The Ann (Gnawed) occurrence is located along the west and southwestern sides of Gnawed Mountain at an elevation of approximately 1750 metres.

The area is situated in the central core of the Lower Jurassic Guichon Creek Batholith and is primarily underlain by Skeena variety granodiorite between the Bethlehem and Bethsaida phases of the batholith. A large, southeast-trending tongue and several north-trending dikes of Bethsaida porphyritic granodiorite cut the Skeena rocks. A series of associated breccias occurs around the summit of Gnawed Mountain. Fine-grained, aplite dikes and dark, mafic dikes are also present. Weak propylitic, sericitic and argillic alteration is widespread. Regional faults (post-mineral?) strike northeast.

Locally, the Ann zone consists of a strong quartz stockwork hosted by Bethsaida breccia and forms distinctive bluffs for several hundred metres along the western flank of Gnawed Mountain. Chalcopyrite, bornite, molybdenite, chalcocite(?) and trace pyrite occur in quartz- filled fractures and hairline seams. Veins range in width from 2 millimetres to 10 centimetres, and occasionally reach up to 1 metre. Variably developed alteration envelopes include sericite, clay minerals (kaolinite), potassium feldspar and tourmaline.

A second, similar zone of mineralization, referred to as the South zone, has been identified by drilling approximately 1 kilometre to the southeast near the border of the Gnawed breccia and AM 14 claims. The zone is comprised of a quartz diorite hosting fracture-controlled, disseminated to massive bornite and chalcopyrite with lesser molybdenite mineralization. Malachite and limonite alteration minerals are also reported.

In 1969, drilling on the Ann zone is reported to have yielded 0.24 per cent copper over 163.8 metres in hole 69-1, 0.23 per cent copper over 180.0 metres in hole 69-2, 0.30 per cent copper over 148.2 metres in hole 69-3, 0.27 per cent copper over 148.5 metres in hole 69-4, 0.15 per cent copper over 189.6 metres in hole 69-5, 0.26 per cent copper over 138.0 metres in hole 69-6, 0.21 per cent copper over 162.0 metres in hole 69-8 and 0.31 per cent copper over 154.5 metres in hole 69-10 (Assessment Report 20866). Other reported assay results include 0.22 per cent copper over 192.0 metres in hole A-1, 0.29 per cent copper over 84.0 metres in hole A-3, 0.44 per cent copper over 66.0 metres in hole CS-20, 0.25 per cent copper over 42.0 metres in hole CS 21 and 0.37 per cent copper over 15 metres in hole M-1-69 (Assessment Report 20866).

In 1974, the Ann zone ore-body, measuring 200 to 300 metres wide and 360 to 660 metres long with a proposed pit depth of 120 metres, was reported to contain an unclassified reserve of 43,381,157 tonnes grading 0.27 per cent copper (Northern Miner - June 20, 1974).

In 1986, a sample (GN-86-018) from the Ann zone assayed 3.74 per cent copper and 14.4 grams per tonne silver over 2.0 metres (Assessment Report 15203).

In 2009, sampling of a mineralized quartz vein near the Ann zone yielded 0.39 per cent copper and 0.112 per cent molybdenum over 2.24 metres (Assessment Report 31169).

Work History

In 1957 and 1958, the area was examined by American Smelting and Refining. In 1959, Kennco Explorations completed a program of ground geophysical surveys, soil sampling, geological mapping and three diamond drill holes on the area as the VM property.

In the mid-1960’s, Kennco Explorations and Anaconda examined the area. The property was owned and examined by Trojan Mines in 1969.

In 1974 and 1975, Highmont Mining completed programs of geological mapping and ground electromagnetic surveys on the area. In 1976, WR Financial Consultants completed eight percussion drill holes, totalling 690.0 metres, on the area as the Gnawed property. In 1977, New Minex Resources completed four diamond drill holes, totalling 301.0 metres, and four percussion drill holes totalling 274.0 metres.

In 1986, Robak Industries completed a program of rock and soil sampling and geological mapping on the area. In 1991, 1996 and 2009, Robak Industries completed programs of geological mapping and prospecting on the area. In 2012, a 72.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey was completed on the area immediately south.

During 2018 through 2020, Mascot Capital Inc. completed programs of prospecting, geochemical (rock and soil) sampling, 3D compilations of historic magnetic data and an 8.0 line-kilometre seismic survey on the area as the Gnawed Mountain property.