The Witch occurrence locality encompasses a large (3 by 5 kilometres) irregular alteration system between Witch and Chuchi lakes. It is referred to as the Chuchi-Witch halo and is characterized by widespread biotite hornfelsing and patchy, but often strong potassic and propylitic alteration (Fieldwork 1991, pages 114,115). Pyrite and pyrrhotite are abundant and minor chalcopyrite occurs in several places. Epidote-garnet-diopside skarn exists in limy tuffaceous sediments.
Volcanic rocks of the Upper Triassic Witch Lake Formation (Takla Group), including augite porphyry flows and fragmentals, aphanitic volcanics and minor tuffs are intruded by coeval Takla Group intrusive equivalents consisting of crowded plagioclase porphyritic monzonite and monzonite intrusive breccias. These intrusive rocks are probably responsible for the porphyry-style alteration and mineralization. This region is also intruded by several Early Jurassic(?) phases of the Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous Hogem Intrusive Complex including coarse-grained equigranular monzonite, sericite-bearing potassium feldspar pegmatite and coarse-grained syenite.
The strongest area of mineralization in this system is the Moss showing (093N 084).
In 1995, with Explore B.C. Program support, Artina Resources Ltd. conducted a late season induced polarization survey and diamond drilled 301.5 metres in 3 holes on the Composite stock anomaly. This program was inconclusive and did not test the anomaly completely (Explore B.C. Program 95/96 - M51).
Intermittent exploration work has been performed in the Witch property area since 1971. This work has focused on the search for porphyry copper occurrences.
In 1972, Attila Resources Ltd. performed geological mapping and collected 996 soils samples and conducted 24.6 kilometres of ground magnetic surveying on its DP property on the northern part of that area that later became the Witch property (Chu 1-10 claims) in the late 1980s and early 1990s (Assessment Report 3468).
Sahqua Minerals Ltd. did geochemical soil sampling, magnetic surveying, induced polarization surveying and diamond drilling from 1979 to 1980. Only the IP survey appears to be documented (Assessment Report 7887). This survey, on the Bag 1 claim of Sahqua covers part of the Composite Stock anomaly drilled in 1995.
The CHU 1 to 10 mineral claims were staked in 1988 by Westmin Resources Limited to cover an airborne magnetic anomaly associated with indications of a porphyry copper occurrence.
Rio Algom Exploration Inc. optioned the Witch property from Westmin Resources Limited in 1989. Their work included airborne magnetic surveying followed by linecutting, soil sampling, geological mapping and induced polarization surveying. The Moss Showing was discovered as a result of this work.
In 1990 Rio Algom continued soil sampling, geological mapping, prospecting, rock sampling, trenching, linecutting and induced polarization surveying. Two trenches at the Moss Showing area contained 4.7 grams per tonne gold and 0.10 per cent copper across 7 metres, and 3.8 grams per tonne gold with 0.10 per cent copper across 4 metres.
In 1991 Rio Algom Exploration Inc. completed 644 metres of trenching and 1,327 metres of diamond drilling in nine holes at the Moss Showing area. Results were disappointing with 64 parts per billion gold and 347 parts per million copper over 52 metres in one of the holes directly below the mineralized trenches.
Westmin Resources Limited completed grid surveying, soil sampling, lithogeochemical sampling and geological mapping in the CHU 9 portion of the Witch property in 1994. This work completed preliminary geochemical and geological coverage of the property; 859 soils and 50 rocks were analyzed.
In June 1995 Artina Resources Ltd. and Westmin Resources Limited completed 31.2 line-kilometres of induced polarization surveying at the CHU 9 mineral claim area. This work completed geophysical coverage of the property. Chargeability anomalies occur along both the north and south margins of the magnetic high associated with the Arm Anomaly, a geochemical anomaly with associated magnetic high that extends over 4 to 5 kilometres in and east-west direction south of the Moss showing area (093N 084).
In November 1995 Artina and Westmin completed 301.15 metres of diamond drilling in three holes at the Witch property. This work tested the southern part of the Composite Stock Anomaly.
