The Ferruginate occurrence area is underlain by Lower Jurassic Telkwa Formation (Hazelton Group) volcanics. In general, the volcanics in the area are predominantly tuffs, agglomerates and grey to green andesites. Minor porphyritic (plagioclase and/or hornblende) flows and interflow sedimentary rocks are also present. The volcanic rocks are intruded by narrow quartz feldspar porphyry dikes which are 1 to 3 metres wide and strike northeast. The dikes, fine to medium-grained, are possibly related to the Eocene Kastberg Intrusions.

The host unit is reported to be either a tuffaceous dacite or a quartz-sericite altered andesite tuff with ubiquitous disseminated pyrite in concentrations of 2 to 8 per cent. This area is one of the few within the claims that contains any appreciable concentrations of pyrite and was considered to have possible porphyry style mineralization or alteration as opposed to the more typical narrow shear/fracture veins that are so prevalent in other portions of the property.

This Ferruginate zone is comprised of a series of prominent gossans located both in the Driftwood River and tributaries that drain easterly, off the Gosson zone (Gossan Bear), into the Driftwood River. A characteristic feature of the prospect is the development of a thick cap of ferricrete, which is most prominent in the tributary streams west of the Driftwood River. Extensive chip sampling was undertaken on these gossans but with limited success. Chip samples of 1.0 and 2.0 metre lengths were collected where possible in 1997 (Assessment Report 25270). No anomalous gold or silver values were received with only minor elevated copper assays towards the southern portion of the area of sample coverage.

One observation of interest was obtained from the headwaters of a small creek underlain by this hydrothermal pyrite-quartz +/- sericite alteration where vuggy quartz-specularite veins were seen cutting this alteration.

In 1996, sample RR41 of a 5-centimetre-wide vein with specular hematite assayed 1.02 grams per tonne gold. Sample WR25, less than 200 metre to the west, was a 30-centimetre-wide chip sample taken from a quartz vein with specular hematite, chalcopyrite and malachite. This sample assayed 0.13 per cent copper and 0.8 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 24882).

See Beanx (094D 003) for details the work history, particularly of work done in 1996 and 1997.