A small stock of Tertiary-Cretaceous quartz monzonite porphyry intrudes moderately dipping Upper Triassic andesite and finely bedded siltstone. An annular ring of syenite with hornfels and amphibolites approximately one kilometre in diameter surrounds the intrusive. The syenite is thought to be a product of metasomatism and hydrothermal alteration. Quartz monzonite dikes up to 1.5 metres wide cut the syenite near the main intrusive stock. The whole complex is cut by light green lamprophyre and andesitic dikes.
A strong steeply dipping fracture system trending north and northeast cuts the syenite and to a lesser extent the quartz porphyry, volcanics and sediments. Magnetite, specular hematite and molybdenite occur in fractures. The molybdenite occurs as fine- grained disseminated flakes within the quartz veins. This type of veining and mineralization were observed over much of the claim area but mainly within the syenite.
The main mineralized zones appear to be peripheral to the intrusive stock. The zones have a north-south elongation parallel to the more prominent faults. They are approximately 60 by 120 by 300 metres in plan with vertical exposures of 90 to 300 metres. Surface material is highly oxidized leaving vuggy quartz veins with minor disseminations of molybdenite and powellite.
Average grades of 0.05 to 0.06 per cent molybdenite were obtained from surface samples. A 55 metre length of drill core contained 0.15 per cent molybdenite (National Mineral Inventory 104F16 Mo1).
Work History
The property was initially staked in 1957 as the Balsom claims by Conwest Exploration Company Limited to cover a spectacular gossan zone. American Metal Climax Inc., optioned the property in 1958 and carried out surface stripping, rock trenching, geological mapping and built a trail from Telegraph Creek to the property. Kennco held the property in 1959 but no work is reported.
Spartan Explorations Ltd restaked the LLC claim group in 1968 and followed up with mapping and two diamond drill holes totalling 479 metres. Hole number 1 is reported to contain a 55 metre section averaging greater than 0.15 per cent MoS2 (National Mineral Inventory 104F16 Mo1). Spartan followed up in 1969 with 3 more holes totalling 652 metres but results are not published.
Great Plains Development Company of Canada Ltd staked the area in 1975 as the Big Red claims. They examined the property in 1976 followed by trenching and sampling in 1977. Six trenches were put in but surficial oxidation and leaching were considered so severe that it was concluded that “appropriate testing could only be achieved by diamond drilling". In 1990, Candela Resource staked the area as the KR claims in order to investigate the gold potential which proved to be limited.
In 2006/2007, Terracad Ltd. created six “hillside shaded” imagery maps that were produced by the application of artificial lighting to the 25m/pixel Digital Elevation Model. By utilizing multiple directions of lighting the image analysis was enhanced. Resulting images indicate lineaments and associated resistant areas that will be targets for future exploration.
