Multiple, small (1 metre) pits are visible in glacial-fluvial gravels on the western bank of a south-flowing tributary at the headwaters of Valleau Creek.
The underlying rocks are foliated volcanic sediments and tuffs of the Upper Triassic Inzana Lake Formation (informal name) of the Takla Group. Moderate to intense quartz-carbonate-sericite alteration affects the rocks in a regional northwest-trending zone. Minor green mica (mariposite?) and anomalous arsenic values suggest a possible listwanite association (see Tsay, 093N 214).
The irregular and wiry nature of the placer gold may indicate a local source (Assessment Report 21700). Placer gold is also described in other tributary creeks in the area (Assessment Report 21228).
Work History
Prior to 1945, minor placer operations were reported to have been performed on two tributaries of Valleau Creek. At this time, quartz veins up to 15 centimetres wide and hosting free gold were reported to have been identified along one of the tributaries.
Imperial Metals Corp conducted a reconnaissance stream sediment and soil sampling program in 1985 which led to the staking of the VG 1 to VG 5 claims. Imperial followed up this early work with silt, rock, and soil sampling and geological mapping programs in 1986 and 1989. Westmin has done airborne geophysical surveying, stream sediment and soil sampling, and geological mapping and trenching on the adjoining Kwanika Nalleau and Wudleau properties.
In 1990, Westmin Mines Ltd. completed a program of stream sediment sampling and airborne geophysical (electromagnetic and magnetic) surveys on the area as part of the Valley Girl and Wudleau North properties.
Westmin's exploration of the Valley Girl property in 1991 included stream sediment sampling at a detailed scale in conjunction with reconnaissance geological mapping and rock geochemical sampling. In addition, several excavator pits were dug in the southwest corner of the property to sample different levels in the glacial overburden and to test the depth to bedrock.
In 1992, the work done on the Kwanika Extension Grid included 6.65 kilometres of linecutting, 16.6 kilometres of induced polarization surveying, 127 soil samples taken at 100 m spacing along the cut and flagged lines, and geological mapping of areas of bedrock, as identified in the course of the soil sampling. The portion of this work which was done on the Valley Girl property includes 3.25 kilometres of linecutting, 55 soil samples and 7.825 kilometres of induced polarization. A minor geochemical anomaly and a very strong chargeability response occurs near the centre of the Kwanika Extension Grid, on the boundary between the Valley Girl and Kwanika properties. This grid is west of the Valleau Creek placer occurrene. The Valleau Creek occurrence was located on the VG 5 just east of the 1992 grid work. Some geological mapping work along the creek is shown on Westmin maps for 1992.
During 2005 through 2014, Redton Resources Inc. (later Kiska Metals Corp.) completed programs of prospecting, geochemical (rock, silt, and soil) sampling and ground and airborne geophysical surveys on the regionally extensive Redton property, located immediately to the east. Refer to the North Kwanika (MINFILE 093N 077) occurrence for a complete summary of this work.
In 2005, Serengeti Resources Inc. carried out a 530-kilometre airborne magnetic-radiometric survey and collected 12 rock samples on their Valleau and Germansen properties.
During 2010 through 2012, Serengeti Resources Inc. completed programs soil and rock sampling program on the area immediately west of the occurrence.
In 2012, a program of soil sampling was completed on the area as the Vall 1-3 claims. This work identified anomalous gold-in-soils (up to 0.54 gram per tonne gold) corresponding to anomalous areas previous identified in 1986 and 1989 on the VGA and VGC grids (Assessment Report 33413).
In 2013, a program of prospecting, minor hand trenching and geochemical (rock and soil) sampling was completed on the Vall 1 claim.
In 2015, a program of rock and soil sampling was completed on the area. In 2016, a minor program of rock and soil sampling was completed on the Vall claims.
