The Mack occurrence is located southwest of the junction of Troutline and Quartzrock creeks, approximately 94 kilometres north of the community of Dease Lake.
The area is underlain by Upper Paleozoic Slide Mountain Complex greenstones with associated tuffaceous lenses. The greenstones were originally pillow lavas.
Locally, a series of subparallel, east-trending, vertical quartz veins outcrops over a strike length of approximately 300 metres. Quartz-ankerite-pyrite-mariposite alteration is extensive. Mineralization consists of pyrite, tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and gold. Arsenopyrite has also been reported. At least seven mineralized veins, referred to as the no.0 through 6, have been identified.
In 1984, diamond drilling on the veins is reported to have yielded intercepts of 4.1 grams per tonne gold over 0.6 metre in hole 84-6 on the no.1 vein; 6.2, 7.4 and 14.7 grams per tonne over 2.85, 3.45 and 3.00 metres in hole 84-4, 84-7 and 84-3, respectively, on the no.2 vein; 5.3 and 4.1 grams per tonne gold over 0.3 and 3.75 metres in holes 84-4 and 84-12, respectively, on the no.3 vein; 5.6 and 9.1 grams per tonne gold over 1.44 and 1.50 metres in holes 84-5 and 84-12, respectively, on the no.4 vein (Assessment Report 16777). Inferred reserves (1985) are estimated at 9072 tonnes grading 8.57 grams per tonne gold (George Cross News Letter No.13, 1985).
In 1987, drillhole 87-3 was drilled on the southernmost two veins (no. 3 and unknown veins) and yielded intercepts of 10.0 and 6.4 grams per tonne gold over 0.45 and 0.30 metre, respectively, whereas drillhole 87-1 on the no.0 vein yielded 8.3 grams per tonne gold over 0.9 metre (Assessment Report 16777). Also at this time, sampling of the veins from the developed decline yielded up to 25.4, 46.6, 2.6 and 5.5 grams per tonne gold over 1.5, 1.8, 1.5 and 1.5 metres on vein nos. 2, 3, 4 and 6, respectively (Assessment Report 16777).
The Northern Miner (March 28, 1988) reports a best assay for the No. 2 vein grading 27.90 grams per tonne gold over a 1.5 metre interval. This vein is in close proximity to the Mack showing.
More recent exploration results (post-1990) are reported in the nearby Taurus (MINFILE 104P 012) occurrence.
Work History
The original claims are reported to have been located in 1934 by G. Hope, who was a prospector and trapper as well as one of the earliest settlers in the area. In the 1930s, G. Hope erected a small stamp mill and drove an adit over 30 metres on a nearby vein, located near the west bank of Quartzrock Creek and approximately 350 metres southeast of the main (Plaza Mining) underground workings. He also prospected extensively, blasting numerous test pits and digging several bulldozer trenches.
In 1979, the area was prospected by Plaza Resources. In 1981, Plaza Mining Corporation took an option on the property. It conducted a geochemical soil survey, drilled 1482 metres in 21 holes, and drove a decline and three drifts underground totalling 340 metres. In 1984, Sable Resources Ltd. is reported to have drilled at least 13 diamond drill holes on the occurrence area. In 1987, Taurus Resources Ltd. completed three diamond drill holes on the area and developed a 153-metre decline.
More recent exploration programs, during the 1990s by Cyprus Canada Inc. and during the 2000s through 2020s by Cusac Gold Mines Ltd., Hawthorne Gold Corp. and later China Minerals Mining Corporation, identified and centred on the 88 Hill, Plaza and Sable zones. For a complete description of these zones and exploration history refer to the Taurus (MINIFLE 104P 012) occurrence.
