The King showing area is underlain by Upper Triassic marine sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Stuhini Group.
The King consists of several massive or semi-massive pyrite-arsenopyrite lenses measuring 10 to 40 centimetres long in black argillaceous siltstone, roughly parallel to bedding. He reported two samples from these lenses assaying 6.58 and 6.99 grams per tonne gold, while a nearby siltstone boulder with pyrite veinlets assayed 13.4 grams per tonne gold. Monzonitic/dioritic dikes are common in the area, and the Adam fault is thought to pass nearby, but distribution of the pyrite lenses is reported to be irregular and without apparent structural control.
In 2017, Metallis Resources targeted a distinct geophysical VTEM/high-mag geophysical anomaly that extended for 380 metres by 220 metres by 15 metres on the western flank of Hawilson Monzonite. Metallis Resources' drill hole KH-17-10 intersected intercalated shale, siltstone and sandstone units and minor graphite, interpreted to be part of Stuhini Group. The litho-stratigraphic units are characterized by weak chlorite-epidote and strong carbonate alteration and at least two stages of pyrrhotite mineralization. The early fine-grained banded pyrite-pyrrhotite (about 1 per cent) in black shale are overprinted by later coarser grained pyrrhotite associated with a distinct phase of quartz-calcite veins. The drill hole successfully tested the VTEM conductor, which is associated with pyrite-pyrrhotite bearing arkosic sedimentary rocks, however no significant economic mineralization was encountered.
WORK HISTORY
In 1988, Cominco carried out 35 man days of mapping and geochemical sampling on the King and Consoat claims, focusing at lower elevations in the King Creek valley (Assessment Report 18614). Their mapping showed a major north-south fault (the “Adam Fault”) running up Gossan Creek; contour soil lines were anomalous in all metals within 50 metres of the fault and down to background levels within 200 metres of the fault. Cominco reported massive pyrite lenses and veinlets within argillaceous siltstone in the vicinity of the fault with up to 9.5 grams per tonne gold.
In 2013 and 2016 Metallis Resources completed airborne geophysical surveys that covered the King area and several other mineral occurrences on the Kirkahm/Mount Dunn property. In 2013, Metallis Resources commissioned a 210 line-kilometre airborne geophysical (VTEM, magnetics and radiometrics) survey over a portion of the Kirkham property. A number of TEM anomalous zones are identified across the property. A major radiometric anomaly zone and several radiometric anomaly trends are observed across the block.
In 2014, Metallis Resources collected 40 rock samples, mostly from the King Anomaly area between Nettle and Devils Creek. A total of 81 soil samples including three duplicates were collected over three lines at approximately 25 metre spacing and a total of 22 silt samples were taken along Devils Creek, Nettle Creek and three along King Creek. Interesting results occur west of Devils Creek, within and nearby Nettle Creek and north of King Creek along the Gossan Creek Fault, in an area of known mineralization. There is little geochemical response directly over the King geophysical anomaly.
In 2016, Metallis carried out an 277 kilometre airborne electromagnetic (VTEM), Magnetic and Radiometric survey over the Kirkham property. This survey identified four geophysical anomalies which continue several hundred metres below the surface. The 2016 survey also confirmed a fifth anomaly, a linear, very strong coincident resistivity and magnetic anomaly (King), originally identified by the 2013 survey.
In 2017, Metallis Resources carried out a comprehensive exploration and drilling program focused on porphyry copper-gold mineralization in the Cliff target, shear-vein gold in the King prospect and magmatic nickel-copper sulphide mineralization in the Thunder North grass roots target. Metallis drilled 1 hole on the King prospect with no significant economic miernalization found.
See Mount Dunn (104B 079) for related details of related historical work done and geological information.
