The CU 16 occurrence is located on the eastern flank of Gnawed Mountain at approximately 1700 metres elevation.

The area is situated in the central portion of the Lower Jurassic Guichon Creek Batholith. The area is underlain by Skeena variety granodiorite to quartz diorite, which is intruded by north-trending dikes of Bethsaida phase porphyritic granodiorite. Fine-grained aplite dikes are also common. Alteration minerals, including chlorite, epidote, sericite and kaolinite, occur in small amounts. Regional faults trend north-northeast. Fracture zones host mineralized quartz vein stockworks.

Locally, a 2.4-metre deep shaft was sunk prior to the 1940's on a 60 to 90-centimetre wide quartz vein striking 080 degrees and dipping vertically. Mineralization in the vein consists of bornite, chalcopyrite, molybdenite, malachite, azurite, molybdenite and limonite. The granodiorite contains sparse disseminations and veinlets of molybdenite. Propylitic alteration is more intense and some secondary albite is present in the granodiorite.

In 2009, two grab samples from the shaft area yielded 4.91 and 2.71 per cent copper (Assessment Report 31169).

Work History

The area has been explored in conjunction with the nearby Ann (MINFILE 092ISE152) occurrence.

In 1957 and 1958, the area was examined by American Smelting and Refining. In 1959, Kennco Explorations completed a program of ground geophysical surveys, soil sampling, geological mapping and three diamond drill holes on the area as the VM property.

In the mid-1960’s, Kennco Explorations and Anaconda examined the area. The property was owned and examined by Trojan Mines in 1969.

In 1974 and 1975, Highmont Mining completed programs of geological mapping and ground electromagnetic surveys on the area. In 1976, WR Financial Consultants completed eight percussion drill holes, totalling 690.0 metres, on the area as the Gnawed property. In 1977, New Minex Resources completed four diamond drill holes, totalling 301.0 metres, and four percussion drill holes totalling 274.0 metres.

In 1986, Robak Industries completed a program of rock and soil sampling and geological mapping on the area.

In 1991, 1996 and 2009, Robak Industries completed programs of geological mapping and prospecting on the area. In 2012, a 72.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey was completed on the area immediately south.

In 2015, Robak Industries Ltd. completed a 12.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the area as the Gnawed Mountain property.

During 2018 through 2020, Mascot Capital Inc. completed programs of prospecting, geochemical (rock and soil) sampling, 3D compilations of historic magnetic data and an 8.0 line-kilometre seismic survey on the area as the Gnawed Mountain property.