The Rateria (Zone 2) occurrence is located on the north side of Roscoe Creek, approximately 30 kilometres north of Merritt, 2 kilometres east of Roscoe Lake and is part of the Rateria property.
Regionally, the area is underlain by the Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic Guichon Creek Batholith, which is a multiphase calc-alkaline intrusion that extends over 1000 square kilometres. The oldest phase is the Border or Hybrid phase, a fine- to medium-grained, mafic-rich diorite to quartz-diorite that locally contains xenoliths of amphibolite and monzonite. The Highland Valley phase consists of the Guichon variety, which is a quartz diorite to granodiorite, and the Chataway variety, which is a hornblende granodiorite. The Bethlehem phase is a fine- to medium-grained granodiorite characterized by amoeboid quartz crystals and poikilitic hornblende crystals. The Skeena variety is a granodiorite that is texturally similar to the Bethlehem phase, but is distinguishable by subhedral to anhedral quartz, lower mafic content and coarser grain size. The youngest phase is the Bethsaida, a biotite±hornblende quartz monzonite to granodiorite.
Locally, the property is underlain to the west by quartz-rich, mafic-poor intrusive rocks of quartz-diorite, quartz monzonite and granodiorite composition, likely of the Bethsaida phase. To the east, there is a north-trending contact with medium-grained granodiorite and biotite-quartz diorite of the Skeena variety. Further east is a north-striking contact between the Skeena variety and medium- to coarse-grained granodiorite of the Chataway variety. Dikes and small plugs of quartz monzonite, aplite, quartz and feldspar porphyry, and crowded quartz–potassium feldspar porphyry occur locally.
Mineralization in drill core is associated with pervasive white to green sericite clay alteration. Chalcocite and bornite generally occur as fine-grained disseminations having mixed with alteration minerals such as sericite±hematite. Minor chalcocite, bornite and lesser chalcopyrite occur as blebs within or associated with quartz veins.
Drilling (2017) has traced the mineralized zone over a length of 750 metres, 65 to 125 metre width and to a depth of 300 metres.
Work History
In 1964, Chataway Exploration Co. Ltd. completed a 5.0 line-kilometre ground electromagnetic survey and a 16.7 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the area as the Rob, Ros, Rum and Tom claims of the Chataway property.
In 1968, King Resources Co. completed a program of geological mapping on the area as the Ant, In, Jay, Len, Rex, Rob, Sho, T.D.M., Moon and Wiz-Dot claims of the Chataway property.
In 1972, International Mogul Mines Ltd. completed a 53.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the area as the Chataway property. Also at this time, Chataway Exploration Co. Ltd. completed diamond drilling on the area.
In 1979, Lawrence Mining Corp. completed a 102.8 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the Nova claims.
During 1991 through 1993, Aucumo Resources and Hudson Bay Exploration completed programs of geological mapping, soil and stream sediment sampling, diamond drilling and an induced polarization survey on the area immediately west of the occurrence as the CVS property.
In 2004 and 2005, Happy Creek Minerals completed program of geological and GPS surveying and minor stream sediment sampling on the Rateria property. Later in 2005, a program of two diamond drillholes, totalling 341 metres, 13.5 kilometres of cut line and induced polarization surveying, prospecting, geological mapping, and 20 rock samples (10 assayed) was conducted on the property. In 2006, a further 14 diamond drill holes, totalling 2400.0 metres, were completed on the property. In 2007, Happy Creek Minerals Ltd. completed a program of diamond drilling, totalling 3082 metres, in 14 holes on the Rateria property.
In 2008, Happy Creek Minerals Ltd. discovered the Rateria Zone 2 through a 3D-IP survey which was followed by a program of diamond drilling, totalling 3072.0 metres, in nine holes and a 278.0 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey. Highlights from the diamond drilling include 0.33 and 0.43 per cent copper over 103.25 and 135.00 metres in holes R08-01 and -05, respectively, whereas another drillhole (R08-09), located approximately 350 metres to the southwest yielded, 0.122 per cent copper over 69.00 metres (Assessment Report 30822).
In 2009, Happy Creek Minerals Ltd. conducted prospecting, geological mapping and 2026 metres of diamond drilling in nine holes. Highlights include drillhole R09-01, which returned 3 metres grading 0.01 per cent molybdenum, 1.29 per cent copper and 8.0 grams per tonne silver and drillhole R09-07 which yielded 0.30 per cent copper over 48.0 metres (Assessment Report 31424).
In 2010, Happy Creek Minerals Ltd. completed a diamond drilling program on the Rateria property. Highlights include drillhole R10-7, which returned 40 metres grading 0.32 per cent copper, 0.004 per cent molybdenum, 0.12 gram per tonne rhenium and 1.23 grams per tonne silver (Press Release, Happy Creek Minerals Ltd., January 7, 2011).
In 2011, Happy Creek Minerals Ltd. completed a diamond drilling program. Highlights include drillhole R11-36, which returned 152.5 metres grading 0.26 per cent copper, 0.07 gram per tonne gold, 0.008 per cent molybdenum and 0.67 gram per tonne rhenium (Press Release, Happy Creek Minerals Ltd., June 11, 2012).
In 2012, Happy Creek Minerals Ltd. completed two diamond drill holes, totalling 629.1 metres, on the Zone 2 of the Rateria property. Highlights include drillhole R12-02, which returned 0.23 per cent copper over 257.3 metres, including 152.5 metres grading 0.35 per cent copper, 1.7 grams per tonne silver, 0.06 gram per tonne gold and 0.57 gram per tonne rhenium (Press Release, Happy Creek Minerals Ltd., January 14, 2013; Assessment Report 33648).
During 2013 through 2019, Happy Creek Minerals Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping, geochemical (rock, silt and soil) sampling, diamond drilling, a 32.3 line-kilometre induced polarization survey and re-interpretation of historical airborne geophysical data on the area as part of the Rateria-West Valley property.
In 2017, drilling on the Zone 2 occurrence yielded intercepts including 0.64 per cent copper and 0.30 grams per tonne gold over 46.0 metres in hole R17-05 and 0.24 per cent copper over 208.5 metres in hole R17-08, whereas a drillhole (R17-02), located approximately 200 metres east and 300 metres north of the central Zone 2 area, yielded 4.4 per cent copper, 20.0 grams per tonne silver, 0.206 gram per tonne gold and 6.86 grams per tonne rhenium over 5.0 metres within in a wide zone of anomalous copper that remains open (Assessment Report 37364).
