The Skarnface showing consists of numerous, minor patches of carbonate-diopside-epidote-chlorite-actinolite skarn. Skarn mineral assemblages occur in Upper Triassic hybrid diorite to quartz diorite which is relatively carbonate-rich, and which has diffuse hypidiomorphic textures indicating assimilation of carbonate country rock. Skarn occurrences are isolated patches but appear to be part of a broad east-west zone. The skarn is thought likely to be associated with an east-west intrusive contact zone that extends to the east where it is manifested by skarn patches in diorite adjacent to a limestone-siltstone contact. Sediments and volcanics of the Upper Paleozoic Stikine Assemblage are intruded and form pendants.
Skarn occurrences contain trace to 5 per cent pyrite and trace to 2 per cent malachite. Eight grab samples of mineralized skarn yielded minor to 2.2 per cent copper; gold and silver values vary up to 0.1 gram per tonne and 39.3 grams per tonne respectively (Assessment Report 25150).
The showing was discovered by Premier Minerals Ltd. in 1996. Please refer to the Ant occurrence (104K 032) for details of the common work history.
In 2014 IMGM International Mining Canada Inc reported that they had prospected the Skarnface area but did not take any samples for assay. They reported that the Skarnface area has skarn potential indicated by patches of talc-silicate skarn mineralogy, widespread disseminated magnetite, intrusive rocks with textural indications of limestone absorption by dioritic intrusive phases, and the occurrence of Carboniferous limestone basement rocks.
In 2019, Brixton Metals Corporation expanded their Thorn property through staking and acquisition of several claims over their East Target area which contained seven mineral showings including Skarnface.
In 2020 Brixton completed 3,025 metres of drilling within 16 core holes on the new Central Outlaw and West Outlaw zones on their Thorn property. A total of 1473 rock samples and 5588 soil samples were also collected throughout their expanded Thorn property (Press Release, Brixton Metals Corp., Dec.15, 2020). Brixton's East Target western soil anomaly is roughly 3 kilometres by 3 kilometres in area of 100 to 200 parts per million copper peripheral zone and a central area (roughly 1.75 by 1.75 kilometres in area) where copper-in-soil values are greater than or equal to 200 parts per million (see Figure 7, Press Release, Brixton Metals Corp., Dec.15, 2020). The Skarnface showing is located on a southernmost lobe of the western soil anomaly where copper-in-soil values are between 100 parts per million and 200 parts per million.
See Bing (104K 035) and Bing Skarn (104K 166) for related information from nearby showings.
Refer to Thorn (104K 031), Chivas (104K 180), East Outlaw (104K 083) and Oban (104K 168) for details of the work history on the greater Thorn property.
