The LaCasse zone is located on the eastern edge of Schaft Creek approximately 60 kilometres upstream from the confluence with the Stikine River.
The LaCasse occurrence straddles a contact between Upper Triassic Stuhini Group volcanics and Middle Jurassic intrusive rocks. The volcanic rocks consist of variably chlorite- and epidote-altered mafic to intermediate volcaniclastics and lesser flows, including augite phyric basalt. These are intruded by equigranular diorite and granodiorite, which in turn are cut by feldspar porphyry and banded rhyolite dikes.
Mapping in 2014 largely confirmed previous mapping. The predominant rock type in the mineralized zone consists of quartz monzonite to monzodiorite to granodiorite, with crosscutting andesite and syenite dikes. The mineralized area at LaCasse was delineated as a zone of chalcopyrite>pyrite mineralization approximately 1 by 1.5 kilometres in size. This area contains patchy zones of K-feldspar-biotite-quartz (potassic assemblage) and hematite-albite-epidote-chlorite (sodic-calcic assemblage), as well as widespread chlorite, epidote, and magnetite. Sulphide mineralogy and zonation is similar to the Schaft Creek deposit, although only trace bornite has been observed at LaCasse.
In 2005, Paget Resources Corp collected a rock chip sample (B386657) that graded 1.52 grams per tonne gold, 32.5 grams per tonne silver and 6.4 per cent copper over 0.4 metre; other samples returned up to 3.56 grams per tonne gold over 0.4 metre (Assessment Report 28031). In 2006 they noted that significant copper mineralization was traced along the intrusive-volcanic contact over a strike length exceeding one kilometre, and across widths of up to 300 metres (Assessment Report 28848).
All of Teck's five 2015 drill holes intersected porphyry-style alteration and veins, as well as associated copper mineralization. The most significant assay results from this program were yielded by drill hole SCK-15-444 which intersected 182.5 metres of 0.20 per cent copper, including a subinterval of 30 metres of 0.40 per cent copper (Assessment Report 35967). Interpretation of drill core and geological mapping suggested that mineralization at LaCasse is contiguous with the Discovery Zone (104G 030) to the south. In addition, the mineralization style at LaCasse was interpreted to have similarities with the Paramount Zone (104G 032). Mineralization at LaCasse remains open in several directions, and there is reported to be potential for high-grade breccia mineralization of the style that occurs at the Paramount.
Major alteration assemblages intersected at LaCasse include a potassic assemblage of K-feldspar-biotite ± hematite that is overprinted or crosscut by a sodic-calcic assemblage of chlorite-epidote-calcite-hematite ± albite. Both assemblages are associated with chalcopyrite-pyrite mineralization, although the potassic alteration is more closely correlated with the sulphide mineralization. Magnetite occurs locally as part of the potassic alteration assemblage within the granodiorite, however magnetite also occurs intensely within the chlorite-altered andesitic volcanic rocks adjacent to the margin of the granodiorite. The syenite to rhyolite dikes, which crosscut all other rock types and alteration assemblages, are associated with an alteration assemblage of clay-chlorite-sericite.
Sulphide mineralization intersected at LaCasse includes quartz-chalcopyrite-pyrite-molybdenite veins with potassic halos, chalcopyrite-pyrite mineralization replacing mafic phenocrysts, disseminated and fracture-controlled chalcopyrite-pyrite with minor bornite, and rare well-mineralized breccia clasts containing disseminated chalcopyrite-pyrite with minor bornite. Generally, sulphide mineralization is sparse and low grade (0.3 to 0.5 per cent total sulphide), although locally disseminated sulphide mineralization is more abundant (up to 2-3 per cent locally). Quartz-sulphide veins occur throughout all of the drill holes, but are generally sparse (1-5 veins per meter) and thin (0.2 to 1 centimetres thick). Locally, quartz-sulphide veins are sheeted and more abundant (5-20 veins per meter), however the overall sulphide content of these sheeted vein zones is still relatively low (0.4 to 0.7 per cent total sulphide). Very fine grained bornite occurs locally, particularly in SCK-15-444, and is associated with a notable increase in gold grade relative to copper grade, corresponding to an elevated gold:copper ratio. Sparse, irregular clots of partially oxidized chalcopyrite and minor bornite also occur within the syenite to rhyolite dikes. However, based upon these textures, these sulphides are interpreted to have been “digested” or remobilized into these dikes from other rock types.
WORK HISTORY
Early exploration in the vicinity of the Schaft Creek North property was conducted by Adera Mining Ltd. for Paramount Mining in 1966 on the Nabs 1-34 claim group. Adera carried out mapping, rock and soil sampling, and magnetometer and IP surveys on the property. Initial mapping and sampling identified a 365 by 183 metre mineralized zone (North Zone) centred approximately 200 metres south of the SCN property and extending into the southern part of the property. In 1966 chip sampling of disseminated chalcopyrite and bornite mineralization along northerly trending fracture zones in weakly argillite granodiorite near the contact with volcanic rock returned up to 0.66 per cent copper over 13 metres (Assessment Report 900).
It was not until the 1980s that an area of “consistent copper mineralization” was documented at LaCasse by Teck Corporation (Assessment Reports 6939, 7869). Rock chip samples from within this zone included numerous samples with grades of 0.5-3.15 per cent copper (Assessment Report 35967.
Paget Resource Corporation conducted two very small programs on their property (Assessment Reports 28031 and 28848). In 2005, a one-day program by Paget consisted of reconnaissance mapping and sampling (5 rock samples) and followed up in 2006 by collecting a total of 24 rock samples. Their work resulted in the documentation of the Schaft Creek North MINFILE occurrence, which was just south of tenure 517462 belonging to J.B Kreft and C.J. Greig in the early-mid 2000s (Assessment Report 30682). This tenure and the extensive Great Kopper claim both owned by Kreft and Greig, along with the surrounding claims of Paget Resources were transferred/optioned to Copper Fox Metals in 2011. See Late (104G 063) for overlapping documentation. Assessment Report 30682 further discusses the area of Schaft Creek North mineralization.
In 2012, Copper Fox Metals Inc continued exploring extensions and testing geophysical anomalies at the Schaft Creek project. The Titan-24 DC/IP/MT surveyed over an area extending from the north end of the Paramount zone through the Mike zone and to the ES zone a distance of 3.0 kilometres and a limited portion 800 metres long of the GK zone (Figures 12 to 15, Assessment Report 33938). The chargeability anomaly in the Mike Zone has been extended 600 metres to the north and has a width between 500 to 600 metres. The total length of the Mike chargeability anomaly was about 1200 metres (Figure 8, Assessment Report 33938).
In July 2013, Teck and Copper Fox formed the Schaft Creek Joint Venture, with Teck resuming as the project operator. Subsequent to the formation of this joint venture, Teck completed a program of 9 drill holes totalling 3,453 metres in 2013 at Discovery (104G 030), Mike (104G 031), and Paramount (104G 032). During 2013 and 2014, Teck also completed regional geological mapping, relogging of historical core, geological modeling, and an airborne geophysical survey. In 2013, 7 holes were drilled on the Paramount, one hole (SCK-13-431) was designed as an initial test of the Mike target area and one hole (SCK-13-436) was drilled on the Discovery zone to the northwest.
In 2015, the Schaft Creek exploration program consisted of drilling, induced polarization (IP) and magnetometer surveys, rock sampling, soil sampling, geological mapping, surficial geological mapping, relogging of historical drill core, baseline surveys, archaeological assessment, and an update to the 3D geological model. The Teck drill program tested a new target called LaCasse, located approximately four kilometers north of the Schaft Creek deposit area. Drilling at LaCasse consisted of a five hole, 2634 metre program that was carried out with a helicopter-portable diamond drill.
