The Big Smoke North (Clair 6) occurrence is located on a high ridge approximately three kilometres north of the St. Mary River and 600 metres south of Murphy and Pyramid creeks, at an elevation of approximately 2500 metres.

The area is underlain by argillites, wacke and quartzites of the Mesoproterozoic Aldridge Formation (Purcell Supergroup). These have been intruded by gabbro sills and dikes of the Middle Proterozoic Moyie Intrusions.

Locally, a sheared and actinolite-altered gabbro in contact with a brecciated conglomerate hosts quartz veins with disseminated to patchy massive galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and scheelite. Gangue minerals include calcite, garnet, epidote, chlorite, sericite and minor tourmaline.

In 2010, a rock sample (SK10-243) assayed 85.9 grams per tonne silver and 1.72 per cent lead (Assessment Report 32219).

Approximately 1.1 kilometres to the northwest, in the southeastern headwaters of Pyramid Creek, a shear zone in Middle Aldridge Formation rocks is reported to host galena, chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite mineralization.

In 1997, a panel sample (136629) assayed greater than 1.00 per cent lead and 196.2 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 25326).

Another zone of mineralization is reported on a ridge top approximately 750 metres east of the Big Smoke North occurrence and comprises a malachite-bearing shear in gabbro.

In 1999, a rock sample (PD-116) assayed 0.89 per cent copper and 30.0 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 26118).

Work History

In 1979, Cominco completed a program of soil sampling and geological mapping on the area as the Clair claims. In 1982 and 1983, Cominco completed a ground electromagnetic survey and a seismic survey on the area. Also in 1983, Noranda Mining and Exploration Inc. conducted an airborne magnetic and electromagnetic survey on the area as a part of the Mount Evans property.

In 1992, Cominco completed a 14.0 line-kilometre ground electromagnetic survey on the area. During 1996 through 1999, Abitibi Mining completed exploration programs of prospecting, geological mapping, geochemical (rock, soil and silt) sampling and a gravity survey on the area as the Clair, Cleo and PMR claims. In 1999 and 2000, Rio Algom Exploration completed exploration programs consisting of geological mapping, rock sampling and three diamond drill holes, totalling 2555.2 metres, on the area as the Pyramid Peak property.

In 2001, Abitibi Mining completed a program of geological mapping on the area. In 2010, Kootenay Gold completed a program of rock sampling and geological mapping on the area as the Big Smoke property. During 2011 through 2013, Electra Gold completed programs of rock sampling, geological mapping and prospecting and a photogeological interpretation program on the area immediately north as the Gold Ledge property. In 2014, the Big Smoke property was prospected and sampled by Craig Kennedy.