The Sparrowhawk property is located 7 kilometres north of the Bell mine (093M 001), on the east side of Babine Lake.
West of the north-trending Morrison fault, the volcanic rocks of the Lower Jurassic Telkwa Formation are succeeded by greywackes of the Middle Jurassic Smithers Formation (both of the Hazelton Group) and siltstones of the Middle Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous Bowser Lake Group (Geological Survey of Canada Open File 2322). Pink quartz monzonite of the Jurassic Topley Intrusions and biotite feldspar porphyry of the Eocene Babine Intrusions outcrop on the property. Widespread chlorite and carbonate alteration is evident on the property.
The Sparrowhawk showing was first located by Noranda Exploration in 1989, with the discovery of an extensive zone of bleaching, pyritization and carbonate alteration opened up during logging road construction. Initial exploration located a second chalcopyrite with bornite zone. The program consisted of a 250-sample soil and geochemical grid and reconnaissance prospecting and sampling. Two zones of mineralization were described.
1) Chalcopyrite and bornite occur in a 10-centimetre-wide quartz vein in rhyolite on the LWO 29 mineral claim. The showing is adjacent to the southern claim boundary, approximately 200 metres northwest of the small lake on the LWO 27 mineral claim (Assessment 20415).
2) Disseminated chalcopyrite, accompanied by malachite staining, occurs in association with magnetite veins in altered vesicular basalt at the 3300-foot (1000-metre) elevation in the centre of the LWO 28 mineral claim (Assessment 20415).
Noranda continued with the exploration of the Sparrowhawk in 1990, expanding the soil grid to link the two showing areas and running ground magnetometer and, later, induced polarization over sections of the grid (Assessment Report 21106). Diamond drilling was recommended to follow up the induced polarization, but there is no record of further work or drilling in the assessment files. Three diamond drill holes were completed, but records of this drilling are not published. The three induced polarization drill targets are published, indexed to the 1990 grid.
Further sampling was completed in 1996 to 1997 by Booker Gold Exploration Inc. and again in 2007 by Midland Recording Services Ltd., as part of the current exploration program (Assessment Report 25401, 29629).
In 1997, a rock sample (AS-3), located approximately 800 metres southwest of the Sparrowhawk occurrence, yielded 0.945 per cent copper and 6.7 grams per tonne silver, whereas a rock sample (EO-6) of andesite with minor pyrite and malachite staining, located approximately 800 metres northeast of the Sparrowhawk occurrence, assayed 0.105 per cent copper (Assessment Report 25401).
In 2007, two rock samples (41043 and 41046) of mineralized andesite and diorite from the Sparrowhawk occurrence yielded 1.00 and 3.25 per cent copper with 0.383 and 0.405 gram per tonne gold, respectively (Assessment Report 29629).
In 2008, a rock sample (7R41819) from a mineralized vein at the Sparrowhawk occurrence assayed 0.819 per cent copper (Assessment Report 30720).
In 2009, two 0.5-metre channel samples (42566 and 42567) from the Sparrowhawk occurrence yielded 2.78 and 2.64 per cent copper, 5.9 and 6.1 grams per tonne silver with 0.609 and 0.491 gram per tonne gold, respectively (Assessment Report 31469).
In 2010, a rock sample (42856), taken approximately 800 metres northeast of the Sparrowhawk occurrence assayed 1.145 per cent copper (Assessment Report 32339).
Six rock samples taken in 2012 from an area approximately 250 metres west-southwest of the Sparrowhawk showing yielded consistently elevated copper values along with silver and gold. A select high-grade sample (43530) collected on narrow veinlets of pyrite and chalcopyrite assayed 1.385 grams per tonne gold, 2.1 grams per tonne silver and 2.97 per cent copper (Assessment Report 33939).
In 2018, a grab sample (S850054) from the Sparrowhawk occurrence area assayed 0.31 per cent copper, whereas a subcrop grab sample (S850059), taken approximately 800 metres northeast of the Sparrowhawk occurrence, yielded 0.511 per cent copper (Assessment Report 38988).
Work History
This history is sourced from Henneberry (2007; Assessment Report 29629), Midland Recording Services Ltd. and the Babine Project report. The Babine Project area covers an area of approximately 12 kilometres stretching along the northeast side of Babine Lake.
New Far North Explorations completed 56.4 line miles (90.2 line kilometres) of geochemical soil sampling and geological mapping on their Vez 1 through 40 and Tal 1 through 23 claims in 1966. Soil lines were spaced 400 feet (122 metres), with sample stations every 300 feet (91 metres). A definite, northwest-trending geochemical anomaly was located in a deep, swampy ravine in the southeast corner of the claim block. This survey covers much of the northwestern section of the current claim block.
Torwest Resources Ltd. completed 34.5 line kilometres (21.6 line miles) of geochemical soil sampling on their Ben 1 through 20 and Ben 23 through 38 claims in 1970. Soil lines were spaced at 244-metre (800-foot) intervals, with sample stations every 61 metres (200 feet). The survey revealed soil copper anomalies with pronounced east-west alignments, with the anomalies stronger in the eastern part of the grid. Torwest continued the exploration of the Ben claims in 1971, completing 34.5 line kilometres of magnetic and electromagnetic surveys apiece, as well as geological mapping and a further 9 line kilometres (5.7 line miles) of auger soil geochemical surveys. The soil and geophysical anomalies were not found to be coincident. The geological mapping located widely disseminated pyrite but little signs of copper mineralization. These surveys cover much of the east-central section of the claim group.
In the early 1970s, Quintana Minerals Corporation held most of the ground currently held by Midland Recording. They completed geological mapping and rock geochemical sampling over most of their claim block in 1973, taking 520 samples. Two areas were identified for follow-up: a copper occurrence near the Bab 131 claim and a carbonate alteration zone on the Tonja 100 claim, neither of which are on the current Midland claim holdings.
The ground appears to have lain idle until the early 1980s, when Noranda Exploration Company Limited staked a 3.5 to 4-kilometre-wide strip on the eastern shore of Babine Lake. In 1981, Noranda established a cut grid totalling 63.5 line kilometres. They completed soil geochemistry (869 samples) and 51 line kilometres of ground magnetometer survey and induced polarization apiece. Several induced polarization anomalies and magnetic features worthy of follow-up were identified. These surveys covered the northwest quarter of the current property.
In 1989, Noranda again acquired ground in the area—the Sparrowhawk property. They cut 3.2 kilometres of base line and 27 kilometres of cross line, taking only 254 soil samples. Noranda also completed mapping and prospecting, continuing the exploration in 1990. They cut a further 30.9 kilometres of line, took a further 86 soil samples and completed 15.75 line kilometres of dipole–dipole induced polarization and 18.7 line kilometre of magnetics. Diamond drilling on three high-chargeability induced polarization anomalies was recommended. The drilling was completed, although the data are not in the public file. The centre of the current Babine 1 through 22 claims covers the old Sparrowhawk claims.
Noranda also explored peripheral ground to the north of the Sparrowhawk. They took 63 rocks and 16 silts from the Nuniz claims, locating patchy disseminations and stringers of chalcopyrite within weakly developed propylitic andesite. (Assessment Report 22156). These surveys covered the northern section of the current property.
Booker Gold Explorations Inc., now known as Pacific Booker Minerals Inc., explored the Wolf and Buzz claim blocks in the late 1990s (Assessment Report 25401, Assessment Report 25402). Most of their effort was concentrated on the Wolf block, covering the old Noranda Sparrowhawk claims. Geological mapping and prospecting, soil sampling (98 samples) and rock sampling (17 samples) were completed on the Wolf block. Mapping located biotite feldspar porphyry and some copper mineralization and two copper soil anomalies on the property (Assessment Report 25401). Geological mapping and prospecting, soil sampling (26 samples) and rock sampling (three samples) were completed on the Buzz block. Prospecting located biotite feldspar porphyry boulders and sulphide mineralization on the property (Assessment Report 25402).
Delorme and Fournier held a large block of ground in 1996, downsizing to two claim blocks in 1999 (Assessment Report 25814). The 1996 program consisted of 50.2 line kilometres of cut grid, with 39.2 line kilometres of magnetometer and very low-frequency electromagnetic surveys and 6 line kilometres of self potential, 37 rock samples and 115 soil samples. The 1998 program consisted of further self-potential surveys and one 32.67-metre X-ray drill hole.
2006: The ground was acquired by Midland Recording Services Ltd. in October 2006. Midland actively explored the ground in 2007. Their work led to the discovery of several occurrences of copper mineralization in bedrock and in float that had not been previously reported.
In 2009, Peter Ogryzlo completed a soil geochemical survey using basal till sampling in selected areas (Assessment Report 31469). Potential new mineralized areas were identified through prospecting, though previously identified copper anomalies could not be reproduced.
During 2008 through 2011, Rolland Menard completed programs of geochemical (rock and soil) sampling and a 351.0 line-kilometre airborne magnetic and electromagnetic survey on the Sparrowhawk and Babine properties.
In 2011, Copper Point optioned the claims from Midland Recording Services.
In 2011 Midland Recording Services conducted a program of rock sampling in the Sparrowhawk (093M 160), Noranda showing (093M 160) and Verdi (DCA) showing areas (093M 160) (Assessment Report 33634). Copper Point Mining Corp carried out a 351 kilometre airborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey (Assessment Report 33139).
In 2012, the main purpose of the 2012 exploration program was to explore the two airborne geophysical anomalies delineated by the 2011 airborne survey. The work completed in 2012 including flagged line grids establishment, chainsaw cut lines, soil and rock sampling, prospecting and geological mapping. The program resulted in 11 kilometres of line cutting with 43 rock and 86 soil samples being collected. Extensive soil sampling was completed on the Sparrowhawk grid which totalled 353 samples. The samples were not analysed due to financial constraints.
Two anomalous conductive zones were outlined by the 2011 airborne survey, both lie near the eastern shore of Babine Lake. The North zone anomaly measures approximately 1500 by 2500 metres long, and is more circular in plan view. The South zone anomaly is more linear in nature, measuring approximately 2500 metres long (north-south) by 500 metres wide (east-west). Two grids with minor soil sampling were done on each zone. A total of 40 samples were taken from the South Grid on two lines and 33 samples on the North Grid from one line.
In 2012, Raven mapped the eastern portion of the Sparrowhawk grid. Mapping confirmed the regional geology with a thick assemblage of intermediate to mafic volcanic flows and tuffs ranging from andesitic to basaltic. Rare disseminated chalcopyrite was observed in the mafic rocks but never in economic concentrations; many of the samples with chalcopyrite assayed in the 200 parts per million copper range (Assessment Report 33939). Of the few lines mapped to the west local rhyolite flow were observed but not over any significant lengths nor was it mineralized.
In 2016 and 2017, Rolland Menard completed programs of soil sampling on the Babine 5-6 claims.
In 2018, Arcwest Exploration Inc. completed a program of petrographic sampling and a spectral analysis survey. The following year a program of prospecting and rock sampling was completed.
