Charlie (Warren) occurrence is located west of the Tchaikazan River at an elevation of approximately 2100 metres.
The area is underlain by volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Lower Cretaceous Taylor Creek Group, consisting of feldspar crystal tuffs, lithic fragmentals, and some flow rocks with chloritic amygdules. Argillaceous sediments are a minor component of the succession. These have been intruded by Late Cretaceous to Paleogene dioritic and feldspar porphyritic rocks.
Locally, at least five mineralized, 10 to 50 centimetre wide, quartz-carbonate veins (Charlie, Big, Avalanche, East and DK) have been identified. Mineralization is reported to consist of pyrite, pyrrhotite, galena, altaite, hessite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, native gold and wehrlite. Secondary minerals include limonite, hematite, epidote and chlorite. The area is dominantly propylitic- altered with minor earlier potassic alteration.
The Big vein is located approximately 300 metres to the northwest, while the DK vein is located approximately 300 metres up slope, the Avalanche vein is located approximately 900 metres to the north and the East vein is located approximately 1000 metres to the east- northeast. Malachite mineralization is also reported in the area of the Avalanche vein. The Charlie vein has been followed along strike for 150 metres and the Big vein has been traced for 275 metres.
Mineralogical compositions and textures of the vein mineralization suggest precipitation at a high structural level, above the disseminated chalcopyrite mineralization (Hub occurrence) exposed in the valley floor. In other words, the vein mineralization was precipitated from the same hydrothermal system from which copper mineralization was deposited at a deeper level.
A chip sample assayed 279.9 grams per tonne silver, 10.6 grams per tonne gold and 13.68 per cent copper (Bulletin 81).
In 1982, grab samples of the Charlie vein yielded up to 18.5 grams per tonne gold and 157.6 grams per tonne silver; while samples from the Big and Avalanche veins yielded up to 1.8 and 11.7 grams per tonne gold and 4788 and 307.8 grams per tonne silver with 21.3 and 13.68 per cent copper, respectively (Assessment Report 10774). The following year, samples from the East vein area assayed up to 0.48 per cent copper, 1.0 gram per tonne gold and 14.3 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 12105).
In 1987, chip samples from the Charlie vein, taken over a length of 20 metres and width of 20 centimetres, averaged 22.1 grams per tonne gold and 224.0 grams per tonne silver, while a sample (AB 245B) of the DK vein assayed 9.9 grams per tonne gold, 95.8 grams per tonne silver and 0.14 per cent lead (Assessment Report 17038). A 20- centimetre sample of massive sulphide from the Big vein assayed 8.2 grams per tonne gold, 8557 grams per tonne silver and 26.0 per cent copper (Assessment Report 17038).
In 1998, two grab samples (165 and 169) of quartz vein material, from the Avalanche vein area, assayed 0.85 and 0.67 gram per tonne gold and 8.84 and 3.80 grams per tonne silver, respectively, while a grab sample (168) of malachite-stained sediment assayed 0.912 per cent copper and 3.8 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 25726).
Work History
A prospecting party exploring the Tchaikazan Valley in 1945, discovered quartz veins carrying gold-silver mineralization on a slope above the valley. Later exploration in the area, during the 1950’s, resulted in the discovery of chalcopyrite-molybdenite mineralization (Hub occurrence) in the floor of the Tchaikazan Valley. Limited sampling and trenching were reportedly performed during this time. In 1966 and 1967, Falconbridge completed programs of soil sampling, trenching, a magnetometer survey and eight drill holes, totalling 375 metres. In 1968, Copper Range Exploration completed program of minor trenching and a magnetometer survey. In 1971, Rio Tinto completed a program of soil sampling and ground geophysical surveys the area as the Eggs and Warren properties. The following year, seven diamond drill holes, totalling 450 metres, were completed. These exploration projects centred on the copper-molybdenum mineralization located on the lower valley.
During 1981 through 1983, Suncor Resources completed programs of rock, silt and soil sampling, geological mapping and ground geophysical surveys on the area as the Cougar claims. In 1987, Golden Pick Resources completed a program of geological mapping and rock sampling. In 1998, Pellaire Gold Mines completed a program of geological mapping and rock, silt and soil sampling on the area.
In 2005 and 2006, Galore Resources completed programs of soil sampling, a 61.8 line-kilometre ground geophysical survey and a 188 line-kilometre airborne geophysical survey on the area. In 2008, Valor Resources completed a program of geochemical sampling and geological mapping on the area. In 2019, Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. competed a program of prospecting, geochemical (rock and soil) sampling and ground magnetic surveys on the area as part of the Pellaire Gold project.
