The showings occur in an area mapped as Unit Javb (Open File 1997-03) of the Lower Jurassic Hazelton Group. This unit consists of andesitic volcanic breccias and conglomerates. These are described as grey-green and maroon, feldspar hornblende-porphyritic andesitic to dacitic debris flows and lahars; minor flows; with intervals of green and maroon epiclastic conglomerate and medium to coarse-grained crystal lithic wacke with angular, red mudstone fragments. The country rocks are intruded by east-northeast trending narrow Early Jurassic dikes and sills of dioritic composition.
The Horn East property was originally part of the SF (Horn) (104G 035) silver prospect to the west which was held and explored by Tenajon Silver in the 1980s. The Horn East area was acquired by Ascot Resources through staking of the Axe claims in 1989. Prior to the Ascot program a number of trenches were excavated, and some widely spaced grid soil sampling completed. Grab samples as high as 25.71 grams per tonne gold were reported from earlier work (Assessment Report 21858, page 20). A new grid was established in 1990 and further rock sampling was done. In 1991, grid extensions and detailed fill-in soil sampling was done. Follow-up trenching and sampling occurred. Geochemical sampling and prospecting for Royal County Minerals Ltd. under option from Viceroy Resources Ltd. focused on source of anomalous silts to the east and northeast of Horn East with limited anomalous gold suggesting a source from quartz-carbonate veins at Horn East (Assessment Work Report 27147). A three line, 2.05 line kilometre IP survey in 2003 by Canadian Gold Hunter Corp. under option did not identify any anomalies (Assessment Report 27387).
The focus of exploration has been a gold soil geochemical anomaly which extends for about 1.1 kilometres averaging 75 to 100 metres in width. A narrower anomaly occurs to the northeast. The area of interest is covered by soil and rubble with some outcroppings at both ends. The high assay previously reported came from a trench on this zone.
Gold mineralization is associated with structurally controlled sulphide (pyrite) bearing quartz-iron-carbonate veins that may be related to northeast trending diorite dikes. A 1-metre chip sample from one of these veins yielded 2.3 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 21858, page 21).
At least 4 sub-parallel steep westerly trending structurally controlled vein structures that transect the Horn East showing, which appear to be the source of high silt anomalies in the headwaters of Quash Creek and high-grade float (75.8 grams per tonne gold in the opposing drainage which flows westerly into Kakiddi Lake. The veins locally follow the creeks which contribute to the high gold in silt anomalies. The veins appear to have a strike length of 1 to 2 kilometres and transect lithologies (rhyolite, andesite lapilli tuffs and argillite). Boulders up to 0.8 metres have been observed and wallrock, where observed in place (rare), is highly silicified and brecciated over widths up to 3.6 metres. Vein float does not occur away from the lineaments (except for local downslope movement) and old pits and hand trenches are evident along them. The lineaments are about 250 metres apart. Veins have variable composition with quartz, iron carbonate, calcite, black calcite (good indicator for gold), late calcite veins and late barite veins. The latter are associated with galena and sphalerite. Disseminated and few mm wide fracture fillings of chalcopyrite, cut all except late calcite and barite. The amount of silicification in the wallrock is variable and best in the footwall which is rarely observed. Brecciation is common.
In 2016, Skeena Resources personnel spent 10 man-days evaluating and prospecting the Horn East target. A total of 57 rock samples and 4 moss mat stream sediments samples were collected from the target area. Sample descriptions with locations are recorded in Assessment Report 36505. Chip samples were collected across the numerous float boulders along the lineaments, but results were considered disappointing. Maximum results include 4.77 grams per tonne gold, 8.6 grams per tonne silver and 1.3 per cent zinc over 0.7 metre (sample S792038, Assessment Report 36505). High grade gold results can be obtained; 40.5 grams per tonne gold with 10.1 grams per tonne silver, 0.4 per cent lead, 0.5 per cent zinc and 0.2 per cent copper (S792300) was obtained from quartz-silica stockwork breccia. Anomalous gold in moss mat stream sediment samples from drainages in Pass/Saddle area reached 276 and 212 parts per billion. Follow-up of a 19.2 grams per tonne gold in rock grab sample, 1.5 kilometres south of Horn East yielded low gold values, but 10 to 20 grams per tonne silver with 0.1 to 0.5 per cent copper and anomalous arsenic and antimony from grab samples of quartz-silica plus/minus breccia veins with chalcopyrite and possible freibergite (S792876 to S792879 and S793701 to S793709) (Assessment Report 36505). One grab sample returned 242 grams per tonne silver with 1.2 per cent copper (sample S793706) (Assessment Report 36505).
Refer to GJ (104B 034) and Donnelly (104B 086) for common historical details of GJ/Kinaskan property.
