American Pacific Mining (CSE: USGD; US-OTCQX: USGDF) successfully applied a "fugitive calcite" black-light technique during exploration at its Madison copper-gold project in Montana. The company's geological team deployed ultraviolet scanning in recently exposed underground workings, revealing new insights into the mineralizing system. Fieldwork utilized a seasonal window of lower water levels, which granted access to an additional 150 ft of underground ramp. In this area, geologists used black-light scanning to identify specific calcite populations that fluoresce, distinguishing them from visually similar non-fluorescent veins.
The technique, inspired by exploration geologist Dr. Peter Megaw, has already identified at least one distinct population of fluorescing veins at Madison. Plotting these veins on stereonets provides structural data that helps refine vectors toward potential porphyry and carbonate replacement deposit (CRD) targets. This data supports the hypothesis that Madison may host a cluster of porphyries rather than a single center. explained the significance of the findings.
“The use of ultraviolet lights to detect fugitive calcite is a skill learned while working underground in Utah with Dr. Megaw,” Eric Saderholm, managing director of exploration for Saderholm said. “The fluorescence in the calcite indicates the presence of trace amounts of manganese and lead, both of which are indicators of carbonate replacement that can be associated with skarn, CRD and the presence of distal porphyry mineralization. Fugitive calcite represents “exhaust” proximal to where sulfide mineralization has formed containing stronger metal concentrations. It is a simple and inexpensive, yet highly effective tool for this type of mineral exploration.”
American Pacific plans to provide further updates as the team collects, interprets, and integrates additional data into the broader Madison exploration model.
More information is posted at www.AmericanPacificMining.com/projects
March 12, 2026
March 12, 2026
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