The Central occurrence is located 32 kilometres north of the north tip of Thutade Lake approximately 226 kilometres north-northwest of the community of Germansen Landing.
The Central (Milky Creek) showing is hosted by quartz monzonite of the Early Jurassic Black Lake Intrusive Suite in contact with Lower Jurassic andesites of the Toodoggone Formation (Hazelton Group) to the west and undivided Lower to Middle Jurassic sediments and volcanics of the Hazelton Group on the east.
Scree slopes and minor outcroppings of quartz monzonite dominate the Central zone. Within the monzonite are numerous structurally controlled, northwest trending, intensely fractured (to sheared) zones noted as gossanous, with 2 to 5 per cent disseminated pyrite, silicification and sericitization. Iron oxides are dominated by goethite and hematite. These structural zones, varying from several metres to 40-50 metres across are sericite-altered and leached monzonite. Along the west flank of the Central zone are northwest trending pinkish green monzonite to trachyte dikes(?) with sporadic malachite, chalcopyrite and galena on fractures. This is similarly mineralized material to that found in the headwaters of Milky Creek.
Geological traverses in the area during 2003 noted one area of intense phyllic alteration, poorly constrained by surrounding quartz monzonite, as well as quartz-magnetite veinlets within the quartz monzonite.
Geophysically, the Central and Milky Creek zones form an open ended (both north and south) north trending anomalous chargeability anomaly of about 3000 metres varying in width from 500 to 1000 metres. Highly anomalous molybdenum and zinc coincide with the Central zone soil anomaly. In 2004, seven drillholes were drilled on the Central/Milky Creek zone area. Drillhole PN04-06 assayed 0.23 per cent copper, 0.35 gram per tonne gold, 1235 grams per tonne silver, 0.22 per cent zinc and 0.11 per cent tungsten over 2.4 metres (Assessment Report 27602).
In 1967, Cordilleran Engineering drilled two holes in the northwest part of the Pil property. In 1969, Cominco explored a copper porphyry target on the south part of the Pil property.
From 1980-81, Serem Ltd. conducted detailed stream sediment and contour soil sampling with exploration culminating in hand trenching an epithermal gold-silver prospect (now called Atlas West, 094E 213) located 6.2 kilometres southeast of the Central showing.
From 1992-98, Electrum Resources Corp. acquired the Pil claims and began a long methodical period of stream sediment, soil sampling, prospecting, rock sampling, Landsat imaging, and limited geophysical (Very Low Frequency and magnetics) work (Assessment Reports 22750, 23313, 24356, 25054, 25282, 25811, 26104, 26383).
The Pil property of Electrum and Finlay changed in outline and contained at various times 094E 007 (Spartan), 094E 029 (Theban), 094E 083 (Arg), 094E 089 (Sun), 094E 147 (Pillar), 094E 200 (Reef), 094E 201 (Paul), 094E 202 (Ian), 094E 209 (Bishop), 094E 214 (GWP), 094E 213 (Atlas), 094E 215 (Michel), 094E 216 (Brook), and 094E 217 (Lar) occurrences.
In 1999, Finlay Minerals purchased the property and conducted a major exploration effort including induced polarization and magnetic surveys, soil/rock sampling and detailed geological mapping.
In 2000, rock sampling and hand trenching was completed on the Pil South area. In 2001, work focussed on the Pil North area with the completion of 8.3 kilometres of induced polarization and magnetic surveys, soil and rock sampling, and geological mapping.
In 2002, Finlay Minerals continued exploration efforts on Pil North (Assessment Report 27055) with the completion of 13.1 kilometres of induced polarization and magnetic geophysical surveys, soil and rock sampling, trenching and geological mapping. Late in 2002, a lead-zinc silica-barite occurrence (WG zone) was explored by hand and blast trenching. Prospecting in the area led to the discovery of quartz float assaying 4.93 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 27055). Lloyd geophysics conducted a ground magnetometer and induced polarization and resistivity survey over a copper-gold porphyry prospect, on the Pil North claim group (Assessment Report 27055B). Geophysical surveying in 2002, on more closely spaced lines, has confirmed the continuity and size of both the Northeast and West Central high chargeability zones.
In 2003, Finlay Minerals completed a helicopter-supported drill program consisting of four NQ holes totalling 707 metres on the Pil South property. Drilling targets were geophysical and geochemical anomalies. Results were inconclusive and did not fully explain the geochemical and geophysical anomalous zones. A total of 16.6 kilometres of induced polarization and soil sampling were completed along eight newly cut lines on the Pil North property. Prospecting, mapping, and hand trenching were completed on the Pil North property. Gold-bearing float discovered at the WG zone in late 2002 was traced east for 300 metres. Additional quartz float containing visible gold and grading up to 16.8 grams per tonne was discovered nearly one kilometre east (WG-Gold zone) (Assessment Reports 27055, 27310). It was reported in 2003 that geochemically, as well as geophysically, the Milky Creek and Central zones merge, giving a combined target of about 4000 metres length.
In 2004, Finlay Minerals constructed a 7.5-kilometre access road, a fully serviced camp and 13.9 kilometres of drill access (exploration) trails. A reconnaissance diamond drilling program of 26 holes totalling 6168 metres focussed on five zones referred to as the Northeast, WG zones, Northwest (NW), Milky Creek and Central Zones. Exploration targets were: (1) copper-gold porphyry deposits, and (2) epithermal gold-silver deposits. Geological mapping and sampling were conducted over much of the property. Prospecting late in the season resulted in the discovery of boulders grading up to 3.22 grams per tonne gold and 80.6 grams per tonne silver near a large gossanous zone 800 metres east of the Serem trenches (Assessment Report 27602). This new area is referred to as the Atlas East zone (094E 305).
In 2005, Finlay Minerals constructed 5 kilometres of drill access roads on the NW zone and established 10 kilometres of grid along which prospecting, soil and rock sampling were completed. Geophysical surveys (magnetometer, Very Low Frequency Electromagnetic) were completed along new and historic grid lines from the Silver Ridge zone to the NW zone. Geological mapping was completed on the NW, Silver Ridge, NE, WG Upper and Atlas East zones. Diamond drilling consisting of 12 holes totalling 3090 metres were completed on the NW, Silver Ridge, and Atlas East zones. Ten drill sites and 3.3 kilometres of roads from 2004 were reclaimed. Fill-in soil sampling was conducted on the existing grid from the Silver Ridge zone to the NW zone. Stream sampling follow-up of historic anomalies was completed. Detailed soil and rock sampling completed on the Atlas East zone identified numerous float and bedrock occurrences of epithermal gold and silver mineralization.
In 2006, Finlay Minerals constructed access road to Atlas East and West zones. Grid-based soil, magnetic and Very Low Frequency Electromagnetic surveys over a portion of the Atlas zones along with geological mapping and prospecting was completed. Fourteen diamond-drill holes (1945 metres) were completed with twelve holes drilled on the Atlas and two on the NW zones.
In 2007, Finlay Minerals Ltd. continued exploration of its Pil property, concentrating on the Atlas East epithermal gold-silver target. Soil and rock geochemistry and an induced polarization program provided context to a 7-hole, 2410 metres drilling program.
