The Bob and Bert showing area is underlain by Early Jurassic Limpoke pluton, a two-phase stock with a biotite hornblende quartz monzonite outer phase and medium-grained hornblende monozodiorite inner phase. Leucocratic potassium feldspar megacrystic syenite dikes intrude the eastern and western borders of the pluton and surrounding Upper Triassic Stuhini Group sedimentary and volcanic rocks.
Locally, a steeply dipping north-south trending sheeted quartz vein system within an intensely potassically altered fine-grained rock. The original rock type is uncertain. Quartz veins, 1 to 30 millimetres wide contain variable amounts of pyrite and chalcopyrite are spaced 30 to 100 centimetres apart. Pyrite in amounts of up to 1 per cent with subordinate chalcopyrite occur in the quartz veins and as disseminations within the country rock. A chip sample across the main (Bob) zone returned 8.0 grams per tonne gold, 18.5 grams per tonne silver and 0.56 per cent copper across 2 metres (Assessment Report 27123). In 2004, an 8.0 metre chip sample returned 0.19 per cent copper and 0.23 gram per tonne gold. Previous drilling by Kennco returned values up to 8.1 grams per tonne gold and 0.56 per cent copper over 3.0 metres (Assessment Report 27765).
The Bert zone, located 165 metres to the northeast, consists of a 1 metre wide shear zone containing a narrow semi-massive sulphide zone. In 2004, a sample of the zone returned 2.4 per cent copper, 54 grams per tonne silver and 1.54 grams per tonne gold. Previous chip sampling of the zone returned 0.66 per cent copper and 0.89 gram per tonne gold over 12.4 metres (Assessment Report 27765).
Work History
In 1962, Kennco Explorations (western) Limited contracted an I.P. and Resistivity survey on the POKE prospect in the northwest corner of the present GOAT property (GOAT #4).
In 1980, Teck Explorations Limited carried out a geochemical soil sampling survey on the Limp prospect, close to the site of Kennco's work.
Also in 1980, DuPont of Canada Exploration Limited conducted a preliminary investigation of the TUFF prospect (Cave Creek Showing in Claim Group GOAT #10), by stream and soil geochemistry, prospecting and mapping. In 1981, DuPont continued with geological, geochemical and geophysical (VLF-EN and Nagnetometer) surveys of selected areas.
In 1988 Integrated Resources Limited collected 59 stream sediment samples and 51 rock samples on their Goat 1-11 claims (Assessment Report 18486). They also conducted 0.6 kilometre of ground magnetic and electromagnetic sruveying. Some of this work was concentrated on the “Cave Showing” which is the same showing as DuPont’s Tuff occurrence.
In 1989, Integrated Resources Ltd. continued the exploration of their Goat Claims with a program of prospecting, geological mapping and rock/silt geochemical sampling (Assessment Report 19439). During the course of this work, one silt sample and 141 rock samples were collected. Several mineralized quartz veins and shear zones were discovered. Most of these are narrow, less than 2 meters in width, and discontinuous. In the Upper Cave Creek area, several narrow quartz veins were sampled.
During 1989, Integrated Resources Ltd. also carried out a very limited reconnaissance exploration program, they collected 20 rock and 2 silt samples on their Target 1 claim. This is roughly the same area as the later (2003) Target 3 claim. Altered volcano-sedimentary rocks, containing quartz and calcite stockworks and veining, were reported to contain abundant disseminated pyrite, pyrrhotite, bornite, chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite. One grab sample returned 1.79 grams per tonne gold (Assessment Report 19232). Inegrated also carried out reconnaissance exploration on the Waterfall #1 claim consisting of prospecting and stream sediment sampling. They collected 1 silt sample and 27 rock samples (Assessment Report 19231).
The 1990 exploration program Integrated Resources Ltd. was the first, full-scale, comprehensive, reconnaissance-level operation completed on the Goat 4-11 property (Assessment Report 20988). A total of 104 silt, 100 soil, 330 rock and 48 core samples were collected for analysis. Additionally, a 110-meter diamond drill hole was completed. Previously detected high-grade showings were determined to comprise small sulphide pods enclosed within larger altered zones. A total of 15 geochemical/geological targets were defined by this work. The best target outlined in 1990 by Integrated Resources was the “Bob Showing” which is located just north of theTarget 2 claim (2002). A single diamond drill hole was drilled to test the “Bob Structure” but had to be abandoned 10 meters short of the targeted quartz stockwork zone because of poor drilling conditions. The wall rocks are highly anomalous in precious metals.
In 1990 Integrated Resources prospected the IR 3 and 4 claims and the G (Assessment Report 20810). Integrated collected 34 rock and 48 silt samples on the Goat 1 to 3 and IR 9 (Assessment Report 20809).
In early1990, Dryden Resource Corporation, entered into an option agreement with Integrated Resources Ltd. whereby Dryden could earn a 50 per cent interest in the Target #I, Waterfall #I, and IR #I ,2,5,6,7, and 8 claims. Dryden carried out an initial limited reconnaissance program on the Target #I claim, which resulted in the collection of 6 rock, 27 soil and 1 silt sample from the Target claim area (Assessment Report 20436 and 20437).
A subsequent (August-September 1990) program by Dryden, comprising prospecting, rock, soil and silt sampling and very low frequency (VLF) surveying, was carried. A total of 112 rock, 674 soil, 45 silt and 6 heavy-mineral concentrate samples were collected (Assessment Report 20725). The VLF survey was carried out over three soil contour lines. Several geochemical anomalies and showings were discovered in 1990. A massive sulphide vein hosts one occurrence, 3 are from quartz veins and 5 are derived from lenses of massive pyrrhotite-pyrite with minor chalcopyrite in the contact zone proximal to intrusive stocks. A total of 360 contour soil samples, 338 rock samples and one heavy mineral concentrate sample were collected from the Target #I, Waterfall #I and the adjoining IR #I claims. Most of the soil sample material collected was talus “fines”, all above the tree line. Within the previous Target #I claim, a gold-in-soil anomaly (greater than 200 ppb) occurs which is at least 900 meters long and 350 meters wide and is known as the South Target Gold Anomaly. A second gold-in-soil anomaly, referred to as the Central Target Gold Anomaly, is located immediately to the north of the South Target Gold Anomaly.
In 1992, further work by Dryden Resource Corporation identified the Barrington vein which yielded chip samples of up to 34.97 grams per tonne gold across 0.4 meters (Assessment Report 22710). In 1992, the vein was obscured by remaining snow patches but the structure that it occurred in was identifiable over a strike distance of 200 meters. During 1992 Dryden had crew of four on the property for a total of 34 man-days in the field. They collected 300 rock samples and 80 soil samples and conducted 3375 ha of mapping and prospecting (Assessment Report 22710). Claims included IR 1-2, IR 5-8, Target and Waterfall.
By 2004, Canadian Empire Exploration Corp. had optioned a total of 101 units in 8 claims (2525 ha), from Dan Ethier. These included the Poke and Bob 1 to 7. Canadian Empire collected a total of 55 rock samples from the various surface showings concentrating predominately on the Discovery, Zamba and Spike Showings (Assessment Report 27765). Also see report by Rod Kirkham in Appendix III.
In 2014, Divitiae Resources spent 2 weeks on its Big Red property which covered the folllowing mineral occurrences: 104G 001 (Poke Showing), 104G 002 (Gordon Showing), 104G 024 (New Limpoke), 104G 121 (TUFF), 104G 206 (TGR (North), 104G 207 (TGR Vein), 104G 208 (Barrington Vein), 104G 209 (Upper Cave Creek),104G 210 (West Grid), 104G 211 (Northe Barrington), 104G 212 (Target 4), 104G 213 (Boundary Vein), 104G 214, (Terry Creek),104G 215 (Jimmie), 104G 216 (Bob), 104G 217 (Zamba), 104G 218 (Spike, Waterfall), 104G 230 (GRAN 16). Divitiae collected 12 rock samples in the southern portion of the property. Selective samples ran above 1 per cent copper.
By 2017, Divitiae had expanded their Big Red claim group extending it 5 kilometres more to the west, covering the Poker (104G 149) occurrence as well as the previous 18 that were covered. Divitiae changed the property name from Big Red to River of Gold and undertook an airborne magnetic and radiometric survey in late September that covered all of the River of Gold claims totalling 536 line-kilometres. In October of 2017, preliminary prospecting was completed on high probability anomalies generated by previous ASTER analysis, and the new airborne geophysics. At this time 64 rock samples were collected. Work on the northern portion of the property failed to find any samples to be assayed. The complete airborne geophysical survey report is attached as an appendix within Assessment Report 36930. The Bob showing covered by the magnetic and radiometric survery.
Results of the ASTER survey are as follows. Four high probability clusters of phyllic alteration occur across the River of Gold claim block. Two clusters are coincident with high probability propylitic alteration and one is coincident with both propylitic and silica alteration. Several clusters of high probability iron oxide alteration occur throughout the River of Gold claims and indicate potential for gossan development. Advanced argillic and argillic alteration data suggests elevated clay formation surrounding a central zone of coincident phyllic-propylitic alteration in the centre of the River of Gold claim block. Similar elevated clay abundance occurs about 4 kilometres to the southeast of the central phyllic target on the property. Layer-stacking of phyllic, argillic and propylitic alteration maps have helped identify areas in which coincident hydrothermal alteration may be present. This resulted in two such target areas being found. A 600 metre diameter broadly circular zone of weak propylitic and phyllic alteration enclosed by weak argillic alteration is located within the NE portion of the River of Gold claims. Company interpretation of the zonation that was evident suggested a high-level porphyry system. A second anomalous zone occurs in the central portion of the River of Gold claims where coincident phyllic-propylitic alteration is enclosed by argillic alteration.
In 2019 and 2020, Libero Copper and Gold Corp. completed programs of geological mapping; geochemical (rock, soil and talus fines) sampling; a 549 line-kilometre airborne electromagnetic (ZTEM) survey; three diamond drill holes, totalling 610.0 metres, and 24 reverse-circulation drill holes, totalling 3527.5 metres, on the area as the Big Red property.
