The Clapper (Classic-Coca) occurrence is located at an elevation of approximately 1300 metres, west of Clapperton Creek and approximately 3 kilometres northeast of Dartt Lake.
The area is underlain by Upper Triassic Nicola Group andesitic rocks in fault contact with granodiorite of the Lower Jurassic Nicola Batholith. A coarse-grained diorite to quartz diorite is also evident and may represent a marginal phase of the batholith. The Nicola Group rocks consist of hornblende porphyritic andesite, andesite tuff and lapilli tuff, agglomerate, volcanic breccias, massive andesite and fine-grained diorite, which is apparently a subvolcanic equivalent of the andesite. Metamorphosed equivalents of the andesites are locally exposed and include greenstone, phyllite and quartz sericite schists. The latter two units appear to be related to localized shear zones. The andesitic volcanic rocks also contain local interbeds of limestone, siltstone and volcaniclastics. Minor calc-silicate development and rare diopside-epidote skarn is evident at the limestone-andesite contact but is restricted to a 20- to 40-centimetre alteration zone.
A major north-trending fault zone, Fanta fault, separates the batholith from the Nicola Group rocks. The fault is characterized by brecciation, pyritization, carbonate and epidote alteration, local clay alteration and variable silicification. A pyritic, silicified zone with local clay alteration (Classic zone) trends 125 degrees and cuts across the Fanta fault and may represent a subsidiary structure.
Mineralization consists of locally abundant pyrite along the Fanta fault and is concentrated in the Classic zone. Malachite and rare chalcopyrite are also observed along the Fanta fault. In the malachite-bearing areas, the rocks are generally well fractured, carbonate altered, commonly pyritic and contain abundant quartz carbonate veinlets. These veinlets carry malachite, pyrite and/or chalcocite. The veinlets are apparently related to minor west- and northwest-trending shears.
The Classic zone is defined by a pronounced gossan. Pyrite is ubiquitous but is most abundant within a central 60-metre wide silicified zone that trends approximately 125 degrees. The north half of this zone encompasses a 20- to 30-metre wide, more highly pyritic and silicified zone within which is an intense clay altered section. The pattern of alteration suggests a southwest dip for this zone.
In 1987, a 100-metre long composite sample yielded 0.18 gram per tonne gold (Property File 823027).
In 1988, rock grab samples (239739 and 239652) from the Classic zone assayed up to 0.376 per cent copper, 8.4 grams per tonne silver and 0.120 gram per tonne gold, whereas rock grab samples of malachite-stained, weakly silicified, pyritic andesite, located approximately 200 metres northwest of the Classic zone, assayed up to 3.68 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 18042).
Approximately 700 metres west of the Classic zone, a zone of mineralization referred to as the Coca grid is reported. The zone comprises a rusty (oxidized?) andesite with epidote and malachite.
In 1988, two samples (102852 and 239643) from the Coca grid yielded 2.80 and 1.26 grams per tonne gold, 4.6 and 1.0 grams per tonne silver with 0.657 and 0.397 per cent copper, respectively (Assessment Report 18042).
In 2004, a float sample (23891) of quartz veining with pyrite and hematite from a creek, located a short distance northwest of the occurrence, yielded 0.32 gram per tonne gold, 2.8 grams per tonne silver and 0.21 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 27476).
Work History
In 1969, Noranda Exploration Co. Ltd. completed a 12.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the area immediately south of the occurrence as the Coke 1-21 claims of the Mab Lake property. In 1972 and 1973, Hesca Development Corp. Ltd. completed a program of rock, silt and soil sampling on the area immediately south of the occurrence as the Kay and Lyn claims of the Swakum Mountain property.
In 1985, Rea Gold Corp. completed a soil sampling program on the area as the Reakel claims. In 1987 and 1988, Kerr Addison Mines Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping, geochemical (rock, soil and heavy mineral) sampling and a 14.0 line-kilometre electromagnetic survey on the area as the Clapper 1-4 claims. In 1989 and 1990, Minnova Inc. completed programs of geochemical (rock and soil) sampling and magnetometer and induced polarization surveys on the Clapper property.
In 2004, Gitennes Exploration Inc. completed a program of geological mapping, geochemical (rock and soil) sampling and a 1.1 line-kilometre resistivity survey on the area as the Clap and Terry claims of the Fox South property.
In 2010 and 2012, Pan Andean Minerals Corp. completed programs of soil sampling on the area immediately west of the occurrence as the Dartt Lake claims.
