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File Created: 24-Jul-1985 by BC Geological Survey (BCGS)
Last Edit:  15-May-2013 by Nicole Barlow (NB)

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NMI
Name ST. ANTHONY, ACE, FINDLAY CREEK, SOUTH FINDLAY, FINDLAY SOUTH Mining Division Golden
BCGS Map 082K010
Status Prospect NTS Map 082K01E
Latitude 050º 00' 50'' UTM 11 (NAD 83)
Longitude 116º 11' 39'' Northing 5540486
Easting 557735
Commodities Silver, Lead, Zinc, Copper Deposit Types I05 : Polymetallic veins Ag-Pb-Zn+/-Au
E14 : Sedimentary exhalative Zn-Pb-Ag
Tectonic Belt Omineca Terrane Ancestral North America, Slide Mountain
Capsule Geology

The St. Anthony (Ace) property is situated 3.5 kilometres south of Doctor Peak of the Purcell Mountain Range, at the headwaters of Doctor Creek, a south tributary of Findlay Creek. The occurrence is hosted within the Lower Aldridge Formation of the Proterozoic Purcell Supergroup. In the vicinity of Doctor Creek, the Aldridge Formation consists of quartz wacke, quartz arenite, siltstone and lesser argillite that are intruded by thick gabbroic sills of the Proterozoic Moyie intrusions. The sedimentary rocks are characteristically rusty weathering, fine to medium grained and thin to medium bedded. Individual beds range from a few millimetres to 30 centimetres thick. Discontinuous horizons of intraformational conglomerate were noted in a number of localities (Assessment Report 6413). Finely disseminated pyrrhotite is common. The sedimentary rocks of the Lower Aldridge have undergone both thermal and regional metamorphism to at least greenschist facies. Biotite alteration in the argillaceous units and quartz-sericite alteration in the arenite and wacke have generated widespread phyllitic and schistose textures.

The Moyie sills cutting the Lower Aldridge Formation are sill-like in overall form but often crosscut bedding or appear as irregular lenses. Some are in excess of 100 metres thick and can be traced almost 10 kilometres. The thicker sills have coarse grained gabbroic cores and finer dioritic margins. They are all primarily composed of hornblende and plagioclase phenocrysts set in a matrix of similar composition (Paper 1990-1).

The White Creek batholith is a well-differentiated Cretaceous granitic intrusion which cuts the Lower Aldridge rocks just southeast of the mineral occurrence. Along the northern border of the batholith, a megacrystic granodiorite phase is common. Plagioclase phenocrysts are commonly 3 to 5 centimetres long, set in a matrix of fine to medium-grained plagioclase, potassium feldspar, quartz and biotite. Magnetite and pyrite occur locally. Aplite and pegmatite dikes are common within the Lower Aldridge sedimentary rocks (Geological Survey of Canada Memoir 369).

On the property, the Purcell sedimentary rocks strike 060 degrees and dip gently (25 degrees) northwest. Deformation of the strata is minimal but minor northwest trending symmetrical folds have been documented (Assessment Report 3287). The occurrence consists of pyrite, pyrrhotite, magnetite, goethite, sphalerite and chalcopyrite which occur both as disseminations and in centimetre-wide veins in the Aldridge sedimentary rocks and in the gabbroic sills. Minor amounts of pyrite and arsenopyrite occur in talus near a small pit, 3 metres long by 2.5 metres wide. Five tonnes of material were mined from the small pit in 1963, producing some 12,006 grams of silver, 25 kilograms of copper, 82 kilograms of lead and 25 kilograms of zinc. Geological mapping in 1971 and 1973 failed to outline any significant reserves (Assessment Report 3287).

Kennecott Canada Exploration Inc. optioned the property from Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. and Miner River Resources Ltd. in 1997. In May 1999, Eagle Plains and Miner River amalgamated to form Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. Mineralization associated with tourmalinite unit was drilled previously. Kennecott drilled five holes in 1998; they terminated the option in February 1999. Rio Algom Explorations Inc. optioned the property in March 1999. Following a sampling and geological mapping program in 1999, Rio Algom commenced a 2000-metre diamond drilling program in June 2000.

In 2000, Rio Algom drilled 2578 metres in three holes and subsequently terminated their option with Eagle Plains.

The Findlay property was dormant between 2000 and 2007.

In 2007, Eagle Plains Resources completed a reconnaissance mapping program, and a two hole drill program that totaled 2961.52 metres.

In 2008, Eagle Plains Resources completed a geochemical analysis and a geological investigation, which included new outcrop and structure data.

In 2012, MMG Ltd. optioned the property and conducted an airborne geophysical survey, followed by a four hole, 1435 metre drill program. Based on encouraging results, MMG is planning a 2013 field campaign of geological mapping, sampling, and a 10 line-kilometre CSAMT (controlled source audio-frequency magnetotellurics) deep resistivity survey on the Greenland Creek (MINFILE 082FNE107) and South Findlay properties.

Bibliography
EM EXPL 2000-43-53
EM GEOS MAP 1998-4
EMPR AR 1963-A49; 1965-201
EMPR BC METAL MM00577
EMPR EXPL 1977-E62; 1998-5,66
EMPR FIELDWORK 1989, pp. 29-37; 1994, p. 73
EMPR GEM 1971-420; 1973-86
EMPR GEOS MAP 1995-1
EMPR INDEX 4-124
EMPR OF 1999-26, 2000-22
EMPR PF (82KSE General File - Geology map by P. Billingsley, 1958)
GSC MAP 12-1957; 1712A; 1713A; 1326A
GSC MEM 369
N MINER May 31, 1999; June 5, July 31, 2000
Pope, A.J. (1989): The Tectonics and Mineralization of the Toby-
Horsethief Creek Area, Purcell Mountains, Southeast British
Columbia, Canada, unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, University of London,
England

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