The Trail Peak showing is located on the southeast slope of Trail Peak, 90 kilometres northeast of Smithers.
The area is underlain by pyritic siltstone, sandstone and andesitic crystal lithic tuff of the Middle to Upper Jurassic Ashman Formation (Bowser Lake Group). The bedded rocks are intruded by granodiorite and diorite plugs and dikes of the Late Cretaceous Bulkley Intrusions, and northwest-striking dikes of biotite feldspar and biotite hornblende feldspar porphyry of the Eocene Babine Plutonic Suite dated at 49 million years (Bulletin 64). The sedimentary rocks have been folded into a syncline in the vicinity of Trail Peak and all rock types have been displaced by northwest- and northeast-trending block faults.
The copper mineralization is associated with the biotite-(hornblende)-feldspar porphyry dikes of the Babine Plutonic Suite. Pyrite, chalcopyrite and minor bornite ± magnetite is present within and near the dikes. Some mineralized areas are marked by secondary biotite, less potassic feldspar and locally by clay and silica alteration. Sedimentary rocks in the area are commonly mineralized (trace to locally 10 per cent) with finely disseminated and fracture-controlled pyrite and very fine disseminated pyrrhotite.
Two copper showings occur near a prominent east-northeast–trending block fault. In the eastern showing, chalcopyrite occurs in quartz veins approximately 1 centimetre in width and spaced at 5 to 15 centimetres in fractured hornblende feldspar porphyry. Tourmaline and pyrite also occur in the veins, which have an alteration envelope where plagioclase is altered to potassium feldspar.
The second showing, in biotite feldspar porphyry, is located 600 metres to the west and contains chalcopyrite and pyrite disseminated on fracture planes and in 5-millimetre wide quartz veins, which also contain magnetite. Malachite staining and tourmaline are common. Drilling obtained copper values of approximately 0.15 per cent copper (Assessment Report 5706). A 10-centimetre wide, northwest-striking quartz vein in the southern part of the property contains sphalerite, galena and tetrahedrite. A sample from this vein, hosted in shaly siltstone, assayed 3.1 per cent zinc and 547.3 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 19557).
Work History
In 1968, a reconnaissance vertical loop electromagnetic survey on the CAVZ claims was done by Texas Gulf Sulphur Company. The purpose of the survey was to see if conductors were present on the property. Results yielded one northwest-southeast conductor of medium strength between 288E and 304E grid lines. A geochemical survey was also completed in 1968. A grid totalling 56.327 line-kilometres with 122-metre (400-foot) line spacing was cut. Soil sampling was done at 61-metre (200-foot) intervals in areas of high priority and at 122-metre (400-foot) intervals in areas of low priority. A total of 679 soil samples were sent to Barringer Research Ltd. in Toronto for analysis. Due to the variation in the soil conditions, the copper distribution was erratic. Prospecting and a detailed geological report were completed. The occurrence consists of pyrite, pyrrhotite and minor chalcopyrite. Magnetite and hematite were also observed. Chalcopyrite was observed along a northeast trending fault. A magnetometer survey was completed. The magnetic anomalies were concluded to be due to a series of narrow dikes generally trending northwest and a large intrusive mass, likely a diorite. The only correlation between magnetic survey and geology is the biotite-hornblende-feldspar porphyry unit that is a nearly continuous magnetic trend continuing from 240N on line 356E in a northwestern direction to 296N on line 300E.
In 1968, three principal areas with anomalous copper values of up to 1300 parts per million had been identified. The western and central anomalous areas were subsequently investigated by bulldozer trenching and limited diamond drilling. Holes 3 and 4 yielded 24 and 37 metres, respectively, grading 0.35 per cent copper and included sections in excess of 0.50 per cent copper (Property File Placer Dome, Carter, 1992).
In 1969, 10 shallow inclined holes, approximately 60 to 75 metres in length, were drilled in the western trench area.
Between 1969 and 1975, the Texas Gulf Sulphur Company completed 3600 metres of trenching and 12 diamond drill holes totaling 1086 metres.
Two diamond drill holes were drilled by Texasgulf Inc in 1975. Diamond drill hole 11-75 was 340.7 metres and hole 12-75 was 131.7 metres in length. Biotite-feldspar-porphyry was the main rock type encountered. Mineralized sections showed chalcopyrite as fracture filling and fine disseminations in the assayed range of 0.15 per cent copper.
During the 1989 field season, N. Carter and Teck Explorations Ltd conducted a mapping and rock sampling program. Rock samples were taken from the 1969 trenches, including bedrock and drillcore samples. The results showed widespread copper mineralization associated with the Babine porphyry intrusions. The samples collected marginal to the east-northeast tourmaline-rich fault zone gave interesting gold values (Assessment Report 19557).
Re-sampling of the old drillcore was done during the 1992 field season. A total of 38 samples were collected from holes containing good copper grades and assayed for gold and 31 major and trace elements (Assessment Report 24783). During this field season two 450-metre lines approximately 150 metres apart were completed, yielding 19 soil samples at 50 metre intervals and two rock samples. Results indicated a northwest-trending zone of undetermined size containing values of greater than 100 parts per billion copper and greater than 10 parts per billion gold. In 1994, a soil sampling program was completed to follow up on the 1992 anomalous zone. No results were reported.
In 1996 Hera Resources cut 25.8 line-kilometres to provide a grid for geophysical induced polarization and magnetic surveys and geochemical soil survey. The results suggested an area of alteration in the southwest part of the grid resulting in a high amount of pyrite and magnetite. The central grid area resulted in less intense alteration with magnetite and low pyrite. The soil survey totalled 1096 samples and results showed high values of copper and gold that were associated with areas of tourmaline and silica alteration.
In 2007, NXA Inc. collected 156 soil samples and conducted a geological investigation. In 2008, NXA Inc. conducted an exploration program that consisted of approximately 24 kilometres of line cutting, a geochemical soil survey (305 samples) and IP and magnetometer surveys over the entire grid area of 37.2 kilometres. The 2007-08 geochemical and geophysical surveys defined a multi-element copper-molybdenum soil geochemical anomaly coinciding with a magnetic and chargeability high.
In 2008, NXA Inc. conducted an exploration program consisting of approximately 24 kilometres of line cutting, a geochemical soil survey (305 samples) and an induced polarization and magnetometer geophysical survey over the entire grid area of 37.2 line-kilometres. The 2007 and 2008 geochemical and geophysical surveys defined a multi-element (copper-molybdenum) soil geochemical anomaly coinciding with a magnetic and chargeability high.
In 2019, soil (63 samples), rock (6 samples) and moss mat (2 samples) sampling was conducted by Renaissance Geoscience Services Inc., covering stations previously used during the 2008 work between 10500 N and 10700 N with 50-metre sample spacing. The geochemical surveys provided further verification of a multi-element anomaly including copper. Rock samples from a trench within the Main mineralized zone yielded up to 0.327 per cent copper (Sample 11S171853, Assessment Report 39064).
