The C-10 prospect is located approximately 6 kilometres east of the confluence of the Unuk and South Unuk River, between Mandy Glacier and Mount Madge. It is one of several prospects on the Corey property, presently being explored by Kenrich-Eskay Mining Corp.
Alteration of a tuffaceous volcanic to sericite schist contain up to 30 per cent quartz veinlets and lenses. This zone was reported to contain up to 10 per cent pyrite with minor fine-grained sphalerite. The C-10 area is thought to be part of a northwest-trending pyrite-sericite schist alteration zone extending as much as 6.5 kilometres and 0.8 to 1.6 kilometres in width. Silicification in this zone increases with depth, as well as towards the east. Silicification in the C-10 zone comprises quartz veinlets and stockworks. A sulfide stringer zone up to 800 metres in width occurs along the east margin of the pyrite-sericite schist band, consisting of numerous sub-horizontal stringers, pods and lenses containing siderite, chalcopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite, galena and arsenopyrite. The zone has been described as a large argillic alteration and shear zone in rocks of intermediate composition feldspar-phyric volcanic rocks cut by numerous monzonite dikes. Rock chip samples were collected from rocks described as ankeritic quartz-rich lenses containing tetrahedrite, pyrite, pyrrhotite and scorodite, as well as from phyllitic andesitic tuff. Mapping shows the area is underlain by Middle Jurassic rock of the Salmon River Formation, Hazelton Group.
A sample of the pyritic sericite schist contained 1.30 grams per tonne gold. A pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite float sample contained 9.53 grams per tonne gold and 115.89 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 16364). Another sample taken from a location 600 metres to the west-northwest contained 2.06 grams per tonne gold. A float sample found about 1 kilometre north of this assayed 55.54 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 17404).
The 2005 and 2006 drilling by Kenrich-Eskay Mining targeted the alteration and results confirmed that strong metal zoned enrichment in precious and base metals is present throughout the altered zone, indicating is a large-scale mineralizing system. These enrichments include a 1.5 metre intersection with 99.4 grams per tonne visible gold in drillhole CR05-17 (Assessment Report 30131). This base and precious metal enrichment, alteration and the stringer vein style observed in drill core strongly confirm that the C10 is consistent with a feeder zone below a Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide (VMS) deposit. Further to this, the discovery of shallow level pyrite infill textures and fine gained massive pyrite lamination in mudstone indicates that the C10 zone may represent the targeted Middle Jurassic, Eskay-rift hydrothermal system.
Another zone of mineralization, referred to as the Tet zone, is located approximately 500 metres northwest of the main C-10 zone. Two historical samples (HS18 and C10-31-3B) from the zone are reported to have yielded 1.22 and 1.02 grams per tonne gold with 28726 and 37366 grams per tonne silver, respectively, whereas a sample (A0984561) taken in 2020 yielded 0.08 gram per tonne gold and 147 grams per tonne silver (Lindsay, D., Prowse, N.D. [2021-06-08]: NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Sib-Corey-North Mitchell Property).
Work History
The first recorded work done on the C-10 showing was carried out by Bighorn Development in 1987, when six rock samples and one silt sample were collected from the area. Further work by Bighorn in 1988 consisted of construction of a grid and collection of 40 additional rock samples. Limited silt sampling was also carried out at this time. Later in the 1988 field season, Bighorn drilled six short diamond drill holes at the C-10 prospect. In 1986, Kemich Mining Corporation along with Ambergate Explorations Ltd. acquired the Sul and Nica Claims and by 1990, acquired much of the Corey package of claims that they presently hold. In 1994, Kenrich and Ambergate amalgamated under the one company, Kenrich Mining Corp. In 1989 and 1990, Kenrich and Ambergate performed basic assessment work consisting of geological mapping, surface geochemistry and geophysics and diamond drilling of geophysical Minor additional rock sampling was carried out by Kenrich in 1994.
Kenrich-Eskay Mining Corp has continued to explore its larger Corey property prospects from 2003 through 2008.
The main finding of the 2007 exploration season is that the C10, Red Lightning (new to the east), HSOV (104B 387) and Spearhead (new to the east) zones occur in a common stratabound sequence that underlies and extends beyond the Mandy Creek valley area.
In 2020, Eskay Mining Corp. completed a program of prospecting, rock sampling, ground and airborne geophysical surveys and 4335 metres of diamond drilling in 20 holes on the area as part of the Sib-Corey-North Mitchell property. The geophysical surveys consisted of a 911.7 line-kilometre airborne electromagnetic survey, a 55.85 line-kilometre induced polarization survey and a 43.19 line-kilometre magnetotelluric survey. Drilling was performed on the TV (MINFILE 104B 385) and Jeff occurrences.
See Cumberland (104B 011) for further details of C10 and Corey property work history.
