The Crater Lake showing area is underlain by andesitic volcanic rock of the Lower Jurassic Telkwa Formation, Hazelton Group. These are intruded by Late Cretaceous stocks of the Bulkley Plutonic Suite, consisting of granodiorite and quartz diorite with dikes of granodiorite, felsite and rhyolitic quartz porphyry.
Alteration and mineralization associated with the central stock is related to a hornfelsed zone hosting pyrite and magnetite and with porphyritic stages within the stock hosting alteration related to fracture controlled stockworks bearing pyrite, minor chalcopyrite, and molybdenite. Away from the stock where small diorite stocks and sills intrude the volcanics mineralization consists of pyrite, chalcopyrite, minor bornite, with epidote and chlorite.
In the Crater Lake area, the Hazelton Group rocks are broken by faults and intruded by numerous granodiorite and quartz monzonite stocks and sills. Structurally the rocks form a broad anticline which strikes north-northwest and plunges north with its axis through Crater Lake. Faults and shear zones predominate in the cliffs above the lake and along Webster Creek. Block faults with variable displacements are common.
Mineralization occurs in narrow veins which traverse the faults and shears. Veins along the west wall of the inner depression of Crater Lake, known as the Cirque showing host hematite, bornite, malachite, azurite, chalcopyrite, chalcocite and tetrahedrite. Southwest of the lake, copper staining occurs in bands along the cirque wall. In 1974, this chalcocite mineralized horizon was called C2 and consisted of very fine disseminated chalcocite in a band of green andesitic tuff. The zone is approximately 15.2 metres wide and in 1973 a 3.0 metre section assayed 101.8 grams per tonne silver and 1.55 per cent copper (Assessment Report 4811).
WORK HISTORY
This ground was apparently included in the Lava 1-135 claims staked by Falconbridge Nickel Mines Limited in 1968. In 1969 their holdings included the Lava group (56 claims) and the Crater A1-H8, Marmot 1-16, and Webster 1-4 claims. Exploration work during the period 1968 to 1970 included geological mapping, magnetometer and self-potential surveys, and soil and silt geochemical surveys.
Maharaja Minerals, Limited, in 1972 held the Crater and Marmot groups. The Crater A1-H8 group was expanded in 1973 to include the Crater 9-18 claims. Work during 1973 included geological mapping, chip sampling across 100 feet of section covering Crater 9-12 and Marmot 8, 10. In 1975 the property comprised the Crater 1-8, Hankin A1-A8, and Marmot 1-14 claims. Surface drilling in 2 holes totalling 47 metres on Crater 2 & 3 claims, near the Chimney zone, intersected very minor mineralization.
The company name (Maharaja) was changed in 1977 to Mecca Minerals Limited. In 1978 the property was restaked as the Copper 1-4 claims (32 units) diamond drilling was done in 3 holes.
In 2007, Lions Gate Energy Corp conducted an Aerotem airborne geophysical survey on parts of the El Toro property that included the following showings (Assessment Report 29456): MARMOT (093L 038), CRATER LAKE (093L 039), IDAHO (093L 040), KING (093L 041), HUNTER (093L 042), COLORADO (093L 043), RAINBOW (HUNTER BASIN), (093L 044), FOG (FLY), (093L 045), FOG (093L 046), DENY NORTH (093L 047), DENY SOUTH (093L 049), DENY EAST (093L 050), TRIBUNE (093L 255), SUNSET (093L 304). The airborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey was completed over 628.8 kilometres.
In 2009, at least one and possibly two old drill sites were located above the Crater Lake showing by Lions Gate Energy. The Marmot (Chimney) showing was located at UTM 6043331N 620700E, but insufficient time was available to fully examine the showings due to the steep topography and thick subalpine balsam vegetation around Crater Lake. Five soil samples and a silt sample were collected from the vicinity of two 2008 airborne electromagnetic anomalies.
The 2008 El Toro program of Lions Gate Energy Inc involved mapping, prospecting, 87 rock and 15 soil geochemical samples, GPS surveying of previous diamond drill hole collars, and underground and surface workings, an evaluation of the property (Assessment Report 30731), followed by a 1495 line kilometre airborne magnetic and electromagnetic geophysical survey (Assessment Report 30982). The survey on the West block covered Princess (093L 061), War Eagle (093L 062), Santa Maria (093L 063), Evening (093L 064), Duchess (093L 066), Countess (093L 067), MSJ (093L 241), Ant 1 (093L 320). The survey of the East block covered: Old Tom (093L 034), Hankin (093L 035), Loring (093L 036), Lava (093L 037), Marmot (093L 038), Crater Lake (093L 039), Idaho (093L 040), King (093L 041), Hunter (093L 042), Colorado (093L 043), Rainbow (093L 044), Fog (Fly) (093L 045), Fog (093L 046), Deny North (093L 047), Deny South (093L 049), Deny East (093L 050), Hannah (093L 080), Tribune (093L 255), Sunset (093L 304). The Lava, Loring, Crater Lake, Marmot and Hope (093L 033) showings were not investigated in 2008. The Old Tom and Hankin showings were visited and described as forming a continuous zone that can be traced for at least 2.2 kilometres along the cliffs on the east side of Loring Creek. Some sampling was completed there.
In 2009, Lions Gate conducted a program that involved mapping, rock (37) and soil (568) geochemical sampling, and additional GPS surveying of previous diamond drill hole collars and old workings, concentrated on Hunter’s Basin, Hankin Basin (Loring Creek), the Loljuh and MSJ stocks, Wolverine showing and Starr Creek, and an MMI soil geochemical survey over the MSJ porphyry copper-molybdenum-gold target (Assessment Report 31515). The program identified additional copper-silver-gold vein mineralization in Hunter’s Basin, additional stratiform mineralization in Loring Creek. In 2009, the Lava (093L 037), Loring (093L 036), Crater Lake (093L 039) and Marmot (093L 038) showings were investigated with sampling completed. The Hope showing was not investigated.
Refer to Old Tom for details of work done in the Hankin basin (Loring Creek) vicinity. Refer also to King (093L 041) for general information on the El Toro property, a large property that was worked from 2007 to 2015) and contained the Hankin basin area.
