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File Created: 23-Mar-1988 by Laura L. Coughlan (LLC)
Last Edit:  18-Nov-1991 by Peter S. Fischl (PSF)

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NMI
Name COPPERFIELD, SWEDEN (L.42S), SWEDEN SHAFT, BK, GALENA PIT, BOUNDARY ZONE Mining Division Osoyoos
BCGS Map 092H040
Status Prospect NTS Map 092H08E
Latitude 049º 21' 13'' UTM 10 (NAD 83)
Longitude 120º 03' 27'' Northing 5470931
Easting 713680
Commodities Gold, Silver, Lead, Zinc, Copper, Magnetite, Iron Deposit Types K04 : Au skarn
Tectonic Belt Intermontane Terrane Quesnel, Plutonic Rocks
Capsule Geology

The Copperfield showing is 1.3 kilometres northeast of Highway 3, 2.4 to 2.6 kilometres northwest of Cahill Creek and 1.5 kilometres east-southeast of Hedley.

The area immediately southeast of Hedley is underlain by the Upper Triassic Hedley and Whistle Creek formations (Nicola Group). Mineralization occurs primarily in the basal limestone boulder conglomerate member of the Whistle Creek Formation (Copperfield conglomerate), and to a lesser extent in underlying interbedded limestone, argillite, siltstone and chert of the Hedley Formation. The Hedley Formation sediments are cut by four shallow northwest dipping hornblende porphyry sills of the Early Jurassic Hedley Intrusions, immediately below the Copperfield conglomerate. The conglomerate strikes 070 degrees for 250 metres and dips 50 degrees northwest. The unit is composed of well-rounded to angular pebbles, cobbles and boulders of limestone generally up to 1.0 metres in diameter.

The Copperfield conglomerate contains three zones of mineralized skarn, where recrystallized limestone fragments are hosted in a garnetite matrix. Chert is also mineralized in this unit. The zones contain pyrrhotite, galena, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrite, and sphalerite in a gangue of garnet and calcite.

The Sweden Shaft zone is the southwesternmost of the three zones and consists of a 5-metre deep shaft in pods of massive pyrrhotite with pyrite, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite and garnet crystals. A sample of a 0.3 by 0.3-metre pod of pyrite and chalcopyrite in garnet assayed 0.260 gram per tonne gold, 2.2 grams per tonne silver and 0.115 per cent copper (Assessment Report 16400, page 14, sample 51773). A trench about 4.0 by 1.0 metres blasted immediately east of the shaft exposed a zone of massive magnetite with 1 per cent chalcopyrite in skarn-altered chert with pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite. A sample of the magnetite assayed 0.035 gram per tonne gold, 0.10 gram per tonne silver, 0.022 per cent copper and 21.07 per cent iron (Assessment Report 16400, page 15, sample 51775).

The BK zone is 175 metres northeast of the Sweden shaft along the strike of the Copperfield conglomerate. Mineralization occurs in a zone of skarn-altered chert and conglomerate over a 40 by 20 metre area. Pyrrhotite, pyrite, galena, chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite and sphalerite occur as disseminations, fracture fillings and patchy blebs in a gangue of calcite and garnet. A sample analysed 8.8 grams per tonne silver, 0.013 per cent copper, 0.375 per cent lead and 0.141 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 16400, page 15, sample 1093).

The Galena Pit zone is 75 metres east-northeast of the BK zone and is hosted by skarned cherts in the Copperfield conglomerate. A sample analysed 0.04 gram per tonne gold, 5.3 grams per tonne silver, 0.176 per cent lead, 0.252 per cent zinc and 0.025 per cent copper (Assessment Report 16400, page 16, sample 5355).

Sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite occur in a zone of skarn-altered Hedley Formation sediments underlying the Copperfield conglomerate. The showing, identified as the Boundary zone, is 100 metres northwest of the Sweden Shaft zone. A sample assayed 0.84 gram per tonne gold, 30.4 grams per tonne silver, 0.670 per cent copper, 0.0001 per cent lead and 0.004 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 16400, page 16, assay certificate, sample 455). A second sample analysed 0.04 gram per tonne gold, 25.6 grams per tonne silver, 0.080 per cent copper, 1.587 per cent lead and 0.653 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 16400, page 17, sample 1090).

Bibliography
EMPR AR 1907-220
EMPR ASS RPT 14879, *16400
EMPR EXPL 1982-176; 1986-C210
EMPR FIELDWORK 1985, pp. 101-105; 1986, pp. 65-79; 1987, pp. 59-80
EMPR OF MAP 1987-10; 1988-6
EMPR P 1989-3, pp. 19-35
GSC MAP 568A; 888A; 41-1989
GSC MEM 2; 243
GSC OF 2167, pp. 59-80
GSC SUM RPT 1929, pp. 198A-252A
CIM Trans Vol. 44, pp. 524-590 (1941); Vol. 48, pp. 27-68
CJES Vol. 9, pp. 1632-1639 (1972)
V STOCKWATCH June 9, 1987

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