The Clease (CY 2 West) occurrence is located in the headwaters of the eastern branch of Limpid Creek at an elevation of approximately 1150 metres.
Regionally, the area is underlain by quartzites, pelites, phyllites, limestone and argillites of the Cambrian Laib Formation and basaltic volcanic rocks of the Lower Jurassic Elise Formation (Rossland Group), which have been intruded by granodioritic rocks of the Cretaceous Anstey pluton to the northeast.
Locally, quartz veins, varying from 0.1 to 1.12 metres wide, are associated with two shear zones, up to approximately 3 metres wide, in a feldspar-altered granitoid host. The veins and shear zones host pyrite and undescribed bismuth-tellurite minerals with limonite and sericite alteration minerals. The veins and shear zones strike approximately 128 to 146 degrees and dip 41 degrees northeast.
Other quartz veins, up to 10 centimetres wide, hosting pyrite with limonite alteration are reported to the southeast on the other side of the creek gully. These veins are hosted by a granite and, to a lesser extent, the sediments. Minor tourmaline is also reported.
Another mineralized vein is reported to the north of the previous veins and comprises a 10-centimetre wide quartz vein with pyrite and limonite hosted by a granite. The vein strikes 310 degrees and dips 42 degrees northeast.
To the south and approximately 150 metres downslope of the mineralized Clease veins, a former opencut and possible collapsed adit, likely dating to the 1930s, expose a garnet-pyroxene-tremolite(?) skarn zone with sphalerite, scheelite and minor pyrrhotite mineralization. An apple-green secondary mineral has also been identified in some samples. This zone is referred to as the ‘Lady of Lake’ skarn zone. To the south-southwest outcrops of calc-silicate skarn with minor pyrite are reported.
In 2003, a sample (BH-47) of quartz vein material from the southeastern veins assayed 4.41 grams per tonne gold, whereas another sample (BH-13) from a quartz vein located to the north assayed 3.65 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 27231).
In 2006, a chip sample (0446) assayed 6.80 grams per tonne gold over 1.52 metres (Assessment Report 28749).
In 2007, a composite sample (778R008) assayed 3.15 grams per tonne gold and 22.3 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 30070).
In 2008, a sample (869485) assayed 1.55 grams per tonne gold and 0.099 per cent bismuth (Assessment Report 30828).
In 2013, a chip sample (0663) from the wall of the trench on the ‘Lady of Lake’ skarn zone assayed 0.286 per cent zinc and over 0.65 metre, whereas a dump sample (0632) from beside the trench assayed greater than 1.0 per cent zinc and 0.01 per cent tungsten (Assessment Report 34713).
The area has been historically explored since the late 1800s in conjunction with the nearby Bunker Hill (MINFILE 082FSW002) past-producing mine.
In 1971, Abella Resources Ltd. mapped and soil sampled the area as the Ness claims. In 1983, Rex Silver Mines Ltd. completed a program of rock, silt and soil sampling; geological mapping and a ground electromagnetic survey on the area as the Waneta 1-10 claims. In 1985, Noranda Mining and Exploration Inc. completed a program of rock and silt sampling, geological mapping and ground geophysical surveys on the area as the Swift 10 claim.
During 1988 through 1990, International Corona Corp. completed programs of soil and silt sampling, geological mapping and a 2660.0 line-kilometre airborne geophysical survey on the area as the Elise 1-61 claims.
During 1997 through 2002, William Howard completed programs of rock and soil sampling, geological mapping and a 5.2 line-kilometre ground electromagnetic survey on the area as the Cly property.
