The San occurrence is situated in the Kwanika Range near the headwaters of Valleau Creek, approximately 50 kilometres east of Takla Landing. The area was assessed by Noranda Exploration in the early 1970s.
The area is underlain by mesozonal plutonic rocks assigned to the Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous Hogem Intrusive Complex which have intruded volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Middle Triassic to Lower Jurassic Takla Group to the east. 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 principle rock types underlying the headwater area of Valleau Creek are medium to coarse-grained syenodiorite and pyroxenite of the Hogem Intrusive Complex and Takla Group basalt and porphyritic andesite.
Although extensive overburden masks much of the area, a small mineralized outcrop was discovered along the common boundary of the now lapsed San 23 and 24 claims (Assessment Report 3856, Figure 5B). The copper(?) mineralization is reportedly hosted by potassium feldspathized monzonite near a contact with leucocratic granitic rock (Geology, Exploration and Mining in British Columbia 1972, page 449). Although the specific minerals are not described, earlier reports mention chalcopyrite and molybdenite associated with granitic rocks near their contact with Takla Group volcanics. A significant copper-molybdenum soil anomaly outlined in the area was attributed to this outcrop.
In 1990, a float sample (A4764) of quartz vein float with no obvious mineralization assayed 24 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 20338).
Work History
In 1971 and 1972, Noranda Mining and Exploration Inc. completed programs of soil sampling and ground electromagnetic surveys on the area as the Nik and San claims of the Kwanika property. This work defined a 4000-metre long copper-soil geochemical anomaly on the area.
In 1989, Placer Dome Inc. staked the Eriockson 1-2 claims and completed a program of rock, silt, and soil sampling on the area the following year. Also during 1989 through 1992, Westmin Mines Ltd. completed programs of airborne and ground geophysical surveys and geochemical (rock, silt, and soil) sampling on the area immediately east and north of the Erickson occurrence as the KC claims of the Kwanika-Valleau property.
During 2005 through 2010, Redton Resources and Geoinformatics Exploration Canada Inc. undertook work on the regionally extensive Redton property, which covered the Falcon (MINFILE 093N 068) occurrence to the south (just north of Nation Lake) and north to the Tak (MINFILE 093N 067) occurrence, approximately 6 kilometres south of the Omineca River. In 2005, a 5764.0 line-kilometre airborne magnetic and electromagnetic survey was completed on the area as the Takla-Redton property. In 2006, a program of geological mapping and geochemical (rock, silt, and soil) sampling was completed on the property along with 12 diamond drill holes, totalling 4032.5 metres, on the Takla-Rainbow (MINFILE 093N 082) and Tak occurrences. In 2007 and 2008, programs of geochemical sampling (rock, silt, and soil) sampling, ground geophysical surveys and 10 diamond drill holes, totalling 3784.0 metres, were completed on the property. This work centred primarily on the Takla-Rainbow occurrence to the north and Falcon occurrence to the south. In 2010, a subsequent AeroTEM survey by Redton Resources identified 65 electromagnetic anomalies on the property.
During 2011 through 2014, Kiska Metals Corp. (previously Rimfire Minerals Corporation) completed programs of prospecting, geological mapping, geochemical (rock, silt, and soil) sampling and ground geophysical surveys on the Redton property. A combined 11.2 line-kilometre ground induced polarization and magnetic survey was completed on the Halobia Creek area.
