The CH occurrence is located on a small hill, approximately 2.5 kilometres west of the southwest end of Chutanli Lake.
The area is underlain dominantly by Lower to Middle Jurassic volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Hazelton Group consisting of the Naglico and Nechako formations. Andesitic rock of the Upper Cretaceous Kasalka Group overlie the Hazelton rock and alkaline volcanics of the Miocene Chilocotin Group overlie the strata. Late Cretaceous to Pliocene intrusions are emplaced just north of the CH. A large Eocene granodiorite body (the CH pluton) intrudes the strata to the west of the CH prospect.
These assemblages are overlain by the Eocene Ootsa Lake Group intermediate to felsic volcanic rocks and Miocene Chilcotin Group plateau basalt. Intruding Lower Jurassic rocks in the northeastern part of the map sheet is a belt of granodiorite, diorite, and quartz diorite plutons of the Lower Jurassic Topley intrusive suite. Felsic plutons of probable Cretaceous age intrude Lower and Middle Jurassic Hazelton strata.
The bulk of mineralization found on the Aspen property to date is contained within a zone of copper plus or minus gold mineralization (called CH zone in this report), which used to be a part of historical CH property. The zone consists of up to 5 per cent quartz and quartz carbonate-stockwork with associated pyrite-chalcopyrite and magnetite mineralization. Alteration types within volcanic and intrusive rocks include biotite-magnetite-potassium-feldspar hornfels, sericite/clay, potassic, silicification, hematite-carbonate, and propylitic (chlorite-epidote-calcite). Pyrite and chalcopyrite occur in veins, on fractures and as fine disseminations.
Work History
Rio Tinto Canadian Exploration Limited filed assessment reports for the years between 1969 and 1975. Except soil sampling, magnetometer, VLF, airborne EM and IP surveys were done in this area in the late 60’s and early 70’s mostly by Rio Tinto on their C claims which covered the April (CH) showing (093F 060) area and the C showing (093F 004) area . IP surveys identified extensive zones of high chargeability (Assessment Reports 2097, 2568, 2683 and 5524). In 1969, the Rio Tinto carried out geological mapping, magnetometer and induced polarization surveying over 26 line-kilometres, collection of 1000 soil samples, 7.6 metres of trenching, and 686 metres of diamond drilling. Four zones of high chargeability were found.
In 1970, Rio Tinto completed more geological mapping, 84 line-kilometres of induced polarization surveying, and 5 line-kilometres of magnetometer surveying. They also collected 1272 geochemical samples, dug nine trenches, and completed 340 metres of diamond drilling. The soil sampling showed scattered medium to strong copper-molybdenum anomalies and weak lead-zinc-nickel anomalies.
In 1971, the assessment work by Rio Tinto included: 316 square kilometres of airborne magnetometer surveying, and 256 metres of surface diamond drilling.
In 1980, on the April and May claims, Granges Inc. collected a total of 389 soil samples, which resulted in the discovery of a coincident silver-lead-zinc-copper anomaly and a second more diffuse anomaly to the west. In 1981, Granges conducted an airborne geophysical survey; it did not outline any electromagnetic anomalies on the Chutanli Lake project, though several magnetic trends were located. In 1984, Granges diamond drilled three holes, totalling 156.67 metres, on the April (MINFILE 093F 060) occurrence.
In 1990, Placer Dome Inc. collected 248 soil samples, as well as conducting a 3.64 kilometres magnetometer and 3.7 line-kilometre VLF-EM survey on two grids on their CH claims. The Main grid was located about 1.3 kilometres east of the plotted location of the April showing and the Road grid located about 400 metres northeast of the plotted location of the C showing. The Main grid is just west of the C showing. Both grids contain coincident copper-gold - molybdenum soil geochemistry. Orvana later reported (Assessment Report 25069) that drilling totalled 22 drill holes on the CH property that included the previous drilling by Rio Tinto and newer drilling by Placer (in 1992). This drilling intersected a low-grade copper porphyry target. Placer drilling concentrated on IP chargeability high and magnetic high areas. Mineralization consists of up to 5 per cent quartz and quartz-carbonate stockwork with associated magnetite-pyrite-chalcopyrite and was related to various alteration types within volcanic and intrusive rock. Pyrite and chalcopyrite occur in veins and microveins in the volcanics, on fracture surfaces and as fine disseminations in intrusive rocks. Malachite occurs along fracture planes. Copper-gold rich mineralization intersected in drill holes
In 1991, Placer Dome completed a program of geological mapping, geochemical (rock and soil) sampling and 82.0 line-kilometres of ground magnetic and electromagnetic survey. Rock samples from former trenches yielded up to 0.225 gram per tonne gold and 0.421 per cent copper (Assessment Report 22027).
Also, in 1991 and 1992, regional geochemical till sampling program for Cogema Resources occurred in the vicinity of Chutanli Lake. The samples were variously anomalous in gold, silver, arsenic, antimony, copper, lead, zinc, and molybdenum.
In 1996, Orvana Minerals Corp. collected 111 rocks from their CH property which covered the April and C MINFILE showings. Orvana reported that the April showing represents epithermal, vein type mineralization. The April showing is approximately 2 metres wide and over 15 metres long.
From 2008 to 2011, four assessment reports were filed by Omega Explorations on behalf Jacqueline A. McLeod on their Porphyry property. Work in the April showing area, and to the east toward the C showing, consisted mostly of soil sampling with minor ground magnetometer and rock sampling. The new MINFILE prospect occurs in that area between the April and the C showing in the CH prospect area.
In 2011, Ron Bilquist worked on his Chutanli 1 to 3 claims where 3 days were spent prospecting. All old and new logging roads were traversed with the location of outcrops, glacial outwash and till noted. A total of 9 rock samples were taken and 13 geological way points were recorded.
In 2012, Redhill Resources Corp. completed a program of rock, silt, soil and biogeochemical sampling and a 63.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the area as the Chutanli area of the Aspen East block of claims of the Aspen property.
In 2013, Redhill Resources conducted a drilling program on the Aspen property which consisted of 13 diamond drill holes totaling 1785 metres of BTW size core. The Aspen property covered much of the CH property area, including the CH occurrence. Drilling was performed, primarily on an area centred approximately 800 metres southeast of the CH occurrence. The 2013 drilling program which in most part targeted untested IP anomalies confirmed the presence of extensive propylitic (chlorite +/- epidote +/- calcite) and potassic (biotite plus/minus potassium-feldspar) alteration zones accompanied by weak copper, silver, gold and arsenic mineralization. Most of the drillholes were put in within 1 kilometre south and southeast of the C showing; one hole was several hundred metres northeast of the C showing.
Redhill Corp reported (Assessment Report 34423) that anomalies on their properties had been previously tested by 30 holes but the results (except a few 1997 holes (Orvana?)) were not available. Redhill reported that the bulk of historical drilling was done within a zone of copper plus/minus gold mineralization called CH zone, which used to be a part of historical CH property. This zone is plotted by Redhill as being 1 kilometre east of the April showing.
Redhill also conducted a program of sampling on their larger claim group. A total of 49 rock, 1461 soil, 62 biogeochemistry samples, and 14 silt samples were collected. The focus of the 2013 sampling program on Aspen property was an area between Chutanli and Brewster Lakes. The 2013 sampling program detected 3 soil anomalies.
During 2016 through 2018, Tower Resources Ltd. completed programs of prospecting, geological mapping and geochemical (rock and till) sampling, 38 rotary drill holes, totalling 837.8 metres, 13 percussion drill holes, totalling 206.0 metres, 6 diamond drill holes, totalling 996.4 metres, and a 20.0 line-kilometre induced polarization survey on the area as the Nechako Gold property. This work identified a previously unknown pyrite-bearing feldspar porphyry plug, referred to as the Blue Road porphyry, located east-southeast of the occurrence. In 2018, a rock sample (R266211) from the CH zone yielded 0.29 per cent copper (Assessment Report 37575).
Also, in 2016 and 2017, ML Gold Corp. completed programs of soil sampling and a 9.0 line-kilometre induced polarization on the surrounding area as the Aspen property.
