Damon Mcknight
New Brunswick has a rich history of mining, with 42 identified mines listed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The province produces a wide variety of base metals, with most major mines working deposits of copper, zinc, and lead. Gold deposits have also been discovered in the region, with recent exploration revealing gold beneath farmland in southern New Brunswick. While commercial-scale operations focus on copper and zinc, gold is still present and offers potential for individual prospectors. Gold is found in epigenetic formations in quartz veins following major faults and shear zones, as well as in gossens caused by the oxidation of volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits. The Bathurst mining district in northeast New Brunswick and the Annidale Belt along the Bay of Fundy are two major gold-producing areas in the province.
What You'll Learn
Gold prospecting in New Brunswick
New Brunswick has a complex geological history, sharing many characteristics with the New England states to the south. The province has two major gold-producing areas: the Bathurst mining district in the north, and the Annidale Belt along the Bay of Fundy in the south.
In northern New Brunswick, gold is found in epigenetic formations in quartz veins following major faults and shear zones, as well as in gossens, which are formed by the oxidation of volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits containing pyrite and other iron sulfides. The Bathurst mining district, primarily a copper/zinc mining area, has also revealed considerable amounts of gold in some areas.
In southern New Brunswick, gold has been discovered along the Annidale Belt, with the Clarence Stream area being a particular focus of exploration. This area is known for its tin and tungsten deposits, and gold mineralization has been documented in nearly all the main tectonostratigraphic zones of the province.
When prospecting for gold in New Brunswick, it is advisable to sample areas around major mines located along significant faults, as visible gold is most likely to occur in these locations. Keep in mind that any gold found in the creeks and rivers of New Brunswick is likely to be of small texture, so using the best equipment for capturing fine gold is essential.
Additionally, it's worth noting that the presence of gold in New Brunswick has raised concerns among farmers, as the province leases mineral rights to mining companies, allowing them to explore and extract resources from private land. This has created a tension between the interests of landowners and the mining industry, with farmers expressing worries about the potential impact on their farmland.
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Gold deposits in southern New Brunswick
New Brunswick has a history of producing a variety of base metals, with copper, zinc, and lead being the primary focus of major mining operations in the province. Gold, however, has also been discovered in the region, albeit on a smaller commercial scale compared to other metals. The presence of gold in New Brunswick was often overlooked in favour of more significant deposits in nearby Quebec.
Despite being less prominent than other metals, gold deposits in southern New Brunswick have been identified by drilling sites, sparking the interest of mining companies like Brunswick Explorations Ltd., who have acquired mineral rights to explore and extract these resources. This has led to conflicts with farmers, such as John Detorakis, who own land that is now eligible for prospecting and exploration.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that while landowners own the property, the Crown owns the minerals beneath it. This has resulted in concerns about the government's commitment to protecting agricultural lands, as expressed by the Green Party Leader, David Coon. Coon advocates for similar legislation to that of nature preserves, which prohibits mining activities.
The presence of gold in southern New Brunswick has also attracted the attention of other mining companies like Galway Metals, who have already struck gold and initiated drilling operations. This has resulted in conflicts with farmers like Millen Nixon, who have expressed dissatisfaction with the intrusion and disruption caused by mining activities on their land.
Overall, the discovery of gold deposits in southern New Brunswick has created a complex situation involving farmers, mining companies, and government entities. While the presence of gold has sparked economic interest, it has also led to concerns about land preservation and the well-being of agricultural endeavours in the region.
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Brunswick Exploration's gold search
Brunswick Exploration Ltd. is a company looking for gold in New Brunswick. In October 2020, the province leased the mineral rights to 230,000 hectares, including land in the Charlotte County farm, to the company. This has caused concern among farmers in the area, who worry about the impact of mining on their farmland.
New Brunswick has a complex geological past, sharing many similarities with the New England states to the south. The province produces a wide variety of base metals, with most of the major mines working deposits of copper, zinc, and lead. Gold deposits have been discovered in the province, but on a commercial scale, copper and zinc deposits still garner the most interest.
The Bathurst mining district in northeast New Brunswick, within the Nepisiguit River valley, might be one of the best areas to search for gold. While it is primarily a copper/zinc mining area, recent discoveries have shown that there are also considerable amounts of silver and gold available in some areas.
The Appalachian Mountains, which cover the eastern United States and venture into New Brunswick, were formed by collisions of faults. Anywhere that rapid heating and cooling occurred due to geologic events has the potential for gold formation. In New Brunswick, gold is found in the form of epigenetic formations in quartz veins following major faults and shear zones.
Gold prospecting in New Brunswick requires seeking out areas where gold has been found or is likely to form with enough coarseness to be identified. While some larger mines in the province produce gold as a byproduct, it is generally locked up in sulfides that are difficult for the average gold prospector to recover economically.
Puma Exploration Inc. is another company that has launched an exploration program in New Brunswick, at its 100%-owned Jonpol Gold property located 8 km east of its Williams Brook property.
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Gold occurrences in New Brunswick
Gold mineralization has been observed in the Appalachian Mountains, which cover parts of New Brunswick, and in areas where geological events of rapid heating and cooling occurred. The Bathurst mining district in the northeast is a copper/zinc mining area, but discoveries have shown that there are also considerable amounts of silver and gold in some areas.
In the southern part of the province, a quartz boulder laced with visible gold was discovered by a provincial geologist in 2005, returning the highest concentration of gold ever reported in New Brunswick at 1,320 grams per tonne. This discovery opened up a new area for exploration, with about 150 claims covering 24 sq. km being staked in the immediate area.
While New Brunswick is known for its base metal and potash potential, it is considered underexplored for gold, offering tremendous potential for new discoveries.
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Gold mining in New Brunswick
New Brunswick has 42 identified mines listed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The most common commodities listed in New Brunswick mines are copper, lead, and zinc. At the time the mines were surveyed, four mines were observed to have ore mineralization in an outcrop, shallow pit, or isolated drill hole. New Brunswick has 18 prospect mines, and 17 mines were in production at the time the data was entered into the USGS records.
Gold mineralization has been documented by provincial government geologists in nearly all the main tectonostratigraphic zones of the province in units ranging in age from Neoproterozoic to Carboniferous. Gold showings can be found in the streams everywhere, from the Sussex area into Charlotte County. Many of the occurrences are either directly or indirectly related to magmatism in plutonic and volcanic environments. Some are strictly structurally controlled, and others are associated with volcanic-hosted massive sulphide deposits.
The Bathurst mining district in the northeast of New Brunswick may be one of the best areas to search for gold. While it is primarily a copper/zinc mining area, recent discoveries have shown that there are also considerable amounts of silver and gold available in some areas. The placer gold occurrences in New Brunswick are not well documented and are not likely to be found on a considerable scale.
Gold prospecting in New Brunswick should involve sampling areas around the major mines located along significant faults, as this is where visible gold is most likely to occur. Any gold found in the creeks and rivers of New Brunswick is likely to be of small texture, so prospectors should use the best mining equipment available for capturing fine gold.
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Frequently asked questions
Gold was first discovered in New Brunswick in the Bathurst mining district, which is primarily a copper/zinc mining area. The exact date of the discovery is unknown, but gold occurrences in the region have been traced back to at least 2011.
New Brunswick has a long history of mining a variety of base metals, including copper, zinc, and lead. While the province was initially overlooked as a potential region for gold mining, gold sources have since been discovered. Today, gold prospecting in New Brunswick often involves sampling areas around major mines located along significant faults, as visible gold is most likely to occur in these areas.
Gold mining in New Brunswick has raised concerns among local farmers and landowners, who worry about the potential impact on their farmland and property. There have been reports of damage to crops and blueberry fields due to heavy mining equipment and bulldozers. Additionally, changes to the mining act have allowed prospectors to start shallow digging with hand tools without landowner permission or notification, further causing tension between mining companies and landowners.
