The Swan occurrence is located 15 kilometres east of Aiken Lake, approximately 90 kilometres northeast of the community of Germansen Landing.
The hostrock is a northward striking, west dipping, massive white limestone which, upon recent examination, is now believed to be part of the Ordovican to Lower Devonian Echo Lake Group and/or the Lower Cambrian Mount Kison Formation (Atan Group). A generalized stratigraphic section (from Assessment Report 4655) is as follows: impure quartzite; chlorite schist; massive white limestone; black, thin bedded, fissile limestone; black graphitic slate; and siliceous dolomite.
Mineralization is hosted within a tan weathering, medium to coarse-grained, cream coloured dolomite band near the top of the massive white limestone unit. The mineralization occurs as scattered lenses of galena and light brown sphalerite contained within the tan weathering dolomite layer. Barite mineralization is associated with the lead-zinc sulphides. In 1973, the highest assay from Trench #1 was 0.48 per cent lead, 1.72 per cent zinc and 4.11 grams per tonne silver across 1.5 metres (Assessment Report 4654).
In 1996, drillhole ST96-03 was collared to test the stratigraphy of the Swan grid area, in particular, the complete stratigraphic package from the silicified dolomite of the Echo Lake Group, through the Cambrian-Ordovician Razorback Group, Mount Kison Formation, and into the Lower Cambrian Mount Brown Quartzite (Atan Group). The drillhole intersected all the formations, although their true stratigraphic thickness could not be determined due to numerous faults. Mineralization encountered was entirely hosted by Mount Kison Formation limestones and dolomites. An intersection from 76.6 to 78.2 metres downhole consisted of medium-grained, crystalline galena in seams and irregular fractures. An assay across 1.6 metres yielded 8.32 per cent lead and 51 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 24875). Minor blebs of galena along with limonitic microfractures were intersected from 104.4 to 105.1 metres. Very fine-grained sphalerite, galena, and pyrite filling irregular fractures were intersected between 126.5 to 128.3 metres.
The earliest reported work was conducted by Cominco Ltd. in the 1960s. This work discovered most of the known showings, some of which were subsequently trenched.
During 1972, Serem Ltd. conducted a regional lead-zinc stream sediment geochemical program throughout the Omineca Mountains which lead to the staking of three small properties the Swan, Knoll (094C 141) and Rain (094C 074), which are all within the current Swan property. In 1973, Serem conducted programs of line cutting, soil geochemistry, geological mapping, trenching and ground geophysical (horizontal shootback electromagnetic) surveys on each property and in 1974 drilled 13 holes totalling 657 metres on the Rain property.
In 1992, the Swan property, covering all known showings as well as intervening areas and extensions, was staked. A program, carried out by Firesteel Resources, comprising soil geochemical sampling and limited geological mapping was conducted in the area of the old showings. In 1992, regional mapping by Ferri et al. of the British Columbia Geological Survey covered the area of the Swan property as part of a larger survey; limited silt sediment sampling and analysis was undertaken as part of this program. In 1993, the property was sold to Stratabound Minerals Corp. which optioned it to Cominco Ltd. Cominco carried out a soil geochemical survey and geological mapping over a grid established by compass and hip chain in the area known as the Swan grid. Reconnaissance geological mapping and contour soil sampling were conducted in the areas of the Rain and Knoll prospects and areas known to be underlain by the “Gilliland Tuff”. A regional silt sampling program was undertaken, and old trenches were excavated, mapped and sampled. Cominco subsequently dropped their option on the property. Target Exploration Services Ltd. conducted a rock and soil geochemical survey in 1995 on behalf of Stratabound Minerals Corp. The program involved collecting duplicate soil samples which were analyzed by a conventional ICP method and by a technique known as enzyme leach. During 1996, a diamond drilling program (763.3 metres in six BQTW drillholes) on the Swan property tested the Swan East zone (094C 143), the Swan 93 Trench and the surrounding stratigraphy. A reconnaissance geochemical soil sampling (110 samples) program was conducted simultaneously. In 1997, on behalf of Stratabound Minerals Corp., work conducted on the Swan property comprised a helicopter borne five-frequency electromagnetic and high-sensitivity magnetic survey (597 kilometres) over the entire claim area, followed by 12 kilometres of gravity surveying over selected magnetic anomalies.
