The area of "The Ledge" showing is mainly underlain by undivided intrusion of the Eocene Coast Plutonic Complex. The intrusions have been described as ranging in composition from biotite granite to biotite-hornblende quartz diorite. Canadian Cariboo Resources considered the gneissic showing host rocks to be metamorphic equivalents of the Lower Jurassic Unuk River Formation (Hazelton Group). Map No.1 (Assessment Report 21257) also shows the mapping of andesite and andesitic ash to crystal tuff in "The Ledge" showing area.
Canadian Caribou Resources explored the Canyon Creek area and discovered “The Ledge” showing; a zone of gossanous, semi-massive sulphide float boulders at the base of steep slopes on the north bank of Canyon Creek. From 7 samples taken in 1990, values ranged up to 0.79 grams per tonne gold, 13.8 grams per tonne silver, 0.55 grams per cent copper and 0.0473 per cent molybdenum (Assessment Report 21257).
The zone is described as high grade, gold-bearing, silica-sulphide mineralized zone. This mineralization was reported to strike southeasterly, but only a limited area of mineralization, within the narrow confines of two steep gullies was examined during the 1990 program. Large float boulders, measuring up to 2.5 metres long and hosting up to 90 per cent massive sulphide mineralization and 10 per cent quartz were found. These large, angular, gossanous blocks of massive pyrrhotite (90 per cent of sulphide total), chalcopyrite (7 per cent), pyrite (2 per cent) and molybdenite (1 per cent), lining fractures, as disseminations in pyrrhotite and in quartz veinlets, are reported to have originated from ledges of rusty orange weathering quartzitic gneisses approximately 50 metres vertically above the float boulders where they occur at the base of a 40-45 metre waterfall.
The mineralized blocks are strongly silicified. Quartz occurs as fine fracture fillings to very coarse, white "bull quartz" veins cutting massive sulphide mineralization or as coarse, irregular shaped masses intergrown with and hosting coarse pyrrhotite. Sericite occurs as a common accessory mineral accompanying the siliceous alteration.
A 1imited amount of reconnaissance prospecting was completed over the southwest portion of the Gold Unuk property, east of the the Ledge area. Gneissic quartzite and schist containing numerous quartz stringers and veinlets were located near the southern claim boundary. An outcrop grab sample of extensively gossaned schist with minor disseminated molybdenite and light grey quartz stringers yielded an elevated gold value of 0.364 grams per tonne gold (Sample KYR-018, Assessment Report 19722). The occurrence of sediments in this area indicated that the western part of the property is not entirely underlain by diorite.
Work History
In 1988, an airborne magnetic and VLF EM survey consisting approximately 65 line-kilometres was conducted over the Go1d Unuk 1-4 claims for Dino M Cremonese (Assessment Report 17630). The magnetic data indicates a more complex geological setting than regional geology indicates. Several conductive lineations were mapped in the survey area. VLF-EM conductors associated with faulting and magnetic highs were considered key exploration targets.
In 1989, the Gold Unuk property exploration program, on behalf of Canadian Cariboo Resources Ltd., consisted of helicopter-supported reconnaissance prospecting, geological mapping, and geochemistry (lithogeochemical and heavy mineral sampling) (Assessment Report 19722). Areas of known mineralization and gossans noted within the area were investigated and sampled. A total of 11 rock and 8 heavy mineral samples were collected.
Reconnaissance prospecting was completed along Canyon Creek, in the south-central portion of the GOLD UNUK 3 claim in conjunction with the heavy mineral sampling program. The area is underlain primarily by quartz diorite. Gneissic quartzite and schist containing numerous quartz stringers and veinlets, near the southern claim boundary. A grab sample from gossaned schist, with minor disseminated molybdenite and light grey quartz stringers, yielded the elevated gold value of 0.364 gram per tonne gold.
In 1990, Canadian Caribou Resources collected 18 rock samples, 1 soil samples, 4 silt samples on their Gold Unuk 1-4 claims. This included 7 rock samples at The Ledge showing and 5 rock samples, 3 silt samples and 1 soil sample about 280 metres east and southeast of the Ledge (Assessment Report 21257).
In 2006 and 2007, Hathor Exploration Ltd. completed a 7228.7 line-kilometre airborne geophysical survey on the area as the New and Hell claims of the Iskut project. In 2008, Max Minerals Ltd. examined the property.
In 2016, Colorado Resources Ltd. completed a reconnaissance exploration program on their KingPin Property which covered the Ledge area and 36 other MINFILE occurrences on the property. Work included the collection of 147 rock chip and grab samples and a total of 129 soil samples (Assessment Report 36656). No Ledge sampling occurred but two sample about 1.1 kilometres southwest of the Ledge resulted in a minor new showing.
