The Axe (West zone) prospect lies atop the plateau overlooking the steep east-facing slope of the Summers Creek valley, 3 kilometres south of the summit of Missezula Mountain and 21 kilometres north of Princeton.
This area along Summers Creek is underlain by the Eastern volcanic facies of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group, comprising mafic, augite and hornblende porphyritic pyroclastics and flows, and associated alkaline intrusions. The rocks are intruded by granodiorite and quartz diorite of the Middle to Upper Cretaceous Summers Creek pluton.
This prospect is part of the Axe property, a large porphyry system some 3.2 kilometres in diameter that contains three significant zones of copper mineralization, including the West zone. The other two zones are the Adit (MINFILE 092HNE143) and South (MINFILE 092HNE040) zones. The West zone is 930 metres west-northwest of the Adit zone and 1500 metres northwest of the South zone. This porphyry-copper hydrothermal system is related to the intrusion of small stocks and dikes of fine-grained diorite and monzonite occurring through the Adit and West zones. These intrusions are interpreted to be part of the Nicola magmatic suite and may represent the deeper part of Nicola volcanics.
The Axe (West zone) is hosted primarily in a stock of fine- to medium-grained, equigranular to porphyritic diorite measuring 600 by 300 metres. The diorite comprises up to 40 per cent hornblende crystals set in a matrix of plagioclase, with up to 5 per cent interstitial quartz and minor interstitial orthoclase and trace sericite. The stock intrudes crystal-lithic and lapilli tuffs, and basaltic to andesitic flows of the Nicola Group (Central Belt, Bulletin 69).
The hostrocks are strongly faulted, fractured and sheared in all orientations. Several major steeply dipping faults strike north to northeast through the area of copper mineralization. These structures are part of the north-striking Summers Creek fault system.
Mineralized units exhibit significant propylitic and lesser potassic alteration. The diorite and surrounding volcanics are strongly chloritized pervasively and along fractures. Epidote commonly accompanies the chlorite and also forms fracture fillings and irregular veins, usually with calcite. Secondary orthoclase, often with magnetite and/or epidote, occurs as weakly developed pervasive alteration or as veins. Limonite and malachite occur along fractures in minor amounts.
Sulphide mineralization is disseminated and in veins, stringers and fracture fillings. The sulphides consist of pyrite, chalcopyrite, minor molybdenite and rare pyrrhotite. Chalcopyrite exceeds pyrite in areas of stronger mineralization. Abundant disseminated and vein magnetite (up to 15 per cent) is present in such areas. Chalcopyrite and pyrite tend to be disseminated in pervasive epidote and chlorite, and along fractures with epidote, chlorite and some magnetite. Pyrite and molybdenite occur in a quartz vein stockwork cutting the diorite. Molybdenite is also present along chlorite-lined fractures, as irregular stringers and as disseminations in locally strong, pervasive epidote and orthoclase alteration. The copper mineralization appears to be older than molybdenum mineralization, which may be associated with the Summers Creek stock.
Trenching and drilling has intersected erratic copper mineralization in a north-south–trending zone at least 400 metres long and up to 170 metres wide. Precious metal values are low, but are occasionally anomalous with increased values to the north end of the zone.
In 1972, a drillhole (72-6) intersected 13.3 metres (108.6 to 121.9 metres down hole) grading 0.0942 per cent copper, 1.56 grams per tonne silver and 0.859 gram per tonne gold, whereas a second hole (72-5) assayed 0.47 per cent copper and 0.560 gram per tonne gold over 3.05 metres (Assessment Reports 9896 and 10886).
In 1973, a portion of the West zone was estimated to contain an indicated reserve of 5 805 440 tonnes grading 0.47 per cent copper (Northern Miner - September 6, 1973).
In 1981, chip sampling of trenches WT1A, WT1B and WT3 on the West zone yielded 0.300, 0.263 and 0.152 per cent copper with 0.284, 0.078 and 0.100 gram per tonne gold over 0.6, 1.8 and 3.0 metres, respectively (Assessment Report 10886).
In 1998, a grab sample (WEST-R1) from a historical trench (WT-1A) yielded 0.376 per cent copper and 0.637 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 25761).
In 2003, a total resource for the Axe (South, West, Adit and Mid) zones was reported at 39 100 000 tonnes indicated and 32 000 000 tonnes inferred grading 0.39 per cent copper, including a resource of 9 100 000 tonnes indicated and 6 000 000 tonnes inferred grading 0.37 per cent copper from the West zone (Assessment Report 29096). The overall resource is said to include an inferred oxide resource of 8 500 000 tonnes grading 0.54 per cent copper. The resource was based on a 0.25 per cent copper cut-off grade. The gold content has not been determined.
In 2006, diamond drilling yielded intercepts including 0.53 per cent copper and 0.15 gram per tonne gold over 45 metres (126.0 to 171.0 metres down hole) in hole A06-02, 0.20 per cent copper and 0.15 gram per tonne gold over 106.5 metres (18.0 to 124.5 metres down hole) in hole A06-03 and 1.29 grams per tonne gold over 49.5 metres (25.5 to 75.0 metres down hole) in hole A06-05 (Assessment Report 29096).
In 2009, a diamond drill hole (A09-03), located approximately 50 metres south of the 2006 drill hole A06-02, intercepted several faults and gouge zones hosting massive pyrite and chalcopyrite associated with quartz veining yielding up to 0.75 per cent copper and 5.04 grams per tonne gold over 8.4 metres (46.0 to 54.4 metres down hole; Assessment Report 31576).
In 2014, a drill hole (14A-04) is reported to have yielded 0.25 per cent copper and 0.135 gram per tonne gold over 135.08 metres (164.92 to 300.00 metres down hole; Assessment Report 37482).
In 2018, a drill hole (AXD18-01) yielded intercepts including 0.446 gram per tonne gold and 0.099 per cent copper over 41.4 metres (2.6 to 44.0 metres down hole); 0.552 gram per tonne gold and 0.231 per cent copper over 15.45 metres (76.55 to 92.00 metres down hole) including 8.12 grams per tonne gold and 2.25 per cent copper over 0.3 metre; 0.166 gram per tonne gold and 0.276 per cent copper over 24.55 metres (242.55 to 267.10 metres down hole) and 0.371 gram per tonne gold with 0.051 per cent copper over 50.5 metres (375.00 to 396.68 metres down hole; Assessment Report 38199).
Work History
The Axe (West zone) was discovered by Amax Exploration Inc. in 1969 by excavating nine trenches totalling 790 metres, after completing geological, soil and induced polarization surveys during the same year. The company then drilled 4 diamond drill holes in 1969 and 14 percussion holes in 1970. Adonis Mines Ltd. drilled an additional four holes in 1972. No work was done on the property from 1974 to 1979. In 1980, the property was optioned by Global Energy Corporation (formerly Adonis Mines) to Cominco Ltd., who completed geological, rock geochemical and geophysical surveys over the deposit in 1981 and 1982.
During 1980 through 1993, Cominco earned a controlling interest in the claims by completing work programs. During this period, they compiled all historical data, abandoned all original claims and re-staked the Axe 3000, 4000, 5000 and 6000 claims. They also completed magnetometer, very low frequency electromagnetic surveys, rock and soil geochemistry, and six diamond drill holes, totalling 765 metres. In 1991, Cominco drilled 11 percussion holes, totalling 375 metres, in an area of gold soil anomalies. This program was, for the most part, unsuccessful in penetrating deep overburden.
In 1994, Cominco sold the claims to the Predator Syndicate, who maintained the claims to their status in 2004. The claims were transferred to Kenneth L. Daughtry, who held the claims in trust for the syndicate until March 2003. From 1997 to 2000, the property was optioned to Causeway Mining Corp, who performed a work program in 1998 consisting of an induced polarazation survey, reviews of available drillcore, rock chip sampling and the staking of five additional claims.
In 2003, Bearclaw Capital Corp. entered into an agreement to option the Axe property. Diamond and percussion drilling was done on the Axe (Adit zone) in 2003 and 2004. In 2005, Westar Resources Ltd. entered into an option agreement with Bearclaw Capital Corp. and completed a 26.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the Axe property. The following year, five diamond drill holes, totalling 689.0 metres, were completed on the Axe (West) zone. This work indicated that extensions of the West zone continue to the north, south and at depth with increasing gold values to the north as seen in hole A06-05.
In 2009, a further four diamond drill holes, totalling 503.3 metres, were completed on the Axe (West) and Axe (Mid) zones.
In 2012, Xstrata Canada Corp. optioned the Axe property and completed a program of prospecting, soil sampling, a 35.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey and a 954.0 line-kilometre airborne magnetic and radiometric survey. In 2014, Copper Mountain Mining Corp. completed four diamond drill holes, totalling 1595 metres, on the Axe (West) and Axe (South) zone.
In 2017, Evrim Exploration Canada Corp. completed a program of historical drill core re-logging and re-interpretation on the Axe property. The following year, a program of rock sampling, geological mapping, 41 rotary drill holes, totalling 695.3 metres, and 4 diamond drill holes, totalling 2113.6 metres, were completed on the property.
