Residual iron oxide deposits are common in the Taseko River region of the southwestern Chilcotin where conditions are suitable for the development of these deposits, i.e., a source of iron (usually pyritic sediments and volcanics) and relatively stable depositional conditions.

The Chilcotin bog iron showing, 3 kilometres northeast of Mount McClure, consists of a rectangular patch of limonite, from which two long tongues extend downslope, on the west side of Amazon Creek. The limonite is inferred to average 1.5 metres thickness. The iron was leached from silicified Upper Cretaceous pyritic tuffs of the informally named Powell Creek Formation which outcrop upslope to the west. An inferred ore reserve of 114,000 tonnes grading 49 per cent iron is estimated (Geological Survey of Canada Summary Report 1920A).

Other work related to porphyry copper-gold mineralization on the occurrence area, referred to as the Norwest or Empress West zone, identified widespread alteration and local minor mineralization of uncertain style and probably Cretaceous. Affected hosts are volcanic and sedimentary rock of the Taylor Creek Group. Widespread alteration includes advanced argillic, sericite and propylitic assemblages. Chalcopyrite-bearing quartz-(tourmaline) veins occur in float and locally in outcrop. Pyrite is widespread.

Work History

In 1970, Sumitomo completed 21 shallow percussion drill holes, totalling 1111 metres, on the area as a part of a regional program searching for copper-gold porphyry mineralization similar to the Empress (MINFILE 092O 033) occurrence to the east.

In 1991, Westpine-Asarco completed three diamond drill holes, totalling 517 metres, on the area. Drillhole 91-47 yielded intercepts of 0.22 and 0.31 per cent copper, 0.039 and 0.016 per cent molybdenum, 0.4 and 0.6 gram per tonne silver with 0.104 and 0.080 gram per tonne gold over 7.93 and 5.49 metres, respectively (Rebagliati, C.M., Titley, E. [2020-05-29]: Technical Report Summarizing Exploration Work on the IKE Cu-Mo-Au-Ag Project, British Columbia, Canada).

In 2007, Galore Resources completed two diamond drill holes, totalling 242.48 metres, on the area Empress West area.

During 2014 through 2019, Amarc Resources Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping, geochemical (talus fines, rock chip and stream sediment) sampling, 163.6 line-kilometres of induced polarization surveys, 1069 line-kilometres of airborne magnetic surveys and 18 157 metres of diamond drilling on the area as part of the IKE project. The majority of the drilling (15 455.34 metres in 26 holes) was completed on the IKE (MINFILE 092O 025) occurrence.