The oldest rocks in the area are complexly folded and metamorphosed schists and gneisses, and mafic volcanics (basalt) all Devonian age and belonging to the Stikine Assemblage. These are overlain by Devonian to Permian, white to grey, crystalline limestone and other sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Stikine Assemblage. Regionally, these rocks are overlain by a volcanic and sedimentary sequence of the Upper Triassic Stuhini Group. Late Devonian and Eocene intrusions are mapped in the Joy 2 region.
The dominant lithology on the property is an extensive unit of massive, intermediate volcanics which are characterized by the presence of rounded inclusions of plagioclase porphyry material. Propylitic alteration is pervasive and intense within this unit, with saussuritized plagioclase phenocrysts and massive epidote occurring as fracture infillings.
Distinctive volcaniclastic horizons are encountered in the andesites in the northeastern part of the Joy 2 claim. Agglomerates and volcanic breccias with clasts up to 10 centimetres in diameter occur here.
In the central part of the Joy 2 claim alteration includes extensive zones of clay alteration with zones of intense silicification. Hematization is commonly associated with the clay alteration zone, and specular hematite occurs occasionally in fractures.
The most significant intrusive body on the property is likely related to the Late Devonian McClymont Plutonic Suite and consists of a stock of granitic to granodioritic composition which outcrops in the north central portion of the Joy 2 claim. Peripheral areas of the intrusion have undergone intense sericite and epidote alteration. Quartz-epidote veins are present near the contact with the surrounding volcanics. Part of the southern boundary of this intrusion appears to be in fault contact with the volcanics. The fault strikes about 075 degrees.
The most significant mineralization on the Joy 2 claim occurs in an intensely oxidized, pyrite and chalcopyrite-bearing shear zone within altered andesites. The showing is in the north central part of the claim and occurs near a contact between the volcanics and a granitic stock. The shear zone is exposed over a strike length of about 20 metres and is mineralized over a width of 30 centimetres. A high grade sample taken from this showing in 1987, assayed 190.0 grams per tonne gold, 226.3 grams per tonne silver and 0.57 per cent copper (Assessment Report 16794). Other anomalous gold, silver and copper values are reported from samples taken from a smaller shear zone which converges with the main showing. This mineralized shear was drilled in 1988. See Work History below for further details.
Sulphide-bearing shear zones, quartz veins and zones of intense clay alteration elsewhere on the Joy 2 claim also contain anomalous gold values. Located about 300 metres northwest of the drilled shear zone are at least 15 quartz veins within a 270 by 200 metre area. They are generally oriented at 210 degrees/80 degrees northwest and are hosted by intermediate crystal tuffs and reworked agglomerates. Individual veins were rarely traced for over 25 metres and are relatively narrow and discontinuous. They pinch and swell along strike, averaging 10 centimetres wide but swell up to 60 centimetres. Most of the veins consist of barren bull quartz but three of them carry up to 5 per cent pyrite and locally, 5 per cent chalcopyrite, malachite and minor azurite. A very minor amount of visible gold was observed in one of the veins. Chip sample results indicate that only a few of the veins carry significant gold values.
Gold-bearing pyrite mineralization occurs near the convergence of two small shear zones on the Joy 1 claim (refer to 104B 329).
Work History
The first record of any exploration work done on the area now occupied by the present Joy property appears to be in 1980. At that time DuPont of Canada Exploration Ltd. staked the BAX claim which covered a small portion of the Joy 2 claim and most of the adjoining Ian 4 claim, to the south. This claim was staked to cover an anomalous gold result obtained from a small creek during their regional heavy mineral stream sediment survey. The claim was allowed to lapse in spite of only completing two days of follow-up work. This was probably the result of the dramatic drop in the price of gold and the subsequent demise of the company.
In December of 1986, the Joy 1 and 2 claims were staked.
In 1987, Brenwest Mining Ltd. optioned the property, conducted geochemical, geophysical and geological surveys. A total of 128 rock, 202 soil and 39 silt samples were collected and analyzed for faa gold and a six element ICP package (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, As and Sb). The soil sampling was confined to a 6.4 line-kilometre grid on the Joy 2 claim where a narrow, auriferous shear zone in altered, intermediate volcanics was discovered. Grab samples from this zone returned values up to 190.01 grams per tonne gold, 226.29 grams per tonne silver and 0.57 per cent copper (Assessment Report 16794). A 6.5-kilometre geophysical survey consisting of VLF-EM and mag was also carried out over this grid. Brenwest also reported the discovery of several other sulphide-bearing shear zones, quartz veins and zones of intense clay a1terati.o~ elsewhere on the Joy 2 claim.
During 1988, International Wildcat Resources Ltd. optioned the Joy property from Brenwest. Geological mapping, prospecting, geochemical sampling and diamond drilling programs were conducted was conducted by Hi-Tec Resource Management Ltd for International Wildcat. The diamond drilling consisted of four holes, totalling 302.7 metres, drilled in the area of the auriferous shear zone discovered in 1987. The drill results were very disappointing. The only intercept of note was 4.97 grams per tonne gold over a core length of 0.6 metre, which included 11.31 grams per tonne gold over 0.2 metre, from hole 88DHB03 (Assessment Report 18074).
No work was recorded on the Joy property during 1989.
In 1990, Keewatin personnel carried out geological mapping, prospecting and geochemical surveys on the property on behalf of Big M Resources Ltd. The east side of the property was designated as the focus of exploration. This work included soil (881 samples), rock (174 samples) and silt (3 samples) sampling, as well as grid and helipad establishment. Several geochemical anomalies and several previously discovered mineral occurrences were investigated.
