The Apex 9 (Road showing) area is largely underlain by Lower Jurassic Telkwa Formation volcanic rocks (Hazelton Group) comprised mainly of massive, maroon to green andesite, andesitic flows and breccias with a lesser amount of massive, light-colored rhyolite. Locally there are volcanics comprised mainly of vesicular basalt flows with calcite-quartz epidote amygdules as well as interbedding siliceous argillite and agglomerate. Flow banding in the volcanics strikes 040 degrees and dips 70 degrees northwest.
Light grey to flesh tone rhyolite, with euhedral to subhedral feldspar grains, exhibits extensive limonite and hematitic staining. In 1974, a grab sample of the rhyolite assayed 0.0143 per cent molybdenum, 0.0021 per cent copper, 0.0158 per cent lead, 0.0390 per cent zinc, 0.006 gram per tonne silver, trace of gold and 0.25 per cent mercury (Assessment Report 5288).
The volcanics are crosscut by a dark green, strongly magnetic gabbroic intrusion which hosts disseminated pyrite. As well, associated quartz and quartz-carbonate veins crosscut the volcanics and host both disseminated and blebs of pyrite and chalcopyrite.
The Road showing hosts disseminated chalcopyrite, chalcocite, galena, specular hematite, malachite and azurite in fracture zones within the maroon andesite. Associated with the fractures are near vertical barite veins which range up to 0.3 metre in width.
In 1973, a grab sample assayed trace silver, 0.009 per cent copper, 0.051 per cent zinc, 0.009 per cent lead, 0.002 per cent arsenic, 19 per cent barium and 0.625 per cent strontium. In 1974 a grab sample assayed 0.004 grams per tonne silver, 0.131 per cent copper, 0.076 per cent lead, 0.505 per cent zinc, 0.84 per cent mercury, 9.58 per cent barium and 0.156 per cent strontium (Assessment Report 5288).
In 1986, other outcrops of rhyolite located in the road cut at the eastern property boundary were found to be enriched in silver, cadmium, and mercury. Also, rhyolite rocks in the south-western corner of the claim group carry values up to 0.05 gram per tonne gold and 10.5 grams per tonne silver as well as high arsenic, barium, cadmium, copper, antimony, zinc, and mercury values (Assessment Report 15489).
WORK HISTORY
The majority of the Apex claim group were staked in the early to mid-seventies, at which time some prospecting, mapping, soil sampling and magnetometer work was done (Assessment Report 5288). In 1977 the Apex claims were optioned by Conwest Exploration Co. Ltd., who conducted 26 kilometres of Induced Polarization and Resistivity surveys on the property (Assessment Report 6427). A central resistivity high was identified trending north-south through the middle of claims, with attendant I.P. probable-category anomalies on its flanks.
In 1980, Placer Development Limited carried out a soil sampling program on the Lori and John claims (Assessment Report 8870) were staked originally staked in 1980 (adjacent to the east of the later 1980s Apex claims). The Lori and John claim area was previously staked as the Swan Group by Cities Service Ltd in 1973 on the basis of rock geochemistry. A soils geochemistry survey on north-south lines 427 metres apart with samples taken every 61 metres resulted in the collection of 280 samples; a geological mapping program was also completed (Assessment Report 4762). In 1973 spot highs of zinc were located on the ground now staked as the John claim.
In 1983, Baril Developments Ltd carried out a soil sampling survey on the Apex claim group consisting 27 units (Assessment Report 11504). The Lori and John claims are adjacent to the east.
In 1985, the Apex 85 claim was staked. By this time the older 2 post Apex claims had been replaced by newer 4 post Apex claims.
In 1987, Baril Developments ltd collected 32 rock and 77 Heavy Minerals soil samples on the Apex claims (Assessment Report 17154). Following sampling on the property in 1986 (Assessment Report 15408, 15489) a further 77 large 2 kilogram samples of the B-horizon soils were collected for heavy minerals analysis. An additional 32 rock samples of siliceous, sulphide-bearing, or altered outcrop and float rocks found on the property were also collected. Most of the sampling occurred 2 kilometres west of the John showing (093L 059) though one line of sampling comes close to the John plotted location.
In 1988, Baril Resource conducted geophysical surveys on the Apex claims that consisted of 14.5 kilometres of ground magnetic and electromagnetic (VLF) surveying. A 16.1 kilometre induced polarization (IP) survey was also completed. The induced polarization/resistivity survey delineated four apparent chargeability trends. A strong magnetic trend is associated with chargeability trend Al. suggesting the presence of magnetic pyrrhotite or magnetite. The 1988 grid (Fig 1A) covers and area 1 to 2.5 kilometres west of the John showing (093L 059) (Assessment Report 18519).
From 2007 to 2012, John Moll conducted 6 small programs of small diameter EW and X-Ray diamond-drilling totalling 156.6 metres in 8 holes on his China Knows claims. See the new MINFILE showing for China Knows (093L 344), located just north of the Apex area. The China Knows claims covered much of the earlier Apex claims. Some of the short holes may be on or near the Apex 9 and/or the Apex 8 (093L 246) and/or the Apex 18 (093L 247) showings.
In 2011 and 2012, Quartz Mountain Resources Ltd held the considerable Buck and Karma property. In 2011, the company conducted 3906 kilometres of aeromagnetic surveying which covered many occurrences in the region (Assessment Report 33176, 34048). However, the survey limits occur immediately south of the Apex area.
