The Gibson prospect is located 4 kilometres south of Tchentlo Lake, about 7.5 kilometres west-southwest of its eastern end, approximately 90 kilometres north of the community of Fort St. James.
This area is underlain by rocks of the Middle Triassic to Lower Jurassic Takla Group and their contact with the southeastern end of the Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous Hogem Intrusive Complex. To the east and northeast, recent mapping indicates that the Hogem complex in this area consists primarily of Early Jurassic monzonite and syenite phases (Open File 1992-4). Noranda Exploration Limited, however, has mapped the intrusive rock to the north of the Gibson prospect as mainly diorite with lesser areas of granodiorite and gabbro. South of the intrusive contact, underlying the area of the showings, the rocks have been identified as augite porphyries and volcanic tuffs, probably of the Upper Triassic Witch Lake Formation (Takla Group). These volcanic rocks are variably hornfelsed near the contact zone. The hornfelsed rocks are generally very fine-grained purple rocks commonly containing 3 to 5 per cent disseminated pyrite and locally some chalcopyrite.
The occurrence consists of fine-grained arsenopyrite and pyrite filling a quartz-sericite breccia zone within which are banded galena-sphalerite veins and pods. The quartz-sulphide mineralization is enveloped within a zone of very fine-grained clay-carbonate alteration with 5 to 10 per cent pyrite.
Work History
The Gibson occurrence is part of the larger Eagle property which includes the Main zone occurrences Nighthawk (093N 091), Vector (093N 092) and Mid (093N 139).
In 1966, the West Coast Mining and Exploration Company completed an induced polarization (IP) survey over the Nighthawk copper showings which delineated a steeply westward dipping responsive body, with an estimated thickness of 30-60 metres. A second IP survey was carried out in 1967 to cover an expanded grid in the areas surrounding the Nighthawk showings. The survey outlined three primary anomalies, one of which is located over the Nighthawk zone and was interpreted to be dipping steeply eastward.
In 1971, Noranda Exploration Company Ltd. optioned the property and conducted electromagnetic (EM), magnetometer, IP, and geochemical surveys. Samples were assayed for copper only. The soil sampling and geophysical surveys outlined several anomalous areas, and small copper showings associated with north trending shear zones. Based on the drill core found on the property, approximately 915 metres of diamond drilling were completed around the Nighthawk showing in 1971 and 1974; however, the drill logs are not available.
In 1988, A.D. Halleran staked the Eagle 1 and 2 claims over the area’s known copper showings, aeromagnetic signature and similarity to the Mount Milligan property (093N 194). Noranda optioned the claims and staked the Eagle 3, 4 and 5 claims. Noranda conducted an exploration program on the property in 1989 which included 56.6 kilometres of line cutting, 34.7 kilometres of magnetometer and 13.0 kilometres of IP surveys. They also collected 1362 B-horizon soil samples. The program identified three significant copper-gold showings: the Nighthawk zone (093N 091), the Mid Zone (093N 139) and the Vector Zone (093N 092), collectively referred to as the Main zone. All showings occur within highly potassic-chloritic altered diorite/monzodiorite.
In 1990, Noranda continued its exploration work on the property with more detailed geological, geochemical and IP surveys designed to evaluate the size, potential and precious metal content of the known mineralizing system. The surveys were carried out at 400-metre line spacing and 50-metre sample spacing to cover most of the Eagle 1-5 claims. The IP survey extended the 1989 anomalies from the Mid zone to the Nighthawk zone. The first phase of the 1990 geochemical survey outlined a highly anomalous zone to the west of the Eagle grid in an area close to the contact zone between the Hogem batholith and the Takla Group. The anomalous zone was followed up by staking the Eagle 6 and 7 claims to cover the Gibson grid and the surrounding area. The Eagle 6 and 7 claims lapsed in July 1991 (the Eagle 6 claim reported on in 1996 by Birch Mountain was staked in that year. The Eagle 6 claim of 1989 did not cover the same ground).
A hand trench about 2 by 1 by 1 metre deep was dug on the Gibson grid and led to the discovery of the Gibson zone (093N 185). The showing was then followed up by geochemical, geological and IP surveys. The 1990 project delineated several drill targets on both the Main and the Gibson zones and it was reported that it identified the presence of a large copper-gold bearing system on the Eagle grid and a lead-silver-gold-bearing system on the Gibson grid that appears to be part of a peripheral vein system.
In 1991, Noranda conducted diamond drilling to test several coincident magnetic, IP and geochemical anomalies associated with known mineralization on both the Main zone and the Gibson zone. The program consisted of 1483.3 metres of drilling in 17 holes, of which nine holes (657.3 metres) were drilled to test the Gibson showing and strong multi-element soil geochemical and IP anomalies. All the drillholes at the Gibson zone intersected significant sections of intense clay-sericite-quartz alteration and mineralized volcanic rocks consisting of pyrite, galena and sphalerite. The other eight holes were drilled on the Main zone to test large, moderate to strong chargeability anomalies on the Nighthawk and Vector zones. Four holes drilled on the Nighthawk and Vector zones intersected significant copper-gold porphyry-style mineralization over moderate widths with visible chalcopyrite and bornite in sulphide stringers and disseminations. The other four holes drilled in the area near the Nighthawk zone intersected intense magnetite-biotite altered diorite with trace chalcopyrite, bornite and 1 per cent pyrite, indicating that a strong component of the IP response was caused by the pervasive magnetite flooding. The 1991 diamond drilling program concluded that a fairly large alteration and mineralizing system is present as a high-grade, multidirectional gold-silver-lead-zinc peripheral vein system on the Gibson zone. The potential for a copper-gold hydrothermal system is present on the Main zone and requires follow-up work. A 9.18-metre drill interval (from 14.10 to 23.28 metres) averaged 4.34 grams per tonne gold, 224.3 grams per tonne silver, 0.9 per cent lead and 0.6 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 21762, page 11).
In 1996, Birch Mountain Resources Ltd. optioned the property from A.D. Halleran, and staked the Eagle 6 claim. The company carried out an exploration program of line cutting, geological mapping, geophysical and geochemical surveys, and 1838.6 metres of diamond drilling in six holes. In this year, 1176 soils were collected and 52.4 kilometres of HLEM ground electromagnetic surveying was done. The soil survey, ground magnetometer survey and horizontal loop (Max-Min) survey were carried out on new lines constructed on the Main and Gibson zones. A prospecting and mapping program was conducted on the Eagle 6 claim. Two holes were drilled on the Vector zone and four holes were drilled on the Nighthawk zone.
In 2007, Geoinformatics Exploration Inc. conducted work on the Eagle property which consisted of reviewing the outcrops around the existing prospects: Nighthawk, Vector, Gibson, and Central zones. The Gibson zone was reported to represent an epithermal gold-base metal target. Follow-up drilling of the Gibson target would be hampered by the presence of fine-grained pyritic sediments in the area which cause extensive, strong IP chargeable zones that would likely mask the IP signature of any potentially mineralized zones.
From 2010 to 2012, Rich Rock Resources Inc. completed an exploration program on the property containing the occurrence that included a geophysical survey. The geophysical survey identified a new anomaly to the northeast of the Gibson occurrence within the Hogem Batholith that could relate to a new porphyry target.
In 2014, Rich Rock Resources Inc. completed a geophysical survey on the property containing the Gibson occurrence. An anomalous area was noted.
In 2016, Rich Rock Resources Inc. completed an exploration program on the property containing the Gibson occurrence. Geochemical sampling found three areas of copper mineralization within the Hogem Batholith unit.
In 2017, Canex Metals Inc. entered into a purchase agreement for the Gibson property with Altius Resources Inc. including claim 1050267 located adjacent to the known mineralized zone. In May and August 2017, Canex conducted prospecting and limited soil sampling on claim 1050267 to better understand how future exploration on the claim should be designed. Five soil samples were collected and analyzed by portable X-ray florescence and logging roads, cut blocks, and creeks were prospected looking for evidence of outcrop or mineralization. No outcrop has been located on the claim to date (Assessment Report 37384).
In August 2017, Canex Metals Inc. conducted a trenching, surface sampling, and mapping program to better assess the historic Gibson mineralized zones. An access trail (1.1 kilometres) was put into the historic area of known mineralization, eight trenches were excavated (554 metres), and 261 rock samples and 459 soil samples were collected (Assessment Report 37285). This program successfully uncovered numerous faults and veins in multiple orientations, ranging from less than 1 metre to 6 metres in width. Most of the zones uncovered are highly oxidized at surface and contain variable amounts of clay alteration, fault gouge, breccia, fractured quartz fragments, and quartz-sulphide or oxide veins. Veins and altered fault zones have been exposed within an area 450 metres long by 200 metres wide, and the zones remain open for expansion in all directions.
Trenching highlights include Trench 1 which encountered 4.0 grams per tonne gold equivalent (Au Eq with 1.63 grams per tonne gold and 176 grams per tonne silver) over 12 metres, including 24.1 grams per tonne Au Eq (5.3 grams per tonne gold and 1380 grams per tonne silver) over 1 metre, and a second zone of 5.9 grams per tonne Au Eq (4.7 grams per tonne gold and 90.5 grams per tonne silver) over 3 metres including 10.7 grams per tonne Au Eq (10 grams per tonne gold and 49.5 grams per tonne silver) over 1 metre.
Trench 2 intersected two mineralized zones, the first grading 8.3 grams per tonne Au Eq (5 grams per tonne gold and 243 grams per tonne silver) over 1 metre, and the second grading 8.8 grams per tonne Au Eq (4.9 grams per tonne gold and 284 grams per tonne silver) over 1 metre. Two grab samples of remnant sulphide-rich material from otherwise highly oxidized surface zones yielded 21.2 grams per tonne Au Eq (5 grams per tonne gold and 1190 grams per tonne silver) and 23.9 grams per tonne Au Eq (3.1 grams per tonne gold and 1530 grams per tonne silver), showing very high silver values.
Trench 3 exposed a 2.5-metre-wide highly oxidized fault and shear zone with clay and fault gouge that returned 1.8 grams per tonne Au Eq (0.75 gram per tonne gold and 77.5 grams per tonne silver) over 1 metre.
Trench 4 exposed three highly oxidized mineralized zones including a grab sample with 11.7 grams per tonne Au Eq (10.5 grams per tonne gold and 91.5 grams per tonne silver), and chip samples yielding 2.3 grams per tonne Au Eq (1.8 grams per tonne gold and 35.2 grams per tonne silver) over 2.3 metres, 5.8 grams per tonne Au Eq (4.5 grams per tonne gold and 93.2 grams per tonne silver) over 0.3 metre, and 6.0 grams per tonne Au Eq (5 grams per tonne gold and 75.4 grams per tonne silver) over 0.5 metre.
Trench 5 uncovered a 20-metre-wide zone containing strong oxidation, shearing, alteration, and brecciation. This zone yielded 1.3 grams per tonne Au Eq (1 gram per tonne gold and 19 grams per tonne silver) over 16 metres, including three higher grade veins/faults, the first grading 5.6 grams per tonne Au Eq (4.7 grams per tonne gold and 68.6 grams per tonne silver) over 1 metre, the second grading 4.2 grams per tonne Au Eq (3.8 grams per tonne gold and 32.3 grams per tonne silver) over 1 metre, and the third grading 5.1 grams per tonne Au Eq (4.8 grams per tonne gold and 25.6 grams per tonne silver) over 1 metre.
Trench 6 exposed a 6-metre-wide (estimated true width) fault and vein zone containing strong iron oxides, clay, gouge, breccia, and quartz vein fragments. Chip samples across the zone returned 3.3 grams per tonne Au Eq (2.6 grams per tonne gold and 50.6 grams per tonne silver) over 6 metres, including 5.5 grams per tonne Au Eq (4.4 grams per tonne gold and 83 grams per tonne silver) over 3 metres. A series of chip samples were taken from road cuts along the new access trail that exposed a shallow dipping quartz vein and fault zone containing iron oxides, gouge, and quartz vein fragments. The zone returned 9 metres of 2.8 grams per tonne Au Eq (1.5 grams per tonne gold and 95 grams per tonne silver) and remains open for expansion (Assessment Report 37285).
In October 2018, Canex Metals Inc. drilled 10 shallow holes at Gibson testing a small portion of a soil anomaly measuring 850 metres long by up to 500 metres wide. Hole G18-01 successfully intersected multiple high-grade silver and gold veins within a larger envelope of stockwork mineralization. Drillhole G18-01 intersected 2.5 metres of 3.66 grams per tonne gold, 321 grams per tonne silver, 1.76 per cent lead and 2.38 per cent zinc (from 54.0-56.5 metres) (Press Release - Canex Metals Inc., January 7, 2019).
In 2019, Canex Metals Inc. completed a soil sampling and geological mapping program on the area surrounding the occurrence. An anomalous arsenic and copper zone was identified in proximity to a hornfelsed sedimentary rock unit.
In 2020, Wedgemount completed a 112 line-kilometre airborne electromagnetic (VTEM) geophysical survey on the area.
