The A462 occurrence is located near a northwest draining tributary of Willow Creek, approximately 11 kilometres southeast of the confluence of Willow Creek and the Sustut River.
Regionally, the area is underlain by Lower Jurassic Telkwa Formation (Hazelton Group) volcanics and pyroclastics. Here, the Telkwa Formation is bounded to the northwest by the Sustut River fault; to the northeast by the Pinchi fault and to the southwest by a northwest-trending thrust fault. Upper Triassic Dewar Formation (Takla Group) tuffs and sediments lie on the other side of the thrust fault.
Locally, Telkwa Formation pyroclastics include massive ash and lapilli tuffs, minor vitric tuffs and bedded tuffs. A fine-grained, light pinkish grey and silicified rhyolite tuff is interbedded with the pyroclastics. The rhyolite is approximately 91.5 metres wide and has been traced for a length of 275 metres. The predominant rock type immediately to the south is agglomerate. The rocks are folded in a large northwest-trending syncline which is locally cut by northeast-trending faults.
Mineralization consists of chalcocite, bornite, chalcopyrite, native copper, azurite and malachite. Most of the mineralization occurs in fracture fillings and to a lesser extent, disseminations. Approximately 30 per cent of the chalcocite grains, the most common copper sulphide, have native copper cores (Assessment Report 5402).
Two holes were drilled into the Main zone on Claim A462 from the same setup on the southwest slope of the mineralized ridge area. Hole 1 was drilled horizontally for 244 metres at a bearing of 047 degrees. Hole 2 was drilled at the same bearing but at minus 45 degrees and was stopped at 168 metres. Only three sections above 0.15 per cent copper were intersected in the first hole. These copper values were from both disseminated and fracture associated chalcocite, bornite and chalcopyrite in ash tuffs and lapilli tuffs. In the second hole, nine sections above 0.1 per cent copper were intersected (Assessment Report 5402). The mineralization was of the same nature as in the first hole, but it was also found in the rhyolite tuff marker bed.
The rhyolite tuff contains disseminated chalcocite and a mixture of other copper sulphides in fracture fillings. Thirteen other mineral occurrences are within 125 metres of the tuff, predominantly associated with quartz and calcite veinlets and veins of varying sizes. Quartz-calcite stockwork zones are common in the claim area.
One of the best samples assayed 7.5 per cent copper, 0.17 gram per tonne gold and 168 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 4855). Twelve samples, taken in 1991, assayed up to 8.7 per cent copper and 188.5 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 21856).
WORK HISTORY
Exploration programs completed by Rio Tinto in 1973 and 1974 located fairly widespread copper mineralization as minor disseminations within calcite and quartz fracture-fillings and in minor shear zones on the property. A detailed sampling and mapping program, supported by trenching and diamond drilling, led to the conclusion that the copper mineralization was located in large fractures cutting across the volcanic units. Falconbridge had done some exploration on the ground covered by the Rio Tinto Claims during the summers of 1971 and 1972.
In 1973, Wesfrob Mines Limited completed geochemical surveys on their Pluto claims (094D 075). Copper mineralization occurring in 3-foot-wide shear zones was located. Disseminated chalcocite, bornite, and chalcopyrite and rarely lenses of massive sulphides were observed.
In 1974, a combined magnetic and electromagnetic survey 640 kilometres in total length was completed on behalf of Rio Tinto (Assessment Report 4921). Several high conductivity anomalies were recommended for follow-up. The Rio Tinto survey encompassed the following MINFILE showing areas: TJ (094D 050), Park 2 (094D 052), East Ridge (094D 053), Pond (094D 054), Red Copper (094D 055), Eight (094D 074), Pluto (094D 075), Tie (094D 089), A462 (094D 102).
In late September 1990, the Park 1 to 3 mineral claims were staked by Skeena Resources Limited, and an initial reconnaissance prospecting program was completed on the property. The programs consisted of twelve man-days on the property by three geologists and two prospectors between September 30, 1990 and August 1, 1991 on behalf of Skeena Resources Limited and Beauchamps Exploration. All known mineralized occurrences and showings in the area were geochemically sampled; sediment samples were collected from all streams within and adjacent to the claims; and rock sampling, reconnaissance prospecting, and geological mapping were completed (Assessment Report 21856). A total of 46 rock and 17 silt samples were collected. A photogeologic interpretation of the area was also completed.
