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File Created: 10-Jul-1986 by Larry Jones (LDJ)
Last Edit:  06-Mar-1989 by Laura L. Duffett (LLD)

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NMI 103B12 Cu1
Name APEX, STAR, ALPINE Mining Division Skeena
BCGS Map 103B061
Status Developed Prospect NTS Map 103B12W
Latitude 052º 41' 44'' UTM 09 (NAD 83)
Longitude 131º 53' 36'' Northing 5842333
Easting 304486
Commodities Iron, Magnetite, Copper, Silver Deposit Types K03 : Fe skarn
Tectonic Belt Insular Terrane Wrangell
Capsule Geology

The showings are on the ridge between Botany Inlet of Tasu Sound and Anna Lake at an elevation of 823 to 853 metres.

The showings were discovered by Messrs. Davies, Bell, and Harris in 1907 and staked as the Apex group. Annual assessment work was carried out for several years. In 1912 the property was optioned to E.M. Morgan and associates. A crosscut adit 15 metres below the surface workings was driven 61 metres and drifts run in a westerly direction. The claims subsequently lapsed. In 1926 the property was held as the Star group of 6 claims, owned by R. Morrison, Rand McDonald and W.H. Watson, of Lockeport. The old workings at that time were reported to consist of a 91 metre on the Star claim and a 30 metre adit on the Nellie L claim. The claims apparently lapsed in the 1930's.

In the 1960's the property consisted of two located claims, Alpine No. 1 and No. 2 held by Wesfrob Mines Limited. Exploration work included sampling, and in 1963 three packsack holes totalling 98 metres drilled to confirm the continuity between the two exposures. "Assuming this continuity, Young and Uglow calculated the reserves as about 300,000 tons of ore. Calculations based on the drilling indicate somewhat less ore with a grade of close to 50 per cent iron and possibly 1 per cent copper" (BCDM Bulletin 54, page 192).

The Apex ore zone consists of a chalcopyrite-bearing magnetite skarn at the base of a small roof pendant near the eastern margin of a hornblende diorite pluton of the Late Jurassic San Christoval Plutonic Suite. The pendant consists of grey limestone of the Upper Triassic Sadler Formation (Lower Jurassic to Upper Triassic Kunga Group), cut by basalt and feldspar porphyry dikes. The bedding strikes approximately 160 degrees and dips about 70 degrees east. To the east are volcanics which are probably correlative to the Upper Triassic Karmutsen Formation (Vancouver Group).

The ore zone, measuring roughly 100 by 35 by 15 metres, trends 345 degrees and plunges 10 to 15 degrees. Skarn and magnetite replace limestone, minor volcanics and hornblende diorite at the base of the pendant. Garnet, calcite and epidote occur as replacement minerals. Pyrite and pyrrhotite are present in minor amounts. Individual samples of magnetite yielded values of 28 to 53 per cent iron and 0.24 to 1.96 per cent copper.

Inferred reserves are 181,420 tonnes grading 34 per cent iron, 0.9 per cent copper and 24.6 grams per tonne silver; assuming continuity between two exposures and three packsack holes (McDougall, 1964).

Bibliography
EMPR AR *1908-61; 1909-71-79; 1910-85; 1911-77; 1912-110; 1913-99; 1926-67; 1930-64
EMPR BULL *54, p. 192
EMPR OF *1988-28, p. 83; 1992-1; 1992-9; 1998-10
EMPR PF (*McDougall, J.J. (1964): Summary Report on Apex (Alpine) Copper-Magnetite, Feb.4, 1964)
EMR MIN BULL MR 223 B.C. 279
EMR MP RESFILE (Star Group Apex)
GSC EC GEOL *3, Vol.1 (1926), pp. 30,31
GSC MAP 278A; 1385A
GSC P 86-20; 88-1E, pp. 213-216, 221-227; 89-1H, pp. 95-112; 90-10, pp. 59-87, 163-172
GSC SUM RPT *1909, pp. 79,80
MIN REV March/April 1988, pp. 19-24

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