The GAIL occurrence is located in a north-facing cirque at the headwaters of Tenakihi Creek, approximately 65 kilometres northwest of the community of Germansen Landing. As part of the Thane property (2025), lying between the Osilinka and Mesilinka river valleys, the area is approximately 180 kilometres northwest of Mackenzie and 185 kilometres north-northeast of Smithers.
Pyrite, chalcopyrite, molybdenite, and bornite are hosted in quartz veins within biotite-potassium feldspar monzodiorite of the Triassic-Jurassic Hogem Plutonic Suite and within the intrusive rocks as well. Equigranular, medium to coarse-grained diorite of the Late Triassic Thane Creek suite is observed as the dominant intrusive phase within the Gail Area. Frequently, medium-coarse hornblendite occurs as small pods with gradational contact margins, or as xenoliths within. Broad, propylitic alteration is dominated by mafic replacement, joint infilled and shear hosted chlorite as well as veins and micro-fractures of calcite epidote and quartz. Contact related potassium feldspar and minor biotite alteration appears frequently within the diorite proximal to quartz monzonite contacts. Equigranular, fine-medium-grained granodiorite to quartz monzonite intrusive phases of the Middle Cretaceous Mesilinka suite dominate the southeastern area. North-south to northwest-southeast trending latite porphyry dikes, typically 2 to 4 metres in width, crosscut both the Thane Creek and Mesilinka suite of rocks. Silicification and an increase in mafic replacement biotite alteration (likely as hornfelsing) is locally observed proximal to granodiorite contacts.
Significant molybdenum mineralization has been detected by rock and soil sampling. Mineralization is restricted to localized quartz veins containing fine-medium-grained, blebby molybdenite, chalcopyrite and pyrite with lessor supergene enriched native copper in fractures within the southern areas.
Rock sample 3281, collected from a quartz vein in diorite outcrop in 2021, assayed 0.53 per cent copper, 0.41 gram per tonne gold, 9.68 grams per tonne silver and 0.0016 per cent molybdenum. A quartz vein float sample 3282 collected in the same year, returned values of 1.10 per cent copper, 1.33 grams per tonne gold, 8.61 grams per tonne silver and 0.13 per cent molybdenum (Assessment Report 40622).
Work History
In 2009 and 2010, C.O. Naas examined the provincial Regional Geochemical Survey data and MINFILE which led to the staking of the Thane Creek property tenures. A comprehensive compilation of historical exploration work was undertaken and identified four areas that indicated excellent potential for copper-gold mineralization. In 2010, a property visit was carried out and explored three of the target areas. Exploration consisted of geochemical sampling with collection of 10 silt samples and 69 rock samples. In 2012, Thane Minerals Inc. carried out exploration at multiple areas on the Cathedral property including the Tenakihi (094C 071), Link (094C 123), Osilinka (094C 050), Cathedral (094C 109, 181), Gail (094C 072, 133), Cirque (093N 093), and Lake (094C 188) zones. Exploration consisted of silt sampling, soil and talus fine sampling (contour and gridded), rock sampling, and geological mapping. A total of 36 silt samples, 785 soil and talus fine samples, and 749 rock samples were collected. Approximately 1525 hectares were geologically mapped at 1:10,000 scale. Analyses of soil and talus fine samples and selected rock and silt samples have been carried out by x-ray fluorescence (XRF).
In 2020, Interra Copper Corp. completed a program of geological mapping, geochemical (rock, soil and stream sediment) sampling and a 14.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the area as the Thane property. Interra continued exploration on their Thane property in 2021, with geological mapping, rock and soil sampling at the Pinnacle and Gail areas, soil sampling at the Mat showing and an airborne helicopter magnetic survey at Cathedral. In addition, 2783 metres of NQ diamond drilling was accomplished in 12 holes, to test the depth potential of the prospective Cathedral, Pinnacle, and Gully target areas (Assessment Report 40622).
Interra Copper Corp. changed their name to Copper Quest Exploration Inc. in early 2025 (Press Release, Copper Quest Exploration Inc., March 3, 2025).
