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File Created: 24-Jul-1985 by BC Geological Survey (BCGS)
Last Edit:  22-Apr-2018 by Karl A. Flower (KAF)

Summary Help Help

NMI
Name WATERSHED, FURRY CREEK, FLECK, FLY (L. 4238), GOLDEN WREN (L. 3733), GUINEA FOWL (L. 3733), REGGIE (L. 3732), BEE (L. 4237), DOROTHY VERNON (L.4030) Mining Division Vancouver
BCGS Map 092G055
Status Prospect NTS Map 092G11E
Latitude 049º 35' 08'' UTM 10 (NAD 83)
Longitude 123º 04' 55'' Northing 5492556
Easting 494077
Commodities Copper, Zinc, Silver, Gold Deposit Types G06 : Noranda/Kuroko massive sulphide Cu-Pb-Zn
Tectonic Belt Coast Crystalline Terrane Gambier, Plutonic Rocks
Capsule Geology

The Watershed occurrence is located near a saddle separating the head waters of Furry and Clipper creeks, at an elevation of approximately 900 metres. Mineralization has been traced by drilling over an area extending approximately 400 metres to the west- north west and 800 metres to the east- south east.

The Britannia district is underlain by a roof pendant of mid- Mesozoic volcanic and sedimentary rocks, within the Cenozoic-Mesozoic Coast Plutonic Complex. A broad, steeply south- dipping zone of complex shear deformation and metamorphism called the Britannia shear zone, crosses the pendant in a northwest direction. The Indian River shear zone, a narrow zone of foliated rocks, is sub-parallel to the Britannia shear zone and transects the northeast part of the Britannia pendant. The deformed rocks are cut by dacite dikes and several major sets of faults. The Britannia roof pendant is one of many northwest- trending bodies within and in part metamorphosed by the Coast Plutonic Complex. The pendant is comprised of fresh to weakly metamorphosed rocks with sharp contacts against plutonic rocks, and belongs to the Lower Cretaceous Gambier Group. The Coast plutonic rocks consist of older, commonly foliated bodies ranging from diorite to granodiorite and younger quartz diorite to quartz monzonite intrusions (Squamish pluton). The plutonic rocks have produced contact metamorphic aureoles up to 100 metres wide in the Britannia pendant.

The occurrence area is underlain by a complicated interbedded succession of northwest- trending andesitic to dacitic pyroclastic rocks of the Gambier Group that dip from 30 to 80 degrees south. The volcanic units are typically strongly sericitized and chloritized, resulting in a well- developed schistosity. A complex succession of intercalated dacitic pyroclastics and rhyolite to dacite flows has been identified by diamond drilling. The stratigraphy is interpreted to be a felsic vent area, based on the observed thickening of the massive lower dacite flow/dome, a quartz feldspar porphyritic unit. The stratigraphy encountered in drill holes is compsed of andesite, an upper dacite flow, dacite tuff breccia, dacite ash and lapilli tuffs, a lower dacite flow (quartz feldspar porphyry) and lower dacite ash tuffs.

Locally, on the Fly Crown grant, quartz-chalcopyrite-pyrite veins and stringers with chlorite and sericite alteration occur over an area of approximately 100 by 300 metres along with two zinc-rich siliceous exhalative horizons in the dacite ash tuffs above the lower dacite flow.

In 1922, a sample assayed 0.5 per cent copper over 6 metres (R. Greenwood [1961-09-26]: Review of Reports on Exploration Howe Sound Britannia).

In 1986, a drill hole (FC-2) intersected sulphide stringer mineralization with in strongly altered felsic flow/dome rocks yielding 0.46 per cent copper over 17 metres, including 1.54 per cent copper and 4.7 grams per tonne silver over 3.11 metres and 5.49 per cent copper over 0.43 metre (C. Burge (1987-01-09): 1986 Summary of Exploration Activities at Britannia Furry Creek).

In 1989, diamond drilling, approximately 400 metres to the west and south west of the occurrence on the Bee Crown grant, intercepted a siliceous exhalite of the Watershed Dome Complex hosting narrow massive sulphide bands. Drilling intercepts included 2.70 per cent copper over 0.70 metres in hole FC-04; 2.47 per cent copper and 7.2 grams per tonne silver over 0.5 metres in FC-24 and 0.19 per cent copper and 0.71 per cent zinc in hole FC-15 (Colin Burge [1989-06-01]: 1989 Drill Program at Fleck Britannia). Another drill hole, FC-16, intersected a 4- metres zone of massive pyrite and anhydrite with in a 30 metres wide zone of sphalerite- mineralized cherty ash or tuff, which yielded 0.33 per cent copper and 2.72 per cent zinc over 0.70 metre (Colin Burge [1989-06-01]: 1989 Drill Program at Fleck Britannia).

Approximately 200 metres to the south west, a quartz vein occurring in the hanging wall stratigraphy hosts gold values. Surface samples have yielded up to 3.2 grams per tonne gold (C. M. Burge (1988-09-23): Fall Drill Program at Fleck Britannia). In 1989, diamond drill hole FC-24 intercepted the vein and yielded 3.80 grams per tonne gold over 0.50 metre (Minnova [1990-02-15]: 1989 Summary of Exploration at Britannia).

Another area of mineralization, located approximately 400 metres east- south east of the Watershed occurrence on the Golden Wren and Guinea Fowl Crown grants, is underlain by andesite to dacite volcanics with minor intercalations of argillite and chert. The lowermost unit exposed in the valley floor is an andesitic to dacitic polymictic lapilli tuff that contains flame-like clots. Sulphide fragments occur within this unit. Stratigraphically above this is a more competent felsic unit of aphyric to quartz feldspar phyric rock and is thought to be the stratigraphic equivalent of the Watershed lower dacite flow. This equivalent frequently contains disseminated chalcopyrite, pyrite and sphalerite mineralization. A number of showings of massive pyrite and massive chalcopyrite stringers occur with extensive chlorite and sericite development. Pyrite veins up to 1 metre wide are locally evident. Massive chalcopyrite stringers up to 5 centimetres wide are accompanied by strong chlorite alteration. A complex succession of lapilli tuffs and fine-grained dacitic ashes overlies this unit. A coarse tuff breccia unit is situated above the lapilli tuffs/ashes and forms the immediate hangingwall unit to the mineralized rocks. The uppermost unit in this area is a massive, homogeneous dacitic flow.

In 1987, rock samples (BCS4730 and FCC87027) yielded up to 2.66 per cent copper, 5.80 per cent zinc and 17.3 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 16756). In 1988, diamond drilling on the area yielded up 1.33 per cent copper, 4.70 per cent zinc, 14.3 grams per tonne silver and 0.2 grams per tonne gold over 0.35 metre from hole FC-07 (Minnova [1990-02-15]: 1989 Summary of Exploration at Britannia).

A third area of mineralization, located a further approximately 400 metres east- south east on the Reggie Crown grant, consists of a package of rocks that is interpreted to be stratigraphically below the previously discussed succession. The lowest unit is an andesite that has been shattered into fragments and flooded with silica. The andesitic fragments contain 1 to 5 per cent disseminated pyrite, and in some specimens, amygdules were recognized. The matrix silica content ranges from 5 to 50 per cent. Structurally (and presumably stratigraphically) above this unit, a sequence of interbedded cherty argillites, rhyolite ashes and andesite to dacite lapilli tuffs, crystal tuffs and ashes occurs. Structurally, this area forms an anticline-syncline pair. A moderate to intense foliation is developed. Mineralization consists of cherty ash beds hosting 3 to 4 per cent disseminated sulphides comprised of chalcopyrite and sphalerite.

In 1952, sampling of the Reggie adit yielded an average of 0.3 per cent copper (R. Greenwood [1961-09-26]: Review of Reports on Exploration Howe Sound Britannia). The following year, a sample, from a small zone of high grade, yielded 4.6 per cent copper (G. D. Markland [1953-01-01]: Progress Report on Eastern Area of Britannia 1953).

In 1986, samples yielded values up to 1.1 per cent copper and 1.9 per cent zinc, while the next year, two rock samples (FCP87013 and FCP87012) from the area yielded 6.62 and 11.42 per cent copper with 59.4 And 57.6 grams per tonne silver, respectively (Assessment Report 16756). In 1988, diamond drilling on the area yielded up 0.59 per cent zinc over 0.85 metre in hole FC-10 (Minnova [1990-02-15]: 1989 Summary of Exploration at Britannia).

The area has been historically explored in conjunction with the nearby Britannia (MINFILE 092GNW003) mine. Past workings include a 30.6 metre adit on the Reggie Crown grant. In 1917 and 1923, Britannia Mining and Smelting completed six diamond drill holes, totalling 1252.7 metres, on the Furry Creek area. In 1972 and 1973, Anaconda performed a program of diamond drilling, totalling 11,052.2 metres in 31 holes, on the Furry Creek area. During 1984 through 1989, Minnova and Fleck Resources completed programs of geological mapping, rock sampling, electromagnetic surveys and 25 diamond drill holes, totalling 4735.6 metres, on the area as part of the Fleck Option.

Bibliography
EMPR ASS RPT *16756
EMPR FIELDWORK 1980, pp. 165-178; 1987, pp. 295-300
EMPR OF 1999-2
EMPR PF (J. B. Thurber (1952-10-01): Progress report on the Eastern Area of Britannia, *G. D. Markland (1953-01-01): Progress Report on Eastern Area of Britannia 1953, *R. Greenwood (1961-09-26): Review of Reports on Exploration Howe Sound Britannia, A. J. Davidson (1983-09-16): Summary of Britannia properties, Falconbridge Copper (1986-09-01): Proposed drill holes at Furry Creek, H. L. Gibson (1986-10-16): Proposed diamond drill program at Furry Creek, C. Burge (1987-01-09): 1986 Summary of Exploration Activities at Britannia Furry Creek, C. Burge (1987-08-21): Proposed diamond drilling at Furry Clipper divide area, C. Burge (1988-02-01): Summary of Exploration in 1987 at Britannia, *C. M. Burge (1988-09-23): Fall Drill Program at Fleck Britannia, *Colin Burge (1989-06-01): 1989 Drill Program at Fleck Britannia, C. M. Burge (1989-03-01): 1988 Summary of Exploration Activities at Britannia, Minnova (1990-02-15): 1989 Summary of Exploration at Britannia)
GSC MAP 42-1963; 1386A
GSC MEM 158
GSC OF 611
GSC P 89-1E, pp. 177-187; 90-1E, pp. 183-195; 90-1F, pp. 95-107
Ditson, G.M. (1978): Metallogeny of the Vancouver-Hope Area,
British Columbia, M.Sc. Thesis, University of British Columbia

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