The Rizz showing occupies very steep unstable slopes on the knife-edge ridge that extends northward from Nelles Peak, a matterhorn-like structure. At the base of the north-facing slopes are arms of Tulsequah Glacier. The showing is located approximately 82 kilometres south-southwest of Atlin, B.C.
The Rizz showing consists primarily of an ice-cored mound (landslide deposit) of sulphide-enriched felsite boulders. The deposit is located at the mouth of a cirque 6 kilometres north of Nelles Peak. South of the mound, bedrock consists of green to black, epidote/chlorite altered rocks of the Eocene Sloko Group. The Sloko Group is intruded by felsite bodies (dikes and large pads) which are relatively fine-grained and homogeneous. Rocks of this nature host the sulphide mineralization. An east northeast-trending fault truncates the Sloko Group at the north end of the cirque, bringing it in contact with highly deformed rocks of the Paleozoic Nisling or Boundary Ranges Suite. These in turn are intruded by Cretaceous Coast Ranges hornblende granodiorite.
Minor alteration and disseminated pyrite and galena mineralization in schist and intrusive rocks along the fault are observed, however the source of the mineralized landslide deposit has not been pinpointed. Assays of grab samples range to 27.63 grams per tonne gold and 15.9 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 21845). Another locality in high grade schist and gneiss, one kilometre to the west northwest of the boulder train, consists of galena and sphalerite layers in laminate white marble, with assays to 3.43 grams per tonne gold, 562.29 grams per tonne silver, 8.25 per cent lead and 7.3 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 21845). These are also talus blocks, and the source of mineralized float has not been identified.
Work History
In 1990, American Bullion Minerals Limited, prospected the Rizz and Maple Leaf areas. Gold-silver-lead-zinc mineralization was discovered in a train of schist boulders and silver-lead zinc was found in marble in scree in the northern part of the Rizz area. Massive and disseminated sulphide mineralization was found in boulder trains along the northern flank of Rugulose Glacier. Three gossanous rhyolitic zones were discovered on the slope north of the glacier: the 3100, 3300, and 3500 zones. The Glacier Light property was staked over what American Bullion named the Maple Leaf area. The Rizz claim group was staked on the Rizz area. The two claim groups were recorded on August 18 and September 8, 1990 respectively.
In 1991, American Bullion's prospectors returned to the Rizz area and discovered lead-zinc-silver mineralization at the toe of a small glacier in its central part, and lead-zinc mineralization at the head of a glacier in the southern part of it (Assessment Report 21845). Rock, soil and silt sampling programs were conducted in the Maple Leaf area. Subsequently, a pulse electromagnetic survey was conducted over the 1991 Maple Leaf grid (Assessment Report 21844). The 3300-zone showing comprising semi-massive and disseminated sulphide mineralization was sampled. It was located on a steep slope near the top of the cliff on the northern flank of Rugulose Glacier.
The Rizz showing was discovered and prospected by American Bullion Minerals Limited. During the 1990 and 1991 field seasons a total of 36 rock samples were collected from float boulders and outcrop. The Rizz was also visited in 1991 as part of a BC Geological Survey Branch reconnaissance survey (Fieldwork 1993, page 194).
After 1992 the Glacier Light and Rizz claims lapsed.
In 2006, the Maple Leaf-Rizz claim group was map-staked by Saturn Minerals Inc and later that year they conducted an exploration program consisting of a drill program of 1,347.1 metres in 7 NT holes. Three of the previously discovered zones: 3100, 3300 and Camp zones were tested by drilling during Saturn Minerals Inc.'s 2006 drill program. Most of Saturn Minerals Inc.'s 2006 diamond-drill holes penetrated rock along the crest of the cliff just north of the reported location of the 3300-zone showing. The 3100, 3300, and Camp Zones were all tested during the 2006 drill program. No massive sulphide mineralization was found. Only traces of disseminated sphalerite, chalcopyrite, and galena were encountered in the quartz-pyrite zones.
No work was done by Saturn Minerals in the Rizz showing area though the area was covered by new Rizz claims in 2006 and a discussion and maps are given in the assessment report on the Maple Leaf-Rizz property (Assessment Report 28977).
