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File Created: 21-Sep-2012 by Garry J. Payie (GJP)
Last Edit:  04-Apr-2022 by Karl A. Flower (KAF)

Summary Help Help

NMI
Name COPPER BELLE, TREATY CREEK, WEST NUNATAK, GOLDSTORM Mining Division Skeena
BCGS Map 104B070
Status Developed Prospect NTS Map 104B09E
Latitude 056º 35' 22'' UTM 09 (NAD 83)
Longitude 130º 10' 26'' Northing 6272300
Easting 427900
Commodities Gold, Copper, Molybdenum, Silver Deposit Types L04 : Porphyry Cu +/- Mo +/- Au
L03 : Alkalic porphyry Cu-Au
Tectonic Belt Intermontane Terrane Stikine
Capsule Geology

The Copper Belle is thought to be underlain by an andesitic succession of the Lower Jurassic Betty Creek Formation, Hazelton Group. Rocks in the area include weak to moderately altered crystal-lithic andesite tuffs, intensely altered crystal-lithic andesite tuffs (sericite schist), dolomite, limestone, quartzite, pillow lavas, red, purple, and green volcanic breccias, porphyritic flows and minor chert. The Hazelton strata are in contact with Upper Triassic Stuhini Group rocks within several hundreds of metres to the west. The strata are intruded by Early Jurassic diorite and feldspar porphyritic stocks.

Gold mineralization Copper Belle is hosted primarily within andesitic tuffs and volcaniclastic rocks, with only limited sections of intrusive rocks observed. All rocks are altered to varying degrees, with typically abundant chlorite, as well as localized sericite, potassium feldspar and zones of silicification. Pyrite is abundant in the strongly mineralized areas, occurring as disseminations, veins and coarse masses, with local sparse specks of chalcopyrite. Quartz-carbonate veins are common and appear to post-date the pyritic groundmass; some contain fine pyrite and local chalcopyrite, galena and arsenopyrite. Minor visible gold has also been observed in the quartz-carbonate veins.

The Copper Belle zone is a recently discovered zone (2007 or before) immediately northeast of the historic Goat Trail showings. Retreat and thinning of the glacier revealed an outcrop of intense potassic altered and mineralized andesitic volcaniclastic rocks and breccias interbedded with andesitic tuffs and flows and minor welded feldspathic sandstones. The rock was later intruded by quartz-monzodiorite.

Mineralized altered quartz monzonite was intersected in core during the 2007 drill program. Highlights from 2007 drilling on the Copper Belle zone included intersections of 0.93 gram per tonne gold and 8.78 grams per tonne silver over 76.07 metres (Assessment Report 30241). Gold mineralization in the Copper Belle zone is interpreted to occur in a porphyry style of mineralization, with locally anomalous molybdenum and copper rich zones capping the intrusive rock.

In 2007 and 2009, drilling on the Copper Belle zone yielded intercepts including 1.11 grams per tonne gold over 41.07 metres in hole TC07-21C and 0.80 gram per tonne gold over 241.7 metres in hole CB-09-14 (Pardoe, J. (2016-05-21): NI43-101 Technical Report on the Treaty Creek Property).

The first hole drilled on the Copper Belle zone in 2016 (CB-16-01) was undertaken before the completion of the MT survey. The purpose of CB-16-01 was to begin to explore the extent of the mineralization discovered through the American Creek 2009 hole (CB-09-14). The results of hole CB-16-01 were very encouraging and included 0.449 grams per tonne gold over 210 metres from 100 to 320 metres (Tudor Gold Corp, News Release, December 22,2016).

In 2017 the most promising gold intersection reported to date of 27 holes was Hole CB-17-26, which yielded 149.1 metres grading 1.78 grams per tonne gold from 97.8 to 246.9 metres (Teuton Resources Corp, News Release, January 16, 2018).

It is reported that a Copper Belle resource estimate will use data from 27 holes from 2017, three holes from 2016, 17 holes from 2009 and 10 holes from 2007, for a total of 22,970 metres drilled. These drill holes cover an area of approximately 250 metres wide by a kilometre long. The Copper Belle zone mineralization is open in all directions and to depth.

Tudor Gold stated the following in January 2019. "It was previously thought that gold mineralization identified by drilling northeast of the Copper Belle Zone was simply a northeast extension of that same zone, but after evaluating drill hole data from holes completed in 2016, 2017 and 2018, it appears that the mineralization encountered to the northeast of Copper Belle has different characteristics, configuration and geometry. While it is unclear whether the zones are genetically linked, these zones are physically separate (Tudor Gold, Press Release Jan.31,2019)." A surface drill hole location map in the aforementioned news release shows the location of the Copper Belle and Goldstorm zones.

Work History

Sampling and trenching occurred on the West Nunatak showings (of the Treaty Creek property) in 1988 and 1989; these may have included AW, Ridge, Goat Trail and Konkin zones. In 1989, 11 holes totalling 1182.75 were completed by Tantalus Resources Ltd with 509.96 metres in two holes on the Goat Trail Zone (holes TA89-5 and 6) and 672.79 metres in 9 holes on the Konkin Zone (holes TA89-1 to 4 and 7 to 11) (Assessment Report 19872). Geological mapping was done in the West Nunatak area in 1994 by Prime Resources Corp (Assessment Report 23686). Further trenching was reported for 1996 in the West Nunatak area but is not documented. Drilling occurred on the new Copper Belle showing in 2007 by American Creek Resources Ltd to the immediate north of the Goat Trail showing (Assessment Report 30241, 30910).

After the 2009 drill program was complete, work on the property was suspended due to a legal dispute between American Creek Resources Ltd. and Teuton Resources Corp.

In 2016, the dispute between American Creek and Teuton Resources was settled. The Treaty Creek project soon became a joint venture with Tudor Gold as operator (60 per cent owner). Teuton and American Creek Resources each own a 20 per cent carried interest, meaning neither company must contribute to exploration costs until a production notice is made.

In 2016, Tudor Gold Corp conducted a Magnetotelluric (MT) survey on a portion of the Treaty Creek property prior to a drill program. Tudor Gold drilled eight holes on the Treaty Creek claims in 2016. Three holes were drilled on the Copper Belle are reported including two on a new zone to the northeast, later known as the Goldstorm. The remaining five holes were drilled on the Treaty Gossan and Eureka zone (104B 078).

In 2017, Tudor drilled 13,722 metres in 27 diamond-drill holes on their Treaty Creek property. The target was the Copper Belle zone which was later (by early 2019) known to be two separate zones, Copper Belle and Goldstorm (104B 704).

In 2018, drilling continued in the Goldstorm Zone with the intent of exploring possible extensions of the mineralized area to the north and west of previous drill holes. Nine holes, totalling 7,238 meters, were drilled in 2018 in this new target area that covers approximately 500 metres by 450 metres.

In 2019, the drill program at the Goldstorm Zone by Tudor Gold totalled 9,781.8 meters within 14 diamond drill holes.

The surface drill hole location map found in the January 2019 Tudor Gold news release shows the location of the Copper Belle and Goldstorm zones (Tudor Gold, Press Release Jan.31,2019). This location map indicates that all drill holes west and southwest of drill hole CB-17-30 are on the Copper Belle zone and those north and northeast of it are on the Goldstorm zone. Holes on the Copper Belle are primarily 2009 and 2017 holes and those on the Goldstorm are primarily 2017 and 2018 holes. One 2016 hole is on the Goldstorm zone and 2 are on the Copper Belle. All 2018 holes appear to be on the Goldstorm zone with none on the Copper Belle. No 2019 drill holes were plotted on the location map.

In 2020, Tudor Gold Corp. completed a program of diamond drilling on the Goldstorm (MINFILE 104B 704) and Perfect Storm zones of the Treaty Creek Gold property. Also at this time, a mineral resource estimate was reported for the Copper Belle and Goldstorm (MINFILE 104B 704) occurrences with a total openpit and out-of-pit measured and indicated resource of 815 700 000 tonnes grading 0.66 gram per tonne gold, 3.6 grams per tonne silver and 0.06 per cent copper with an additional inferred resource of 311 700 000 tonnes grading 0.72 gram per tonne gold, 4.0 grams per tonne silver and 0.05 per cent copper using a 0.30 and 0.46 per cent copper equivalent for in-pit and out-of-pit resources, respectively (P&E Mining Consultants Inc. [2021-04-23]: Technical Report and Initial Mineral Resource Estimate of the Treaty Creek Gold Property, Skeena Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada).

Refer to Goldstorm (104B 704) for related details. Refer also to Goat Trail (104B 172) and Treaty Gossan (104B 078) for related geological and work history details.

Bibliography
EMPR ASS RPT 16839, 18199, 19872, 21318, 23686, *30241, *30910, *31827, 37904
EXPL 2016-164,165; 2017-22,30,134,138
EMPR BULL 63
EMPR FIELDWORK 1987, p. 207
EMPR OF 1988-4
EMPR PF (Britten, R.M. (1983): Regional Geological Assessment of the Stewart-Sulphurets Area, Geology and Alteration of the Sulphurets Prospect Area by Esso Minerals Canada Ltd. (unpublished); Geology Map-1:31250 Scale-Newmont Exploration of Canada Ltd., 1960's GSC MAP 9-1957; 1418A
GSC P 89-1E, pp. 145-154
PR REL Teuton Resources Corp Sept.*10,*18, Oct.5, Nov.2, 1987; Feb.3, May6, Aug.5, Sept.14,*Oct.17, 1988; Jan.12, 2010; Jan.5, 2012; Feb.24, May27, 2014; Apr.3, Jun.26, Oct.16,*Dec.14, 2017; American Creek Resources Feb.19, Nov.30 2009; Mar.8, 2013; Apr.5, Jun.12, Jul.19,24, Aug.9, Sep.7,15, Oct.17, Nov.15, Dec.11, 14, 2017; Jan.*10,*16, *24,23, 26, Feb.1, 2018; Tudor Gold Corp May11, Aug.15, Oct.*11,*26, *Dec.22, 2016; Sept. 15, Aug.8, Oct.12, Dec.7,*13/14, 2017; Jan.*9,15,*22,*31, Aug.*24, Oct.*30, Nov.*26, 2018; Jan.*31, Feb.*26, May 2, Jun.11,*30, Sep.*23,*26, Oct.*24, 2019
*Pardoe, J. (2016-05-21): NI43-101 Technical Report on the Treaty Creek Property

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