Clyde Smith discovered the Jason deposit, a major lead-zinc-silver resource in the Yukon Territory, Canada containing more than 2 billion pounds lead, 1.8 billion pounds zinc, 33 million ounces silver, and potential for a larger resource. Clyde managed all phases of the Jason project from inception through discovery, claim staking, drilling, geochemical and geophysical surveys, resource calculations, and a feasibility study by Bechtel Corporation. Jason was the first discovery of a major stratiform lead-zinc-silver deposit made by a geologist using geological methods. In the 1950s, HudBay Minerals discovered and drilled the 18-million-ton Tom lead-zinc-silver deposit, located a few kilometers from Jason. A geologic evaluation of the Tom deposit by Clyde in the mid-1970s indicated that it was erroneously classified, and that it was in fact a stratiform deposit. Realizing that potential for additional deposits could exist in the Tom area, he developed a detailed genetic model for the stratiform class. Geologic mapping of the area surrounding the Tom deposit identified a geologic environment a few kilometers away that indicated potential for a separate stratiform deposit. A geochemical soil survey over this target environment showed anomalies in lead and zinc. Following drilling of a discovery hole, four subsequent drill campaigns blocked out the 14-million-ton Jason lead-zinc-silver deposit. Jason was purchased by HudBay Minerals.
Clyde Smith is credited with finding the Santa Fe deposit, the first discovery of a significant sediment-hosted Carlin-type gold deposit in western Nevada, which produced more than 400,000 ounces gold. Clyde examined the property for Ventures West Minerals in 1980. Based on surface geology and recognizing that the host rock for anomalous gold values in a single drill hole was favorable for a potential deposit, Ventures West acquired the property. Clyde then directed all aspects of a comprehensive exploration program including detailed geologic mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys, drilling, and metallurgical test work which resulted in discovery of a 10-million-ton deposit grading above 0.04 opt Au. Following a feasibility study, the Santa Fe deposit was sold to Corona Corp., which initiated heap-leach production of 65,000 ounces of gold per year in 1988.
Clyde Smith was responsible for Radcliffe Resources' discovery of the North Lake gold deposit in north-central Saskatchewan, which contains a minimum resource of 180,000 ounces gold grading 0.069 opt Au. Clyde's review of the geology of the La Ronge Gold Belt identified an apparently unexplored portion of the belt underlain by host rocks with potential for gold mineralization. Field examinations and prospecting of this area in 1986 discovered four parallel gold-quartz veins of potential ore grade over minimum widths of 3 meters. Clyde then managed a program of geologic mapping and sampling, trenching, geophysics, drilling, metallurgical test work, and feasibility. All zones are open on strike and at depth below drill hole intercepts, and potential for an increased resource is excellent.
Clyde and David Smith discovered the Solidaridad deposit in Mexico, which has potential to be one of the principal new ore deposits in Mexico with a minimum estimated contained potential of 750,000 ounces gold, 2.3 million ounces silver, and 44 million pounds copper. Clyde and Dave managed an exploration program in western Mexico in 1994-97 funded by Mount Isa Mines that included examination and evaluation of hundreds of prospects. Clyde recognized that a small gold-mineralized outcrop indicated potential for a large mesothermal vein-stockwork system, and acquired the Solidaridad property in 1996. Subsequent geologic mapping, trenching, road cuts, channel sampling, geochemical and geophysical surveys, and drilling resulted in discovery of eight zones 4-20 meters in width that have a weighted average of 0.17 opt Au equivalent (including silver and copper) within a mineralized corridor 3 km long. All aspects of the Solidaridad program were managed by Clyde and David Smith. The project is now under development by U.S. Precious Metals, Inc.