The Konkin Silver occurrence is located on the eastern edge of the extensive Cambria Icefield, along the upper headwaters area of South Willoughby Creek, about 29 kilometres east of Stewart.
Lower Jurassic Hazelton Group (Unuk River Formation) volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks underlie much of the Cambria Icefield area and host the Red Mountain deposit (103P 086). They occur with similar Triassic and older rocks in a structural culmination outlined by the contact between competent felsic and mafic volcanic rocks of uppermost Hazelton Group and overlying, relatively incompetent late Lower Jurassic and younger westerly derived clastic rocks. The newly recognized mafic-felsic association in upper Hazelton Group has significant exploration and tectonic implications. Plutonic styles suggest the age and exploration potential of plutons be reconsidered. Genesis of the Red Mountain deposit has yet to be firmly established, but the main mineralizing event predated regional deformational events, implying significant stratigraphic control and potential in the area mapped, and areas nearby, for similar deposits.
At the Konkin Silver showing, carbonate alteration extends over considerable distances in rocks that appear to have been originally maroon volcaniclastics and flows. These altered zones host lenses and pods of predominantly calcite, siderite and quartz. Several zones located carried appreciable amounts of lead and zinc values associated with silver.
The largest zone identified was labelled the Konkin Silver zone, consisting of carbonate, quartz, barite, galena, minor sphalerite and rare ruby (pyrargyrite) and native silver in a bow-shaped occurrence spanning 35 metres. Galena is the primary sulphide and occurs as fine coatings on fractures, as coarse crystalline blebs and as disseminated grains. Maximum thickness of the feature appears to be in excess of 10 metres. The occurrence weathers a pale grey colour with up to 1 centimetre rectangular barite crystals forming radiating clusters up to 4-5 centimetres across. These crystals form raised features in the more recessive carbonate.
The second zone occurs approximately 100 metres to the south of the first zone and consists of a linear feature two metres in width and 15 metres in length. Minor streaks of galena and sphalerite occur in the second zone. In addition, narrow shear zones with associated sericite and massive pyrite stringers are present in the vicinity of the silver-bearing area. The shears appear to be 10-20 centimetres in width, strike at 220 degrees and contain 10-15 per cent pyrite overall.
The Niknok and Onkkin showings were discovered in poorly exposed outcrop on the opposite valley slope from the Konkin Silver showing. The Niknok mineralization consists of coarse crystalline galena with lesser sphalerite within quartz-carbonate/minor barite stockworks. The zone is present in an area of abundant intrusive dikes and appears to have a relatively gentle dip into the hillside. At the mostly overburden covered Onkkin showing, the surrounding soil has a distinctive dark brown-black colour suggesting the presence of manganese. Two other silver-bearing zones were also discovered by prospecting, situated south and east-southeast, respectively, of the Konkin Silver showing. These are the King Konk and Yoggi showings which have had only very minor work to date.
In 1994, Teuton Resources Corp. prospectors discovered a silver-rich showing near the centre of the area covered by the Knoink 1-4 claims. This arcuate zone, dubbed the 'Konkin Silver' was chip and trench sampled and returned values up to 9.0 metres grading 1086.6 grams per tonne silver, 2.30 per cent lead and 2.02 per cent zinc. Other similar, but smaller zones were found nearby. In 1995, the Konkin showing was tested by a series of very shallow holes from a single setup. One of these intersected 3 metres grading 156.1 grams per tonne silver. Between 1996 and 2004, inclusive, little work was carried out on the claims other than minor prospecting and sampling in order to satisfy assessment requirements. In 1998, R. Sherlock, Ph.D., an acknowledged volcanogenic massive sulphides (VMS) expert, visited the property briefly and characterized the setting of the main Konkin Silver showing as a 'white smoker'. Four years later, in 2002, a new zone of silver mineralization was discovered several hundred metres east-southeast of the main Konkin Silver showing. Heavy overburden cover in the area precluded determination of the extent of the mineralization. In 2005, the Konkin Silver and adjoining claim groups were part of an extensive airborne survey carried out by Aeroquest on behalf of Teuton. This work disclosed a string of roughly north trending electromagnetic (EM) conductors located just to the east of the known silver showings. The following year, small rock geochemical surveys were undertaken over various parts of the property. This was followed up by a drilling program started late in the 2006 field season which had to be shut down prematurely after all available water supplies froze up. A 2007 drill program on the property consisted of four holes testing the main Konkin Silver showing from a single pad to the south, uphill. The first hole was completed to a depth of 287 metres; 13 samples were taken for assay. The first hole was successful in hitting the King Konk showing at shallow depth but missed the prime target, the downward expression of the Konkin Silver showing. A further three holes were drilled during the program and results from these holes are to be detailed in a subsequent report.
