The Sheep Mountain area represents a unique geological picture with large complex structural zones, huge alteration, and abundant sulphide mineralization. It is to host to a number of mineralized quartz/calcite/carbonate veins that contain chalcopyrite, malachite, azurite, galena, sphalerite, hematite, limonite, pyrite and scorodite. Some of these veins have been explored by adits and trenching. The veins typically are quartz with anchorite and calcite along the margins. The largest vein was over 2 meters wide. Sulphide mineralization is hosted by the quartz with only minor pyrite and limonite mineralization in the calcite/anchorite gangue. The majority of the veins occur along northeast trending structures and are hosted by a thick unit of diabase, thought to be sills. The diabase may be a fine-grained phase of the syenite porphyry. Other syenites in the region have been dated as Cretaceous so this may be a probable age. The dikes were quite carbonate, hematite, manganese, epidote, potassic(?), quartz and limonite altered.

Strata in the Sheep Mountain area changes attitude across the Elk River from gentle east dips on the east side to near vertical dips along the west side, indicating a major fault system. A major alteration zone, white clay (argillic/sericitic alteration), occurs along some of the structural breaks. The altered zone is at least one kilometer long and 500 metres wide, following a portion of the Elk River canyon. The outcrop is limited to the riverbanks along the Elk River and to scattered areas on Sheep Mountain.

At the Ramshorn showing, chalcopyrite, azurite and pyrite occur within a 0.5-metre quartz vein. Along one margin of the vein a talcose (chlorite?) gouge seam about 2 centimetres thick contains copper oxide minerals. Sills of Purcell diorite are reported in the vicinity and may have some relationship to the mineralization. Host stratigraphy is assumed to be Helikian Purcell Supergroup sediments.

The Wigwam 1 claim (1999 to 2007) contained 3 MINFILE-documented mineral occurrences, Ramshorn (082GSW010), Jennie (082GSW011), and Leah (082GSW029). The Silver King showing (082GSW028) was located near the northeast corner of the Wigwam 1 and the Sweet May showing (082GSW012) was located about 1 kilometre south of the southeast corner.

WORK HISTORY

In 1954, R. Monesmith, of Waldo, and partners owned six mineral claims on the summit and south slope of Sheep Mountain on the west side of the Elk River.

In 1999, four days of mapping and sampling over the Elko 1-8 claim located along the west bank of the Elk River about 5 kilometres south of the town of Elko. In total, eleven rock samples were collected and tested by multi-element ICP analysis (Assessment Report 26151).

In 2000, eighteen rock specimens were collected and identified in the field by Morris Geological Co. Ltd. Eight rock and ten soil samples were tested by multi-element ICP analysis. Besides the Jennie showing, other sampling was done just north of the Silver King (082GSW028) showing and near the Ramshorn (082GSW010) and Leah (082GSW029) showings.

In 2002, four and a half days of mapping, prospecting and sampling was conducted by Robert Morris on the Wigwam 1 claim held by Morris Geological Co. Ltd. (Assessment Report 27033). In total, ten rock samples and ten soil samples were collected; eight of the rocks, and all ten of the soils were tested using ICP geochemical analysis.

In 2003, three days of mapping, prospecting and sampling was completed by Morris Geological. In total, eighteen soil samples were collected; all of the soil samples were tested using ICP analysis. Sampling occurred in the Leah and Jennie showing areas and to the southwest in areas of old access roads (Assessment Report 27315).

In 2004, three days of mapping, prospecting and the collection of 11 petrographic samples on the Wigwam 1 claim by Morris Geological (Assessment Report 27267).

In 2005, a preliminary ground magnetometer survey was completed on the Wigwam 1 by Morris Geological during October 2005 (Assessment Report 28064). Two areas were tested, one in the southwest corner of the claim, and another in the central eastern part. The ground magnetic survey included 13 lines for a total of 9.1 kilometres. The preliminary magnetic survey indicated minimal contrast.

In 2005 and 2006 a total of sixty-four soil samples were collected on the Wigwam 1 claim by Robert Morris, mostly in areas not far from road access (Assessment Report 28809). Prospecting and geophysical work was also completed.

In 2007, a prospecting and rock geochemistry program was conducted on mineral tenures 372755, 555975, 555976, 555977, 556361, and 557771, near the confluence of the Wigwam and Elk rivers on behalf of owners Robert Morris and Craig Kennedy (Assessment Report 29552). All of the MINFILE occurrences mentioned above, including Ramshorn, Jennie, Sweet May, Leah, and Silver King were covered by these tenures, also known as the Wigwam (082GSW096) and Maxiwam (082GSW097) claims. Eight man-days were spent prospecting and collecting rock samples at Sheep Mountain. Over the course of the program 59 rock samples were collected in total.

Refer to Jennie (082GSW01), Silver King (082GSW028), and Leah (082GSW029) for further information on the Sheep Mountain mineral occurrences.