The WG occurrence is located along a northwest-southeast–trending ridge, approximately 4 kilometres south-southeast of Mount Graves. Float mineralization has been traced by trenching for approximately 1.5 kilometres along the ridge.

Geological mapping in the WG area, shows the area to be underlain by both undivided rocks of the Jurassic Hazelton Group and the Toodoggone Formation of the Hazelton Group. Feldspar porphyritic flows, crystal lapilli tuffs, pyroclastic breccia, lahar and volcanically derived conglomerate, mudstone and greywacke comprise lithologies of the Hazelton group. They are generally found in fault contact with the Metsantan Member of the Toodoggone Formation and crop out east of the fault. The Metsantan Member, described regionally as consisting of trachyandesite flows with lenses of lapilli tuff, lahar; minor volcanic sandstone and conglomerate, occurs west of the fault (Bulletin 86). Within the Paul showing area a stock, part of the Black Lake Suite, occurs along the fault contact separating the two volcanic sequences and is composed of syenite to quartz monzonite and granodiorite to quartz diorite. This northwest trending, lens-shaped, stock is informally recognized as the McClair stock (Assessment Report 15264). Late mafic dikes cut the entire sequence.

The WG Lower zone is observed in a series of trenches and zigzag road-cuts that expose propylitically altered diorites and monzonites cut by quartz-barite veins. Mapping identified at least four southeast trending brittle fault zones spaced about 50 metres apart that dip steeply north-northeast. These faults are marked by numerous andesitic dikes whose presence in the district is considered a sign of strong brittle faulting. Mineralization in the WG Lower zone occurs as structurally controlled, silica-quartz-barite veins containing galena and sphalerite and chalcopyrite.

Three styles of mineralization occur as: 1) Thin (greater than 20 centimetre) quartz-barite veins that carry minor pyrite, galena and trace sphalerite with anomalous gold and silver; 2) Thin (8-14 centimetre) quartz stockwork breccias that carry pyrite; 3) Faults (to 1.6 metres wide) consisting of a clay gouge with many fragments (greater than 1 centimetre) of broken quartz vein material. Panned material from this site contains visible gold and possible electrum; and 4) Massive silica, sometimes cut by vuggy quartz vein stockworks that may contain pyrite.

The WG Upper zone lies 400 to 800 metres east-southeast to southeast of the WG Lower Zone. Geologically, it is very analogous to the NE Zone (new MINFILE); the higher and eastern parts of the ridge are occupied by a thin capping of silicified volcanics surrounded by a propylitic halo. These are floored by variably altered monzonites and diorites.

Mineralization and alteration in the WG Upper zone consists of massive silica plus/minus vuggy quartz vein stockworks that locally contain pyrite, barite and rare galena plus/minus sphalerite. The silica is mostly pale yellow to brown but some remnant blue-grey silica is seen. Despite this widespread silicification in outcrop, virtually all the auriferous alteration identified to date is only seen in float. Samples collected assayed up to 16.8 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 27602).

The Paul showing area is the original documented showing within the WG Gold zone. The showing area is dominated by a northwesterly trending set of structures represented by younger steeply dipping faults and syn-volcanic half-graben margins exhibited in Hazelton Group volcanics. Younger northwest-trending, post volcanic and intrusive faults also transect the area. Most of the prominent gossans in the area are also aligned along this trend.

There are numerous gossans in the Paul showing area. They are marked by an extensive zone of disseminated pyrite and intense propylitic alteration (chlorite and epidote). Argillic alteration, consisting of clays, occurs along faults. Locally silicification, consisting of blue-white silica with disseminated pyrite, is found. Minor amounts of galena and malachite staining have also been found.

In 1980, a rock sample (SC-28-80-16) of banded quartz in a volcanic host, taken approximately 400 metres south of the later Trench 5 and on the south side of the ridge, yielded 0.31 gram per tonne gold and 3.8 grams per tonne silver, and a rock sample (SC-29-80-4) of volcanic with malachite fracture filings, taken a short distance further southeast, yielded 0.07 gram per tonne gold, 2.1 grams per tonne silver and 0.901 per cent copper (Assessment Report 9001).

In 1985, channel sampling of trenches in the vicinity of the reported galena mineralization, located in the southeast end of the WG zone, yielded up to 2.1 grams per tonne silver over 2.0 metres in trench 5 and 0.175 gram per tonne gold over 2.0 metres in trench 3, whereas nearby rock samples yielded up to 0.209 gram per tonne gold and 3.4 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 15264).

In 1998, an oxidized rock sample (PJB-17) containing pyrite, taken from the north side of the ridge, assayed 0.292 gram per tonne gold, 2.2 grams per tonne silver and 0.013 per cent molybdenum (Assessment Report 25811).

In 2002, sampling of trench WG040 yielded 0.846 per cent lead, 0.469 per cent zinc over 4.2 metres, including 0.118 gram per tonne gold, 8.2 grams per tonne silver, 1.76 per cent lead and 0.98 per cent zinc over 1.4 metres, whereas trench WG041 yielded values of 0.61 gram per tonne gold, 21.2 grams per tonne silver, 2.75 per cent lead and 2.14 per cent zinc over 1.10 metre and 0.122 gram per tonne gold, 103 grams per tonne silver and 0.642 per cent lead over 0.90 metre (Assessment Report 27055). Mineralization was exposed over the 8.3-metre width in trench WG041 and 6.2-metre width in trench WG040. The trenches are in the northwest end of the WG zone. Also at this time, sampling of phyllic-altered intrusive with quartz stockworks, exposed in sub-crop and float by hand trenching in the southeast end of the WG zone, yielded values of up to 4.93 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 27055).

In 2003, float samples collected over a length of over 300 metre of the northwest portion of the NW zone range from 0.5 to 7.06 grams per tonne gold, 1.2 to 6.4 grams per tonne silver and up to 0.019 per cent molybdenum, whereas a sample (WG-PN-03-033-07) of quartz float containing native gold and possible electrum, taken from the southeast end of the WG zone, yielded 16.82 grams per tonne gold and 29.8 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 27310).

In 2004, diamond drilling on the WG Upper (southeast) zone yielded intercepts including 18.3 grams per tonne silver over 3.0 metres in hole PN04-17 and 31.0 grams per tonne silver over 1.60 metres in hole PN04-18 (Assessment Report 27602). Gold values were reported to be low in both holes and rarely exceeded 0.100 gram per tonne (Assessment Report 27602). Also at this time, drilling on the WG Lower (northwest) zone yielded intercepts of 0.56 per cent molybdenum over 0.7 metre in hole PN04-19, 0.266 gram per tonne gold, 4.1 grams per tonne silver and 1.40 per cent combined lead-zinc over 0.9 metres in hole PN04-20 (Assessment Report 27602).

Work History

Previous work in the area of the Argus Group consisted of geological mapping and soil geochemistry by Cominco Ltd. in 1968 and Kennco Explorations Ltd in 1968 and 1969. The ground was staked in 1980 by Serem Inc as the Argus claims and in 1981 a program of stream sediment and contour soil sampling was carried out. Mapping was done in a reconnaissance manner and several grab samples were analyzed for base and precious metals.

In 1985, Rhyolite Resources Inc relocated the Argus property and conducted a program of soil geochemical sampling and preliminary geological mapping. This work identified several promising anomalies. The trenching and sampling program carried out by Rhyolite.

In early 1987, Rhyolite Resources Inc commissioned Western Geophysical Aero Data Ltd. to process and interpret magnetometer and VLF-electromagnetometer data gathered across the Argus claim group. The data was gathered as part of a regional program completed in early spring of 1986. Five areas of interest were outlined. Later in 1987 Rhyolite conducted a regional program consisting of geologic mapping, multipole induced polarization and geochemical sampling.

In 1990, Rhyolite conducted a soil geochemical sampling program to extend the coverage of an existing survey grid and to explore a new area within the claim group.

In 1992, Electrum Resource Corp. completed a program of heavy mineral sampling on the area immediately south as the Pil 1-3 claims. The following year, the Pil claims were expanded and a further program of prospecting and geochemical (heavy mineral, rock and silt) sampling was completed. In 1995, Electrum Resource completed a program of rock and soil sampling and a 9.7 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the Pil claims. In 1996, a minor prospecting and sampling program was completed along with LANDSAT TM and Radar imagery review. In 1997, a further program of rock and soil sampling and 28.7 line-kilometres of ground geophysical surveys were completed on the Pil claims. In 1998, Electrum Resource completed a program of geological mapping, geochemical (rock, silt and soil) sampling and a 4.9 line-kilometre ground magnetic survey on the Pil claims.

In 1999, Finlay Minerals purchased the Pil property and conducted a major exploration effort including induced polarization and magnetic surveys, geochemical (soil and rock) sampling and detailed geological mapping. During 2001 through 2007, Finlay Minerals completed further programs of geological mapping, geochemical sampling, trenching, diamond drilling and geophysical surveys on the Pil property. A complete summary of this work can be found in the Pil South (MINFILE 094E 310) occurrence.

In 2004, two holes were drilled into the eastern parts of the WG Upper Zone, which that encompassed the original Paul showing. Hole PN 17 and 18 were drilled in an attempt to cut the gold-bearing silica. However, they did not encounter rocks similar to the high-grade auriferous float; consequently, the source of the gold mineralization at the WG Upper Zone is still un-located and untested.

During the 2005 season, a southwest extension to the drill access road was constructed to cut an area of abundant silica float lying immediately below volcanic rocks that cap the ridge (Figure 10). During the excavation, at least two outcrops of massive blue-grey silica were exposed, as well as an extensive area with both silica float and clay-jarosite altered soil. Some malachite-stained volcanic rocks were also uncovered. The malachite-stained volcanics were anomalous in silver (up to 20.5 grams per tonne) but the blue-grey silica outcrops contain no significant precious metals. Detailed mapping of the float suggests that the volcanic cap rocks above the massive barren silica are penetrated by an auriferous narrow chimney or vein-like silica body. Two samples (GRR05-39, 40) assayed up to 3.34 grams per tonne gold and 41 grams per tonne silver as well as being weakly anomalous in molybdenum (up to 69 ppm molybdenum) (Assessment Report 28083). These two auriferous float samples are only four meters apart, and are identical in appearance to the massive but barren silica outcropping at lower elevation along the road. Both samples contain only trace pyrite and are of a pale grey to darker blue-grey massive silica that has some small quartz-crystal-lined vuggy cavities.

The auriferous float samples collected during the 2004 and 2005 season show that epithermal gold-silver mineralization is also present at the WG Upper Zone.

In 2015, Finlay Minerals completed a program of geological mapping and geochemical (rock and soil) sampling on the Pil claims.

See NW zone (094E 007) for details of the PIL property work history. The WG area is part of the Pil property.