The Par prospect occurs along the west bank of Otter Creek, approximately 6.5 kilometres west of the north end of Missezula Lake and 14 kilometres south of Aspen Grove.
This area west of Otter Creek is underlain by the Central volcanic facies of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group, comprised of intermediate feldspar and feldspar augite porphyritic pyroclastics and flows. The Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic Allison Lake pluton lies 1.2 kilometres west of this occurrence.
Locally, diamond drilling intersected grey to green tuff containing stringers and veins of quartz, and blocks and bands of magnetite and/or hematite, accompanied by minor epidote and chlorite. Pyrite and chalcopyrite occur as stringers and disseminations, commonly associated with the magnetite. Pyrite is also occasionally found in quartz stringers. Chalcopyrite may occur as sparse inclusions in massive pyrite veins. Molybdenite is sparse and is found in or along the walls of quartz stringers and veins. Tetrahedrite and bornite are also reported.
Later work (2013) identified a previously undocumented zone of widespread phyllic (quartz-sericite-pyrite) and argillic (silica-pyrite-clay) alteration associated with high-level quartz feldspar porphyry intrusions with sulfide stockworks and clots of chalcopyrite and bornite as well as quartz-molybdenite veins. Magnetite and/or hematite veining and stockwork is accompanied by variable silica, sericite, clay and chlorite. Breccias contain altered, quartz-feldspar phyric intrusive clasts, clasts of massive, fine-grained magnetite-chalcopyrite, and a matrix containing variable proportions of chalcopyrite, hematite and magnetite. Magnetite and hematite are commonly overprinted by sulfide and quartz-sulfide veins. The altered porphyry has been mapped over a strike length of approximately 800 metres with a minimum width of 350 metres.
Work History
A number of historical trenches and adits, likely dating to the early 1900s, are reported to have been developed on the occurrence.
Between 1962 and 1965, Tormont Mines Ltd. drilled 18 holes, totalling 2759 metres, after completing a magnetometer survey in 1962. Thirteen holes are reported to have intercepted significant mineralization over an area of approximately 250 by 250 metres, with the longest continuous assayed interval yielding 0.86 per cent copper and 44 grams per tonne silver over 20.42 metres (110.03 to 130.45 metres down hole) in hole H-27. Drillhole H-29, located approximately 65 metres northwest of H-27, intercepted three mineralized intervals over a 56-metre section (23.16 to 79.25 metres down hole), yielding 0.73, 0.41 and 0.32 per cent copper and 31, 26 and 9 grams per tonne silver over 10.67, 15.24 and 9.15 metres, respectively (Assessment Report 36184).
In 1967, Rayore Mines Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping, geochemical sampling and a 19.2 line-kilometre ground magnetic and electromagnetic survey on the area as the M claims.
In 1975, an additional hole (B-1), 123 metres long, was drilled by A. Robertson on the Par claims. Drillhole B-1 intersected 24.4 metres grading 2.14 grams per tonne silver and 0.201 per cent copper (Assessment Report 5760, core logs). Copper assays were only reported for the first 28.5 metres of the hole. Analyses from previous drilling yielded up to 147 grams per tonne silver and 2.8 per cent copper (Assessment Report 5760).
In 1999, William Richard Bergey performed 2 days of geological mapping near the Par occurrence and staked the Duncan claim, which encompassed the Par showing, in 2000. In 2001, William Richard Bergey completed geological mapping and electromagnetic geophysical surveys on the area around the Par showing. In 2002, William Richard Bergey conducted geological mapping and electromagnetic geophysical surveys on the area. The electromagnetic survey outlined a semi-continuous anomalous zone that follows the contact between fine-grained granitic porphyry and volcanic rocks. In 2004, a further program of geological mapping was completed by William Bergey.
In 2011, Moag Copper-Gold Resources Inc. completed a mobile metal ion geochemical sampling survey in areas throughout the Aspen Grove property.
In 2013, West Cirque Resources Ltd. acquired the Aspen Grove property, comprising 37 mineral claims, including the Par prospect, and totalling 5629 hectares, and proceeded to complete an exploration program of geological mapping and rock sampling throughout the property. Sampling at the Par prospect entailed 54 rock chip and grab samples with assay values up to 0.589 gram per tonne gold, 1.1 per cent copper and 9.5 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 36184). A chip sample of pervasively phyllic-altered porphyry with clots of chalcopyrite and bornite assayed 0.589 gram per tonne gold and 0.764 per cent copper, whereas a sample of magnetite-chalcopyrite-veined and clay-altered intrusive rock yielded 1.1 per cent copper and 0.29 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 34718; Press Release, West Cirque Resources Ltd., June 17, 2013).
The Aspen Grove property was enlarged in 2013 and 2014 by additional staking and two claim purchase agreements. As a result of the merger of West Cirque Resources with Kaizen Discovery Inc. in 2014 and financing by ITOCHU Corporation of Japan, property ownership shifted to KZD Aspen Grove Holding Ltd., a subsidiary owned 60 per cent by Kaizen Discovery Inc. and 40 per cent by ITOCHU.
In 2014, four diamond drill holes, totalling 2012 metres, were completed at the Par prospect. All drillholes intersected broad intervals of intense silicification and phyllic (quartz-sericite-pyrite) to advanced argillic (pyrophyllite, dickite, diaspore, kaolinite) alteration in high-level quartz-feldspar porphyry intrusions and related submarine felsic and volcaniclastic rocks. In addition, drillhole AG14-02 intersected a well-mineralized diorite porphyry intrusion underlying a mineralized breccia pipe. Highlights of the drilling include a 9-metre interval in drillhole AG14-01 grading 0.214 per cent copper, 0.79 per cent zinc, and 6.4 grams per tonne silver and a 16-metre interval in drillhole AG14-02 grading 0.313 per cent copper (Assessment Report 35263).
In 2015, KZD Aspen Grove Holding Ltd. and Kaizen Discovery Inc. completed 14 diamond drill holes, totalling 3394.0 metres, on the Aspen Grove property. A single diamond drill hole (AG15-01) completed on an induced polarization anomaly previously identified in 2014 intercepted a magnetite-pyrite±specular hematite–cemented hydrothermal breccia and microbreccia yielding 0.24 per cent copper and 0.10 gram per tonne gold over 73.2 metres (1.8 to 75.0 metres down hole; Assessment Report 36184).
