BINGHAMPTON - COPPER QUEEN

The Binghampton Copper Queen (BCQ) property is a volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) project covering 2,032 hectares and consisting of patented and unpatented claims and state lands. It lies in the western Arizona Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Belt, 27 kilometres southeast of Prescott.

The Arizona VMS Belt contains 70 known deposits including 48 past and present producers. According to the Arizona Geological Survey combined production is 55.8 million tons grading 3.6% copper, 0.2% lead and 0.9% Zn. Four of the deposits produced in excess of 1 million tons with the largest, the United Verde or Jerome, producing 33.5 million tons at 4.36% copper.

The BCQ property is underlain by an early Proterozoic calc-alkaline volcanic sequence, an excellent host for volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits. Volcanogenic massive sulfides have been noted throughout the sequence within western Arizona. While local Recent alluvium deposits, Miocene basalts and sediments and early Proterozoic metasediments cover the outer sections of the property, the key units lie within the early Proterozic metavolcanic pile that underlies much of the BCQ property. These rocks are strongly metamorphosed andesites and rhyolites with lesser dacites. Most importantly, there is a zone of hydrothermally altered rhyolite in the centre of the property, indicative of possible massive sulphide mineralization.

As of September 2012 there are four known VMS zones of the BCQ property. The past producing Binghampton Mine and the developed but never operated Copper Queen Mine are two of the zones. The third is the previously known Halfmoon Mine and Trend and the fourth is the newly discovered Fraction Trend.

The Binghampton Mine produced 157,247 short tons at an average grade of 3.10 percent copper and 0.256 ounces per ton silver (8.8 grams per tonne) according to the Arizona Geological Survey. A description of the mine from 1926 noted the copper mineralization occurred in three lenses which were in places over 10 feet (3 metres) wide. The largest was 200 metres by 30 metres by up to 3 metres wide. Copper minerals noted were chalcopyrite and tetrahedrite; some sphalerite and rare galena were also noted. Present day exploration by EQX has noted copper oxides (malachite and azurite) at numerous locations along the ridge hosting the Binghampton Mine.

The Copper Queen Mine was developed but never reached production due to legal issues. According to the Arizona Geological Survey recorded production for Copper Queen is  1,413 short tons at an average grade of 9.95 percent copper, 0.25 percent zinc, 1.582 ounces per ton silver (54.2 grams per tonne) and 0.097 ounces per ton gold (3.3 grams per tonne).  A description of the mine from 1919 reported one lens ranging from 73 to 400 feet (22 to 122 metres), stretching from the 300 to 900 level a distance estimated to be 600 feet (180 metres) and 1 to 14 feet (0.3 to 4 metres) in width. The lens was faulted between the 400 and 600 level, but was located below the fault. Later work in 1972, mapped three lenses on the 400 level though no dimension were given. Present day exploration by EQX has noted copper oxides (malachite and azurite) at numerous locations along the ridge hosting the Copper Queen Mine.

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Vertical Section Cartoon Binghampton and Copper Queen

The accompanying cartoon cross sections of the Binghampton and Copper Queen show the mineralization is continuous to the depth tested, as does the cartoon longitudinal section of the Copper Queen.

Longitudinal Section Cartoon Copper Queen

The Halfmoon Trend is 1.3 kilometres long, 100 to 200 metres wide and open at both ends. It lies 2 kilometres to the south of the Copper Queen Mine. EQX prospecting and sampling found 11 shafts, 7 adits, 9 trenches and 14 prospect pits along the trend. EQX grab rocks samples from the outcrops and the various workings along the Halfmoon Trend ranged from 0.01% Cu to 22.49% Cu. The samples are grab samples of visible oxide copper mineralization from the various dumps, workings and outcrops. The copper mineralization encountered in listed in the table. The minerals are: malachite (mal), azurite (az), tenorite (ten), chalcocite (chal), chalcopyrite (cpy) and  bornite (bon). Other minerals noted included: sphalerite (sph), galena (gal) and pyrite (py).

Halfmoon Trend EQX Grab Sampling

The newly discovered Fraction Trend is a parallel zone lying 375 metres to the south of the Copper Queen Mine. A 400 metre section of the trend was tested by a series of excavator trenches spaced at regular intervals along the length. Oxide copper mineralization consisting of malachite and azurite with sulfide leach zones ranging from 2 m to 40 m wide were mapped. Minor silica replacement was noted in the zones. The following table shows the results from composite grabs from the leached sulfides zones within the Fraction Trend trenches.

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