The Clarke (CU 13) occurrence is located at approximately 1750 metres elevation on the northeastern flank of Gnawed Mountain.
The area is in the central core of the Lower Jurassic Guichon Creek Batholith. The area is primarily underlain by Skeena variety granodiorite and quartz diorite, which has textures and compositions intermediate between those of the older Bethlehem phase rock to the north and east and those of the younger Bethsaida phase rocks to the southwest. The Skeena rocks are intruded by north-trending Bethsaida porphyritic granodiorite dikes. Fine-grained aplite dikes are common.
Propylitic (chlorite, epidote), sericitic and argillic (kaolinite) alteration is weak and widespread. The Waterhole fault trends north-northeast across the property toward Gnawed Lake. Fracture zones host mineralized quartz vein stockworks.
Old workings on the Clarke showing expose narrow quartz veins striking east and carrying bornite, azurite, malachite, molybdenite, covellite, chalcopyrite and hematite mineralization. Molybdenite also occurs as stringers. This zone is more intensely chloritized and epidotized and contains some secondary albite.
More recent work has identified a fractured, jarositic quartz diorite hosting bornite, chalcocite, chrysocolla, malachite and molybdenite mineralization. This has been referred to as the New zone. Another zone of mineralization, referred to as the Central zone and located approximately 300 metres to the west, hosts malachite, bornite, chalcopyrite, molybdenite and magnetite.
In 1976, two percussion drill holes (76-8 and 76-10) on the New zone yielded 0.26 and 0.71 per cent copper over 36.6 and 19.8 metres, respectively (Assessment Report 31169).
In 1977, drilling yielded 0.24 per cent copper over 16.2 metres and 0.41 per cent copper over the final 29.4 metres of hole 77-1, including 2.00 per cent copper with 0.140 per cent molybdenum over 1.2 metres; 1.44 per cent copper over 30 centimetres in hole 77-3; 0.32 per cent copper over 3.3 metres and 4.80 per cent copper over 0.60 metre in hole 77-4 (Assessment Report 6564). These holes were located on the New zone.
In 1986, sampling of the New zone yielded up to 15.75 per cent copper, 79.7 grams per tonne silver and 0.2 gram per tonne gold over 0.3 metre from a sample (GN-86-014) of high-grade chrysocolla and 2.6 per cent copper, 3.5 per cent molybdenum and 26.3 grams per tonne silver over 0.1 metre from a sample (GN-86-008) of molybdenite bearing quartz vein (Assessment Report 15203).
In 2009, a channel sample (GB 18) from the New zone yielded 5.08 per cent copper and 0.62 per cent molybdenum over 1 metre, while another channel sample (G 14) taken to the west from the Central zone yielded 0.44 per cent copper over 0.3 metre (Assessment Report 31169).
Work History
The area has been explored in conjunction with the nearby Ann (MINFILE 092ISE152) occurrence.
In 1957 and 1958, the area was examined by American Smelting and Refining. In 1959, Kennco Explorations completed a program of ground geophysical surveys, soil sampling, geological mapping and three diamond drill holes on the area as the VM property.
In the mid-1960’s, Kennco Explorations and Anaconda examined the area. The property was owned and examined by Trojan Mines in 1969.
In 1974 and 1975, Highmont Mining completed programs of geological mapping and ground electromagnetic surveys on the area. In 1976, WR Financial Consultants completed eight percussion drill holes, totalling 690.0 metres, on the area as the Gnawed property. In 1977, New Minex Resources completed four diamond drill holes, totalling 301.0 metres, and four percussion drill holes, totalling 274.0 metres.
In 1986, Robak Industries completed a program of rock and soil sampling and geological mapping on the area. In 1991, 1996 and 2009, Robak Industries completed programs of geological mapping and prospecting on the area. In 2012, a 72.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey was completed on the area immediately south. In 2015, Robak Industries Ltd. completed a 12.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the area as the Gnawed Mountain property.
During 2018 through 2020, Mascot Capital Inc. completed programs of prospecting, geochemical (rock and soil) sampling, 3D compilations of historic magnetic data and an 8.0 line-kilometre seismic survey on the area as the Gnawed Mountain property.
