The Li-Li-Kel occurrence is located to the south of Tenquille Creek on the lower slopes of Mount Barbour, at an elevation of approximately 1650 metres.
Regionally, the area is underlain by a northwest- trending, northeast- dipping, right-side-up roof pendant of Upper Triassic Cadwallader Group, which consists of massive to schistose greenstone of andesitic composition. The Cadwallader Group represents an island arc assemblage with reported occurrences of felsic volcanics. The pendant is contained within intrusive rock, ranging from granite to granodiorite to quartz diorite, of the Spetch pluton and other intrusions of the Jurassic to Cretaceous Coast Plutonic Complex.
At the Li-Li-Kel occurrence, the Cadwallader Group has been subdivided into five units (from oldest to youngest): 1) massive andesite, 2) mixed pyroclastic, 3) felsic volcanic, 4) mixed pyroclastic and 5) sedimentary. The massive andesite unit consists of dark- green massive basaltic andesite flows. The mixed pyroclastic unit consists of pale to dark- green andesitic to dacitic fine tuffs, lithic tuffs, feldspar crystal tuffs and lapilli tuff with minor interbedded porphyritic flows. The felsic volcanic unit consists of light- grey to pale- green rhyolite and rhyodacite flows, commonly feldspar porphyritic. The mixed pyroclastic and sedimentary unit consists of well- bedded andesite to dacite, lithic and lapilli tuffs with abundant limestone, limestone breccias, calcareous feldspar-rich wackes, black shale, siltstone and chert interbeds. The upper sedimentary unit consists of an upward -fining sequence of cobble conglomerate, feldspar-rich greywackes and sandstones, black shale and chert.
Locally, at the Li-Li-Kel zone, a north east- striking shear zones cutting the andesitic tuffs contain irregular lenses of quartz with minor amounts of cryptocrystalline silica. These lenses are erratically mineralized with pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, arsenopyrite, polybasite, native silver, tetrahedrite and possibly argentite. Silicification and often intense propylitization accompany the sulphide mineralization. Mineralized zones vary from a few centimetres to 2.5 metres wide and can be traced discontinuously along strike for approximately 360 metres. The veins dip from 75 to 85 degrees east. The number 3 (No.3) zone is located to the southwest.
In 1927, underground channel sampling of the upper drift is reported to have yielded up to 13,680 grams per tonne silver over 0.3 metre (Property File - Tenquille Resources Ltd. [1987-06-05]: Statement of Material Facts #79/87).
In 1936, sampling of the no.1 vein yielded an average of 2.9 grams per tonne gold and 1032 grams per tonne silver over 54 centimetres, whereas other samples, taken to the south west from open-cuts exposing a pyritic and silicified vein and shear on the former Roosevelt claim, assayed 3.4 grams per tonne gold and 17.1 grams per tonne silver over 1.02 metres (Property File - C.C. Starr [1936-08-19]: Report on the Gridiron Mine).
In 1952, sampling of the no.1 adit yielded up to 1.4 grams per tonne gold and 54.7 grams per tonne silver over 0.85 metre from sample S.9, whereas another sample (S.10) assayed 0.3 gram per tonne gold and 103 grams per tonne silver over 0.8 metre (Property File - A.C. Skerl [1952-09-01]: Report on the Properties of National Consolidated Base Metals Company - Near Maud Lake).
In 1969, a sample (22117) from near the end of the No.2 adit assayed 10.3 grams per tonne gold and 318 grams per tonne silver over 15 centimetres (Property File - J.A. Mitchell [1969-10-16]: Report on the D Group of Claims).
In 1982, sampling of trenches located between the drifts yielded values of up to 2.9 grams per tonne gold and 6566 grams per tonne silver, whereas sampling from the upper tunnel assayed up to 5.6 grams per tonne gold and 5729 grams per tonne silver over 0.1 metre and 1.1 grams per tonne gold with 1221 grams per tonne silver over 1.95 metres (Property File - Tenquille Resources Ltd. [1987-06-05]: Statement of Material Facts #79/87). Other samples, taken from trenches above the upper drift, assayed up to 25.0 grams per tonne gold and 100 grams per tonne silver over 15 centimetres (Property File - Tenquille Resources Ltd. [1987-06-05]: Statement of Material Facts #79/87). Also, at this time sampling of the No.3 zone yielded up to 49.2 grams per tonne silver over 0.46 metre from the drift and 489 grams per tonne silver with 43.8 grams per tonne gold over 0.5 metre from surface exposures (Property File - Tenquille Resources Ltd. [1987-06-05]: Statement of Material Facts #79/87).
In 1983, diamond drilling yielded intercepts up to 1.52 metres grading 300 grams per tonne silver and 0.58 gram per tonne gold (Assessment Report 11418). Assays from samples taken in 1983 graded from 0.03 to 25 grams per tonne gold and from 0.34 to 6583 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 11011). Also, at this time a possible indicated ore reserve of approximately 136,000 tonnes grading 923 grams per tonne silver was reported (Property File - Tenquille Resources Ltd. [1983-07-13]: News Clippings - Li-Li-Kel).
In 1987, samples from the No.3 zone are reported to have assayed more than 68.4 grams per tonne gold (Property File - J.T. Shearer [2004-02-07]: Fax Re: Gold King Property).
In 1990, samples from the Lilikel zone were reported to have assayed up to 0.6 per cent copper, 3 per cent lead, 8 per cent zinc, 450 grams per tonne silver and 5.5 grams per tonne gold (Property File - J.T. Shearer [2004-02-07]: Fax Re: Gold King Property).
Sampling in 1991 yielded maximum values of 0.6 per cent copper, 3.0 per cent lead, 8.0 per cent zinc, 0.45 gram per tonne gold and 5.5 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 21274); however, the values were sporadic and confined to narrow widths. The mineralization is associated with high manganese, boron and antimony values, the latter reflecting the presence of tetrahedrite.
In 2005, samples (291101 to 291150) from the area yielded values of up to greater than 1.00 per cent copper, greater than 1.00 per cent zinc, greater than 100 grams per tonne silver and 3.37 grams per tonne gold (Butler, S. (2008-01-11): Summary Report on the Gold King Property).
Work History
In the 1920’s, the Li-Li-Kel was developed via two adit levels with more than 300 metres of underground workings. The second adit is located 75 metres below the first. The No. 3 zone was developed via a 28- metre drift. In the 1930’s, the area was explored as the Gridiron group. In 1952, National Consolidated Base Metals Company examined the area. In 1961, Phelps Dodge completed a program of geological mapping on the area as the Tenquille claims. In 1969, the area was examined as the D group. In 1982 and 1983, Tenquille Resources completed programs of ground geophysical surveys, prospecting, trenching and sampling on the area as HIAG claims. In 1987, Ajax Resources completed a program of rock and soil sampling, geological mapping and ground geophysical surveys on the area. In 1989 and 1990, New Camp Resources completed programs of rock, silt and soil sampling and ground geophysical surveys on the area as the Zul property. In 1990, Teck Corp. staked the Apollo, Sun and God claims of the Sungod property. In 2003, the area was staked as the Gold King property by J.T. Shearer. During 2004 through 2006, Goldking Mining Ltd. (later Wolverine Minerals Corp.) completed programs of rock and soil sampling, geological mapping and an induced polarization survey on the area.
