The McDame Belle occurrence is located along McDame Creek approximately 15 kilometres east of the town site of Cassiar, 100 kilometres north of the community of Dease Lake.
McDame Creek Canyon cuts through a Lower Cambrian succession of Atan Group limestones, dolomites and minor quartzite and argillite, which strikes 125 degrees and dips 55 degrees southwest. The canyon follows a northeast trending, steeply dipping fault zone, which is cut by northwest-striking faults. Several mineralized skarn zones occur along the creek. A total of eight showings are known to occur in the canyon occupied by McDame Creek and all are interpreted to be the result of a skarn mineralizing event distantly related to intrusions in the area (Assessment Report 25545).
The Caribou zone is 9 metres wide, striking 100 degrees and dipping 75 degrees south. Mineralization consisting of galena, sphalerite, pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, and minor hematite and scheelite, occurs as massive lenses conformable to bedding, as disseminations in footwall garnet diopside skarn zones, and as crosscutting fracture fillings; scapolite has also been noted. This is both the largest and the most intensely explored of all the showings. The eastern margin has been inadequately defined by a 0.7 metre thick intersection of ‘sub-economic’ mineralization. To the west and at depth, mineralization remains open. At present (ca. 1998) the strike length has been defined as over 61 metres.
The East Caribou zone mineralization closely resembles the main Caribou zone. Galena-sphalerite-pyrite-chalcopyrite occurs in limestone along the contacts of three narrow argillite beds which are bounded on both sides by dolomite. The sulphides occur parallel to bedding as massive lenses up to 15 centimetres wide over a stratigraphic interval of 6 metres. The best assay came from a 1.l metre section of argillite which contained 12.17 per cent lead, 4.33 per cent zinc, 2.34 per cent copper and 32.5 grams per tonne silver.
The West Caribou zone is located on the north side of McDame Creek and consists of sporadic mineralization for a length of 50 metres. Trenches have exposed both ends of this showing, but are now extensively sloughed in (ca. 1998). Small veins containing chalcopyrite, pyrite, galena and sphalerite occur parallel to bedding in a zone greater than 5 metres wide. The hostrocks are two narrow argillite beds which are separated by limestone and bounded by dolomite. Stratigraphic similarities suggest that this zone may be the faulted extension of the East Caribou zone. Samples reported in 1963 yielded 0.60 per cent copper, 6.46 per cent lead, 0.25 per cent zinc and 274 grams per tonne silver across 0.6 metre.
The North Creek Vein occurs directly across McDame Creek to the west of the Caribou zone. The mineralization consists of an irregular sphalerite-galena-pyrite-chalcopyrite vein and a small stockwork-like zone of galena veinlets (less than 1 centimetre wide). Assays of samples taken in 1984 from the massive sulphide vein produced values of 2.69 per cent copper, 1.27 per cent lead, 4.75 per cent zinc and 238 grams per tonne silver over 20 centimetres. The best assay intersection produced by sampling in 1963 was 17.87 per cent lead, 9.60 per cent zinc, 4.50 per cent copper and 610 grams per tonne silver over 40 centimetres. A second showing consisting of a small (less than 5 centimetres thick) vein of massive pyrite-sphalerite-galena-chalcopyrite occurs approximately 50 metres southwest of the North Creek zone. This vein occurs in a shear zone which is oriented 160 degrees, dipping 45 degrees west and is hosted in dolomite. Grab samples taken in 1963 yielded 24.08 per cent lead, 3.01 per cent zinc, 7.94 per cent copper and 113 grams per tonne silver.
The Canyon Top zone is represented by two trenches which are now sloughed in (ca. 1998). Diamond drilling in 1965 intersected zones containing disseminated pyrite-galena-sphalerite-chalcopyrite.
The Yellowjack zone, near the head of the canyon, is localized along a fault zone 180 metres long and as wide as 15 metres, striking 160 to 180 degrees and dipping 70 to 80 degrees west. Mineralization extends on the surface over a length of 12 metres and a width of 3 metres and has been drilled to a depth of 52 metres.
The South Yellowjack zone consists of a 60 centimetres thick band of massive sulphides, oriented at 095 degrees azimuth, dipping 75 degrees south and subparallel to bedding. Pyrrhotite is the dominant sulphide comprising up to 70 per cent of the rock. Towards the footwall, l-3 centimetre thick bands of pyrite-sphalerite parallel the mineralization. The footwall contact contains skarn mineralization within the enclosing dolomites. The hangingwall contact is diffuse, grading through a 50 centimetre thick zone of siliceous rock containing veins of pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and vuggy quartz. Between this zone and the North Yellowjack zone, 15 drillholes were attempted of which 11 were completed, with 8 intersecting significant mineralization (ca. 1998). The best intersection contained values of 430 grams per tonne silver, 11.75 per cent lead, 7.25 per cent zinc, 0.30 per cent copper and 0.47 per cent bismuth over 1.6 metres. From the drilling, approximately 5442 tonnes of material with a grade similar to the Caribou zone were outlined in 1965.
The North Yellowjack zone is located midway between the South Yellowjack Zone and the Canyon Top zone, and is believed to represent mineralization which is continuous between these zones. The mineralization consists of disseminated and veined galena, sphalerite, pyrite and chalcopyrite which is hosted in dolomite. In 1965, an average of surface assays yielded 96.0 grams per tonne silver, 1.20 per cent lead, 0.25 per cent zinc and 0.12 per cent copper over a length of 12.2 metres and a width of 3.2 metres. Examination of this zone indicates the mineralization is very spotty and highly oxidized.
The China Vein consists of a small pyrrhotite-pyrite-galena vein located on the south side of McDame Creek, 800 metres northeast of the Caribou zone. Although not continuous, this vein can be traced for a distance of 40 metres along strike and has a maximum width of 1.0 metre. A northerly trending fault truncates the southeastern end of this vein with the northwestern end obscured by overburden. For the most part, this vein is parallel to bedding (116 degrees azimuth/75 degrees south dip) with splays at a limestone-dolomite contact in some places. An assay sample taken in 1965 yielded 67.0 grams per tonne silver, 0.70 per cent lead, 0.23 per cent zinc and 10.3 grams per tonne gold.
It is postulated that the Caribou zone represents the central facies of skarn mineralization, and that the Caribou, Yellowjack, and Canyon Top zones were contiguous and have been offset by movement on the McDame Creek fault. As well, the China and North Creek veins were once in close proximity and represent veins distal to the central skarn facies.
In 1965, indicated reserves for the Caribou zone were 27,210 tonnes grading 294.81 grams per tonne silver, 3.6 per cent lead, 3.0 per cent zinc and 0.35 per cent copper. For the Yellowjack zone, unclassified reserves were 5442 tonnes grading 257.10 grams per tonne silver, 4.2 per cent lead, 1.2 per cent zinc and 0.2 per cent copper (Minister of Mines Annual Report 1965, pages 14, 15).
In 1966, 0.907 tonnes of ore was mined with production of 1244 grams silver, 148 kilograms lead and 104 kilograms zinc.
The earliest recorded work on the property was in 1901 when at that time the area covering the Caribou zone was known as the Three Square and McDame Belle claims. The work consisted of driving nine metres of adit and collecting 18 samples. Other showings mentioned in the 1901 Minister of Mines Annual Report include the Applejack, McDame and Ruby Silver. According to Fawley (1965) ‘These veins have not all been re-located, although they are believed to be on ground now held by Ventures Mining Limited”. In 1953, the property was examined by W.N. Plumb, who sampled a number of showings for gold, silver, tungsten, lead and zinc. At that time the claims were held by John Bartle of Good Hope Lake and were known as the Bartle Claim Group. In 1957, the property was evaluated by C.J. Coulson, representing Riverridge Mines Limited. Additional assay samples were collected and a geological sketch map was made, however, after some consideration it was decided not to option the property. In 1963, Ventures Mining Limited optioned the property and work through to 1965 comprised over 1800 metres of diamond drilling along with detailed geological mapping, line cutting, electromagnetic (EM) survey and trenching. Further work was recommended but the option was terminated. In 1979, the Bad Bear claim block was acquired by Colony Pacific Explorations Limited through staking. In 1980, a compilation report was prepared by L. Sookochoff and as a result of this report a limited program consisting of soil sampling and geophysics (magnetometer and VLF-EM) was carried out in the same year. In 1984, the Bad Bear 3 claim block was staked to cover the possible extension of the McDame Creek fault. During 1984, a limited exploration program was carried out on the Bad Bear claim group by Colony Pacific. The work consisted of an examination of the known showings in the canyon of McDame Creek, plus a detailed soil geochemistry survey over an area known to contain high-grade float. In total, 71 soil samples, 3 silt samples and 11 rock chip samples were collected and analyzed. In 1996, KRL Resources Corp. conducted a high sensitivity airborne magnetic and VLF-EM survey over the property. In 1998, work conducted by KRL Resources Corp. consisted of 9.5 kilometres of flagged gridline establishment and a ground magnetics survey totalling 9.5 kilometres.
