Mineralization at the Silver King showing is hosted by what are believed to be sediments of the Helikian Roosville Formation (Purcell Supergroup). The occurrence consists of a few, narrow, scattered quartz stringers within quartzite bands. The quartz veins contain minor amounts of pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite. The quartzitic sediments are locally well-mineralized with fine, disseminated pyrite and these horizons are interbedded(?) with highly sheared argillites.
Strata in the Sheep Mountain area changes attitude across the Elk River from gentle east dips on the east side to near vertical dips along the west side, indicating a major fault system. A major alteration zone, white clay (argillic/sericitic alteration), occurs along some of the structural breaks. The altered zone is at least one kilometer long and 500 metres wide, following a portion of the Elk River canyon. The outcrop is limited to the riverbanks along the Elk River and to scattered areas on Sheep Mountain.
The Sheep Mountain area represents a unique geological picture with large complex structural zones, huge alteration, and abundant sulphide mineralization. It is to host to a number of mineralized quartz/calcite/carbonate veins that contain chalcopyrite, malachite, azurite, galena, sphalerite, hematite, limonite, pyrite and scorodite. Some of these veins have been explored by adits and trenching. The veins typically are quartz with anchorite and calcite along the margins. The largest vein was over 2 meters wide. Sulphide mineralization is hosted by the quartz with only minor pyrite and limonite mineralization in the calcite/anchorite gangue. The majority of the veins occur along NE trending structures and are hosted by a thick unit of diabase, thought to be sills. The diabase may be a fine-grained phase of the syenite porphyry. Other syenites in the region have been dated as Cretaceous so this may be a probable age. The dikes were quite carbonate, hematite, manganese, epidote, potassic(?), quartz and limonite altered.
The showing occurs below the high-water level of the Elk River within Lots SL34 and SL36.
The Wigwam 1 (2000 to 2007) contained 3 MINFILE-documented mineral occurrences, Ramshorn (082GSW010), Jennie (082GSW011), and Leah (082GSW029). The Elko 1-8 claim (1999) contained the Silver King showing (082GSW028). The Sweet May showing (082GSW012) was located about 1 kilometre south of the southeast corner of the Wigwam 1.
WORK HISTORY
In 1954, R. Monesmith, of Waldo, and partners owned six mineral claims on the summit and south slope of Sheep Mountain on the west side of the Elk River.
In 1957, the Silver King property, owned by Z.A. Dunlop comprised two claims overlying Silver King Lots S34 and S 36 on the east bank of the Elk River, about 5 kilometres south of Elko.
The Wigwam 1 claim (1999 to 2007) contained 3 MINFILE-documented mineral occurrences, Ramshorn (082GSW010), Jennie (082GSW011), and Leah (082GSW029). The Silver King showing (082GSW028) was located near the northeast corner of the Wigwam 1 and the Sweet May showing (082GSW012) was located about 1 kilometre south of the southeast corner.
In 1999, four days of mapping and sampling over the Elko 1-8 claim located along the west bank of the Elk River about 5 kilometres south of the town of Elko. In total, eleven rock samples were collected and tested by multi-element ICP analysis (Assessment Report 26151).
In 2000, eighteen rock specimens were collected and identified in the field by Morris Geological Co. Ltd. Eight rock and ten soil samples were tested by multi-element ICP analysis. Besides the Jennie showing, other sampling was done just north of the Silver King (082GSW028) showing and near the Ramshorn (082GSW010) and Leah (082GSW029) showings.
In 2002, four and a half days of mapping, prospecting and sampling was conducted by Robert Morris on the Wigwam 1 claim held by Morris Geological Co. Ltd. (Assessment Report 27033). In total, ten rock samples and ten soil samples were collected; eight of the rocks, and all ten of the soils were tested using ICP geochemical analysis.
In 2003, three days of mapping, prospecting and sampling was completed by Morris Geological. In total, eighteen soil samples were collected; all of the soil samples were tested using ICP analysis. Sampling occurred in the Leah and Jennie showing areas and to the southwest in areas of old access roads (Assessment Report 27315).
In 2004, three days of mapping, prospecting and the collection of 11 petrographic samples on the Wigwam 1 claim by Morris Geological (Assessment Report 27267).
In 2005, a preliminary ground magnetometer survey was completed on the Wigwam 1 by Morris Geological during October 2005 (Assessment Report 28064). Two areas were tested, one in the southwest corner of the claim, and another in the central eastern part. The ground magnetic survey included 13 lines for a total of 9.1 kilometres. The preliminary magnetic survey indicated minimal contrast.
In 2005 and 2006 a total of sixty-four soil samples were collected on the Wigwam 1 claim by Robert Morris, mostly in areas not far from road access (Assessment Report 28809). Prospecting and geophysical work was also completed.
In 2007, a prospecting and rock geochemistry program was conducted on mineral tenures 372755, 555975, 555976, 555977, 556361, and 557771, near the confluence of the Wigwam and Elk rivers on behalf of owners Robert Morris and Craig Kennedy (Assessment Report 29552). All of the MINFILE occurrences mentioned above, including Ramshorn, Jennie, Sweet May, Leah, and Silver King were covered by these tenures, also known as the Wigwam (082GSW096) and Maxiwam (082GSW097) claims. Eight man-days were spent prospecting and collecting rock samples at Sheep Mountain. Over the course of the program 59 rock samples were collected in total.
See Jennie (082GSW011) for more information of the Sheep Mountain area.
