The Atan (North) occurrence is located west of Atan Lake, approximately 600 metres northwest of the west end of Atan Lake and 98 kilometres north of the community of Dease Lake.

Regionally, the area is underlain by quartz arenite sedimentary rocks of the Boya Formation and calcareous sedimentary rocks of the Rosella Formation, both of the Lower Cambrian Atan Group, which strike 120 to 135 degrees and dip 45 to 60 degrees southwest. Northeast-trending faults are common. To the southwest limestone, slate, siltstone and argillite of the Cambrian to Ordovician Kechika Group are exposed.

Locally, trenching and drilling on a limestone-dolomite horizon have encountered barite lenses with knots of galena and minor chalcocite, tetrahedrite and chalcopyrite. On the North zone a trench is reported to have identified a tabular body of barite 12 metres long, approximately 1 metre wide and exposed for a depth of approximately 1.5 metres with a steep northward dip, whereas two drillholes (73-4 and 77-5) intercepted a 1- to 3-metre thick tabular barite body lying parallel to bedding with a dip of 45 degrees southwest at depths of 5 to 10 metres below surface over a strike length of 20 metres. Drilling elsewhere in the occurrence area has intersected bands of stratiform sphalerite.

In 1973, diamond drilling is reported to have yielded intercepts including 3.07 per cent zinc over 3.4 metres (49.5 to 52.9 metres downhole) in hole 73-1 and 3.40 per cent zinc over 0.75 metre (58.80 to 59.55 metres downhole) in hole 73-3 (Assessment Report 6438).

In 1977, drillhole 77-1 targeted the 1973 73-1 drillhole intercept and intersected sphalerite in chert brecciated and healed with white dolomite yielding 1.32 per cent zinc in a 1.8-metre core length (Assessment Report 6438).

In 1994, a chip sample (AR-94 022) from an outcrop of dolomite and barite with azurite and malachite assayed greater than 1.00 per cent lead, whereas a nearby float sample (AR-94 023) of dolomite and barite hosting sulphides (chalcopyrite?) assayed 0.11 per cent zinc, 1.51 per cent copper and greater than 50 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 23813).

In 2016, a rock sample (AT-1) of barite from a historical trench assayed 96.28 barium sulfate and greater than 1.00 per cent barium (Assessment Report 36244).

Work History

In 1968, greater than 19 line-kilometres of geochemical (163 soil samples) and geophysical (self potential, resistivity, induced polarization) surveys were completed on behalf of Tournigan Mining and Explorations Ltd. The following year, a program of bulldozer trenching was completed. In 1973, 35 line-kilometres of gravity surveying and at least four diamond drill holes were completed by Tournigan Mining Explorations Ltd. In 1976, Imperial Oil Limited drilled at least two holes, totalling 299 metres. No assays were reported. In 1977, Tournigan Mining Explorations Ltd. conducted a general geological investigation and 305 metres of diamond drilling in five holes.

In 1994, Discovery Consultants completed a program of geological mapping and geochemical (rock and soil) sampling on the area as the Atan 1-8 claims. In 1999, Discovery Consultants completed a further program of soil sampling on the Atan claims.

In 2016, Fireside Minerals Ltd. completed a minor program of geological mapping and geochemical (rock and soil) sampling on the area.