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File Created: 10-Apr-2018 by Karl A. Flower (KAF)
Last Edit:  22-Apr-2018 by Karl A. Flower (KAF)

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NMI
Name FAIRWEST, 1950 LEVEL, CYRTINA CREEK, FLECK, FAIR WEST (L. 2191), CYCAD FRACTION (L. 2197), INDEPENDENT (L. 2097) Mining Division Vancouver
BCGS Map 092G055
Status Prospect NTS Map 092G11E
Latitude 049º 35' 28'' UTM 10 (NAD 83)
Longitude 123º 06' 15'' Northing 5493175
Easting 492472
Commodities Copper, Zinc, Lead, Silver Deposit Types G06 : Noranda/Kuroko massive sulphide Cu-Pb-Zn
Tectonic Belt Coast Crystalline Terrane Gambier, Plutonic Rocks
Capsule Geology

The Fairwest (1950 Level) prospect is located on the south side of Furry Creek, near Cyrtina Creek.

The Britannia district is underlain by a roof pendant of mid-Mesozoic volcanic and sedimentary rocks, within the Cenozoic to 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, which 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 composed 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, underground workings are reported to expose the Britannia shear zone in dacite lapilli tuffs and andesitic ash tuffs. Mineralization consists of chlorite and sericite altered quartz veins and stringers with pyrite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite. At surface, intermediate and felsic volcanics are exposed and host up to 30 per cent pyrite. Diamond drilling on the area has intersected zones of pyrite and anhydrite within a larger zone of sphalerite mineralized cherty tuffs.

Another area of mineralization, located at approximately 810 metres elevation near Cyrtina Creek to the north, consists of chlorite-sericite altered schists hosting sphalerite, galena and chalcopyrite mineralization. A sample assayed 0.37 per cent copper, 7.15 per cent zinc, 5.20 per cent lead and 20 grams per tonne silver (Property File - H. L. Gibson [1986-10-16]: Proposed diamond drill program at Furry Creek)

The area has been historically explored in conjunction with the nearby Britannia (MINFILE 092GNW003) mine. In 1926, Britannia Mining and Smelting completed 10 underground diamond drill holes, totalling 837.6 metres, on the 1950 level. By the late 1950’s, Britannia Mining and Smelting had completed minor development on two levels, 1800 and 1950, and a winze shaft connecting them. It is unknown if any production came from the occurrence. To the north, two short tunnels are reported on Cyrtina Creek at approximately 800 metres elevation. 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 (S.J. Schofield (1922-06-16): Progress report on the examination of Britannia Mine, Britannia Mining and Smelting Co. Ltd. (1923-04-10): Correspondence re: Britannia mines, Britannia Mining & Smelting Co. (unknown): Britannia - Claim And Tunnel Plan - Plate 4, 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, Anaconda Co (Canada) Ltd. (1967-01-01): Britannia - W-E Section Total Mine - East Half, Anaconda Britannia Mines Ltd. (1974-12-01): Britannia - Claim and Underground Level Plan - Plate 4 - Britannia Beach, 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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