The Saunders prospect is located approximately 6 kilometres east-southeast of the Lawyers mine (094E 066), some 280 kilometres north of Smithers. The Saunders prospect is also called the Main vein and "Saunders A".
The Saunders prospect lies within the Omineca-Cassiar Mountains at the southern end of the Toodoggone gold camp. It is situated within a Mesozoic volcanic arc assemblage which lies along the eastern margin of the Intermontane Belt, a northwest- trending belt of Paleozoic to Tertiary sediments, volcanics and intrusions bounded to the east by the Omineca Belt and to the west and southwest by the Sustut and Bowser basins.
Permian Asitka Group crystalline limestones are the oldest rocks exposed in the region. They are commonly in thrust contact with Upper Triassic Takla Group andesite flows and pyroclastic rocks. Takla volcanics have been intruded by the granodiorite to quartz monzonite Black Lake Suite of Early Jurassic age and are in turn unconformably overlain by or faulted against Lower Jurassic calcalkaline volcanics of the Toodoggone Formation, Hazelton Group.
The dominant structures in the area are steeply dipping faults which define a prominent regional northwest structural fabric trending 140 to 170 degrees. In turn, high angle northeast-striking faults (approximately 060 degrees) appear to truncate and displace northwest-striking faults. Collectively these faults form a boundary for variably rotated and tilted blocks underlain by monoclinal strata.
The Saunders prospect is underlain by a succession of lower to middle subaerial volcanic rocks and associated volcaniclastic sediments of the upper volcanic cycle of the Toodoggone Formation. Lithologies underlying the Saunders prospect consist predominantly of partly welded, crystal-rich dacitic ash flows of the Saunders Member. The dominant lithologies east of the prospect are delineated into two informal units. The first unit consists of pyroxene-biotite- hornblende porphyry flows with interbedded breccias and lapilli tuffs. The other unit consists of well-bedded lapilli, crystal and ash tuffs with interbedded sandstone and siltstone. To the north, a northeast and northwest-striking conjugate fault pair separate lithologies of the Saunders Member from latite lava flows with interflow lahar and mixed epiclastic and pyroclastic rocks of the Metsantan Member.
At the Saunders prospect (Saunders Main vein or Saunders "A"), gold and silver are hosted in a quartz-barite breccia zone 80 metres long and 3 to 4 metres wide, trending 170 degrees. Mineralization consists of chalcopyrite, galena and pyrite with associated malachite and azurite. Breccia material has been totally quartz flooded.
The Saunders "B" is a narrow 2 to 30 centimeters wide quartz veins occurring about 200 metres east of and subparallel to the Saunders Main vein, in a similar geological setting. Vuggy quartz veins with pyrite, minor amounts of chalcopyrite and galena are developed in dacitic tuff. Narrow 20 to 50 centimetres wide buff-coloured alteration zones of quartz-sericite-pyrite and carbonate bound the quartz veins. A train of blocky 0.5 metre size quartz vein float was observed in talus about 10 metres west of the vein outcropping, but hand trenching did not reveal the source.
In 1981, two samples (DN-11 and -13) taken from zones of fracturing with strong silicification, epidotization and pyritization, located on the ridge to the west of the Saunders occurrence, yielded 0.104 and 0.106 gram per tonne gold with 0.4 and 7.6 grams per tonne silver, respectively (Assessment Report 10349).
In 1985, a sample (DD-S-23) from the Saunders main vein assayed 7.2 grams per tonne gold and 7.5 grams per tonne silver, whereas four other nearby samples (BT-S-16, -19, -20 and DD-S-26) yielded from 0.25 to 0.55 gram per tonne gold and 11.2 to 16.8 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 14487).
In 1988, a sample (GWM-88-276) from the Saunders main vein assayed 1.41 grams per tonne gold and 164.6 grams per tonne silver, whereas three other samples (GWM-88-275, -277 and -280) from the main vein yielded from 0.02 to 0.40 gram per tonne gold and 16.5 to 34.0 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 18628). Also at this time, a sample (GWM-88-283) from the eastern ‘B’ vein yielded 25.6 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 18628).
In 2003, samples (132634 and 133560) from the Saunders ‘A’ and ‘B’ veins yielded 1.47 and 2.84 grams per tonne gold with 16.3 and 330.5 grams per tonne silver, respectively (Assessment Report 27442).
In 2004, a chip sample (D208253) from the Saunders ‘A’ vein assayed 23.05 grams per tonne gold and 590 grams per tonne silver over 3.0 metres, whereas a chip sample (D208268) from the Saunders ‘B’ vein assayed 1.91 grams per tonne gold and 10.8 grams per tonne silver over 0.5 metre (Assessment Report 27760). Also at this time, sampling of the ridge to the northwest of the Saunders occurrence yielded values of up to 1.01 grams per tonne gold and 20.3 grams per tonne silver (Sample 15; Assessment Report 27760).
In 2007, the principal target on the Saunders vein system was the Saunders "A" vein. The vein was traced 125 metres northward where a grab sample of 1 to 3 metre-wide crustiform quartz-pyrite veins yielded assays of 33.6 grams per tonne silver and 0.04 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 30061). Drill hole S-07-07 tested this mineralized outcropping, intersecting a mylonitic quartz-pyrite vein 42 metre vertically below the outcropping. Drill holes S-07-01 and -02 intersected quartz veins whose assays ranged from 10 to 15 grams per tonne silver and 0.1 to 0.2 gram per tonne gold over widths of 0.7 to 1.0 metre, vertically below the mineralized Saunders "A" showing (Assessment Report 30061).
Work History
In 1968-1969, geological and geochemical surveys by Cominco Ltd on its Som 1-40 claims discovered the Som showing (in 2007 encompassed by the Swan 5 claim of Stealth Minerals). The showing is described as chalcopyrite occurring along fractures with associated malachite impregnations in andesite tuff. Two chip samples across the mineralized zone assayed 0.21 per cent and 0.28 copper, respectively, each over 30 foot intervals (Assessment Report 2083).
Exploration, on the NE and GO claim group, adjacent and in part on the same ground as Saunder property, was carried out by Denison Mines Limited during 1969-1972 (Assessment Report 4091). The Denison work was designed to evaluate the gold, silver, and copper potential of the area. Work completed included airphoto geology; geological mapping; and silt, soil, and rock geochemistry. This exploration resulted in the location of the SOM chalcopyrite showing. In 1972, it was recorded that geological mapping and a geochemical survey comprising 744 soil, 197 rock chip and 45 silt samples covering 82 claims was completed.
In addition to exploration carried out by Denison Mines, Kennco Exploration (Western) Limited staked the original Saunders claims (later encompassed (in the 2000s) by Swan 1,2,4 and 5 clams of Stealth Minerals) and carried out an exploration program in 1971 (Assessment Report 3362). This work included geological mapping along with limited silt, soil, and rock geochemical sampling. This work was directed towards both base and precious metals.
Golden Rule Resources restaked the ground as the Saunders 1-4 claims and held them from about 1980 to 1989 (Assessment Reports 9236, 10349, 12716, 14487, 18628). When the Saunders 1-4 lapsed they were covered in the mid late 2000s by the by Swan 14, 15 and 16 of Stealth Minerals.
In 1980, Golden Rule Resources Ltd performed limited silt and soil sampling over their claims area (in the 2000s covered by Swan 14, 15 and 16 of Stealth Minerals). In 1981, a helicopter-borne VLF-EM and magnetometer survey was completed, followed by ground VLF-EM and magnetometer surveys. A number of gold and/or silver geochemical anomalies were delineated. Nine of these anomalies could be related to strong fracture systems which transect the property.
In 1983, a limited geochemical program consisting of close-spaced grid sampling was carried out in the area previously identified as anomalous. Geological traverses and geochemical sampling programs identified the Saunders anomaly and field work also uncovered the Camp 1 Showing.
In 1985, a limited exploration program was aimed at evaluating the gold potential of epithermal vein systems present in the area. At the Saunders showing (094E 017), a 3 to 4 metre wide quartz barite breccia system that assayed high in gold and silver was identified on the Saunders 3 claim. Other localized geochemically anomalous gold/silver in rock values were identified.
The 1988 exploration program of Gold Rule Resource was carried out on the Saunders 1 through 4 mineral claims consisting of 30 lithogeochemical samples being collected. Exploration was focused on and around the Saunders quartz-breccia system located in the south-central part of the Saunders 3 claim.
Exploration work was completed between 1969 and 1988 on the MINFILE occurrences within the claims including Saunders (094E 017), Som (094E 040, Moosehorn (094E 086), Camp 1 (094E 153), Saunders South (094E 154), Saunders North (094E 155), Saunders Northwest (094E 156), Saunders Southwest (094E 157) and possible Golden Neighbor 1 and 2. No work was done subsequently until the Stealth Minerals prospecting and geochemical sampling program in 2003 on their Swan property which also covered Golden Neighbor 1 (094E 037), Golden Neighbor 2 (094E 152), Copper-Breccia and Dave Price (094E 151). See Golden Neighbor 1 prospect for details of work done on the Golden Neighbor property after 1978.
In 1986, Lacana Mining Corp completed five diamond drill holes totaling 605 m on the Golden Neighbour 1 Showing (later encompassed by the Swan 6 claim of Stealth minerals in the mid-2000s). Claim. The holes encountered argillic altered structures with local quartz vein development. Precious metal content in these zones was low, but some noteworthy values in molybdenum, tungsten, copper and zinc were encountered (Assessment Report 15512).
The 1990 exploration of Skeena Resources on the Golden Neighbour 1 to 4 consisted of a brief evaluation of the previously located mineralized zones, coupled with reconnaissance prospecting of portions of the property. A total of 30 rock samples were collected and analyzed for gold and silver (Assessment Report 20401). The Good Neighbor 1-4 were adjacent south of the Saunders 1-4 and the Golden Neighbour 2 showing was encompassed in the mid-2000s by the Swan 6 claim of Stealth Resources.
In 1998, N.C. Carter conducted a brief examination on the new Saunders 1 claim of Richard Heard. The objective was to confirm the location of several mineral occurrences on this property, specifically, the Saunders Northwest (094E 156) and Saunders North (094E 155) showings were identified (Assessment Report 25698). This Saunders 1 was restaked in the mid-2000s as the Swan 1 claim of Stealth Minerals.
In 2000 Electrum Resources Corporation spent one day on their Sand claims prospecting in the areas of reported old copper showings in an attempt tore-evaluate the areas potential for copper-gold porphyry deposit targets. The claims encompassed Saunders Northwest (094E 156), Saunders North (094E 155), Camp 1 (094E 153) and Som (094E 040).
In 2003, Stealth Minerals staked the SWAN claims. During the same year field crews completed a program of prospecting, stream geochemical sampling, and, in participation with the Geological Survey of Canada/Private Partnership Toodoggone Initiative, completed a helicopter airborne magnetic and radiometric survey. The survey recorded 2 magnetic parameters and eight gamma -ray spectrometer parameters flown at a line spacing of 400 metres and a sensor height of 60 metres. (Assessment Report 27442). Several of the known mineralized showings on the property were examined and sampled with the objective of evaluating the style of mineralization and determining the potential for extending the zones. Chip and grab samples were collected and analyzed to complement the geological assessment of the showings. Additionally, character samples from the showings were collected and analyzed by PIMA spectrometry to identify clay minerals that may be indicative of specific alteration phases associated with the epithermal and porphyry deposit systems.
In 2003, on their Swan 7 claim, Stealth discovered a zone of high grade disseminated and breccia filling copper mineralization in a chloritically altered andesite formation 300 metres east of the Golden Neighbor 2 showing (094E 152), in what has been regionally mapped as a basalt sill. A total of 57 silt and 85 rock samples were taken in this year. Structures and airborne geophysical signatures on the Swan claims are similar to other proximal known deposits.
In 2004, Stealth Minerals conducted a geological mapping, prospecting and sampling program during 2004, in part to follow up on surface and airborne work done in 2003. The main objectives were to examine and evaluate several known mineral showings including the Golden Neighbour 1 and 2, Dave Price, Saunders South, Som, Saunders North, Saunders Main, and Copper Breccia (Assessment Report 27760). Prospecting and sampling were undertaken to evaluate the Golden Neighbour 1 and 2, and the Dave Price Showings on Swan 6,10 and 11 Mineral Claims: preliminary geological evaluation of these three showings was favorable;
In 2005, Golden Dawn carried out a program of geological mapping and sampling in 2005. The option agreement was defaulted by Golden Dawn in 2005.
In 2006, Stealth Minerals completed a program of rock sampling and geological mapping on the Copper Breccia, Camp, Golden Neighbour 2 and Saunders showings. The field work complemented information from the 2003 and 2004 programs to determine and confirm if potential extensions and continuity of mineralized zones and structures could be established. A total of 26 chip samples were collected from the various showings, and assay results for copper, silver, gold, lead and zinc were plotted on geochemical maps (Assessment Report 28645). Stealth carried out programs of rock sampling and geologic mapping in 2006, and then re-optioned the property to Golden Dawn in 2006.
In 2007, Golden Dawn conducted the following field activities took on the SWAN claims in the 2007 season: geological examination and sampling of parts of the Saunders vein system, Copper Breccia and Som showings; location of drill sites and building of drill pads on the Saunders and Som showings; expansion of existing geophysical grid on Som showing, and carrying out 9.8 line-km of I.P. survey.
Drilling occurred in seven holes from four sites on the Saunders vein system totaling 914 metres of NT core drilling. Drilling occurred in two holes from two sites on the Som showing for a total of 903.15 metres of NT diamond drill core. Results from geological sampling, induced polarization and soil geochemical surveys across the Saunders vein system are indicating the extension of the gold-bearing main Saunders and Saunders B vein systems to the north.
