Located an hours drive or 70 KM northeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Located approximately 70 kilometers northeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, gold was found on the property in 1867 and a minor amount of gold was extracted, mostly in the late 1800’s by mortaring. About the turn of the century several shafts and some lateral underground develop was accomplished when a boiler explosion resulted in four fatalities. Work ceased after only 9 ounces of production recorded. Forty two veins were described of which 29 were reported to have carried gold. Upon inspecting the property in 1928, Goodwin reports that two of the four main "leads" were worked about this time. He reports that prior to this time two shafts were sunk on the "McQuinn Leads" and that 400 ounces were taken from the "Twin Leads" over 33 meters along the structure and to a depth of 24 meters. Efforts current at that time consisted of a 23 meter deep shaft on the "Iron Lead" located approximately 305 meters east of Gold Lake. The narrow seam is reported to return up to 2.5 ounces per ton, or 85.7 grams per tonne. A pit was dug on the "Fraser Belt" and good values were reported. The next significant effort was a report by John Leslie and Associates in 1983 for Bear Creek Resources in which the various gold bearing structures are described as well as the historic underground development. A 34 meter long trench dug across the eastern extension of the gold bearing structures encountered approximately 18 veins totaling 4.4 meters width of quartz. A four stage exploration program was recommended but not enacted. In 1984, W. Felderhof, then of A.C.A. Howe International, did a report for Astro Mines. He reports that Astro Mines had dewatered the main shaft (23 meters depth) and produced 4 ounces of gold utilizing a mini-mill. Additionally he reports that government records show two bulk samples of unknown size were taken, presumably by Astro Mines, one in 1978 and another in 1979, both returning a grade of 0.28 ounces per ton (9.6 grams per tonne). Felderhof also points out that the Gold Lake deposit occurs on the same anticline as Killag (27 km east) and Goldenville (75 km east) mines, the latter being the most productive gold deposit in the Province, producing over 200,000 ounces from approximately 600,000 tons of ore. Felderhof summarizes the potential reporting that "The Gold Lake Property has excellent potential to host an economically exploitable gold deposit" and "the property must be assessed with the possibility of it being a large tonnage-low grade deposit as well as the historical type of high grade- low tonnage deposit”. A comprehensive exploration program was also recommended in this investigation. In 1986, MacDonald, also employed by A.C.A. Howe, implemented an exploration program and report on the property for Jascan Resources. 425 metres of trenching and a VLF survey were completed. The property was identified as being similar to the Beaverdam Property presently owned by Annapolis Properties Corp., approximately 20 km northeast, on the Moose River-Fifteen Mile Stream anticline. A follow up program including drilling was recommended. Ten holes were drilled with the best intersection being 1.7 ounces per ton (58.2 grams per tonne) over 2.2 feet ( 0.67 meters). In 1987, Michaelis, for Acadia Mineral Ventures Ltd., as part of a joint venture with Jascan Resources Inc., filed a report on an IP survey and 28 hole diamond drill program. The summary in the report describes the results as follows: "the exploration program outlined an area of significant, narrow, high grade gold bearing quartz veins and the geological structure associated with the mineralization. Assays of up to 1.68 ounces per ton (57.6 grams per tonne) gold over 5.0 feet (1.52 meters) were encountered". The report records that eleven intersections were encountered with values greater than 0.10 ounces per tonne (3.43 grams per tonne) over 5.0 feet (1.52 meters) and seven of these had values greater than 6.86 grams per tonne. There were forty one assays greater than 0.10 ounces per ton, the highest was 4.11 ounces per ton (141 grams per tonne) over 0.2 meters. The best result was 2.24 ounces per ton (77 grams per tonne) over 3.5 feet ( 1.07 meters). Numerous sights of visible gold were observed. In 1988 the same company completed additional drilling as well as soil geochemistry, magnetometer and additional VLF coverage. Fourteen holes were drilled, most located away from the known workings. Two holes were drilled within the bounds of previous drilling, one of which had seven assays greater than 1.47 grams per tonne. No further mineralized zones were identified in the outlying drill sites however better definition of the structure of the area was accomplished and the area beneath Gold Lake was suggested for testing by drilling. In 1995 Murphy, for G.A. MacKay, relocated and refurbished part of the old grid and de-watered a trench from which a 150 kg sample was taken upon which a cyanide least test was done. Results were disappointing but it was recommended to try the same effort on different areas of the historic workings. To summarize exploration on the Gold Lake property, 40 holes were drilled totaling 8,167 meters of core, plus IP, VLF and magnetometer surveys, soil surveys, significant trenching and four shafts of 70, 45, 32 and 20 feet depth (21.3, 13.7, 9.8 and 6.1 meters) with a reported 80 meters of drifting and crosscutting on two levels.

The hosting structure approaches 100 kilometers in length, containing several known gold deposits, among them the most prolific in the province. There are known to be more than 80 such gold bearing deposits in the province, the majority of them having experienced underground development and production. Currently several such properties are nearing production again (Moose River, 7 km north, Mooseland, 12 km east, Tangier, 24 km south east, and Dufferin, 44 km east). Work is also being undertaken at Goldenville, 75 km east. Many of the other sites of historic workings have undergone recent exploration.

Geologically, the Gold Lake deposit is very similar to the other Meguma deposits in the province. It occurs on or near the axis of a major anticlinal axis in argillitic bands within the greywacke beds of the Goldenville formation. The anticlinal axis runs approximately on a 068 degree azimuth with steeply dipping "legs" at a separation of approximately 45-50 degrees. The anticlinal axis dips steeply to the north and plunges gently to the southwest. Quartz veins are from a few centimeters to over 2 meters in width and, as with all of this type of deposit, the nugget effect makes it difficult to accurately assess the tonnage and grade but sufficient work has been done to confirm the high grade nature of this deposit.

The workings are mainly on private lands in a remote area that is accessible via good quality logging roads approximately a one hour drive from the Halifax airport.
The following information is taken directly from the Nova Scotia Dept. of Natural Resources Mineral Occurrence Database:

The Gold Lake Au District occurs on the same anticlinal structure as do the Killag and Goldenville Au Districts. Hence, Faribault (1898) refers to the structure as the Gold Lake-Killag-Goldenville Anticline. The axial plane of the anticline trends 060°Az and dips 80° to the north. Near Gold Lake the anticline plunges southwest and the limbs are spread apart at a 45° angle.

The mineralization in the Gold Lake Au District occurs in stratabound quartz veins interbedded within grey-green or bluish metawackes. Many of the veins are found within thin metasiltstone or slate horizons between massive metawacke beds. The metasediments are fine- to coarse-grained and often contain fine grained pyrite and arsenopyrite. Auriferious quartz veins range from 1 to 40 cm in thickness and are most often stratabound. However, some examples of narrow veins cutting across bedding are also present. The slate units along which many of the veins occur frequently show evidence of fault movement and brecciation. In many instances, this fault gouge is also auriferous.

The veins consist predominantly of white to transluscent quartz. Calcite, plagioclase, biotite and muscovite occur in minor amounts. Slate enclaves are also common. Together with native Au, many of the veins carry considerable arsenopyrite, pyrite, galena, sphalerite, pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite (MacDonald, 1986).

Malcolm (1976) reports that Au in quartz had been discovered at some time prior to 1867, when it was first mentioned in the report of the Chief Commissioner of Mines for Nova Scotia. Malcolm also indicates that Au-bearing quartz blocks were found along the Goldenville-Killag Anticline in the Gold Lake area. The Gold Lake veins were known in 1867 but the site wasn't actively explored until 1890-1891 when a Mr. Thomas Barker reportedly produced 30.28 oz from the property.

In 1896 the Consolidated Gold Lake Mining Company was formed and 42 quartz veins were discovered of which 29 were found to carry Au. A stamp mill was constructed and shafts were sunk on the Iron Lead, Murchy Belt, Queen Lead and MacPhail Twin Leads. Work essentially ceased at the site when the boiler exploded in 1899 killing 4 men. Supposedly, only 9 oz Au were recorded (MacDonald, 1986).

In 1928 interest was renewed and a 4 stamp gasoline powered mill was erected to work the Iron Lead. No results of this effort are recorded.

In 1975, Astro Mines Limited acquired the property and erected a stamp mill (Location provided in the Coordinates Table). The area was prospected and trenched and the shafts were dewatered. The mill ran for 4 days and recoverd 4 oz Au. A report by mining engineer N. T. L. Landgren of the Department of Mines indicated that 3 samples collected around this time returned: 0.5 oz/ton for a 1975 millsand sample; 0.28 oz/ton for a 1977 bulk sample; and 0.28 oz/ton for a 1978 bulk sample.

MacDonald (1986) carried out an exploration of the site on behalf of A.C.A. Howe International Limited for Jascan Resources Incorporated in 1985. This effort consisted of a thorough assessment file research, geochemical survey, VLF-EM survey and a substantial trenching program. Results were promising so the following year a 10 hole diamond-drill program was carried out (Morris, 1987). In 1988, Acadia Mineral Ventures Limited carried out an IP survey and 28 hole diamond-drill program.

Since that time the site has remained idle.