The Steelhead occurrence is situated in the Duckling Creek area of the Swannell Ranges (Omineca Mountains), approximately 24 kilometres north of Old Hogem and 65 kilometres northeast of Takla Landing.

The Duckling Creek area is underlain by mesozonal plutonic rocks assigned to the Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous Hogem Intrusive Complex, which have been emplaced into volcanic rocks of the Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic Takla Group, east of the Pinchi fault zone. The plutonic rocks form an elongate batholith, extending from Chuchi Lake north to the Mesilinka River. The structural setting of the batholith and the intruded Takla Group is one of vertical tectonics associated with graben development (Bulletin 70).

The Steele Creek area is underlain by quartz-deficient, monzodioritic border phases of the Hogem Intrusive Complex into which leucocratic, orthosyenite intrusions of the Middle Jurassic Duckling Creek Syenite Complex have been emplaced. The small intrusions range from fine-grained to megaporphyritic orthosyenite and represent the latest stage of the intrusive event, having resulted in widespread potassium metasomatism. These rocks display variable potassic, biotite, albitic, chloritic and epidote alteration.

Copper mineralization in the Steelhead area is limited to small showings of copper oxides and minor chalcopyrite within and around late-stage Duckling Creek phases, namely the feldspar porphyry dikes. Alteration occurs as potassium feldspar flooding and minor metasomatite formation. Pyrite is locally abundant and small, rusty gossans occur locally where faults cut a Duckling leucosyenite or feldspar porphyry dike.

Copper sulphide mineralization, occurring in quartz veins and as minute disseminations along intergranular boundaries in the hostrock, is believed to be a late-stage event, spatially related to quartz and potassium feldspar veining. Quartz flooding occurs principally in syenite megaporphyry, where milky comb and drusy veins up to 30 centimetres wide have been observed. Blebs of chalcopyrite occur rarely within the veins or in the adjacent wallrocks. Elsewhere, chalcopyrite abundance appears to increase with the degree of potassium feldspathization. These zones are evident in the field by ‘sheet staining’ of malachite on vertical faces. Pyrite, as fracture coatings, is generally restricted to monzonitic rocks, which impart a reddish hue upon weathering, and does not bear any spatial relationship to chalcopyrite mineralization.

Results from more than 200 rock samples taken from approximately 35 minor copper occurrences located on the ridge surrounding Steele Creek in the early 1970s ranged from 0.009 per cent to 0.06 per cent copper and up to 0.044 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 3341, page 23). Samples taken in 1991 ranged up to 1.695 per cent copper, with background gold values (Assessment Report 21420, Appendix 1, Sample AJ-3).

HISTORY

During the early 1970s numerous mining companies were active in the area exploring for copper-molybdenum deposits. The claim area was investigated at that time by Noranda (Kip and STL claims) and also by Amoco Canada (Needle claims). Regional stream geochemistry outlined the claim area as being strongly anomalous in copper. Documented work on the claims consisted of geochemical sampling (silt, soil and rock), geological mapping and limited induced polarization. The area was restaked by Cyprus Canada Inc in 1990, who followed up with soil and rock sampling and ground magnetics. A total of 937 soils and 86 rocks were collected by Cyprus in 1990. Ninety kilometres of ground magnetic surveying was conducted in conjunction with the soil surveying.

Lysander Minerals Corp. collected talus fines and rock samples from the showing in 1999. The Steelhead and Pal 48 claims that cover the showings are part of the Jajay property, which was optioned to Eastfield Resources Ltd in 2000.

During the early 1970s numerous mining companies were active in the area exploring for copper-molybdenum deposits. The claim area was investigated at that time by Noranda (Kip and STL claims) and also by Amoco Canada (Needle claims). Regional stream geochemistry outlined the claim area as being strongly anomalous in copper. Work documented on the claims consisted of geochemical sampling (silt, soil, and rock), geological mapping, and limited IP. The area was restaked by Cyprus Canada Inc in 1990, and followed up with soil and rock sampling and ground magnetics. A total of 937 soils and 86 rocks were collected by Cyprus in 1990. Ninety kilometres of ground magnetic surveying was conducted in conjunction with the soil surveying.

In 1995, Lysander Gold Corporation prospected the property. The owner was Alvin Jackson. In 1996, Lysander optioned the Dorothy and Steelhead properties and staked the Pal claims.

Lysander Minerals Corp collected talus fines and rock samples from the showing in 1999.

In 2002, Eastfield Resources Ltd purchased the Steelhead claims, which became part of their large land position called the Lorraine-Jajay property. In 2003, a tour of the Eastfield property located a new area of copper mineralization on the north side of the Steelhead area of interest. Later in the year, a second mineralized showing (mineralized talus) was located 500 metres to the west of the new copper mineralization. In 2004, Eastfield conducted reconnaissance prospecting and mapping in the Steelhead area. The 2005 exploration program, funded by Teck Cominco Limited and carried out by Eastfield, included pole-dipole induced polarization and magnetic geophysical surveys in the Lorraine, MacKenzie, North Dome, Steelhead and Rhonda areas and reconnaissance prospecting and mapping in the Steelhead, MacKenzie and Nupal areas.

See Lorraine (MINFILE 093N 002) for related historical details.

Work History

In 1971, Noranda Mining and Exploration Inc. conducted a rock and C-horizon soil geochemistry program.

In 1972, Noranda Mining and Exploration Inc. conducted an induced polarization resistivity survey on the Steele Creek property and located a broad anomalous zone to the southeast of the survey lines.

In 1990, a 2630 line-kilometre airborne magnetometer and very low frequency electromagnetic geophysical survey on the Duckling Creek properties was conducted by Golden Rule Resources Ltd.

In 1995, Lysander Gold Corporation conducted a rock sampling geochemistry program. Seven rock samples were collected and assayed. Samples returned up to 0.097 per cent copper and up to 70 parts per billion gold (Assessment Report 24466).

In 2019, Teck Resources Limited conducted an airborne magnetic survey aimed at enhancing resolution of historical magnetic datasets and developing geological and structural understanding in the northeast portion of the Lorraine-Jajay and Jan-Tam-Misty mineral tenure. The survey identified potential new features in the Steelhead and Fox prospective areas.