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Prospecting in Newfoundland...
Prospecting - for most people the word conjures up an image of an oldtimer panning for gold along a
northern river. Prospectors did look like that in the old days, but today prospectors are also
construction workers, stock brokers, mechanics, fishermen, woods workers, housewives, geologists
etc. - anyone who enjoys the outdoors and is interested in the natural environment.
Newfoundland has had a long history of mineral production which began in the 1800's. The copper
industry in the Notre Dame Bay area, which made Newfoundland the sixth largest copper producer
in the world, for a time in the late 1800's, was established by prospectors. The Tilt Cove Mine
was found by a fisherman who was using heavy boulders (massive copper ore) for ballast in his boat.
The Betts Cove, Little Bay and Pilley's Island Mines in Notre Dame Bay and the Terra Nova Mine in
Baie Verte were also discovered during this period.
The Buchans Mine was found by a Micmac trapper - Matty Mitchell, who was prospecting in the area
north and west of Red Indian Lake. Gold and copper deposits in the Baie Verte area, including the
Rambler, were found by prospectors such as Enos England, in the early 1900's and the Baie Verte
asbestos deposit was found by prospector Norm Peters in the 1950's. The Bell Island iron mines
were discovered when someone recognized that heavy boulders used for ballast in ships from the
area were iron ore. All of these properties were sold or optioned by the prospectors to mining
interests.
Prospecting for gold in Newfoundland and Labrador appears to have been limited to a period
between the late 1800's and 1940, but began again in the early 1980's due to increases in the
gold price. A geological map of the Baie Verte area, produced less than 10 years ago in 1983,
shows only 2 or 3 gold occurrences, including the Goldenville deposit, near Ming's Bight,
which was found in the late 1800's and a couple of small quartz veins containing gold on the
Rambler property. Today, there are at least 100 known gold occurrences, some of which
(Pine Cove near Ming's Bight, Nugget Pond near Snook's Arm, Hammerdown near King's Point)
will probably be mined in the near future.
Prospectors associated with mining companies discovered most of these prospects, however there
are still significant deposits to be found throughout Newfoundland and Labrador by individuals.
For example, two occurrences of white quartz with visible gold were found by geologists working for
International Corona Corporation in October 1990 on the Pine Cove Property near Ming's Bight. The
town of Baie Verte, across the Bay, can be seen from the occurrences which are exposed on the side
of small bogs approximately 250 m apart and inland about 500 m from the Bay. These occurrences were
unknown until this time - it is obvious that no one had ever thoroughly prospected this area and
other areas of the province are the same.
Labrador has not, to date, produced any significant gold showings. A study of the geology of Canada
indicates that the Canadian Shield is one of the most prolific gold hosts in the world. A significant
portion of Labrador is part of the Canadian Shield and geological intuition tells us that we should
expect Labrador to host significant gold deposits. Where are they? Prospecting should be able to help
us find these deposits. Who can do this better than the people in the area who know the country and
who have seen something in the rocks that arouses their curiousity, but do not know what it is.
Where to Look
 Prospecting
requires a keen eye for subtle differences in the rock, either the color or general
appearance, and an idea of what might be found in an area. Geological maps, available from the
Department of Mines and Energy, can give the prospector an idea where the best locations for
prospecting might be. For example - minerals are often hosted in certain rock types and faults,
or breaks in the earth's surface, allow fluids from deep in the earth which carry dissolved metals
including gold, silver and base metals to rise to the surface and alter the rocks. The changes in
temperature and pressure of the fluids at the surface allows the contained metals to be precipitated
(deposited) in these altered rocks.
Panning of streams is an excellent way to quickly evaluate areas. Gold, base metal sulphides,
diamonds, and some other minerals are heavy (gold is 20 times heavier than water), and accumulate
in the sand and gravel beds in the rivers. Panning of samples from these locations can quickly and
cheaply evaluate the area through which the river passes. In most cases the heavy minerals, particularly
gold, can be seen in the pan giving a visual signal of mineralization. The prospector continues up
the stream until no more mineralization is seen in the pan. He then goes back downstream to the
nearest tributaries and pans them to try to locate the source stream. He continues up the tributary
showing signs of mineralization, which should get stronger (more mineralization) as the source is
approached. Prospecting in the area defined should result in location of the mineralization in outcrop
or as boulders.
Clean rock exposures are usually plentiful along stream/river valleys and can be readily examined.
Boulders which have been carried downstream from areas drained by the stream are also found and can
be prospected for mineralization.
What to Look For
Gold may occur as visible specks or nuggets in quartz veins. It can also occur in sulphides - pyrite
(fools gold) where it would probably not be visible and would require an assay or analysis to determine
its presence.
Gold and other elements are often associated with alteration, which is rock that has been changed
by hot fluids from deep in the earth. The presence of alteration may be signaled by a change in rock
color (i.e. from red to green or brown and then back to red again) over a short distance. The rock
often becomes much harder, due to the addition of silica from the fluids and the altered zone often
carries quartz and associated sulphides (such as pyrite or fools gold).
Sulphides oxidize or "rust" on the surface. Rusty zones then provide a clue to the presence of sulphides
which may carry base metals or gold or both. Gold may be visible, as small specks, in these zones
(such as many on the Baie Verte peninsula) or an assay or analysis may be required to detect the
presence of base metals and/or gold. Oxidation or staining on the rocks suggests the presence of other
elements such as copper (green, blue colors), nickel (green), cobalt (purple), and molybdenite or
uranium (yellow). Most sulphides have a metallic lustre (i.e. look like metal) and can be identified
by their crystal structure and color.
What You Need
All that is required for a prospecting trip is a hammer, packsack and an interest in the outdoors.
Prospector's hammers are hard to obtain in Newfoundland (there are one or two local sources) but brick
hammers are usually available at most hardware stores and work well. A gold pan is optional but useful.
Maps, a compass, safety supplies, including safety glasses, and outdoor (all-weather) gear should be
carried at all times. A yearly, two week long, prospecting course, is held in Stephenville each June.
A total of 20 positions are available each year. There is a cost for this course and an application
has to made to the Department of Mines and Energy. Information on prospecting, the prospecting course
or the mineral potential of Newfoundland and Labrador can be obtained by contacting either :
Mineral Exploration Consultant or Prospectors & Industry Assistance Manager, for the
Department of Mines and Energy at the following address:
Department of Mines and Energy
P.O. Box 8700
St. John's, NL
A1B 4J6
Prospecting is a great hobby, for anyone who appreciates the outdoors and can be done by people of
all ages and both genders. It will probably not make you rich, but it is a good way to keep fit and enjoy the
beautiful scenery of our province.
By Peter M. Dimmell, P. Geo.
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