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File Created: 24-Jul-1985 by BC Geological Survey (BCGS)
Last Edit:  10-Jan-2022 by Del Ferguson (DF)

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NMI 092F5 Cu1
Name THUNDERBIRD, CAMP CREEK, MAIN, URSUS CREEK Mining Division Alberni
BCGS Map 092F032
Status Showing NTS Map 092F05E
Latitude 049º 22' 29'' UTM 10 (NAD 83)
Longitude 125º 36' 43'' Northing 5472394
Easting 310403
Commodities Copper, Gold, Silver Deposit Types I06 : Cu+/-Ag quartz veins
I02 : Intrusion-related Au pyrrhotite veins
Tectonic Belt Insular Terrane Wrangell
Capsule Geology

The Thunderbird occurrence is located near the junction of Ursus and Thunderbird creeks, approximately 34 kilometres northeast of Tofino, B.C.

A major fault cuts volcanic rocks of the Upper Triassic Karmutsen Formation (Vancouver Group) and granodiorite to quartz diorite of the Early to Middle Jurassic Island Plutonic Suite. The volcanics are fine-grained to aphanitic, dark green andesite. The intrusive contact is marked by a medium to fine-grained dark, mafic rich diorite, which is cut by many dikes of leucocratic granodiorite.

The main direction of shearing is about 112 degrees. Shear features such as gouge filled fractures, re-healed brecciation and zones of shattered rock are abundant throughout the area. A zone of mineralized quartz stockwork occurs adjacent to a strong shear zone.

The Main or Camp Creek showing, examined by Trench #1, occurs in granodiorite within 100 metres to the north of the intrusive/volcanic contact. The main fault along Ursus Creek is 100 metres further to the north of the showing. Twelve grab samples from Trench #1 averaged 0.92 gram per tonne gold, with values up to 1.62 grams per tonne gold, 35.9 grams per tonne silver and 1.4 per cent copper (Assessment Report 16450).

Camp Creek is a northwest flowing creek that joins Thunderbird Creek just before its confluence with Ursus Creek. The main shearing in Camp Creek varies from 87 to 101 degrees with steep (83 degrees) dips to the north. Several northeast trending, southeast dipping quartz veins, with widths to 11 centimetres, occur in strongly silicified, sericitized and pyritized granodiorite. Mineralization consists of disseminated pyrite and chalcopyrite. The altered zone measures 12 metres long and 11 meters wide.

About 200 metres west of the Camp Creek showing, west of Thunderbird Creek, are quartz veins with pyrite, minor galena and has been referred to as the Thunderbird Group.

The area was originally explored in 1939 with the discovery of float containing coarse gold near the junction of Ursus and Thunderbird creeks. In 1979, the property was acquired by S. Craig and later optioned to Eldorado Minerals and Petroleum as the Ureka and Opus claims. In 1984, Eldorado completed a program of trenching and geochemical sampling which identified the Camp Zone. From 1986 to 1987, Pacific Sentinel Gold completed programs of geochemical surveying, geological mapping and magnetometer and VLF surveys. This work identified three new zones, including the Junction (MINFILE 092F 450) and Mid-Pad (MINFILE 092F 449). From 1988 to 1989, Pezgold Resource optioned the property and completed a program of diamond drilling, on the Junction zone, and prospecting which led to the discovery of the Elmer zone to the east. In 1990, Pacific Sentinel Gold completed a program of geological mapping, rock sampling and trenching. In 1995, the area was prospected as the Thunderbird claims by S. Salmon. Trench sampling returned values up to 2.39 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 24426). In 1999, the area was claimed as part of the Thunder claims and a program of geological mapping, geochemical sampling and geophysical surveys were completed on the Elmer zone.

Refer to MID PAD (092F 449) and JUNCTION (092F 450) for more information on the Ursus Creek mineral showings.

Bibliography
EMPR ASS RPT 9378, *12623, *16450, 19374, 20474, *24426, 26412, 37525
EMPR BULL *8, p. 67-68; 13
EMPR EXPL 1980-171; 1984-162,163; 1987-C145
EMPR PF (Prospectus: Pacific Sentinel Gold Corp., August 31, 1987; Filing Statement: Pacific Sentinel Gold Corp., May 9, 1988; District Geologist photos, 1995; Maps (various) (c.1995); Property Review Statement of Material Change, Pacific Sentinel Gold Corp., 1992; Woodcock, J.R. (1987): The Ursus Creek Project for Baron Ventures Ltd.; Prospectors Report 1995-24 by Simon Salmon)
GSC MAP 17-1968; 1386A
GSC MEM 204
GSC OF 463
GSC P 68-50; 72-44; 79-30; 80-16
GCNL #67, 1984; #11,#13,#104,#227, 1988; #4,#31, 1989
N MINER Jun.12, 1995
V STOCKWATCH Jan.18, 1988
Carson, D.J.T. (1968): Metallogenic Study of Vancouver Island with Emphasis on the Relationships of Mineral Deposits to Plutonic Rocks, Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, Carleton University

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