,
carbonate 1 up to 0.05 slow reaction to cold dilute (10%)
HCl
high relief, brown under plane-
rutile tr up to 0.3 long polarized light, anisotropic

quartz-white mica-albite
vein (~10% of PTS)
low relief, birefringence up to
quartz 9‒10 first-order white
low relief, first-order grey
albite 0.2‒0.3 birefringence, albite twinning
moderate relief, birefringence up
white mica tr to third-order blue, straight
extinction
high relief, highly birefringent,
scheelite tr up to 0.5 fluorescent in short-wave
ultraviolet light

carbonate veinlets (~1%

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Mineral Alteration and Modal Size Range Distinguishing Features

Weathering % (mm)
Mineral
of PTS)
high relief, extreme birefringence,
dolomite(?) 1 slow reaction to cold dilute (10%)
HCl
moderate relief, birefringence up
white mica tr to third-order blue, straight
extinction

White mica strongly altered the host rock and forms very fine- to fine-grained flakes randomly
oriented within the polished thin section. White mica crystals form radial aggregates within the
host rock and within the quartz vein and carbonate veinlets, indicating that its crystallization
continued throughout the alteration of the host rock and the infill stages.
Albite forms anhedral crystals (up to 1 mm) defining medium-grained relict microstructures. It
must be noted that the granular microstructure includes quartz only in some portions of the
host rock (Photomicrograph 5b). The strong alteration may have completely changed the
primary microstructure, assuming that this dyke had a microstructure similar to Sample 4.
Albite crystals are distinguished by their albite twinning. Some subhedral crystals of albite are
dispersed along the quartz vein walls (Photomicrograph 5a), indicating a high temperature
during the infill stage. Rare flakes of white mica and rare crystals of scheelite
(Photomicrograph 5d) are associated within the vein with the quartz and the albite.
Quartz is concentrated within a ~2mm thick vein (Photomicrograph 5a). Fine-grained quartz
crystals are heterogeneously dispersed within the host rock as a consequence of the infill
episode.
Carbonate is concentrated within irregular, discontinuous veinlets within the host rock. The
slow reaction to cold dilute (10%) HCl suggests that most of the carbonate is dolomite.

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 Petrographic Report #170254

Photomicrograph 5a: Quartz (qz) dominates the Photomicrograph 5b: In the host rock, some areas
composition of the vein. Subhedral crystals of albite show a partially preserved granular microstructure (left
(ab) and rare white mica are dispersed along the vein of photomicrograph). On the right, the rock is strongly
walls. Crossed Nicols transmitted light. altered by white mica and carbonate. Crossed Nicols
transmitted light.

Photomicrograph 5c: Veinlets of carbonate and rare Photomicrograph 5d: Rare medium-grained crystals
white mica crosscut the strongly altered granular of scheelite (sc) occur along the quartz-rich vein walls.
microstructure. Crossed Nicols transmitted light. Plane-polarized transmitted light.

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 Petrographic Report #170254

Sample 6: E1411 121.0 m

Plagioclase-white mica-calcite granofels

A medium-grained granular microstructure is defined by heterogeneously

dispersed plagioclase (white in the billet) and rare quartz, and are overprinted
by inequigranular flakes of white mica (grey in the billet), calcite, and irregular clusters of
molybdenite, bismuthinite(?), and bismuth.

Mineral Modal % Size Range Distinguishing Features

(mm)
low relief, first-order grey
plagioclase 65‒67 up to 1 birefringence, albite twinning
moderate relief, birefringence up
white mica 25‒27 0.05‒1.2 to third-order blue, straight
extinction
high relief, extreme birefringence,
calcite 5‒7 up to 2.5 brisk reaction to cold dilute (10%)
HCl
low relief, birefringence up to
quartz 2‒3 up to 0.25 first-order white
low reflectance, pleochroic (blue
molybdenite 0.2 up to 0.7 to grey tints), soft
moderately to highly reflectant,
bismuthinite 0.1 up to 0.4 soft, anisotropic, white
highly reflectant, soft, anisotropic,
bismuth tr up to 0.15 creamy white
high reflectance, light brown,
pyrrhotite(?) tr up to 0.2 anisotropic

Plagioclase is medium grained (up to 1 mm long) and anhedral and defines a granular
microstructure. The plagioclase is weakly altered by a very fine-grained dispersion of
carbonate and is heterogeneously overprinted by fine-grained flakes of white mica. In most
crystals of plagioclase, albite twinning is distinguished.
White mica forms fine-grained and in some cases up to 1.2 mm long flakes. The white mica
is randomly oriented and in some cases forms radial aggregates, indicating that its
crystallization occurred in the absence of strain. The white mica, the carbonate, and the
sulphide-rich clusters heterogeneously overprinted the granular microstructure.
Quartz is rare and forms fine- to medium-grained interstitial crystals intergrown with the
plagioclase.

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Calcite forms xenoblastic crystals of up to 2.5 mm heterogeneously dispersed within the

granofels.
Molybdenite is medium grained and xenoblastic (Photomicrograph 6b). It is dispersed in an
irregular cluster associated with xenoblastic bismuthinite, as well as subordinate bismuth
(Photomicrograph 6b) and probable pyrrhotite(?).

Photomicrograph 6a: Anhedral plagioclase (pl) Photomicrograph 6b: Xenoblastic molybdenite is

defines a granular microstructure and is overprinted by deformed and intergrown with xenoblastic bismuthinite
fine- to medium-grained white mica (wm). Crossed (white) and rare bismuth (white arrow). Plane-polarized
Nicols transmitted light. reflected light.

Photomicrograph 6c: The pseudolamellar crystals of

molybdenite (bluish grey) are finely intergrown with
bismuthinite (white). Plane-polarized reflected light.

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Sample 7: E1411 123.2 m

Plagioclase-white mica-calcite granofels

This polished thin section is similar to Sample 7. Anhedral crystals of

plagioclase define a granular microstructure, which is overprinted by white
mica, carbonate, quartz, and clusters of bismuthinite and lesser bismuth. No
molybdenite occurs in this sample, and the calcite and the quartz define an infill-like domain
spatially associated with the bismuth-rich minerals.

Mineral Modal % Size Range Distinguishing Features

(mm)
low relief, first-order grey
plagioclase 52‒54 up to 0.8 birefringence, albite twinning
moderate relief, birefringence up
white mica 18‒20 up to 1.2 to third-order blue, straight
extinction
high relief, extreme birefringence,
calcite 15‒17 up to 1.5 brisk reaction to cold dilute (10%)
HCl
low relief, birefringence up to
quartz 10‒12 up to 1.5 first-order white
moderately to highly reflectant,
bismuthinite 1‒2 up to 3.9 long soft, anisotropic, white
highly reflectant, soft, anisotropic,
bismuth tr up to 0.1 creamy white

gold tr strong reflectance, yellow, soft

Plagioclase forms anhedral crystals of up to 0.8 mm. The plagioclase hosts very fine-grained
dispersions of probable calcite and shows albite twinning. The plagioclase-rich aggregate is
overprinted by the white mica and the carbonate and later crosscut by the calcite-quartz infill-
like domains.
White mica forms fine- to medium-grained randomly oriented flakes and some radial
aggregates. The white mica prevails over the fine- to medium-grained calcite, which occurs
dispersed within the host rock and tends to form irregular, discontinuous infill-like domains.
Quartz is concentrated into some irregular infill-like domains crosscutting the granofels. One
of these quartz-rich domains (see lower part of the billet in the image above, and also
Photomicrograph 7b) hosts the coarse-grained crystal of bismuthinite (up to 3.9 mm long).
The bismuthinite hosts subordinate crystals of bismuth (Photomicrograph 7c). The

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bismuthinite and the white mica are finely intergrown around the coarse-grained crystal of
bismuthinite, thus indicating that these two minerals likely crystallized together.

Photomicrograph 7a: The granular aggregate of Photomicrograph 7b: A deformed xenoblastic crystal
plagioclase (pl) is overprinted by white mica (wm). of bismuthinite is intergrown with quartz and white mica
Crossed Nicols transmitted light. (wm). The area in the white box is detailed in
Photomicrograph 7d. Plane-polarized reflected light.

Photomicrograph 7c: The anisotropic crystal of Photomicrograph 7c: Same area as shown in the
bismuthinite is fractured and hosts irregularly shaped white box in Photomicrograph 7b. A particle of gold
crystals of bismuth (blue arrows). Plane-polarized (blue arrow) deposited in the crack of the bismuthinite
reflected light. crystal. Plane-polarized reflected light.

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Sample 8: E1411 124.0 m

Vesuvianite-calcite-plagioclase granofels

Xenoblastic patches of vesuvianite (see brown patches on the image of the

billet above) overprinted a granular aggregate of plagioclase, calcite, and
quartz. The sample is crosscut by intersecting veinlets of calcite. The sample shows a
compositional heterogeneity, with fine-grained plagioclase overprinted by medium- to coarse-
grained vesuvianite.

Mineral Modal % Size Range Distinguishing Features

(mm)
vesuvianite 58‒60 massive high relief, low birefringence
high relief, extreme birefringence,
calcite 22‒25 up to 1.5 brisk reaction to cold dilute (10%)
HCl
low relief, first-order grey
plagioclase 15‒20 up to 1.5 birefringence, albite twinning
moderate relief, birefringence up
white mica 2‒4 up to 0.02 to third-order blue, straight
extinction
high reflectance, creamy white,
pyrite 0.2 up to 0.13 isotropic
high reflectance, light brown,
pyrrhotite 0.1 up to 0.1 anisotropic
highly reflectant, soft, anisotropic,
bismuth 0.05 up to 0.6 creamy white
moderately to highly reflectant,
bismuthinite tr up to 0.1 soft, anisotropic, white

up to 0.17
gold tr strong reflectance, yellow, soft
long

Vesuvianite forms xenoblastic crystals intergrown with very fine- to medium-grained crystals
of calcite, and medium-grained xenoblastic plagioclase (Photomicrographs 8a and 8b). The
vesuvianite shows low birefringence, and shows high relief in transmitted light. The
vesuvianite is fractured and crosscut by calcite-rich veinlets.
Calcite forms medium-grained interstitial crystals intergrown with the vesuvianite, plagioclase,
and subordinate quartz. The calcite forms very fine-grained crystal aggregates, which in some
cases are associated with very fine-grained flakes of white mica, sulphides, and gold.

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Plagioclase is xenoblastic, and it is intergrown with the more abundant vesuvianite. In some
cases, the plagioclase and the vesuvianite share straight boundaries, indicating that their
crystallization occurred at the equilibrium for the two minerals (e.g., Photomicrographs 8a and
8b). Most of the plagioclase crystals show albite twinning and are relatively fresh. I tentatively
interpret this plagioclase and the plagioclase in the other granofels as a metamorphic product
and not as a magmatic relict.
Pyrite and subordinate pyrrhotite (Photomicrographs 8c and 8d) form irregular clusters
dispersed in the lower part of the polished thin section (i.e., the vesuvianite-free part) and
rarely within the cracks of the vesuvianite. Very fine-grained particles of gold
(Photomicrograph 8d) are dispersed within the idioblastic pyrite. Other gold particles are
dispersed within probable bismuthinite (Photomicrograph 8e), within the calcite hosting the
bismuthinite (Photomicrograph 8f), and are also intergrown with an amoeboid crystal of
bismuth (Photomicrograph 8g).

Photomicrograph 8a: Xenoblastic vesuvianite (ve) is Photomicrograph 8b: Same area as shown in
intergrown with subordinate plagioclase (pl). Plane- Photomicrograph 8a. The vesuvianite shows low
polarized transmitted light. birefringence and hosts unresolved mineral inclusions.
Plane-polarized transmitted light.

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Photomicrograph 8c: Irregular clusters of idioblastic Photomicrograph 8d: Detail of the pyrite aggregate
pyrite (white) and xenoblastic pyrrhotite (light brown) shown in Photomicrograph 8c. Very fine-grained
are dispersed within patches of calcite. Plane-polarized particles of gold (blue arrow) are hosted within an
reflected light. idioblastic crystal of pyrite. Plane-polarized reflected
light.

Photomicrograph 8e: Gold particles (yellow) are Photomicrograph 8f: A particle of gold (yellow) is
dispersed within a probable aggregate of bismuthinite. hosted within bismuthinite (light blue) and bismuth
Plane-polarized reflected light. (white) within crystals of calcite (ca). Plane-polarized
reflected light.

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Photomicrograph 8g: A gold particle (yellow) (up to

0.17 mm long) is intergrown with an amoeboid crystal
of bismuth. Other smaller gold particles (white arrows)
are hosted together with the bismuth within an
aggregate of calcite (ca). Plane-polarized transmitted
light.

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Sample 9: BiAu Zone 1

Dolomite-sphalerite-pyrrhotite±bismuthinite zone

A compositional layering is defined by irregular domains of sphalerite and

pyrrhotite alternated within a fine-grained aggregate of dolomite
(Photomicrographs 9a and 9b).

Mineral Modal % Size Range Distinguishing Features

(mm)
high relief, extreme birefringence,
dolomite 65‒67 up to 0.5 long slow reaction to cold dilute (10%)
HCl

sphalerite 20‒22 up to 1.2 long low reflectance, grey, isotropic

high reflectance, light brown,
pyrrhotite 10‒12 up to 1.2 long anisotropic
moderately to highly reflectant,
bismuthinite tr up to 0.15 soft, anisotropic, white

Fine-grained crystals of dolomite prevail over the sulphides (Photomicrograph 9a) and show
a preferred dimensional orientation, which defines a foliation within this sample. The dolomite
is distinguished by its slow reaction to cold dilute (10%) HCl. The dolomite hosts irregular
domains and folded beds of sphalerite (Photomicrograph 9a), sphalerite-pyrrhotite
(Photomicrograph 9b), and sphalerite-pyrrhotite-bismuthinite (Photomicrograph 9c).
Sphalerite forms medium-grained crystals showing a preferred dimensional orientation
parallel to the foliation defined by the dolomite. In some cases, the sphalerite is inclusion-free
(Photomicrograph 9a); in most cases the sphalerite is intergrown with subordinate pyrrhotite
and lesser bismuthinite.
Pyrrhotite forms xenoblastic crystals hosted within the sphalerite. The pyrrhotite is fresh and
is slightly fractured.
Bismuthinite is subordinate to the sphalerite and the pyrrhotite and forms amoeboid to
xenoblastic crystals spatially associated with the pyrrhotite (Photomicrograph 9c).

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Photomicrograph 9a: A layer of sphalerite (opaque) is Photomicrograph 9b: Within the sphalerite (grey)
oriented parallel to the foliation defined by the xenoblastic pyrrhotite (light brown) is dispersed. Plane-
preferential iso-orientation of the fine-grained crystals polarized reflected light.
of dolomite. Crossed Nicols transmitted light.

Photomicrograph 9c: In some cases, the xenoblastic

pyrrhotite is intergrown with xenoblastic to amoeboid
bismuthinite (light blue). Plane-polarized reflected light.

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Sample 10: BiAu Zone 2

Amphibole-pyrrhotite-plagioclase-epidote skarn

This heterogeneous sample is made up of medium-grained xenoblastic

aggregates of amphibole (dark green on the billet; see image above), massive
domains of pyrrhotite, moderately altered plagioclase (white), and epidote.

Mineral Alteration and Modal Size Range Distinguishing Features

Weathering % (mm)
Mineral
high reflectance, light brown,
pyrrhotite 52‒55 massive anisotropic
moderate relief, moderate
pleochroism (X: light green; Y:
amphibole 22‒24 light yellow green; Z: light bluish
green); extinction angle up to 15°

epidote and/or low relief, first-order grey

plagioclase 12‒14 up to 2.5 long birefringence, rare albite twinning
clay(?)
high relief, high birefringence,
yellow to green pleochroism,
epidote 5‒7 up to 1.7 long heterogeneous distribution of the
birefringence colours
moderate relief, weak
pleochroism with green tints,
Fe-chlorite 1.5‒2 up to 0.5 long straight extinction, low
anomalous birefringence, positive
elongation
high reflectance, creamy white,
pyrite tr up to 0.1 isotropic
low relief, low birefringence (up to
K-feldspar tr up to 0.1 first-order grey)

Amphibole is medium grained and xenoblastic, and its crystals are randomly oriented within
irregular domains hosting heterogeneously dispersed domains of pyrrhotite, plagioclase, and
epidote. The amphibole shows strong pleochroism with green to brown tints (X: light green; Y:
light yellow green; Z: light bluish green), and extinction angles up to 15°. These optical
features suggest that the amphibole is actinolite. Irregular aggregates of randomly oriented
lamellae of Fe-chlorite form clusters within the amphibole-rich domains.
Pyrrhotite is concentrated into two main massive and roughly sub-parallel domains (up to 5
mm thick) and medium-grained amoeboid crystals intergrown with amphibole, plagioclase,

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and epidote in between the two massive domains. The pyrrhotite is weakly fractured and
unaltered in this polished thin section. Very rare xenoblastic crystals of pyrite are dispersed
within the massive pyrrhotite.
Plagioclase forms medium-grained xenoblasts, which are concentrated around the massive
domains of pyrrhotite. The plagioclase is moderately altered by a very fine-grained dispersion
of earthy unresolved material (clay and/or epidote), which impart to the plagioclase the white
colour visible on the billet. Very rare fine-grained fragments of K-feldspar are distinguished
by their typical yellow stain on the billet.
Medium-grained xenoblastic crystals of epidote form irregular clusters dispersed within the
polished thin section and spatially associated with the massive to amoeboid pyrrhotite.

Photomicrograph 10a: A cluster of epidote (ep) and a Photomicrograph 10b: The pyrrhotite occurs as
xenoblastic aggregate of amphibole (am) host massive domain (e.g., in the upper part of this
amoeboid pyrrhotite (opaque). Plane-polarized photomicrograph) and as amoeboid crystals intergrown
transmitted light. with the silicates (in this case epidote). Plane-polarized
reflected light.

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5. Selected SEM-EDS Spectra

Table 2: List of selected SEM-EDS Spectra, mineral determined and elemental content.

Sample Spectrum Mineral Analyzed Formula

Elements
2 2.12 Bismuth Bi, Te Bi(Te)
2 2.16 Bismuthinite Bi, S Bi2S3
4 2.10 Almandine/ Si, Al, Mn, Fe, Ca (Fe, Mn)3Al2Si3O12
Spessartine
7 2.17 Bismuth Bi, Te Bi(Te)
7 2.18 Bismuthinite Bi, S Bi2S3
7 2.19 Gold (electrum) Au, Ag Au(Ag)
8 2.24 Pyrite S, Fe FeS2
8 2.26 Pyrrhotite S, Fe Fe1-xS

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Sample 2: SEM-EDS backscattered image of bismuth (lighter

grey) and bismuthinite (darker grey) intergrowths. The SEM-
EDS analysis of the points shown in this image are collected
below.

Sample 2—Spectrum 2.12: SEM-EDS Spectra of bismuth.

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Sample 2— Spectrum 2.16: SEM-EDS Spectra of bismuthinite.

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Sample 4: Photomicrograph of the garnet (see Photomicrograph

4c for details). The SEM-EDS spectrum is shown below.

Sample 4— Spectrum 2.10: SEM-EDS Spectra of garnet (spessartite/almandine).

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Sample 7: SEM-EDS backscattered image of bismuth (lighter

grey), bismuthinite (darker grey) intergrowth, and one gold
particle precipitated within the fractured bismuthinite (Spectrum
2.19). The SEM-EDS analysis of the points shown in this image
are collected below.

Sample 7— Spectrum 2.17: SEM-EDS Spectra of bismuth.

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Sample 7— Spectrum 2.18: SEM-EDS Spectra of bismuthinite.

Sample 7— Spectrum 2.19: SEM-EDS Spectra of gold (electrum).

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Sample 8: SEM-EDS backscattered image of subhedral pyrite

(darker grey) and anhedral pyrrhotite (lighter grey). Very fine-
grained gold particles are hosted within the pyrite and deposited
at the contact with the pyrrhotite (yellow arrows). The SEM-EDS
spectra of the pyrite and pyrrhotite are shown below. The gold
particles (yellow arrows), and galena (blue arrows) were
analyzed and gave mixed spectra.

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Sample 8— Spectrum 2.24: SEM-EDS Spectra of pyrite.

Sample 8— Spectrum 2.26: SEM-EDS Spectra of pyrrhotite.

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