The Fox property covers an area underlain by felsic rock of the Eocene Ootsa Lake Formation (Nechako Plateau Group) bounded to the east and west by Cretaceous sedimentary and mafic volcanic rocks assigned to the Kasalka group. A granitic intrusive body of Eocene age occurs close to the eastern boundary of the property.
Rock geochemistry and prospecting have established the existence of an extensive zone of linear alteration on the Fox property. Mineralization is associated with variable amounts of pyrite flooding and silicification of the host with thin quartz veining and brecciation. A 15-centimetre-wide open-space quartz crystal vein with disseminated pyrite and black mineral cutting pyrite occurs in flooded rhyolite. A sample assayed 32.6 grams per tonne gold, 6049 grams per tonne silver and 0.33 per cent lead (sample TK13-528, Assessment Report 34351). Anomalous values in molybdenum and zinc were also obtained from property sampling. Veining occurs in a feldspar porphyry as silicified fracture filling with associated pyrite.
Mineralization on the occurrence is found in six distinct zones based on vein locations labelled A to F. The zones consist of varying structurally controlled mineralized quartz veins and silica-flooded systems that trend approximately northwest-northeast along a 330-metre-long open strike length. The alteration pattern surrounding the system has similar trending. The alteration consists of a combination of bleached epidote-chlorite-pyrite alteration within felsic volcanics of the Ootsa Lake Group. Mineralization at Fox zones A to F is controlled by brittle fracturing common in silica-rich felsic volcanic hostrocks.
Work History
In the mid-1980s, Riocanex completed an exploration program on the property containing the occurrence. Soil geochemical sampling was completed with anomalous results, but no bedrock outcrop was identified.
In 2010 Kootenay Silver Inc. entered into a grubstake agreement with prospector Fred Critchlow to evaluate the Fox property. In 2010, 82 rock samples were collected followed by 40 rock samples in 2011.
In 2013, Kootenay Silver collected 77 more rock samples. Significant values of gold and silver were obtained from a network of quartz veinlets within argillic and pyrite altered felsic rocks. A 3.2 ground VLF electromagnetic survey was also completed in 2013 and it was found that zones of elevated electrical conductivity in the subsurface occur in the vicinity of anomalous concentrations of metals at the surface.
In 2014, Kootenay Silver Inc. conducted a channel, trench and soil sampling program on the property containing the occurrence. Six anomalous zones were identified in a region immediately surrounding the occurrence. See Assessment Report 35437 for in-depth results.
In 2016 Kootenay Silver collected fifteen rock samples on the Fox property (Assessment Report 36612). The samples were collected from an area roughly on trend to the south and to the east of a mineralized quartz stockwork zone previously identified on the property. Anomalous values of lead and molybdenum were obtained. A second area to the north was traversed looking for bedrock to sample but none was encountered.
In 2017, Kootenay Silver Inc. conducted a rock and soil sampling program on the Fox property containing the occurrence. Highlighted results included sample TKN17-41 from Vein E, which graded 1222 grams per tonne silver; TKN17-43 from Vein D, which graded 2443 grams per tonne silver and 25.76 grams per tonne gold, and sample MK17-08 from Vein B, which graded 4.86 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 37048).
In 2018, Kootenay Silver Inc. completed an airborne geophysical survey, and a geochemical sampling survey over the property containing the occurrence. Multiple areas of magnetic highs were reported. Rock sampling found elevated values of molybdenum, lead, silver, gold and arsenic. Highlighted samples included, but are not limited to, sample IC18-23 from A vein, which graded 1800 grams per tonne silver and 17.03 grams per tonne gold, and sample CK18-67 from B vein, which graded 2353 grams per tonne silver and 23.16 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 37773).
In 2019, Kootenay Silver Inc. completed a soil geochemical survey on the property containing the occurrence. Soil anomalies were reported on the immediate area around the occurrence.
