The KLA 1-7 (Chuchi North) occurrence is located at an elevation of approximately 1300 metres on a north-facing slope, approximately 900 metres south-southeast of the east end of Klawdetelle Lake.
Regionally, the area is underlain by coarse volcaniclastic, pyroclastic rocks and undivided sedimentary rocks of the Lower Jurassic Chuchi Lake Formation (Takla Group), which have been intruded by syenitic to monzonitic rocks of the Lower Jurassic Hogem Plutonic Suite. A further description of regional geology can be found in the Chuchi Lake (MINFILE 093N 159) occurrence. A major northeast-trending fault cuts the area along the valley to the northwest.
Locally, at the A zone, fine-grained to porphyritic andesite flows and ash tuffs with locally pervasive potassium feldspar, carbonate, chlorite, sericite and epidote alteration associated with crosscutting quartz, potassium feldspar and chlorite microveinlets to stockworks hosts up to 30 per cent sulphides. Mineralization comprises fine-grained disseminated to blebby pyrite and pyrrhotite with minor chalcopyrite. Disseminated to blebby magnetite is also reported in the adjacent monzonite intrusive. Sporadic zones of mineralization have been traced in outcrop and by trenching and drilling over an area of approximately 550 by 350 metres.
In 1989, five grab samples (34965 through 34969) from the A zone yielded from 0.651 to 3.409 grams per tonne gold, 3.2 to 17.8 grams per tonne silver, 0.058 to 0.260 per cent copper and 0.001 to 0.027 per cent molybdenum, while another grab sample (34525), taken approximately 100 metres to the west-southwest of the previous samples, yielded 5.210 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 19719).
In 1990, diamond drilling on the A zone yielded intercepts including 0.016 per cent copper and 0.31 gram per tonne gold over 8 metres (27 to 35 metres down hole) in hole 90-02; 0.025 per cent copper and 0.84 gram per tonne gold over 14 metres (58 to 72 metres down hole) in hole 90-03; 0.019, 0.059 and 0.170 per cent copper with 0.34, 0.50 and 0.33 gram per tonne gold over 33.3, 8.76 and 7.44 metres (16.50 to 49.80, 64.00 to 72.76 and 104.0 to 114.44 metres down hole), respectively, in hole 90-4 and 0.015 per cent copper with 1.18 grams per tonne gold over 5.68 metres (7.32 to 13.0 metres down hole) in hole 90-5 (Assessment Report 20612).
Also at this time, trenching on the A zone yielded 0.92 and 1.0 gram per tonne gold with 0.071 and 0.043 per cent copper over 8 metres each in trenches no. 4 and 2, respectively (Assessment Report 20612).
In 1991, diamond drilling yielded intercepts of 0.191 gram per tonne gold over 24 metres in hole 91-8; 0.101 per cent copper over 41.46 metres in hole 91-10 and 0.243 gram per tonne gold over 20 metres, including 2.250 grams per tonne gold over 2 metres in hole 91-12 (Assessment Report 22034). These drillholes were located from 400 metres north to 800 metres northeast and east of the main trenched A zone.
A zone of anomalous copper mineralization is located on an east-west–trending ridge, approximately 2 kilometres to the northeast of the main A zone. The zone comprises an augite ± plagioclase porphyry with calcite veining associated with a zone of shearing and brecciation.
In 1989, a grab sample (34033) from this zone assayed 0.127 per cent copper (Assessment Report 19719).
Another zone of anomalous mineralization is reported on an east-west–trending ridge, approximately 3 kilometres to the northwest of the main A zone. The zone comprises a gossanous contact between pyroclastic conglomerates and amygdaloidal basalts.
In 2010, a sample (26065) from the zone assayed 0.145 gram per tonne gold, 8.7 grams per tonne silver, 0.015 per cent copper, 0.050 per cent lead and 0.037 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 31960).
Work History
In 1988, Westmin Mines Ltd. staked the Klawli property, adjoining the north and west side of BP’s Phil and Chuchi claim (MINFILE 093N 159) blocks. The claims were then optioned by Rio Algom Exploration Inc. who then added additional claims. Work completed by Rio in 1989 included soil sampling for a geochemical analysis, 190 line-kilometres of airborne magnetic and very low frequency electromagnetic surveys, which identified large copper and gold anomalies. In 1990, further soil geochemical sampling was performed along with 25.25 line-kilometres of induced polarization survey and five diamond drill holes totalling 691.7 metres. Rio continued with nine diamond drill holes, totalling 1052.5 metres in 1991 to further test induced polarization anomalies previously identified.
In 2005, High Ridge Resources Inc. staked the area as part of the Chuchi property.
In 2010, UTM Explorations Services Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping and geochemical (rock and soil) sampling on the area as the Chuchi property.
In 2011, Newton Gold Corp. (now Chlormet Technologies Inc.) conducted a soil geochemistry program consisting of 802 soil samples covering an area measuring 2.2 by 3.8 kilometres on the Chuchi property. The sampling program was successful in joining two historical anomalies and confirming additional anomalies that remain open in multiple directions.
In 2013, a 15.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey was completed on the Chuchi 6 claim, located immediately to the northeast.
In 2014, Kiska Metal Corp. entered into an option agreement with underlying vendors to earn interest into the Chuchi project. Work conducted by Kiska primarily consisted of geological review of drillcore, lithogeochemical sampling, acquisition and analysis of satellite imagery, and prospecting. The following year, Kiska Metals Corp. completed a program of prospecting, rock sampling, historical drilllog digitization, geological modelling, and a 10.2 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the Chuchi property.
Also in 2014, a 24.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey was completed on the area immediately northeast as the Chuchi North property.
In 2016 and 2017, Kiska Metals Corp. and AuRico Metals Inc. completed a further program of geological mapping, re-logging and sampling of historical drill holes, petrographic analysis and detailed mineralogical and geochemical work including QEMSCAN and sulphur isotope analysis with the purpose of determining controls on high-grade mineralization.
In 2018, AuRico Metals Inc. completed a further program of historical drillcore re-logging. In 2019, four diamond drill holes, totalling 1755.0 metres, were completed on the Chuchi property. The drilling was performed to test and verify known zones of mineralization and at depth and to test a previously untested geophysical target east of the ‘Valley’ fault. This work was performed on the Chuchi Lake (MINFILE 093N 159) occurrence to the southeast.
