MODERN EXPLORATION OF THE PARKER GOLD MINE, STANLY COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

The Parker Gold Mine in south central North Carolina has produced in excess of 10,000 ounces of gold since production first began, circa 1805. Production continued sporadically into the 1930’s, primarily by hydraulic mining of saprolite, though some limited underground mining was used to exploit high grade, quartz vein hosted, free gold. In 2011, the commercial economic potential of the site was explored using new techniques allowed by the lower detection limits of modern analytical processes. The property was evaluated geochemically using soil, vegetation, and rock samples. The geochemical sampling program developed three distinct multi-element (Au, As, Cu, Mo) anomalies. These geochemical anomalies were furthered tested by a ground magnetic geophysical survey. The most substantial magnetic anomaly is a magnetic high associated with a gold in soil anomaly around the historic workings but is interpreted to be associated with a series of northwest trending magnetic diabase dikes. A magnetic low associated with a surface geochemical anomaly defined by Au, As and Cu to the west of the historic workings was also defined. This magnetic anomaly is interpreted to be a weakly developed alteration system. These geochemical and geophysical anomalies as well as historic workings were further explored through a diamond core drilling program. Most of the drill holes tested the anomalies associated with the historic workings and intersected multiple gold bearing quartz veins with various amounts of wall rock alteration. Gold grades in this area were as high as 0.310 OPT associated with a network of thin quartz veins cross cutting andesitic flows. One drill hole tested the anomaly west of the historic mine sight. This drill hole did encounter a series of thin quartz + calcite veins where visible gold was observed and grades were seen as high as 0.012 OPT.