At the VB 20 prospect, skarn mineralization is developed within a limestone unit and volcanic derived sediments of the Upper Triassic Stuhini Group adjacent to a Middle Triassic to Late Triassic quartz diorite stock. The stock is about 2.5 kilometres in length, east-west and about 1.25 kilometres wide, north-south. Skarn is developed where the diorites intrude limestone. The typical skarn assemblage comprises calcite-epidote-diopside-garnet. Chalcopyrite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, magnetite and specular hematite are observed in outcrop, over an area of about 800 by 400 metres. Sulphide zones within skarn are typically 1 to 2 metres wide, up to 5 metres wide, and contain 2-5 per cent chalcopyrite, up to 5 per cent pyrite, up to 3 per cent pyrrhotite, and variable concentrations of magnetite and hematite.
A grab sample by Homestake Canada Inc. assayed 2.64 per cent copper, 59.0 grams per tonne silver and 2.78 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 20149).
Work History.
Amax Explorations Inc. staked the VB claims in 1973 to cover a copper-iron skarn west of Tahltan Lake. The skarn mineralization consisted of chalcopyrite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, magnetite and specular hematite adjacent to a diorite stock (Geology, Exploration and Mining in BC, 1974). In 1974, a soil geochemical grid was established and a magnetometer survey was conducted with magnetic highs coinciding with known mineralized skarn areas (Assessment Report 5097).
In 1989, a preliminary prospecting program by Kestrel Resources Ltd was completed over the existing mineral claims and located several mineral showings. A 1990 geochemical program was undertaken to further assess the exploration potential of the claims. During the course of that work some 203 rock samples, 192 soil samples and 18 panned concentrate silt samples were collected. The 1990 geochemical program by Kestrel was designed to give broad coverage as well as some detailed follow-up from the 1989 prospecting program. Some 203 rock chip samples and 192 soil samples were collected.
Homestake completed two programs on the property in 1989 that are detailed in two assessment reports 19063 and 20149. The Canyoun 1-20 claims covered much of the same ground as the earlier VB claims of Amax in 1973-74. The first program consisted of mapping and the collection of 5 rock and 4 silt samples over two days of work. The follow-up program included further geological mapping and rock (56 samples) and soil (34 samples) sampling (Assessment Report 20149). Analytical results from the skarn zones indicated that the zones are anomalous in both copper and silver and occasionally gold. In addition a number of samples were taken from several old trenches located on the property. The trenches were cut on skarn altered zones containing chalcopyrite, magnetite and pyrite mineralization. Another program was initiated in 1990 comprising the collection of 366 soil samples from an 11.6 line-kilometre grid (Assessment Report 21320). Results reported values up to 2.64 per cent copper, 58.97 grams per tonne silver and 2.78 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 30739).
Work done in 2005 by Red Tusk Resources on the RHG claim group included, grid establishment (39.35 line-kilometres), rock (35 samples), and soil (985 samples) geochemical sampling, 3D modeling of a previously flown airborne magnetic survey, and a 3D induced Polarization geophysical survey (35.75 line-kilometres). The claims covered much of the same area as the previous VB claims of Amex (1974) and the Canyon claims of Homestake as well as the Tahl claims of Kestrel Resources Ltd. The 2005 work outlined areas of anomalous soil and several high chargeability-low resistivity targets from the 3D IP survey. A total of 25 rock grab and 10 rock chip samples were collected during the 2005 program. Two grids totalling 39.35 line-kilometres were established, north and south of the Kestrel showing, which wasn’t covered by the 2005 surveys due to steepness of terrain; none of the sampling covered the original Kestrel showing. No work was done around the VB showings (104B 081,082,083)
Work in 2008 by GMV Minerals Inc on the RHG claim group consisted of two NQ-size diamond drill holes totalling 828.75 metres drilled The first hole successfully intersected skarn related massive sulphide mineralization over narrow widths. The second hole was abandoned prior to reaching the target depth. At total of 828.75 metres of drilling was completed.
In late 2010, Railhead Resources Ltd, conducted a detailed soil sampling program in the central area of the claim block. This program was implemented to expand the previous soil grid to the west of the 2005 and 2006 sampling programs.
In 2013, Strategic Metals completed a program of geological mapping, prospecting and geochemical (rock, soil and silt) sampling on the area.
In 2014, Railhead Resources Ltd conducted geophysical survey on the RHG claim block some 6 kilometes southeast of the 2005-06, 2008 and 2011 exploration work conducted on the property previously . The 2014 Magnetic and VLF-EM surveys totalled 20.2 line-kilometres and were conducted about 650 metres northwest of the VB 20 skarn prospect. The VLF-EM survey revealed a number of different conductors striking in various direction, but mainly southerly. Two conductors stand out because of their strength and because they occur in both frequencies. The first conductor and occurs at the western end of the grid and strikes northwest-southeast with a minimum strike length of 250 meters, being open at both ends. The second conductoroccurs within the center of the grid area strikes north-south with a minimum strike length of 500 meters, also being open at both ends. The magnetic survey over the grid area shows a field that varies in strength from a low of 56,407 nT to a high of 56,603 nT resulting in a range of almost 200 nT. The highs, for the most part occur within the western part of the grid and the lows within the eastern part. Magnetic highs may be reflecting magnetite-rich skarn mineralization.
In 2017 and 2018, further programs of prospecting and geochemical (rock and soil) sampling were completed. Six samples taken over a strike length of 740 metres averaged 1.34 grams per tonne gold, 31.9 grams per tonne silver and 2.29 per cent copper (Pautler, J. (2019-05-31): Technical Report on the GK Project).
