The Red (Takla-Rainbow Copper) occurrence is located at an elevation of approximately 1650 metres on a southwest-facing slope, approximately 13.5 kilometres southeast of Old Hogem. The Takla-Rainbow occurrence is located approximately 1.2 kilometres to the southeast.

Regionally, the area is underlain by undivided volcanic rocks of the Lower Jurassic Twin Creek Formation (Takla Group) that have been intruded by Lower Jurassic monzodioritic to gabbroic intrusive rocks and Lower Cretaceous granitic intrusive rocks of the Hogem Plutonic Suite. A complete summary of regional geology and structure can be found in the Takla-Rainbow (MINFILE 093N 082) occurrence.

Locally, as defined by diamond drilling, low-grade copper-gold mineralization occurs in epidote, chlorite and carbonate-altered porphyritic to equigranular diorite that is cut by megacrystic granite to quartz syenite dikes. Potassium feldspar, clay, sericite, and silica alteration also occurs locally. Sulphide minerals include pyrite and chalcopyrite with minor amounts of molybdenite and bornite. Malachite and azurite occur on surface and to a depth of 40 metres. The style of alteration and mineralization here is different from the main Takla-Rainbow gold occurrence (West, East and South zones) to the southeast. It is more like what might be expected in a porphyry copper-gold system. The mineralized zone is reported to weaken to the west where it is cut by a large dextral fault.

In 1987, a grab sample (TG-43-R) from the Red zone yielded 0.298 per cent copper, whereas a grab sample (TG-24-R) of sheared diorite with porphyry-copper mineralization, taken approximately halfway between the Red zone and the Takla-Rainbow occurrence to the southeast, yielded 2.26 per cent copper, 14.9 grams per tonne silver and 0.495 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 16759).

In 1990, four grab samples (TR-90 -D22 through -D25) from the main Red zone yielded values from 0.014 to 0.042 per cent molybdenum, 0.50 to 1.68 per cent copper, 6.7 to 11.8 grams per tonne silver and 0.17 to 0.40 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 22372).

Also at this time, other zones of mineralization related to the main Red zone were sampled. Four grab samples (TR-90-D27, -D29, -D30 and I07) of diorite hosting disseminated to massive pyrite, chalcopyrite and magnetite, taken approximately 500 metres to the northeast of the main Red zone, yielded from 0.07 to 0.45 per cent copper, 1.9 to 4.9 grams per tonne silver and 0.24 to 0.45 gram per tonne gold; grab samples (TR-90-R4 through -R19) of similarly mineralized diorite, taken from the access road approximately 700 metres to the east-southeast of the main Red zone, yielded values of up to 0.55 per cent copper, 0.10 per cent lead, 5.0 grams per tonne silver and 0.26 gram per tonne gold; chip sampling of the road zone yielded 0.12 gram per tonne gold and 0.17 per cent copper over 119.4 metres; a 0.3-metre chip sample (TR-90-D87) of an epidote altered monzonite(?) with disseminated to massive pyrite and chalcopyrite, located on a ridge approximately 600 metres north of the main Red zone, assayed 2.92 per cent copper, 14.4 grams per tonne silver and 0.40 gram per tonne gold and a sample (TR-90-R53) of diorite with chlorite-epidote-carbonate-pyrite-chalcopyrite veinlets and disseminations, from a gully located north-northwest of the main Red zone, yielded 0.60 per cent copper, 6.4 grams per tonne silver and 0.34 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 22372).

In 1990, diamond drilling along the Red Road zone yielded intercepts of 0.147 per cent copper and 0.07 gram per tonne gold over 166.4 metres, including 0.378 per cent copper and 0.17 gram per tonne gold over 25.2 metres in hole 90-76; 0.108 per cent copper and 0.07 gram per tonne gold over 148.2 metres in hole 90-77 and 0.122 per cent copper over 149.4 metres, including 0.585 per cent copper and 0.17 gram per tonne gold over 8.5 metres, in hole 90-78 (Assessment Report 22372).

In 1991, a sample (TR-91-R31) from the gully zone to the north-northwest of the main Red zone yielded 0.15 per cent copper, 3.5 grams per tonne silver and 0.30 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 22372).

In 2006, diamond drilling on the Red zone yielded intercepts of up to 0.31 per cent copper, 0.08 gram per tonne gold and 2.5 grams per tonne silver over 167.0 metres, including 0.59 per cent copper, 0.14 gram per tonne gold and 4.2 grams per tonne silver over 33.0 metres in hole RZ06-04 and 0.14 per cent copper, 0.11 grams per tonne gold and 0.9 gram per tonne silver over 214.25 metres, including 0.42 per cent copper, 0.50 gram per tonne gold and 2.2 grams per tonne silver over 12.0 metres in hole RZ06-02 (Assessment Report 29011).

Also at this time, rock samples (407705) from the Red zone yielded up to 0.045 per cent molybdenum, greater than 1.00 per cent copper, 73.4 grams per tonne silver and 1.02 grams per tonne gold, whereas rock samples (407719, 407727 and 407509), taken from the ridge to the north, the ridge to the northeast and the north end of a ridge approximately 2 kilometres to the north of the Red zone, respectively, yielded 0.500, 0.519 and 0.207 per cent copper with 0.112, 0.525 and 0.111 gram per tonne gold, respectively (Assessment Report 29011).

Work History

The area has been explored in conjunction with the nearby Takla-Rainbow (MINFILE 093N 082) occurrence and a complete exploration history can be found there.