The Iliad 4 area is underlain by Upper Triassic Stuhini Group volcanic siltstone, sandstone, conglomerate and breccia. On the east side of Harrymel Creek, the Stuhini Group rocks area intruded by Triassic to Jurassic dioritic rock of the John Peaks Stock or Unuk Meta-Diorite. A north trending fault parallels Harrymel Creek and separates the altered volcaniclastics from silicified and banded dioritic schist which marks the contact between the diorite intrusions and Stuhini Group rocks.

A gossanous zone occurs along the fault and hosts disseminated and fracture fillings of sphalerite, specular hematite, pyrite and about 10 per cent magnetite. The gossanous rocks on the west side of the fault vary from altered andesitic tuff, silicified chert to argillite.

Work History

In 1960, Granduc Mines Limited Conducted mapping, prospecting and magnetic surveying (Assessment Report 345).

In the 1960s Newmont Exploration of Canada conducted a broad regional exploration program. The resulting map of the findings now resides in the Property File at the Ministry of Energy and Mines. The Iliad 4 showing resulted from mineralization plotted on the map.

In 1987, the property was visited on behalf of Axiom Explorations Ltd who also represented the interests of Candorado Mines Ltd and Teuton Resources. Severals samples were taken but yielded nothing of significance.

In 1988, an airborne electromagnetic survey was conducted over the Illiad 1-4 claims (Assessment Report 18585). The survey was a combined helicopter-borne magnetic, electromagnetic and VLF survey. This survey was conducted over the area which contained the Iliad showing (104B 230) and the North Fork showing (104B 226).

In 1989, Yellowstrike Resources and Mendocino Resources Inc conducted a program property exploration on the Iliad North property, consisting of the Iliad 1 and 4. Helicopter-supported reconnaissance prospecting, geological mapping, and geochemical sampling was conducted. A total of 15 rock, 9 stream sediment and 4 heavy mineral samples were collected (Assessment Report 19662). Areas of known mineralization such as Iliad (104B 230) and North Fork (104B 226) were investigated and sampled. Heavy mineral sample KWH-27 from the northern edge of the property, yielded an elevated gold value of 300 ppb. Numerous magnetite lenses were located within the Max diorite.

In 1987, the property was visited on behalf of Axiom Explorations Ltd who also represented the interests of Candorado Mines Ltd and Teuton Resources. Severals samples were taken but yielded nothing of significance.

In 2006 and 2007, Hathor Exploration Ltd. completed a 7228.7 line-kilometre airborne geophysical survey on the area as the Hawilson claims of the Iskut project. In 2008, Max Minerals Ltd. examined the property.

By 2019, the historic Illiad 4 was part of the Kirkham property of Metallus Resources, who held the property since 2013, conducting airborne geophysical programs, drilling, prospecting and geochemical programs at multiple locations and prospects on their Kirkham property. In 2018, Mettalus explored the gossan zones in the Illiad target area and documented a new showing (about 400 metres northeast of North Fork) naming it "Illiad". Later in the 2018 field season, a new VTEM geophysical survey was flown over the eastern edge of the Kirkham property and revealed a distinctive sub-circular magnetic anomaly surrounded by magnetic low. Gossans observed by Metallus workers during visual reconnaissance from a helicopter were reported to correlate with the magnetic lows (magnetite destructive) and a distinct conductive anomaly near Harrymel Creek. Two historic MINFILE occurrences North Fork (104B 226) and Illiad 4 (104B 230) were covered by the new VTEM survey and fell within the 500 metre by 500 metre VTEM anomaly as did the new Illiad showing. Metallus indicated that the area warranted detailed mapping, prospecting and sampling to determine the nature of the gossan coincident with the resistivity and concentric zonation of magnetic high-low signature at the Iliad target.