The WN occurrence is located between Chuchi and Witch Lakes; it is 4 kilometres west of the northeastern tip of Witch Lake and 8 kilometres north-northeast of Fort St. James.
The WN occurrence area is underlain by Upper Triassic Witch Lake Formation (Takla Group) volcanics and Triassic to Jurassic stocks and dikes, mainly monzonites. The volcanics consist of feldspar porphyritic andesites and a strongly epidote-altered version of the same. The volcanics contain 1 to 2 per cent disseminated pyrite, chalcopyrite, and pyrrhotite. A sample of altered porphyritic andesite containing chalcopyrite yielded 0.1314 per cent copper and 0.030 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 21068).
Work History
In 1970, a geochemical soil survey was completed on the Eve group, known as WN 4. The soils were sampled from the C horizon at 30.5-metre intervals and no distinct anomalies were found.
In 1972, Pechiney Development Limited conducted a geochemical, magnetic and geological survey on the PU claims. In total, 243 soil samples were collected, and 15.3 kilometres of ground magnetic surveying was completed. The highest assayed soil samples reached values of 1800 parts per million copper (Sample 334; Assessment Report 3853).
In 1973, an induced polarization survey totalling 8.3 kilometres and a 996 soil samples were collected on the PU claims.
In 1974, Pechiney followed up with 1.6 line-kilometres of induced polarization surveying, an airborne radiometric survey, the collection of 540 soil samples and 3 AQ diamond drill holes, totaling 345 metres. The surveys confirmed a northeast-trending anomaly.
In early 1989, Noranda Exploration staked the WN 1 to 6 claims to cover an airborne magnetic anomaly. The WN 2 claims covered all of the former PU claims of Pechiney Development. In 1989, 299 B-horizon soil samples were collected at 50-metre intervals along lines spaced 400 metres apart. The survey resulted in weak scattering of copper and gold anomalies. Copper values were as high as 680 parts per million (L6800N, 9450E) and gold values were as high as 440 parts per billion (L4400N, 6900E; Assessment Report 20008). The most prominent copper anomaly in the survey measured approximately 1600 by up to 1600 metres and was located along the eastern flank of a prominent hill on WN-2.
In 1990, Noranda Exploration conducted a soil sampling survey approximately 6 kilometres northeast of the WN occurrence on the neighbouring claim. The survey consisted of 112 soil samples at 50-metre intervals along lines 400 metres apart. In total, 8.6 kilometres were surveyed. Thirteen copper and gold samples were found to be anomalous.
Later in 1990, a geophysical survey consisting of 121 line-kilometres of Dighem IV electromagnetic/ resistivity/ magnetic/ very low frequency was flown 30 metres overground and an additional geochemical survey was conducted. The airborne survey indicated the presence of several large intrusive bodies surrounded by lower magnetic regions. The soil and rock sampling survey consisted of 239 B-horizon soil samples and 8 rock samples and further delineated the weak to moderate copper gold anomaly discovered in 1989.
In 1991, Rio Algom Exploration completed a soil and rock sampling program under an option agreement with Westin Mines Limited. A total of 17 rock chip samples and 218 soil samples were collected at 50-metre intervals along 400-metre spaced lines. The soils yielded sporadic and weak anomalies and no anomalous copper or gold values were found in the rock samples. Due to the lack of any defined targets, no further work was recommended.
