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File Created: 24-Jul-1985 by BC Geological Survey (BCGS)
Last Edit:  10-Jun-1988 by Laura L. Duffett (LLD)

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NMI 093L14 Au6
Name RIO GRANDE (L.7277), RICO ASPEN, SPONDULIX, JUMBO, IRON DOLLAR, LAST HOPE, CHAUFFER Mining Division Omineca
BCGS Map 093L084
Status Developed Prospect NTS Map 093L14W
Latitude 054º 51' 00'' UTM 09 (NAD 83)
Longitude 127º 20' 21'' Northing 6079364
Easting 606632
Commodities Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead, Zinc Deposit Types L01 : Subvolcanic Cu-Ag-Au (As-Sb)
Tectonic Belt Intermontane Terrane Stikine, Plutonic Rocks
Capsule Geology

The Rio Grande claims are underlain by Lower to Middle Jurassic Hazelton Group volcanics which are unconformably overlain by Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous Bowser Group sediments. These rocks are intruded by a Cretaceous Bulkley Intrusion, comprised of grano- diorite and quartz-monzonite. This intrusion forms the core of the highest peak of Mount Evelyn. Minor quartz-feldspar porphyry dikes associated with the Bulkley Intrusive crosscut the volcanics and sediments. The Hazelton Group rocks are comprised of a basal inter- mediate volcanic overlain by massive pale green dacite and rhyo- dacite flows. This is followed by 10 metres of bleached and shattered tuff overlain by massive andesite, andesitic flows and tuff. The Bowser Group unconformably overlies the Hazelton rocks. The sedimentary sequence consists of a poorly sorted basal conglom- erate which exhibits rusty weathering due to disseminated pyrite in the matrix.

The Rio Grande mineral occurrence coincides with shear filling and vein-type mineralization in the conglomerate. This is overlain by a monotonous series of upward fining grits, siltstones, and mudstone which are generally black, carbonaceous and rusty weathered. Shears and fractures are filled with quartz-sulphide veins which range between 5 centimetres to 3 metres thick and contain a variable amount of mineralization.

At an elevation of 1400 metres an adit was driven along the contact of the sediments and volcanics. The contact strikes a little south of east and dips 40 degrees north. Rocks at the dump site for the adit consist of siltstones traversed by fine pyrite seams. In an open cut on the contact there was rusty oxidized rock impregnated with arsenopyrite and pyrite. Similar mineralization occurs east- ward along the contact. A piece of the arsenopyrite taken from a crosscut assayed 25.4 grams per tonne gold and 274.3 grams per tonne silver (Property File - Garde, A., 1934).

Mineralization occurs as infillings in shears and zones of brecciation near the granodiorite intrusion at the volcanics. Adits at 1570 and 1675 metres elevation driven along fissures were both barren.

Imperial Metals Corporation optioned the Chauffer property in 1995. A polymetallic massive sulphide showing was trenched and drilled. A 0.52-metre intersection assayed 18.9 grams per tonne gold and 15.77 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 24354).

Bibliography
EMPR AR 1934-C8; 1935-C48
EMPR ASS RPT *471, *11526, 17081, *24354
EMPR EXPL *1983-446; 1988-C172
EMPR FIELDWORK 1988, pp. 195-208
EMPR MAP 69-1
EMPR PF (*Garde, A. (1934): Report; miscellaneous maps; Kuran, D.L. (1988): Report on the Mt. Evelyn Claims, Hudson Bay Mt. Area in Prospectus for More Resources Inc., Feb.27, 1989)
GSC BULL 270
GSC MAP 971A
GSC MEM *223, p. 63
GSC OF 351
GSC P 36-20, p. 103; 44-23
Imperial Metals Corporation, 1995 Annual Report
Kirkham, R.V., (1969): A Mineralogical and Geochemical Study of the Zonal Distribution of Ores in the Hudson Bay Range, British Columbia, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Wisconsin

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