The region in which the Caledonia showing occurs is underlain dominantly by the Late Cretaceous Kasalka Group andesitic rock and by Lower to Middle Jurassic volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Hazelton Group. These are intruded by the Middle Jurassic Endako Pluton of the Stag Lake Plutonic Suite consisting of quartz monzonitic to monzogranitic intrusions.
The showing is underlain by quartz monzonite cut by dark green dioritic and andesitic dikes. Quartz-molybdenite veins occur from 1 centimetre to 1.2 metres wide in the quartz monzonite. Gouge zones in the area also contain molybdenite both in quartz veins cutting the gouge zones and in the gouge itself. This molybdenite mineralization is accompanied by minor amounts of magnetite, pyrite and chalcopyrite. Adjacent to quartz veins and gouge zones potassic alteration occurs.
WORK HISTORY
The area of the Caledonia property was originally staked and held by Julian Mining Co. of Vancouver during the period 1963 to 1965. Exploration work on the property included geological mapping, geochemical sampling, and trenching. Several high-grade quartz-molybdenite veins up to one metre thick were delineated on the property before it was allowed to lapse in 1965.
The property was then re-staked in 1965 by the Thomson family of Vanderhoof. Claim assessment work carried out on the property by Eric Thomson during the period 1965 to 1974 consisted mainly of bulldozer trenching and some geochemical sampling. In 1974, limited sampling was carried out by the District Geologist from the Mineral Resources Branch of the British Columbia Department of Mines and Petroleum Resources.
In 1975, Amax optioned the property and carried out a comprehensive property evaluation consisting of geological mapping, limited geochemical sampling, geophysical surveys, and percussion drilling. Some rock geochemical sampling was carried out by Amax on the property. This consisted of re-sampling the trenches and sampling of newly located molybdenite occurrences.
Both induced polarization/resistivity and magnetic surveys were carried out on a grid established on the property. The induced polarization survey outlined several small anomalies thought to reflect areas of fracturing and alteration. The magnetometer results delineated numerous northeast trending basic dykes belonging to the Miocene Endako Group. Resistivity was used to define overburden thicknesses on the property in order to determine where percussion drilling would be practical.
A percussion-drilling program consisting of 22 holes with a total of 1,765 metres was completed. Most of the holes were drilled to a depth of 91 metres. The best intersections encountered were 34 metres (110 feet) of 0.102 per cent MoS2 in hole CP-75-19P, and 21 metres of 0.237 per cent MoS2 in Hole CP-75-5P (Assessment Report 5579). Both intersections were within Caledonia quartz monzonite and diorite dikes.
No further exploration work or options on this property were undertaken after that date. Assessment work filed by Amax was sufficient to keep the property in good standing until 1982, but presumably, they lapsed after that due to the lack of interest in molybdenum deposits.
In 2005, Leeward Capital held the Caledonia showing as the Molly claim. Four trenches were relocated on the south side of a logging road. Most trenches contained no outcrop, but Trench 5 exposes bedrock and excavated material. No molybdenite was observed, but small quantities of disseminated pyrite occur. One sample collected at this location yielded an assay of 0.209 per cent molybdenum (Assessment Report 27968). In 2006, Leeward drilled 400 metres in 3 diamond drillholes. Two holes failed to intersect mineralization due to faulting and the third hole rich mineralization was intersected from 200 to 203 metres (grading 0.055 per cent molybdenum) from 222 to 228 metres (grading 0.086 per cent molybdenum (Assessment Report 28883).
