The H&W 1 (Quatsino iron ore) occurrence is located southeast of Wanokana Creek, approximately 1.8 kilometres northeast of the creek mouth on Holberg Inlet.
Regionally, the area is underlain by rhyolite, felsic volcanics and mafic volcanics of the Middle Jurassic Bonanza Group (Holberg volcanic unit) and sediments of the Lower Cretaceous Longarm Formation (Queen Charlotte Group). The volcanics have been intruded by quartz diorite to granodiorite of the Early to Middle Jurassic Island Plutonic Suite.
Locally, on the H&W1 claim, there is a knoll of dacitic rocks of the Bonanza Group. In places the dacites are pyritized. The pyrite has oxidized to limonite, which forms a bog iron deposit in swampy ground at the base of the knoll.
In 1976, four of five samples of dacite yielded 94.7 to 95.6 per cent silicon dioxide (Assessment Report 6142).
The dacite has been estimated to contain 1 550 000 tonnes grading 91.91 per cent silicon dioxide (refer to MINFILE 092L 269 - H&W). Later, in 1979, an estimated reserve of 15 422 100 tonnes grading 91.97 per cent silicon dioxide was reported (Assessment Report 8151).
Work History
In 1907, 1360 tonnes of iron ore were shipped from workings measuring 90 by 60 by 0.6 metres. The percentage of iron recovered is unknown (Minister of Mines Annual Report 1907, page 149).
During 1969 through 1973, BHP-Utah Mines completed programs of soil sampling, geological mapping and ground geophysical surveys on the area as the Expo claims. In 1976, the area was prospected as the H&W 1-2 claims. The following year a 2.0 line-kilometre scintillometer survey was completed. In 1979, Inland Cement Ltd. completed a program of rock sampling and geological mapping on the area as the H&W 1-8 claims.
During 1982 through 1984, programs of rock and silt sampling and geological mapping were completed on the area as the Wanda claims. In 1985, Homestake Canada Inc. prospected and sampled the area immediately west as the Wan claim. In 1986, a program of rock and soil sampling was completed on the Wanda and Stat claims. In 1987, Rochester Minerals Inc. completed a program of prospecting and stream sediment sampling on the area. In 1988, Moraga Resources Ltd. and BHP-Utah Mines completed a program of geological mapping and rock sampling rock sampling on the area.
In 1990, Acheron Resources Ltd. soil and rock sampled the area as the Wann property. Later that year, Moraga Resources Ltd. optioned the property and completed 17 rotary drill holes, totalling 1749.6 metres, on the area. In 1992, a 10.5 line-kilometre combined ground induced polarization and magnetic survey was completed. In 1993, a program of 14 diamond drill holes, totalling 1786.3 metres, was completed on the area.
During 2000 through 2002, Homegold Resources Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping, bulk sampling and 50 diamond drill holes, totalling 1922.7 metres, on the area as the Apple Bay property. In 2005, Luminar Resources Corp. completed a program of rock, silt and soil sampling, geological mapping and a 2687.0 line-kilometre airborne electromagnetic survey on the area. In 2019, North Island Mining Corp. completed a 20.5 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the area as the Pemberton Hills property.
