The Axe (South zone) prospect is 1 kilometre southwest of Summers Creek, 5 kilometres south-southeast of the summit of Missezula Mountain and 20 kilometres north of Princeton.
This area along Summers Creek is underlain by the Eastern volcanic facies of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group, comprising mafic, augite and hornblende porphyritic pyroclastics and flows, and associated alkaline intrusions. These rocks are intruded by granodiorite and quartz diorite of the Middle to Upper Cretaceous Summers Creek pluton.
This prospect is part of the Axe property, a large porphyry system some 3.2 kilometres in diameter that contains three significant zones of copper mineralization, including the South zone. The other two zones are the Adit (MINFILE 092HNE143) and West (MINFILE 092HNE142) zones. The South zone is 800 metres south of the Adit zone and 1500 metres southwest of the West zone. This porphyry-copper hydrothermal system is related to the intrusion of small stocks and dikes of fine-grained diorite and monzonite occurring through the Adit and West zones. These intrusions are interpreted to be part of the Nicola magmatic suite and may represent the deeper part of Nicola volcanics.
The South zone is hosted in green to grey augite and/or plagioclase porphyritic basaltic to andesitic flows of the Nicola Group (Central Belt, Bulletin 69). The flows are composed of up to 50 per cent euhedral augite crystals, 15 per cent plagioclase crystals and up to 15 per cent hornblende in a fine-grained matrix. A few dacite tuffs and/or flows occur with the andesites and basalts. The volcanics are cut by a few porphyritic diorite dikes. These rocks are intruded by medium- to coarse-grained porphyritic monzonite of the Summers Creek pluton immediately southeast of the deposit.
The hostrocks are strongly faulted, fractured and sheared in all orientations. One prevalent fracture set strikes 045 degrees. A fault striking 140 to 170 degrees and dipping steeply northeast to southwest traverses the area of copper mineralization. This structure is part of the north-striking Summers Creek fault system.
Mineralized units exhibit significant propylitic and lesser potassic and argillic alteration. The volcanics are chloritized pervasively and along fractures. Epidote commonly accompanies the chlorite and also forms fracture fillings and irregular veins, usually with calcite. Strong zones of albitization are locally present. Secondary orthoclase, often with magnetite and/or epidote, occurs as weakly developed pervasive alteration or as veins. The mineral also forms alteration envelopes along quartz veins. These post-mineral (?) veins and associated orthoclase flooding may be a result of the emplacement of the nearby Summers Creek stock. Fine-grained biotite often accompanies chlorite. Clay is developed along the numerous shears and fault zones. Limonite, hematite, malachite and azurite occur along fractures in minor amounts.
Sulphide mineralization is usually in veins, stringers and fracture fillings and to a lesser extent as disseminations. The sulphides consist of pyrite, chalcopyrite, minor molybdenite and rare pyrrhotite. Chalcopyrite exceeds pyrite in areas of stronger mineralization. Abundant disseminated and vein magnetite (up to 15 per cent) is present in such areas. Chalcopyrite and pyrite tend to be disseminated in pervasive chlorite, epidote and albite, and along fractures with chlorite, epidote and some magnetite. Molybdenite occurs in quartz veins, in chlorite-lined fractures, as irregular stringers and as disseminations in locally strong, pervasive epidote and orthoclase alteration. The bulk of the copper mineralization appears to be older than molybdenum mineralization, which may be associated with the Summers Creek stock.
Significant copper mineralization occurs in a 200-metre-wide zone that trends northwest for approximately 550 metres. The deposit is developed along the southwest flank of the previously noted fault striking 140 to 170 degrees.
A second zone, known as the Mid zone, lies approximately 250 metres north of the South zone. Scattered copper mineralization occurs in bedded andesitic crystal and lithic tuffs in an area trending northwest for 250 metres. Pyrite and chalcopyrite are accompanied by orthoclase, epidote, chlorite, calcite and magnetite alteration and veining.
A third zone of mineralization of similar mineralization, referred to as the Ohio zone, is located west-northwest of the Mid zone and approximately 600 metres northwest of the South zone.
Trenching and diamond drilling up to 1973 on the South zone has defined an indicated reserve of 37 191 100 tonnes grading 0.48 per cent copper (Northern Miner - September 6, 1973). Precious metal values are generally low. One drillhole intersected 30.05 metres grading 0.51 per cent copper, 2.3 grams per tonne silver and 0.099 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 9896, page 12, hole M-2).
In 1981, rock samples from trenches located near the northern extent of the South zone yielded up to 0.259 per cent copper and 6.4 grams per tonne silver (Sample AXE 7C; Assessment Report 9896).
In 1998, a collection of random grab samples (SOUTH-R3) collected over a 1- by 1-metre area in the South zone assayed 0.346 per cent copper (Assessment Report 25761).
In 2003, a total resource for the Axe (South, West, Adit and Mid) zones was reported at 39 100 000 tonnes indicated and 32 000 000 tonnes inferred grading 0.39 per cent copper, including a resource of 23 600 000 tonnes indicated and 19 600 000 tonnes inferred, both grading 0.34 per cent copper, from the South zone (Assessment Report 29096). The overall resource is said to include an inferred oxide resource of 8 500 000 tonnes grading 0.54 per cent copper. The resource was based on a 0.25 per cent copper cut-off grade. The gold content has not been determined.
In 2007, a drillhole (A07-13) on the Mid zone is reported to have yielded 0.17 per cent copper over 97.5 metres (Assessment Report 31576). In 2009, a drillhole (A09-02) was drilled 70 metres northeast of hole A07-13 and yielded 0.11 per cent copper with 0.06 gram per tonne gold over 67.0 metres (32.0 to 98.8 metres down hole; Assessment Report 31576).
In 2014, a drillhole (14A-02) on the Mid zone is reported to have yielded 0.49 and 0.28 per cent copper with 0.162 and 0.088 gram per tonne gold over 16.30 and 13.60 metres (57.0 to 73.3 and 372.0 to 385.6 metres down hole), respectively, whereas a drillhole (14A-01) on the South zone yielded 0.23 and 0.24 per cent copper with 0.049 and 0.068 gram per tonne gold over 57.52 and 41.91 metres (62.48 to 120.00 and 244.24 to 286.15 metres down hole), respectively (Assessment Report 37482).
In 2018, a drillhole (AXD18-02) on the South zone yielded intercepts including 0.180, 0.214 and 0.285 per cent copper with 0.068, 0.045 and 0.083 gram per tonne gold over 36.14, 24.47 and 36.68 metres (156.00 to 192.14, 278.00 to 302.47 and 596.32 to 633.00 metres down hole), respectively (Assessment Report 38199).
Work History
The Axe (South zone) was initially explored by the Meridian Exploration Syndicate in 1967 after being staked by J.A. Stinson in 1966. The company completed geological, geophysical and soil geochemical surveys, 760 metres of trenching and 651 metres of diamond drilling in seven holes. Amax Exploration Inc. conducted additional geological, geophysical and soil geochemical surveys between 1969 and 1971. Adonis Mines Ltd. completed five diamond drill holes in the South zone and two in the Mid zone in 1972. The company also completed 1800 metres of trenching between 1972 and 1973. The property was then optioned by Global Energy Corporation (formerly Adonis Mines) to Cominco Ltd. in 1980. Cominco completed geological, geochemical and magnetometer surveys over the deposit in 1981 and 1982.
During 1980 through 1993, Cominco earned a controlling interest in the claims by completing work programs. During this period, they compiled all historical data, abandoned all original claims and re-staked the Axe 3000, 4000, 5000 and 6000 claims. They also completed magnetometer, VLF electromagnetic surveys, rock and soil geochemistry, and drilled six diamond drill holes, totalling 765 metres. In 1991, Cominco drilled 11 percussion holes totalling 375 metres in an area of gold soil anomalies. This program was, for the most part, unsuccessful in penetrating deep overburden.
In 1994, Cominco sold the claims to the Predator Syndicate, who maintained the claims to their status in 2004. The claims were transferred to Kenneth L. Daughtry, who held the claims in trust for the syndicate until March 2003. From 1997 to 2000, the property was optioned to Causeway Mining Corp, who performed a work program in 1998 consisting of an induced polarazation survey, reviews of available drillcore, rock chip sampling and the staking of five additional claims.
In 2003, Bearclaw Capital Corp. entered into an agreement to option the Axe property. Work was done on the Axe (Adit zone) in 2003 and 2004. In 2003, Bearclaw Capital Corp. entered into an agreement to option the Axe property. Diamond and percussion drilling was done on the Axe (Adit zone) in 2003 and 2004. In 2005, Westar Resources Ltd. entered into an option agreement with Bearclaw Capital Corp. and completed a 26.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the Axe property. In 2006, five diamond drill holes, totalling 689.0 metres, were completed on the Axe (West) zone. In 2009, a further four diamond drill holes, totalling 503.3 metres, were completed on the Axe (West) and Axe (Mid) zones.
In 2012, Xstrata Canada Corp. optioned the Axe property and completed a program of prospecting, soil sampling, a 35.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey and a 954.0 line-kilometre airborne magnetic and radiometric survey. In 2014, Copper Mountain Mining Corp. completed four diamond drill holes, totalling 1595 metres, on the Axe (West) and Axe (South) zone.
In 2017, Evrim Exploration Canada Corp. completed a program of historical drillcore re-logging and re-interpretation on the Axe property. The following year, a program of rock sampling, geological mapping, 41 rotary drill holes, totalling 695.3 metres, and 4 diamond drill holes, totalling 2113.6 metres, were completed on the property.
