Spences Bridge Gold Belt
The discovery of coarse placer gold at the confluence of the Nicoamen and Thompson Rivers in 1857 sparked the Fraser River gold rush that drew an estimated 20,000 prospectors.
Today the trail of the next gold rush in British Columbia, not far from where those early placer miners panned for riches in the late 1850’s is known as the Spences Bridge Gold Belt (SBGB).
The SBGB consists of intermediate to felsic volcanic rocks dominated by the Cretaceous Spences Bridge Group which has produced dozens of mines dating back to the early 1900’s.
During the past several years Westhaven Resources (WHN.V) has made some significant new discoveries at the nearby Shovelnose project.
In 2018, Westhaven released high-grade drill results at its Shovelnose project intersecting 1.65 metres (m) of 175 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) and 249 g/t silver (Ag), and recognition of visible gold in five drill holes.
The Company also reported high-grade drill results of 46.20 metres of 8.95 g/t Au and 65.47 g/t Ag, including 5.0m of 14.70 g/t Au and 215.00 g/t Ag. During 2019 the exploration resulted in the best hole ever drilled on the property with 12.66m of 39.31 g/t Au and 133.11 g/t Ag.
In July 2020, Westhaven announced drill results that returned 34.00 metres (m) of 1.21 g/t Au and 3.68 g/t Ag, including: 1.00m of 15.70 g/t Au and 77.50 g/t Ag within 200m of surface at Shovelnose.