The Cutty Sark zone occurs within andesitic volcanic rocks or sedimentary rocks of the Upper Triassic Stuhini Group, a few hundred metres northwest of the Thorn Stock, a stock of feldspar porphyry related to the Late Cretaceous Windy Table Complex.

The Cutty Sark zone is located furthest north of the three gossanous La Jaune Creek zones examined in 2004 and is significantly different than the nearby Balvenie (104K 131) or Cragganmore (104K 132) zones. It comprises three main lenses of semi-massive to massive coarse-grained pyrite and silica that appear to be hosted by Stuhini Group andesitic volcanic rocks or sedimentary rocks. The lenses are generally layer-concordant and are up to 60 centimetres wide with approximately 15 metres of strike length exposed. Host rocks are typically strongly sericite and clay altered. Despite containing up to 75 per cent of pyrite, samples from the Cutty Sark zone yielded low precious or base metal values. In 2005, drill hole 05-39 intersected 0.9 metre grading 0.38 gram per tonne gold, 1.80 gram per tonne silver, 0.92 per cent copper and 0.004 per cent zinc; a 4 metre drill interval from the same hole graded 0.03 grams per tonne gold, 1.2 grams per tonne silver 0.05 per cent copper and 0.11 per cent zinc (Assessment Report 28151).

The Cutty Sark pyritic zones generally dip shallowly (about 30 degrees) and strike NNE. This orientation of the zone is very different from that of the typical high sulphidation vein systems on the property and, given the low grades and the lack of sulphides other than pyrite, property geologist suggested that the Cutty Sark Zone may not be related to the high sulphidation vein systems hosted within the Thorn Stock.

Work History

In 2004, Cangold Limited and owner Rimfire Minerals conducted exploration programs on the A, B, K, L, D Tamdhu, Balvenie, Cutty Sark, Cragganmore, Outlaw, Oban and Talisker zones (Assessment Report 27673). They collected 73 silts; 452 soils and 129 rock samples; conducted 31.1 line-kilometres of IP and 7.5 line-keilometres of HLEM and; drilled 12 diamond drillholes totalling 1810 metres; 5 on the Oban, 1 on the Talisker, 1 on the Tamdhu, 1 on the MP Vein, 2 on the B zone, 1 on the South Grid and 1 on the F zone.

In 2005, Cangold and Rimfire conducted exploration programs on the Cragganmore, Talisker, Balvenie, Cutty Sark and Outlaw (Assessment Report 28151). They collected 50 silt, 350 soil and 391 rock samples; conducted 17.4 line-kilometres of IP/Resistivity and; drilled 656 metres in 5 diamond drillholes. Two holes were drilled on the Cutty Sark, 2 on the Talisker and 1 on the Balvenie.

The Cutty Sark pyritic zones generally dip shallowly (about 30 degrees) and strike north-northeast. This orientation of the zone is very different from that of the typical high sulphidation vein systems on the property and, given the low grades and the lack of sulphides other than pyrite, property geologist suggested that the Cutty Sark Zone may not be related to the high sulphidation vein systems hosted within the Thorn Stock.