The Silver Ridge occurrence is located at an elevation of approximately 1730 metres on an east facing slope, approximately 4.6 kilometres south of Mount Graves.

The area is underlain by quartz monzonite of the Early Jurassic Black Lake Intrusive Suite in contact with Lower Jurassic andesites of the Toodogone Formation (Hazelton Group) to the west and undivided Lower to Middle Jurassic sediments and volcanics of the Hazelton Group on the east.

The following types of hydrothermally related alteration and/or mineralization are present at the Silver Ridge zone:

1) Disseminated Copper-Molybdenum plus/minus gold (lead-zinc-tungsten) porphyry style mineralization hosted by some of the plutonic phases. This has been the main drill target in the NW zone (094E 007). Considerable widths of strongly anomalous lead, zinc and tungsten were also intersected at the Silver Ridge North zone. These intersections often coincide with copper-molybdenum mineralization. There appears to be a spatial relationship between lead-zinc-tungsten content and a drill hole’s proximity to the Pillar West fault suggesting this structure may have played a role in mineralization. The highly altered rocks in these holes and the lead-zinc-tungsten mineralized intrusive rocks may also be evidence of the vertical or lateral zonation of a porphyry system.

2) Fault-controlled quartz-silica-pyrite plus/minus magnetite mineralization that is sporadically enriched in gold and lesser silver. This type, which may be marked by jarosite and/or hematite stained soil and silica float, occurs in the Silver Ridge zone.

3) Fault-controlled quartz-vein stockworks with pyrite plus/minus chalcopyrite plus/minus galena plus/minus sphalerite, and sporadic veins of barite and calcite. This type is associated with the Pillar West Fault which marks the western boundary of Silver Ridge zones.

In 2003, grab samples (WG-PN-03-18) over 1.5 metres of outcrop and float of monzonite with malachite, chalcopyrite and trace galena on fractures yielded 4.0 grams per tonne silver, 0.120 per cent copper, 0.434 per cent lead and 0.125 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 27310).

In 2004, drillhole PN04-06 yielded 1235 grams per tonne silver, 0.23 per cent copper, 0.22 per cent zinc and 0.11 per cent tungsten over 2.4 metres (Assessment Report 27602). The intercept came from approximately 120 metres downhole at the end of the hole, which was terminated due to technical difficulties in a zone of highly fractured intrusive rock hosting disseminated pyrite and an unidentified black mineral. The drillhole also yielded anomalous gold values of up to 0.364 gram per tonne over the top 27 metres of the hole (Assessment Report 27602).

In 2005, drillhole PN05-10, a re-test of the previous year’s hole, yielded a 2.30-metre interval grading 6.8 grams per tonne silver associated with a shear zone and a 7.60-metre interval of quartz diorite containing 1.05 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 28083). Most of this hole contains anomalous tungsten and zinc, a signature commonly seen along the Silver Ridge Zone. Extreme technical difficulties due to a very unstable fault zone again did not allow the completion of the hole. For this reason, the high-grade silver mineralization and host structure encountered in PN04-06 have not been tested or explained.

Work History

In 1967, Cordilleran Engineering drilled two holes in the northwest part of the Pil property. In 1968, Quebec Cartier Mines completed a program of geological mapping and geochemical (rock and soil) sampling on the area as the Spartan claims. In 1969, Cominco explored a copper porphyry target on the south part of the Pil property.

In 1971 and 1972, Kennco Explorations Ltd. completed programs of geological mapping and geochemical (rock, silt and soil) sampling program on the area as the Black claims. Also in 1972, Denison Mines Ltd. completed a program of geological mapping and geochemical (rock, silt and soil) sampling on the area immediately north as the NE, GO and RI claims.

In 1980 and 1981, 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).

During 1992 through 1998, 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 (VLF 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).

In 1999, Finlay Minerals purchased the property and conducted a major exploration effort including IP and magnetic surveys, soil/rock sampling and detailed geological mapping.

In 2000, rock sampling and hand trenching on the Pil South area.

In 2001, work focused on Pil North area with the completion of 8.3 kilometres of induced polarization (IP) 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 containing 4.93 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 27055). Lloyd geophysics conducted a ground magnetometer and induced polarization (IP) 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 km of IP 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. Examination and reporting on the Central-Milky zones were reported. 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 6,168 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.

In 2005, Finlay Minerals constructed 5 kilometres of drill access roads on the NW Zone and established 10 kilometre of grid along which prospecting, soil and rock sampling were completed. Geophysical surveys (Magnetometer, VLF-EM) 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 consisted of 12 holes totalling 3,090 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 VLF-EM surveys over a portion of the Atlas zones along with geological mapping and prospecting. Fourteen diamond drill holes (1945 metres) completed with twelve drilled on the Atlas and two on 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 IP program, provided context to a 7 hole 2410 metres drilling program.

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