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File Created: 10-Aug-1998 by Garry J. Payie (GJP)
Last Edit:  13-Nov-2020 by Garry J. Payie (GJP)

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NMI
Name NORTH ROK, MABON, B5, ROSE OF KLAPPAN Mining Division Liard
BCGS Map 104H081
Status Developed Prospect NTS Map 104H13W
Latitude 057º 48' 54'' UTM 09 (NAD 83)
Longitude 129º 56' 26'' Northing 6408502
Easting 444119
Commodities Copper, Gold Deposit Types L04 : Porphyry Cu +/- Mo +/- Au
Tectonic Belt Intermontane Terrane Stikine, Plutonic Rocks
Capsule Geology

The North ROK prospect (also called the Mabon) lies on the northwestern flank of Ehahcezetle Mountain, just south of Mabon Creek, approximately 3.5 kilometres southeast of the village of Iskut.

The developed prospect is in the northeast part of the Stikine Arch, within the Stikine terrane. Rocks in the area have been subdivided into the Late Paleozoic Stikine assemblage, Late Triassic Stuhini group, and early to Middle Jurassic Hazelton group. These are intruded by varying suites of intrusive rocks, commonly Late Triassic to Early Jurassic in age (Assessment Report 35137).

In the area of the prospect, Lower Jurassic to Upper Triassic volcanic and epiclastic rocks are characterized by mafic to intermediate crystal and lithic tuffs, mafic fragmental rocks, felsic flows, and monolithologic mafic fragmental to intermediate ash tuffs. Upper Triassic intrusions include the dominant ‘main’ phase, a fine-grained monzodiorite (Mabon Stock), dated at 215.8 +/- 3 million years (U-Pb on Zircon). Volumetrically lesser intrusive rocks include melanophase monzodiorite, hornblende and plagioclase phyric monzodiorite, in addition to Middle Jurassic felsic dikes and plagioclase porphyritic monzodiorite rocks (Assessment report 35137).

Rocks in the area are affected by large scale open folding or warping and significant high-angle brittle faulting. The most significant fault is the northwest striking Mabon/Hoodoo Creek fault, which appears to have dissected the ROK volcanic centre on adjoining ground to the southeast. It is speculated that the fault is a normal, right-lateral fault with 2 to 4 kilometres of displacement and as much as 1000 metres down-throw to the northeast (Assessment Report 35137).

Extensive exploration in 2012 through 2014 by Colorado Resources Ltd. demonstrated there are two principal styles of mineralization. Within the main monzodiorite intrusion, chalcopyrite occurs as fine-grained disseminations and aggregates associated with hydrothermal magnetite, secondary feldspars, actinolite, and chlorite. The highest copper and gold grades are spatially related to both hydrothermal breccias and sheeted grey quartz veins. Approximately 90 per cent of the copper and gold mineralization is hosted internal to the Mabon Stock. Additionally, copper and gold mineralization is locally developed a few tens of metres into the strongly biotite hornfelsed volcaniclastic rocks where mineralization has a stronger affinity for a quartz-pyrite-chlorite +/- epidote assemblage (Assessment Report 35137).

Well defined zoned hydrothermal and contact metamorphic alteration assemblages are noted at Mabon. Alteration zones from potassic to quartz-sericite-pyrite to epidote to chlorite. Well-developed biotite hornfels is documented along the northeast flank of the Mabon Stock (Assessment Report 35137).

A sample of gossanous quartz-sericite-pyrite altered rock with 5 to 10 per cent fine disseminated pyrite was taken by members of the British Columbia Geological Survey in 1994. The sample assayed 0.42 gram per tonne gold and 0.33 per cent copper (Open File 1997-3, Table 1 (Sample B5) (Field No. CAS94-193)). This alteration type is typically hosted by andesitic volcanic breccia of the Lower Jurassic Hazelton Group.

In late 2009, Brett Resources Inc. staked the Mabon showing as the North ROK claim group and then in mid-2010 carried out a reconnaissance-style program to test for possible extensions of the Rok-Coyote copper-gold system (MINFILE 104H 001, 104H 012, 104H 024). The program included silt sampling of creek drainages, prospecting and rock sampling of colour anomalies and known copper showings and occurrences and systematic rock chip sampling along elevation contour lines over the Edon stock and across the Plateau occurrence (MINFILE 104H 034).

In 2010, three rock grabs of quartz-sericite-albite-pyrite altered andesite breccias yielded elevated and anomalous values in copper, gold and molybdenum including 960, 2713 and 2885 parts per million copper; 381, 486 and 1240 parts per billion gold; and 12.7, 18 and 43.9 parts per million molybdenum (Assessment Report 31817).

In 2012, Colorado Resources Ltd. conducted a ground magnetometer survey, an Induced Polarization geophysical survey, soil sampling and detailed prospecting.

In 2013, Colorado Resources Ltd. conducted a significant exploration program including geological mapping, ground and airborne geophysical surveying, soil and rock sampling, and diamond drilling. In 2013, a total of 29 holes were drilled for a total of 11,445 metres. Highlights from the drill program include 333 metres grading 0.51 per cent copper and 0.67 gram per tonne gold (NR13-001; from 2 metres downhole depth); 205.2 metres grading 0.40 per cent copper and 0.50 gram per tonne gold (NR13-004; from 158.8 metres downhole depth); and 131.2 metres grading 0.39 per cent copper and 0.56 gram per tonnes gold (NR13-028; from 4 metres downhole depth) (Assessment Report 34417).

Based on the 2013 drill program, a National Instrument 43-101 compliant Inferred mineral resource was estimated in early 2014 of 142.3 million tonnes at 0.22 per cent copper and 0.26 gram per tonne gold (using a copper equivalent cut-off of 0.20 per cent) (Colorado Resources Press Release January 27, 2014).

In 2014, Colorado Resources conducted additional ground geophysical surveying and completed 5 diamond drill holes for a total of 2191 metres. The drill program followed recommendations set out in the National Instrument 43-101 technical report to target expansion of the known inferred resources and to test additional geophysical anomalies. The drill program succeeded in intersecting new mineralized zones at the West Mabon Zone (drill hole NR14-031), demonstrated significant depth potential and continuity of copper and gold mineralization (drill hole NR14-034), and defined the broad, deep-scale geometry and controls on the mineralized zones. Highlights from the 2014 drill program include 80.5 metres grading 0.442 per cent copper and 0.124 gram per tonne gold (NR14-031; from 308.5 metres downhole depth) and 199 metres grading 0.210 per cent copper and 0.416 gram per tonne gold (NR14-034; from 379.5 metres downhole depth) (Assessment Report 35137).

In 2017 Colorado Resources undertook geological mapping, prospecting, soil sampling (2,208) and rock sampling (159) program on the central and southern portions of the North ROK property. Geological mapping was accomplished over approximately 9 square kilometres. Compilation and interpretation of historic IP and magnetic data was also completed. All these programs were conducted on portions of the North ROK claims acquired from Firesteel Resources Inc. (formerly ROK-Coyote - see March 13, 2017 press release) and not covered by exploration programs conducted by Colorado Resources between 2012 and 2014. In addition, a six-hole (2,529 metres) diamond drill program was completed, to test mineral potential down dip from 2013 and 2014 North ROK drill intersections and to test mineral potential southwest of previously outlined zones. Outcomes of these programs were (Assessment Report 37578):

Highly anomalous areas of greater than 50 parts per billion gold and greater than 200 parts per million copper in soil and talus fines with strike lengths greater than 7.5 kilometres and widths up to 1500 metres. Anomalies had an association with fine-grained plagioclase phyric monzonites and monzodiorites, associations with contacts between intrusions and Hazelton volcanic rocks, and a preferred association with thin, laterally persistent carbonate units. Plotting up the historic and recent soil geochemical data (greater than 9,000 samples), has highlighted 7 anomalous areas with greater than 200 parts per million copper plus elevated gold in soils. The greater than 200 parts per million copper in soils anomalies and the distribution of gold and copper in rock samples characterize a 9-kilometre-long favourable copper and gold mineralized trend.

The areas are:

• Mabon Area at North ROK (MINFILE 104H035)

• Edon Area (1.5 kilometres to the southeast of Mabon) (MINFILE 104H 004)

• Silver Standard Area (3.0 kilometres to the southeast of Mabon)

• West Area (4.25 kilometres to the southeast of Mabon) (MINFILE 104H 002)

• MFJ Area (4.25 kilometres to the east-southeast of Mabon) (MINFILE 104H 001)

• South Area (6.5 kilometres to the east-southeast of Mabon) (MINFILE 104H 006)

• O.K. Area (6.5 kilometres to the east-southeast of Mabon).

IP data compilation indicates that the 20 mV/V chargeability contour outlines the Mabon stock as well as coarse fragmental rocks of the Hazelton Group. Magnetic data compilation is generally discontinuous and better tracks portions of known mineralized zones, compared to the IP data. Both Hazelton and Stuhini supracrustal units have significantly enhanced magnetic signatures. Highly magnetic intrusive and supracrustal units convert to magnetic lows proximal to faults, suggesting that the faults are magnetite destructive.

Geological mapping extended the Mabon monzodiorite stock for approximately 2000 metres south towards the Silver Standard and West occurrences. The Mabon stock hosts an inferred resource of 142.3 million tonnes of 0.22 per cent copper and 0.26 gram per tonne gold (Colorado Resources Press Release January 27, 2014). Prospecting, rock, and soil sampling at the Mabon Stock extensions are also locally gold and copper mineralized and the stock may have enhanced copper-gold mineralization along its northeastern contact, proximal to the Mabon Creek Fault (MCF). The MCF places younger hematitic Hazelton volcanic and tuffaceous rocks against older Stuhini mafic volcanic rocks and small plugs and dikes of the Edon stock locally cut the fault. This suggests that the MCF predates mineralization and may act as a control on copper-gold distribution (Assessment Report 37578).

Geological observations and supporting 2017 programs suggest three styles of copper-gold mineralization at North ROK:

1. Porphyry copper-gold mineralization associated with fine-grained plagioclase phyric Upper Triassic-Jurassic intrusions (e.g. Mabon, Silver Standard and West).

2. Copper ± gold mineralization associated with calc-silicate skarns hosted by thin, laterally persistent limestone and limy shale intravolcanic units (e.g. Hi occurrence).

3. Disseminated and fracture-controlled mineralization is preferentially developed in coarse-grained, locally hematitic mafic fragmental rocks of the Hazelton Group.

Geological mapping and subsequent 2017 drill testing refined characteristics of the Mabon Zone, where mineralization is predominantly hosted in portions of an elongate 5000 by 1000 metres fine-grained, quartz-deficient plagioclase phyric monzodiorite intrusion (Mabon Stock).

The Mabon Stock and enclosing volcanic rocks host a well defined, strongly zoned hydrothermal and contact metamorphic alteration assemblage. Alteration zones range from high temperature potassic alteration, through quartz-pyrite (phyllic), to low temperature epidote-chlorite, Copper and gold mineralization, as disseminated and vein-hosted chalcopyrite, has been defined by drilling over a strike length of 1000 metres at the Mabon Zone.

The Mabon stock has been U-Pb dated at 215.8 ± 3 Ma with the timing of mineralization based on Re-Os dates at 207.2 ± 0.9 Ma. This suggests that the timing of mineralization is similar to Red Chris (203.8 Ma), and forms part of a Triassic intrusive related mineralizing event within the Iskut area. Geochronological data indicate that the Mabon stock intrudes either the Lower Hazelton volcanic rocks or rocks of the Upper Triassic, near the Hazelton-Stuhini unconformity (Assessment Report 37578).

The 2017 diamond drill (NQ core) program demonstrated the following (Assessment Report 37578):

1. The expansion of the 2014 inferred North ROK resource will likely occur. DDH NR 17-035 results indicate that strong cooper-gold intersections may exist up to 350 vertical metres below 2013 drill hole traces: NR 17-035: 54.0 metres of 0.61 gram per tonne gold and 0.22 per cent copper (329.4 to 383.4 metres) and 187.9 metres of 0.41 gram per tonne gold and 0.32 per cent copper (443.8 to 631.7 metres).

2. The potential exists for deeper intersections to have sufficient gold-copper values to support underground mining scenarios: NR 17-035: 30 metres of 1.38 grams per tonne gold and 0.36 per cent copper (447.4 to 477.4 metres).

3. The geometry of the North ROK copper-gold mineralized zones may diverge from previously proposed highly planar intrusive and structural model, as DDH NR 17-038 intersected 130.4 metres of 0.33 gram per tonne gold and 0.17 per cent copper (490.0 to 620.4 metres) in a volume of monzonite where previous drilling had suggested to be non-mineralized.

4. A second mineralized zone likely exists significantly to the southwest of the 2014 inferred resource area. DDH NR 17-037: 18.3 metres of 0.42 gram per tonne gold and 0.10 per cent copper (2.7 to 21.0 metres). This drill hole may represent an up-dip extension of a mineralized zone cored earlier in DDH NR 14-031.

In 2020, Colorado Resources announced a change of name to “QuestEx Gold & Copper Ltd.” effective September 28, 2020.

Bibliography
EMPR ASS RPT *31817, 33541, *34417, *35137, 37578
EMPR FIELDWORK 1976, pp. 71-73; 1994, pp. 343-358; 1995, pp. 155-174; 1996, pp. 283-290,291-297
EMPR OF 1992-1; 1992-3; 1996-4; *1997-3
EMPR PFD 681654
GSC MAP 1957-9
GSC OF 1005; 1080; 2241
PR REL Colorado Resources Ltd. Apr.*25, Jun.6,12, Aug.*28, Oct.*1, 2013; Dec 5, 2013; Jan.*27, Mar.*12, 2014; Jul.8, 2014; Mar.13, Nov.21, 2017; Jan.*18, 2018; Sep.16, 2020
Giroux, G., Rebagliati, M. (2014-03-12): NI 43-101 Technical Report on the North ROK Copper-Gold Project

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