The Potlatch showing is located on the northeast side of Tulsequah River, approximately 5 kilometres upstream from the confluence of Tulsequah and Taku rivers. It is approximately 100 kilometres south of Atlin, B.C. and 167 kilometres northwest of Telegraph Creek, B.C.
The area is underlain by the Upper Triassic Stuhini Group volcanics comprised mainly of andesitic to basaltic flows, volcanic breccia and agglomerate with lapilli tuff, volcanic sandstone, greywacke, and siltstone.
The Potlatch (Sparling) occurrence is underlain by Stuhini volcanics which have undergone sericite-mariposite-silica-carbonate and retrograde clay alteration. The main rock type is described as pyroxene porphyry andesite flows which exhibits the above alteration mineral assemblage. Trenching over an area of 420 by 200 metres has exposed galena and sphalerite mineralization with minor associated chalco- pyrite and pyrite along north-northwest trending stringers and veins ranging between 0.3 to 0.4 metres in width. This mineralization occurs within a knob of andesitic volcanics located to the west of a well-marked northwest striking draw which follows the surface trace of a two to three metre wide shear zone parallel to the Tulsequah Valley. The shear zone is exposed at surface over a strike length of approximately 200 metres.
In 1957, Cominco drilled three holes to test a wide zone of alteration along the northwest trending draw. Mineralization along a shear found directly below the draw assayed 0.34 grams per tonne gold, 24 grams per tonne silver, 0.1 per cent copper, and 0.2 per cent lead over 1.5 metres and 0.68 grams per tonne gold, 27.4 grams per tonne silver, 0.1 per cent copper, and 0.1 per cent lead over 1.0 metres.
The drilling was localized at the intersection of northwest and north striking shears. This intersection showed strong sericite- quartz-mariposite alteration assemblages. The sheared and sericitic portions are more pyritic closer to the main draw. The host rock for the mineralization is andesite which shows local development of coarse hornblende.
In 1983, a 0.3 metre sample from the bottom of a 6.0 metre shaft assayed 0.219 grams per tonne gold, 274.3 grams per tonne silver, 0.78 per cent lead, and 0.63 per cent zinc. Another 0.4 metre sample from a mineralized vein assayed 0.549 grams per tonne gold, 98.7 grams per tonne silver, 1.79 per cent lead, and 0.97 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 12707).
The 1987 program consisted of field work carried out by Cominco under agreement with Silver Talon Mines. The program included detailed geological mapping of the Banker-Sparling (Potlatch) areas, a northward extension of the soil grid, detailed mapping and sampling of the Banker trenches, systematic sampling of the Sparling (Potlatch) trenches, and contour geochemical sampling of the felsic volcanics to the east of the Sparling (Potlatch) showing. The Sparling (Potlatch) showing, though yielding spectacular samples, appears narrow and discontinuous (Assessment Report 16570).
In 1993, Redfern Resources Ltd. conducted mapping and geophysical programs over much of the Tulsequah Chief property including the Potlatch (Sparling) showing (Assessment Report 23762).
In 2013, a re-processing of legacy magnetics and induced polarization data collected by previously for Redfern Resources in 1994 was done for Chieftan Metals Inc.. Two magnetic susceptibility physical property 3D models were produced, with the Tulsequah and Southeast grids modeled in one block, and the Banker, Big Bull and Big Bull extension in the other block. In the southern block, Potlatch/Banker/Big Bull area the gabbro has high magnetic susceptibility (Assessment Report 34358).
