The Grayling Creek (Zone 5 and 6) occurrences are exposed at two locations in Grayling Creek valley, at an elevation of 1410 metres on the west side (Zone 5) and 1675 metres on the east side (Zone 6), approximately 11.8 kilometres south-southwest of the creeks’ mouth on Gathto Creek.
Regionally, the area is underlain by a Cambrian to Silurian platformal sequence of carbonates, quartzites and siltstones. Lower Cambrian Atan Group dolomites and quartzites, intruded by mafic dikes, are conformably overlain by Cambrian to Ordovician Kechika Group arenaceous dolomites and limestones and Silurian Nonda Formation siltstones.
The Grayling Creek Zone 5 and 6 mineralized zones occur at the same stratigraphic level on both sides of the valley, at the top of the Atan Group immediately below the Kechika Group. The Zone 5 occurrence consists of irregular pods; open-space fillings; and veins of massive pyrite, bornite, chalcopyrite and tetrahedrite in silicified fractured dolomite and is exposed over an area of approximately 16 by 5 metres and through a total stratigraphic thickness of approximately 5.5 metres. Fractures are completely healed by crystalline calcite. Individual sulphide pods of massive sulphide are up to 0.40 metre thick and extend for 3 to 4 metres along bedding planes. The zone is reported to be open in both directions along strike.
In 1986, a sample (WR30) from the Zone 6 occurrence is reported to have yielded 1.4 per cent copper and 10.2 grams per tonne silver, whereas a previous sample (No. 14) from the zone is reported to have assayed 32.0 per cent copper and 2.5 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 21437). Also at this time, previous sampling (No. 2 9 and 12) of pods of massive bornite-chalcopyrite from Zone 5 is reported to have yielded from 29.2 to 34.8 per cent copper with 5.0 to 15.0 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 21437).
In 1990, a composite chip sample of massive sulphide mineralization graded 1.4 per cent copper and 10.2 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 21437).
Work History
During the 1970s, there was a great deal of interest in the Kluachesi-Tuchodi Lakes region. Windermere Explorations, McIntyre Porcupine Mines, Canadian Superior and others staked claims around the Blue Group of McIntyre. The McIntyre property had been optioned from a prospecting group from Fort Nelson in late 1970.
In 1970 and 1971, McIntyre Porcupine acquired a total of 356 claims including the Blue Group. Geochemistry, geophysics, geological mapping, trenching, sampling and greater than 1650 metres of diamond drilling in 36 holes were completed; 16 kilometres of induced polarization surveying outlined a 'Y' shaped anomaly.
In 1984, E5 Resources Corp. completed a program of geological mapping and rock sampling on the area as the Cup 1-11 claims. In 1986, the area was appraised for New Holland Mining N.L. by Dr. C.J. Westerman. He concluded that copper-silver mineralization occurs in an area covering 4.5 by 0.75 kilometres. In 1989, Atlas Management Canada Inc. prospected and sampled the area as the Ark, Blue, Red, Elm, Roo, Aim and Pal claims of the Blue property.
In 1990, Gold Parl Resources Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping, rock sampling and 8.6 line-kilometres of ground electromagnetic and magnetic surveys on the area as the Klu property.
