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File Created: 24-Jul-1985 by BC Geological Survey (BCGS)
Last Edit:  01-Apr-2019 by Karl A. Flower (KAF)

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NMI
Name ROPER LAKE, TC, SPUR, DRG, HAPPY DAYS, RABBIT, RABBIT SOUTH, RABBIT 41 Mining Division Kamloops
BCGS Map 092I057
Status Prospect NTS Map 092I10E
Latitude 050º 34' 50'' UTM 10 (NAD 83)
Longitude 120º 38' 49'' Northing 5605826
Easting 666588
Commodities Molybdenum Deposit Types L05 : Porphyry Mo (Low F- type)
Tectonic Belt Intermontane Terrane Quesnel, Plutonic Rocks
Capsule Geology

The Roper Lake (Happy Days, Rabbit 41) occurrence is located approximately 500 metres east of Roper Lake.

The area is underlain by volcanics and minor intercalated sediments of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group intruded by a younger (possibly Tertiary) zoned quartz monzonite stock (Roper Lake stock). Intermediate to mafic dikes cut both the intrusion and Nicola rocks. The Roper Lake stock is a north west-trending, elliptically- shaped intrusion approximately 1600 metres long by approximately 800 metres wide. Geological and geophysical evidence suggests that the stock plunges steeply northeast. A north west-striking fault is postulated to be present east of the intrusion proper and an outlier of the stock occurs on the up-thrown side of this fault.

The bulk of the Nicola rocks consist of greenish grey, semi-porphyritic andesites and basalts. Near the Roper Lake stock, the Nicola rocks are baked to a hard, flinty, hornfelsic rock and pyrite is abundant. The composition of the Roper Lake stock approximates a quartz monzonite. A crude zoning was noted in the intrusion with a core of quartz-eye porphyry grading outward to a medium- to fine- grained quartz monzonite, slightly porphyritic in part. Quartz veining of several generations is commonly seen throughout the stock; usually these veins are narrow (1 centimetre or less), although veins as wide as 25 centimetres are present.

Pyrite is ubiquitous but is usually more abundant in the Nicola rocks, particularly in the thermally altered rocks adjacent to the stock and in the northern part of the property. The pyrite is usually fine grained and occurs along fractures or as disseminated grains in Nicola rocks. Where quartz veins are abundant as in the outer shell of the stock and the contact zones, pyrite frequently occurs as disseminated grains or small clusters within the veins.

Molybdenite is the only other sulphide mineral seen on the property. It is widely distributed throughout the stock and occurs in peripheral areas of the intruded Nicola rocks. It is invariably fine- grained and is most frequently found in quartz veins but does occur as 'paint' along dry fractures or as disseminated grains in intrusive rock. Such disseminated grains are seldom more than few centimetres away from a quartz vein. Commonly, molybdenite is seen as small clumps of very fine-grained crystals or 'dust' scattered irregularly through narrow (1 centimetre or less) quartz veins. The widest mineralized quartz vein is exposed in a trench in the contact zone, approximately 200 metres north of Roper Lake. Here a 25- centimetre wide vein in a dike of intrusive material is heavily mineralized, with very fine grained molybdenite occurring as numerous sheets of semi-massive material up to several millimetres wide that parallel the vein walls.

In 2005, a historical summary of the Rabbit South property indicated that 70 percussion drill holes had been drilled to an average depth of 80 metres. This work identified a large horseshoe-shaped or semi-circular area of molybdenum mineralization measuring 2,500 metres long and between 400 and 500 metres wide with a maximum depth of 346 metres and remaining open to the east. This mineralization is associated with the Roper Lake granitic stock and occurs from surface to depths of approximately 100 metres. Molybdenite occurs principally as fine fracture and open-space fillings in quartz stockwork. Heavy molybdenite is occasionally noted in gouge zones and disseminated molybdenite may be found in the areas between fractures; pyrite is ubiquitous.

In 1967, diamond drilling, from the north end of Roper Lake, yielded up to 0.08 per cent molybdenite over 55.5 metres in DDH-3 (Assessment Report 6149).

In 1979, highlights of percussion drilling included: 0.108 per cent molybdenum over 15 metres from 30 to 45 metres and 0.118 per cent molybdenum over 18 metres from 69 to 87 metres in DH79-1; 0.365 per cent molybdenum over 3 metres in DH79-3; 0.179 per cent molybdenum over the final 3 metres of DH79-4; 0.208 per cent molybdenum over 3 metres and 0.086 per cent molybdenum over the final 24 metres of DH79-6 and 0.103 per cent molybdenum over 12 metres in RL79-27 (Assessment Reports 7436 and 7764). Another drill hole, DH79-16, located approximately 800 metres to the northwest, yielded 0.105 per cent molybdenum over 3 metres (Assessment Reports 7436)

In 1981, a diamond drill hole (DDHRL8105), located approximately 500 metres to the north, yielded up to 0.132 per cent molybdenum over 3 metres (Assessment Report 9319).

In 2005, a diamond drill hole (DRL05) yielded 0.063 per cent molybdenum over 79.5 metres, including 0.107 per cent molybdenum over 28.5 metres (Assessment Report 28412). Highlights of the previous drilling include intersections of: 0.080 per cent molybdenum over 77.1 metres (Global Hunter Corp., Press Release, April 15, 2005).

In 2007, four diamond drill holes (DRL07-1 through DRL07-4) yielded from 0.030 to 0.034 per cent molybdenum over lengths of 207.0 to 312.79 metres with values up to 0.251 per cent molybdenum over 1.5 metres (Assessment Report 29232). These holes were located approximately 700 metres to the north east.

In 2008, diamond drilling yielded up to 0.059 per cent molybdenum and 0.116 gram per tonne rhenium over 168.7 metres in hole RS-D-08-123, 0.038 per cent molybdenum and 0.073 gram per tonne rhenium over 155.0 metres in hole RS-D-08-129, 0.039 per cent molybdenum and 0.068 gram per tonne rhenium over 105.0 metres in hole RS-D-08-133 and 0.045 per cent molybdenum and 0.084 gram per tonne rhenium over 110.0 metres in hole RS-D-08-134 (Assessment Report 31327). The last three holes were located approximately 500 metres to the north and north east.

The Roper Lake prospect was discovered in the 1950’s, but serious exploration work did not commence until 1966. In 1960, work began on the DRG claims by Kennco Explorations (Western) Limited and consisted of geological mapping, soil sampling, and ground induced polarization, magnetometer and self-potential surveys. In 1966, Dominic Lake Mining Co. Ltd. conducted a soil sampling survey (1911 samples) over the Spur and TC claims. In 1966, geochemical and magnetometer surveys and 457 metres of surface trenching were completed, and 12.8 kilometres of new road was built on the Spur group by Tro-Buttle Explorations Limited. In 1967, Dominic Lake Mining Ltd. conducted geological mapping, magnetometer and geochemical surveys, 3.2 kilometres of road building, 15 diamond drill holes, totalling 745 metres, and nine percussion -drill holes, totalling 306 metres, on the TC group. In 1969, Tro-Buttle Exploration Ltd. conducted geological mapping, prepared a topographic map and completed a magnetometer survey (30 kilometres) on the area as the TC and Spur claims. In 1971, a soil geochemical survey (271 samples) was completed by Tro-Buttle Exploration Limited. In 1972, Dominic Lake Mining Company Ltd. performed geological mapping, a magnetometer survey (71 kilometres) and a soil geochemical survey (877 samples). In 1976, on behalf of J.R. Kerr, geological mapping and line cutting were conducted on the Happy Days claim, which now covers the occurrence. During 1978 through 1980, Cominco Ltd. conducted induced polarization surveys (40.5 kilometres), a ground magnetometer survey (50 kilometres), line cutting and 32 percussion drill holes, totalling 2478 metres, on the Happy Days claims. In 1981, Cominco Ltd. submitted results from one diamond drill hole, totalling 346 metres, which was drilled as part of a larger drilling program on the Happy Days claims; Cominco returned the claims to Keda Resources (now K.D. Resources Inc.). In 1984, a limited soil sampling survey (98 samples) was completed on the Happy Days claim on behalf of K.D. Resources Inc. In 1990, Teck completed a program of soil sampling, a 5.8 line-kilometre ground magnetic and electromagnetic survey and a three-hole percussion drilling program, totalling 154.5 metres, on the Happy Days claims.

During 2005 through 2008, Global Hunter Corp. completed 29 diamond drill holes, totalling 7164.9 metres, on the area as the Rabbit South property.

Bibliography
EMPR AR 1966-148; 1967-148
EMPR ASS RPT 325, 1009, 2102, 3458, 4110, *6149, 6579, 6579, 7052, *7436, ^*7764, 8580, *9319, 12698, 20320, 20424, 20649, *28412, *29232, 31327
EMPR EXPL 1976-E100; 1977-E157,E158; 1978-E169; 1979-176; 2003-55; 2004-58; *2005-59
EMPR GEM 1969-238; 1971-297,298; 1972-200
EMPR PF (Sketch maps of property outline, geology and workings, 1966)
GSC MAP 886A; 887A; 9-1963; 1394A; 42-1989
GSC MEM 249
GSC OF 165; 980; 2490
GSC P 44-20; 82-1A, pp. 293-297; 85-1A, pp. 349-358
PR REL Auterra Ventures Inc., Jan 24, 28, 2003; Jan.20, 2004; Ballad Gold and Silver Ltd and Auterra Ventures Inc., Mar.19, May13, Jul.14,15,16, 2004; Global Hunter Corp., *Apr.15, 2005
Chevron File (Year-end reports, 1980-81; Drillhole collar plan map; Drillhole sections; Claim map)

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