The Dear area is underlain by a steeply dipping sequence of rhyolitic pyroclastics of the Lower Jurassic Hazelton Group, Telkwa Formation. The rocks consist of porphyritic andesite, flow breccias, rhyolite and tuffs. An aplite dike with a width of approximately 3 metres intrudes the volcanic sequence.
Reports indicate that chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite, and pyrite mineralization occurs in both the volcanic rocks and the aplite dike. In 1972, a sample from the aplite dike assayed 1.5 per cent copper with traces of gold and silver (Assessment Report 3767). Chalcopyrite occurs in areas of K-feldspar alteration as fine disseminations, along fractures and along narrow, widely spaced quartz veins. Galena, sphalerite and fluorite occur as coatings along fractures and in narrow quartz-carbonate veins in siliceous, ankeritic felsite. In 1986, pyrrhotite and magnetite were noted in areas where disseminations are more abundant. K-feldspathization, silicification and carbonate alteration occur in the area.
Around the Deer zone occurrence, exposures of copper occur for a known distance of about 750 metres with localized exposures of lead, zinc and silver. Grab samples from these showings contained from 0.06 to 4.56 per cent copper, 0.2 to 7.8 per cent zinc and 2.05 to 27.8 grams per tonne silver (Amanda Resources, Prospectus, 1988).
The hosting rhyolitic pyroclastic belt averages 400 to 600 metres in width and extends for about 5.2 kilometres in length. Toward the north end of the belt, poorly-bedded breccias suggest that an explosive volcanic vent may be present. It has been proposed that the Deer zone mineralization may be of volcanogenic type (Amanda Resources, Prospectus, 1988).
WORK HISTORY
The mineralization was discovered by Julian Mining Co. Ltd. in 1963 and restaked by E.H. Lund in 1965. Subsequently the property was examined by Canadian Exploration, Limited, in 1966, Amax Exploration, Inc., in 1968, and Rio Tinto Canadian Exploration Limited in 1971 and 1972. Work done to the end of 1972 included the excavation of open cuts and pits near the main showings, bulldozer trenching at many other points on the property, a general copper and molybdenum soil geochemical survey, and magnetometer and induced polarization geophysical surveys. Drilling was reported done in this early period, in the southern portion of the property on a porphyry plug carrying weak copper-molybdenum mineralization with traces of lead, zinc, gold and silver (as reported in Assessment Report 18463, page 1).
From 1982 to 1986 claims were staked by or for F.B. Whiting and Cora A. Whiting. The showings near Mud Lake carry copper, lead, zinc, fluorite and some silver. Some of the claims were held by Orion Resources Ltd. which optioned those to Amanda Resources Ltd. The current owners are Amanda Resources Ltd. and F.B. Whiting, whose claims are under option to Amanda Resources Ltd.
Work in 1986 by Amanda Resources in the Mud Lake area consisted of ground magnetics and electromagnetic surveying (Assessment Report 15383). A total of 52 kilometres of surveying was completed along 27 east-west grid lines with Mud Lake near the centre of the grid. The grid extended almost 6 kilometres north-south. The grid almost reached the plotted location of the Star-Klondike showing near its southern limit.
Work in 1989 by Amanda Resources consisted of electromagnetic (HLEM) surveying over 6.5 kilometres on a grid area who's most southern east-west line is less than 1 kilometre north of Mud Lake (Assessment Report 18463).
In 2007, two field days were spent on the Hystakes property to fully traverse; prospect, rock sample, and silt sample the streams. Elevated assay results yielded high values for copper (0.7 per cent), zinc (2.17 per cent peak), molybdenum (0.0054 per cent), and lead (138 parts per million) (Assessment Report 30165). A follow p soil grid was developed over an area 1200 by 1700 metre. Samples were taken every 50 metres on lines spaced 100 metres apart. A total of 596 samples were actually obtained from the grid which covered the areas adjacent mostly east, west and north of Mud Lake. A total of sixteen rock samples were collected.
