The Tungsten King 1 (North) occurrence is located at an elevation of approximately 1000 metres on a ridge separating Lime and Tumilson creeks.
Regionally, the area is underlain by quartz arenite sedimentary rocks of the Neoproterozoic to Lower Cambrian Hamill Group, undivided sedimentary rocks of the Cambrian Laib Formation and fine clastic sedimentary rocks of the Ordovician Active Formation. The rocks are folded into a series of generally north-trending anticlines and synclines. To the east and west these have been intruded by granodioritic rocks of the Cretaceous Anstey pluton, and to the north and south small bodies of syenitic to monzonitic intrusive rocks are exposed.
Locally, a fault striking 010 to 020 degrees separates quartzites of the Reno Formation and overlying Nevada quartzites to the east from massive limestone of the Lower Cambrian Reeves member (Laib Formation) with occasional dolomitic horizons to the east. The quartzites have been folded into a recumbent isoclinal fold (anticline?) with an axis at 200 degrees and plunge 20 degrees to the south.
Immediately west of the fault zone, minor skarn zones host tungsten (scheelite?) mineralization in dolomite and limestone, whereas rusty bands within skarny limestone host galena and cerussite. Approximately 30 metres further west, disseminated pyrite and dark-brown sphalerite occur within dolomite zones parallel to the banding of the limestones. The 30- to 90-centimetre wide mineralized horizons are separated by barren dolomites. Total width of the mineralized zone including barren dolomites is approximately 2 to 3 metres and the zone is underlain by unaltered limestones and argillites. The attitudes of banding and the distribution of dolomite indicates that it and the showing occur in an open, south-plunging syncline, with complex internal folding and faulting of the Lower Cambrian Laib Formation.
East of the fault zone, Reno quartzites host massive to semi-massive pyrrhotite skarn zones with associated gold values.
In 1956, a sample (7085M) assayed 6.86 grams per tonne silver, 0.27 per cent lead and 8.4 per cent zinc over 68 centimetres (Bulletin 41, page 153).
In 1996, four samples (TK-104, -105, -13 and -15) of the mineralized skarny limestone bands yielded values from 2.83 to 4.43 per cent lead, trace to 2.40 per cent zinc, 68.7 to 133.9 grams per tonne silver and 0.19 to 3.95 grams per tonne gold, whereas a sample (TK-10) of banded sphalerite in dolomite assayed 16.33 per cent zinc and 9.2 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 24910). Also, at this time a sample (TK-12) of siliceous skarn in quartzites with pyrrhotite mineralization assayed 1.7 grams per tonne silver and 11.07 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 24910).
The area has been historically explored in conjunction with the nearby Emerald Tungsten (MINFILE 082FSW010) and Jersey (MINFILE FSW009) mines. In 1907, the Mastadon (L. 1070) and Nellie J (L. 1071) claims were Crown granted. In 1942, a program of bulldozer stripping and 60 metres of drilling was completed. The following year an 18.3-metre long drillhole was completed. During 1950 through 1955, American Zinc Co. completed programs of diamond drilling and bulldozer stripping. In 1956, the claims were optioned by Can Ex. and a program of stripping was conducted.
During 1994 through 1996, Sultan Minerals Inc. conducted programs of geochemical sampling, geological mapping and a 510 line-kilometre airborne geophysical survey on the area.
