The Copper Ridge area is underlain by volcanics and volcaniclastics of the Lower Jurassic Hazelton Group, Telkwa Formation. On the property, an andesitic to dacitic crystal-lithic tuff is predominant. In the southwest portion of the property a Lower Jurassic Topley Intrusion of calcalkaline composition is present. Quartz-feldspar porphyry dikes and later lamprophyric dikes are also present. Mineralization in the area appears related to shear and fault zones.
At Copper Ridge, just west of the contact of the Red Tuff Member with the Telkwa Volcanics, outcrops of Telkwa Volcanics are stained with malachite and have disseminated chalcopyrite with occasional bornite. A northerly trending dike (quartz-feldspar porphyry) was mapped cutting the tuffs. Mineralization appears to be more intense close to the dike, particularly on the hanging wall on the west.
Two types of sulphide mineralization occur on the claims, most prominent is silver-bearing chalcopyrite and bornite disseminated along veins and in fractures of Telkwa rocks and the second type is auriferous pyrite in silicified and bleached Telkwa rocks.
Grab samples of the copper silver mineralization returned values up to 1.58 per cent copper and 33.5 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 10441). Auriferous pyrite was only found in a single 5 by 6 metre location. Here intensely silicified and bleached volcanic tuff with narrow veins containing subeuhedral pyrite cubes occur Assaying of this quartz veined material returned values of 34 grams per tonne silver and 1.6 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 10441).
Refer to Tel (093L 072) for related work history and Property File information.
WORK HISTORY
The "A" group of 90 claims was held during 1965-1967 by Phelps Dodge Corporation of Canada, Limited. Work during 1965 and 1966 included geological mapping, trenching, and 747.6 metres of diamond drilling in 4 holes. In 1967 a geochemical survey and 31.4 metres of packsack diamond drilling in 8 holes was carried out.
The ground was restaked in February 1971 by Tyee Lake Resources Ltd. as the TEL 1-72 claims; all but 20 claims (TEL 29-38 and 51-60) were allowed to lapse. A geochemical soil survey carried out in 1972 indicated two anomalous zones. General prospecting was reported on the property in 1973. The claims were allowed to lapse in March 1974.
In 1981/1982 the property was acquired by Riocanex Inc. who completed a program of geological mapping, geochemical soil sampling, trenching and rock chip sampling. In 1981, a total of 9 rock chip samples were collected from rock outcropplngs in the Copper Ridge area.
The property lay dormant until acquired by Mr. Ron Bilquist in 2007. Mr. Bilquist completed programs of prospecting and rock chip sampling in 2008 and geology with rock chip samples in 2009.
In 2008 and 2009, Ron Bilquist relocated the "Upper Camp" zone as well as one old drill pad and two stacks of drillcore boxes with most in useful shape. Samples TKRBOO21 to 0026 were taken here with the samples variably displaying malachite spots on fracture planes and occasional chalcopyrite and pyrite. Tiny quartz veinlets were noted in a couple of samples and four of the samples displayed weak to strong magnetics. The rock appears to be a strongly fractured and possibly sheared volcanic (tuff?). The shear zone was reported to have an unmeasured estimate of at least two to three hundred meters width and possibly wider with a north-northwest trend. Bilquist further visited and sampled the Copper Ridge and Lower Canyon areas.
