Clifford Shaft

Clifford Gold Mines, Limited, was organized in 1924 to develop a group of claims comprising L1890, 1891, 12537 to 12539, 25587, and 25588, and the veteran lot consisting of the south part of lot 7, concession VI. The numbered claims are located in lots 5 and 6, concession VI. Claims L1890 and 1891 were originally patented by Cartwright Gold Fields, Limited, in 1915. The property adjoins the holdings of Aljo Mines, Limited, and the Amalgamated Gold Fields Corporation, Limited.

The claims were explored by surface-trenching in 1924, during which year four holes were drilled, totalling 2,129 feet. It is reported that during 1925, the last year of operations, the company was engaged in shaft-sinking. H. S. Armstrong examined the outcrops in claims L1890,1891, and 12537 in August, 1945, at which time a total of 16 trenches, pits, and shafts were found. The main shaft, which is situated at the southeast edge of the large outcrop in the north central part of claim L1890, is reported to be 100 feet in depth.

The rocks on the claims consist of basic lavas. Most of the flows are pillowed, but some are massive and fine-grained. In the outcrop near the north line of claim L1890, a considerable amount of loose feldspar porphyry was found tdjacent to one of the pits, but none was found in place. The lavas in the veteran lot to the northeast of Painkiller lake are cut by the quartz diabase dikes that are so prominent on the Aljo property to the north.

Top determinations in the lavas show that they face south and strike N.750W. The drilling records show faulting on a minor scale, but the lack of key horizons precludes recognition of displacement in the outcrop.

The surface development shows the presence of several zones of mineral ization, generally slight shear zones with stringers of quartz and calcite. The chief sulphides are pyrrhotite and pyrite with lesser amounts of chalcopyrite and a little arsenopyrite. Much of the lava is mineralized with disseminated pyrrhotite resulting in the usual weathered surface.

ORE RESOURCES
A lack of technical data, in particular in regards to historic diamond drilling and the underground exploration and mining does not permit a calculation of ore reserves or resources. Historic estimates are available, but the back up data is not available. The following summarizes the historic, non 43-101 compliant resources

• 1927 - N. O. Carpenter calculated the first known reserve for Blue Quartz Mine. With a gold price of $20.67 per ounce, Carpenter outlined 109,451 tons at 0.48 ounces Au per ton.

• 1962 – E.L. McVeigh calculates 128,000 tons at 0.86 ounces Au per ton for Hardill Resources