The Eliza occurrence is located approximately 114 kilometres east-northeast of Dease Lake, just north of the Turnagain River.
The area of the occurrence is underlain mainly by rocks of the Upper Proterozoic Ingenika Group including the Espee, Swannell and Tsaydiz formations. The Espee Formation consists of crystalline limestone, sandy limestone and dolostone. The Swannell and Tsaydiz formations, mapped by Gabrielse (Geological Survey of Canada Open File 2779) as an undivided unit, consists of phyllite, schist, phyllitic limestone, siltstone, quartzite and conglomerate. Sediments and metasediments of the Upper Proterozoic Stelkuz Formation (Ingenika Group) and Lower Cambrian Boya Formation (Ingenika Group) also occur (also mapped as an undivided unit).
Intruding the country rocks are the Lower Cretaceous Cassiar Batholith (Turnagain pluton). The Cassiar Batholith consists of granite, quartz monzonite and granodiorite; its northern limits intrude the strata in the area of the showings. The Turnagain pluton, consisting of biotite granite, intrudes to the immediate west of the showings.
Scheelite occurs with skarn at the base of a limestone-dolomite unit. Skarn minerals vary from garnet-bearing marble to garnet-diopside skarn with local sulphide concentrations. Joint-filling quartz carries the highest grade material as coarse scheelite crystals. Values of between 0.1 and 0.2 per cent tungsten tri-oxide over 1 to 5 metres were typical of samples taken (Assessment Report 6755). Some scheelite was also noted as disseminations in unaltered dolomite approximately 500 metres southeast of the quartz vein-hosted scheelite. Approximately 350 metres further to the southeast, silver-bearing galena mineralization occurs in a 0.5-metre-wide pyrolusite vein. Southwest of the quartz vein-hosted scheelite are quartz veins hosted in schist near a quartz monzonite contact. These veins carry up to 10 per cent tungsten tri-oxide (estimated) in veins up to 0.5 metre wide.
In 1979, diamond drilling yielded intercepts including 0.15, 0.23 and 2.30 per cent tungsten over 2.5, 1.4 and 0.1 metres, respectively, in hole 9T1, and 0.05 and 0.15 per cent tungsten over 15.5 and 4.1 metres, respectively, in hole 9T4 (Assessment Report 7510).
In 1981, a chip sample from trench SA 4 assayed 1.35 per cent tungsten tri-oxide over a true width of 6.66 metres (Assessment Report 10081).
Work History
During 1967 through 1969, Rip Van Mining Ltd. worked the property, including 14 diamond drill holes.
During 1969 through 1971, El Paso Mining and Milling completed exploration programs including geological mapping, rock chip sampling, ultraviolet geophysical sample survey and drilled more than 4000 metres in 20 holes on the area; results are not available.
In 1971, El Paso returned the original Ram claims to W. Kuhn. In 1972, detailed geochemical work and prospecting by Kuhn discovered new mineralization. Soon after, more new mineralization was also discovered by geological crews who went to examine the property. In 1975, W. Kuhn prospected the area as the Eliza and May claims.
During 1977 through 1979, Union Carbide Canada Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping, geochemical (rock and soil) sampling, test pitting and at least four diamond drill holes, totalling 898 metres, on the area as the Ram and May claims. Much difficulty was encountered, and the lowest skarns, which on previous surface sampling gave the best values in tungsten, were never reached by any of the drilling. In 1980 and 1981, the claims were returned to Kuhn and programs of prospecting, geochemical (rock and soil) sampling, trenching and a 1.2 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey were completed on the Ram, Eliza, Lamb and Sheep claims.
In 1997, Hunter Exploration Group completed a program of prospecting and geochemical (rock, silt and soil) sampling on the area as the Turnagain 1-9 claims.
In 2005, an airborne magnetic and electromagnetic survey totalling 2,130 line-kilometres was flown over the Thrust property on behalf of United Exploration Management Inc.
In 2012, BCarlin Resources Ltd. completed a program of rock and silt sampling on the area as the B 1-100 claims of the Blue Sheep property.
