General Information
Secondary Commodities: copper, gold, zinc, silver, lead
Aliases: Four Corners
Deposit Type(s): Volcanogenic Sulphide - type not determined
Location(s): 61.02 N, -130.051110 W
NTS Mapsheet(s): 105G01
Location Comments: .5 Kilometres
Hand Samples Available at YGS: No
Capsule
Work History
Staked as IC cl 1-28 (YB89707) in Aug/97 by Cominco Ltd. The claims were staked to cover airborne geophysical targets identified during a Cominco survey flown in 1995. The company carried out preliminary geological mapping and soil and silt sampling later in the year. In 1998 Cominco continued exploring the claims with special attention given to the area surrounding the IC Creek showing.
In Dec/2002 Strategic Metals Ltd staked 4C cl 1-438 (YC22680) in two large claim blocks; the first (West Block) located directly northwest and the second (East Block) located approximately 5 km southeast of this occurrence. In Jan/2003 Strategic Metals optioned a 50% interest in the claims to Firestone Ventures Inc which carried out a grassroots geological mapping, rock, soil and stream sediment sampling and prospecting program later in the year. In Feb/2004 Firestone Ventures terminated the option and returned the claims to Strategic Metals. In Dec/2004 Strategic Metals allowed the East Block of claims to lapse.
Restaked within 4C claims 439-450 (YC28800) in Jul/2005 by Strategic Metals which immediately carried out geological mapping, prospecting and grid soil sampling on the entire West Block of claims. In the spring of 2006 the company flew an airborne versatile time domain electromagnetic system (VTEM) and cesium magnetometer geophysical survey over the claims.
Capsule Geology
The majority of the two 4C claim blocks straddles the southeast corner of topographic map sheet 105G 01 and the northwest corner of map sheet 105A 13. A small number of outlying claims fall on topographic map sheets 105B 16 and 105H 04. D. Murphy and others (2004) of the Yukon Geological Survey remapped topographic map sheet 105G 01 and 02 as part of Murphy's larger Finlayson Lake District mapping program. J. Mortensen of the University of British Columbia and D. Murphy released a geological compilation in 2005, which included topographic map sheet 105A 13. In addition various geologists employed by Firestone Ventures and Strategic Metals carried out reconnaissance geological mapping over the claim blocks.
Based on geological mapping carried out by the Yukon Geological Survey and various industry geologists the area is underlain by Upper Devonian metaclastic rocks (unit DNR) of the North River formation. The metaclastics are overlain by mafic and felsic metavolcanic rocks (units DF and DFf) assigned to Upper Devonian Fire Lake formation. The Fire Lake formation is intruded by voluminous Late Devonian serpentinized ultramafic rocks (unit Dum). A large Early Cretaceous granitic intrusion intrudes the sequence west of the claim block but numerous small related granitic intrusions occur throughout the claim block.
Prospecting in 1997 located the IC Showing (this occurrence) described by Cominco as a "stratiform" pyrite showing hosted within very siliceous felsic exhalite and argillite (unit DF). It consists of rusty banded massive pyrite (1 to 15 cm bands) with trace sphalerite and galena. Grab samples collected from the showing returned values up to 0.8% lead and 0.2 % zinc.
Follow-up soil sampling carried out in the vicinity and up slope of the showing identified a 300 m wide by 1 000 m long lead-zinc-silver anomaly that returned values up to 825 ppm lead, 571 ppm zinc and 5.9 ppm silver. Anomalous copper values (up to 393 ppm) also occur locally.
The 4C claims known as the Four Corners option were staked for their potential to host emerald mineralization similar to that discovered in 1998 at Regal Ridge (Minfile Occurrence #105G 147) located approximately 42 km northwest of this occurrence. At Regal Ridge emerald occurs with tourmaline within and alongside quartz veins that cut mafic metavolcanic schists (unit DF) and ultramafic rocks (unit Dum). Fluids responsible for vein formation are related to a nearby granitic stock. The host rocks and granitic stock at Regal Ridge are correlated to units on the Four Corners property.
The majority of work carried out in 2003 was carried out on the West Block of claims. It appears poor results obtained from the East Block in Phase 1 of the exploration program led Firestone to focus their efforts on the West Block of claims. Phase 2 fieldwork outlined 4 zones of anomalous beryllium in soil on the West Block. The most promising area is zone 4 in the Western Ridge area. It measures 200 by 100 m and is defined by beryllium values ranging from 1.5 ppm up to 7.7 ppm and chromium values up to 160 ppm. Rocks in the area consist of rusty golden weathering schist within the Devonian Fire Lake unit, containing abundant black tourmaline and quartz-tourmaline veins. Beryl mineralization was discovered in a tourmaline-bearing pegmatite intruding Devonian Fire Lake chlorite schist in the Central ridge area. One of the beryl crystals is euhedral, opaque to translucent, pale blue-green, 1.3 cm in diameter and 1.7 cm in length. Beryl of this type is characterized as non-gem quality aquamarine. The area is unusual in that there are no significant beryllium or chromium soil anomalies associated with the beryl mineralization.
Exploration also located two areas of anomalous gold values. The first zone consists of a 100 m long gold bearing silica altered talus train that cuts across chlorite schist. A chip sample composed of several chips from two, 70 cm diameter boulders of green chalcedony assayed 4.28 g/t gold and 2.64 g/t silver. The second occurrence consists of disseminated pyrite and arsenopyrite in a 3 to 5m thick dark grey siliceous horizon located within a section of chlorite schist. The horizon was not sampled but rusty soil collected a few metres uphill returned a strongly anomalous value of 591 ppb gold. Firestone also relocated and re-examined the original IC showing.
Strategic Metals 2005 exploration program was focused on the northeast side of the Western Claim block and was aimed at evaluating the volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) potential of the claims. In addition to re-examining the IC showing (this occurrence) prospecting lead to the discovery of the HS showing. The HS showing is located approximately 750 m north of the IC showing and mineralization consists of limonite boxwork and limonitic chlorite schist float discovered in a small vegetation "kill zone' overlying poorly exposed mafic metavolcanic rocks. The mineralization is also located at the eastern end of a 2 000 m long zone of moderate to strong copper-in soil response. Samples of the strongly oxidized and leached mineralization assayed between 0.58 and 0.97% copper. The best anomalous silver values occur 1 000 m west and parallel to the copper anomaly. The best cobalt values lie immediately west of the silver values. This progressive shift west of anomalous silver and cobalt values may indicate some form of primary metal zoning within the Fire Lake (unit DF) strata.
The 2006 airborne versatile time domain electromagnetic system (VTEM) and cesium magnetometer geophysical survey outlined four distinct conductor axes all contained within the Fire Lake unit. Two of the conductors occur in the vicinity of the HS and IC showings. The other two conductors occur along the contact between Fire Lake mafic volcanic strata and the ultramafic unit at the western end of the soil grid and are supported by strong copper-in-soil response and a moderately strong but well defined, linear magnetic anomaly.
References
COMINCO LTD, Apr/98. Assessment Report #093861 by V. Bannister and R. Holroyd.
COMINCO LTD, Feb/99. Assessment Report #093941 by D.A. Senft.
FIRESTONE VENTURES INCORPORATED, Aug/2004. Assessment Report #094458 by W.A Wengzynowski.
FIRESTONE VENTURES INCORPORATED, News Release. 12 Jun/2003, 20 Oct/2003, 27 Feb/2004.
MORTENSEN, J.K. and MURPHY, D.C. (compilers), 2005. Bedrock geological map of part of Watson Lake area (all or parts of NTS 105A/2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) southeastern Yukon (1:150 000 scale). Yukon Geological Survey, Open File 2005-10.
MURPHY, D.C. et al., 2001. Preliminary Bedrock Geology Map of Northern Finlayson Lake Area (NTS 105G), Yukon Territory (1:100 000 scale), Open File 2001-33.
MURPHY, D.C. et al., 2001. Finlayson Lake Targeted Geoscience Initiative (southeastern Yukon), Part 1: Bedrock Geology. In Yukon Exploration and Geology, 2001, Exploration and Geological Services Division, Yukon, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, p. 189-207.
MURPHY, D.C., KENNEDY, R., AND TIZZARD, A., 2004. Geological map of parts of Waters Creek, and Fire Lake areas (NTS 105G/1, part of 105G/2), southeastern Yukon (1:50 000 scale). Yukon Geological Survey, Open File 2004-11.
STRATEGIC METALS LTD, Jul/2006. Assessment Report #094590 by W.A. Wengzynowski.
STRATEGIC METALS LTD, Jun/2007. Assessment Report #094833 by W.A. Wengzynowski.
STRATEGIC METALS LTD, News Release. 17 Aug/2005,21 Jun/2006.
YUKON EXPLORATION AND GEOLOGY 2003, p. 20-21, 25, 2005, p. 9, 39.
Staked as IC cl 1-28 (YB89707) in Aug/97 by Cominco Ltd. The claims were staked to cover airborne geophysical targets identified during a Cominco survey flown in 1995. The company carried out preliminary geological mapping and soil and silt sampling later in the year. In 1998 Cominco continued exploring the claims with special attention given to the area surrounding the IC Creek showing.
In Dec/2002 Strategic Metals Ltd staked 4C cl 1-438 (YC22680) in two large claim blocks; the first (West Block) located directly northwest and the second (East Block) located approximately 5 km southeast of this occurrence. In Jan/2003 Strategic Metals optioned a 50% interest in the claims to Firestone Ventures Inc which carried out a grassroots geological mapping, rock, soil and stream sediment sampling and prospecting program later in the year. In Feb/2004 Firestone Ventures terminated the option and returned the claims to Strategic Metals. In Dec/2004 Strategic Metals allowed the East Block of claims to lapse.
Restaked within 4C claims 439-450 (YC28800) in Jul/2005 by Strategic Metals which immediately carried out geological mapping, prospecting and grid soil sampling on the entire West Block of claims. In the spring of 2006 the company flew an airborne versatile time domain electromagnetic system (VTEM) and cesium magnetometer geophysical survey over the claims.
Capsule Geology
The majority of the two 4C claim blocks straddles the southeast corner of topographic map sheet 105G 01 and the northwest corner of map sheet 105A 13. A small number of outlying claims fall on topographic map sheets 105B 16 and 105H 04. D. Murphy and others (2004) of the Yukon Geological Survey remapped topographic map sheet 105G 01 and 02 as part of Murphy's larger Finlayson Lake District mapping program. J. Mortensen of the University of British Columbia and D. Murphy released a geological compilation in 2005, which included topographic map sheet 105A 13. In addition various geologists employed by Firestone Ventures and Strategic Metals carried out reconnaissance geological mapping over the claim blocks.
Based on geological mapping carried out by the Yukon Geological Survey and various industry geologists the area is underlain by Upper Devonian metaclastic rocks (unit DNR) of the North River formation. The metaclastics are overlain by mafic and felsic metavolcanic rocks (units DF and DFf) assigned to Upper Devonian Fire Lake formation. The Fire Lake formation is intruded by voluminous Late Devonian serpentinized ultramafic rocks (unit Dum). A large Early Cretaceous granitic intrusion intrudes the sequence west of the claim block but numerous small related granitic intrusions occur throughout the claim block.
Prospecting in 1997 located the IC Showing (this occurrence) described by Cominco as a "stratiform" pyrite showing hosted within very siliceous felsic exhalite and argillite (unit DF). It consists of rusty banded massive pyrite (1 to 15 cm bands) with trace sphalerite and galena. Grab samples collected from the showing returned values up to 0.8% lead and 0.2 % zinc.
Follow-up soil sampling carried out in the vicinity and up slope of the showing identified a 300 m wide by 1 000 m long lead-zinc-silver anomaly that returned values up to 825 ppm lead, 571 ppm zinc and 5.9 ppm silver. Anomalous copper values (up to 393 ppm) also occur locally.
The 4C claims known as the Four Corners option were staked for their potential to host emerald mineralization similar to that discovered in 1998 at Regal Ridge (Minfile Occurrence #105G 147) located approximately 42 km northwest of this occurrence. At Regal Ridge emerald occurs with tourmaline within and alongside quartz veins that cut mafic metavolcanic schists (unit DF) and ultramafic rocks (unit Dum). Fluids responsible for vein formation are related to a nearby granitic stock. The host rocks and granitic stock at Regal Ridge are correlated to units on the Four Corners property.
The majority of work carried out in 2003 was carried out on the West Block of claims. It appears poor results obtained from the East Block in Phase 1 of the exploration program led Firestone to focus their efforts on the West Block of claims. Phase 2 fieldwork outlined 4 zones of anomalous beryllium in soil on the West Block. The most promising area is zone 4 in the Western Ridge area. It measures 200 by 100 m and is defined by beryllium values ranging from 1.5 ppm up to 7.7 ppm and chromium values up to 160 ppm. Rocks in the area consist of rusty golden weathering schist within the Devonian Fire Lake unit, containing abundant black tourmaline and quartz-tourmaline veins. Beryl mineralization was discovered in a tourmaline-bearing pegmatite intruding Devonian Fire Lake chlorite schist in the Central ridge area. One of the beryl crystals is euhedral, opaque to translucent, pale blue-green, 1.3 cm in diameter and 1.7 cm in length. Beryl of this type is characterized as non-gem quality aquamarine. The area is unusual in that there are no significant beryllium or chromium soil anomalies associated with the beryl mineralization.
Exploration also located two areas of anomalous gold values. The first zone consists of a 100 m long gold bearing silica altered talus train that cuts across chlorite schist. A chip sample composed of several chips from two, 70 cm diameter boulders of green chalcedony assayed 4.28 g/t gold and 2.64 g/t silver. The second occurrence consists of disseminated pyrite and arsenopyrite in a 3 to 5m thick dark grey siliceous horizon located within a section of chlorite schist. The horizon was not sampled but rusty soil collected a few metres uphill returned a strongly anomalous value of 591 ppb gold. Firestone also relocated and re-examined the original IC showing.
Strategic Metals 2005 exploration program was focused on the northeast side of the Western Claim block and was aimed at evaluating the volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) potential of the claims. In addition to re-examining the IC showing (this occurrence) prospecting lead to the discovery of the HS showing. The HS showing is located approximately 750 m north of the IC showing and mineralization consists of limonite boxwork and limonitic chlorite schist float discovered in a small vegetation "kill zone' overlying poorly exposed mafic metavolcanic rocks. The mineralization is also located at the eastern end of a 2 000 m long zone of moderate to strong copper-in soil response. Samples of the strongly oxidized and leached mineralization assayed between 0.58 and 0.97% copper. The best anomalous silver values occur 1 000 m west and parallel to the copper anomaly. The best cobalt values lie immediately west of the silver values. This progressive shift west of anomalous silver and cobalt values may indicate some form of primary metal zoning within the Fire Lake (unit DF) strata.
The 2006 airborne versatile time domain electromagnetic system (VTEM) and cesium magnetometer geophysical survey outlined four distinct conductor axes all contained within the Fire Lake unit. Two of the conductors occur in the vicinity of the HS and IC showings. The other two conductors occur along the contact between Fire Lake mafic volcanic strata and the ultramafic unit at the western end of the soil grid and are supported by strong copper-in-soil response and a moderately strong but well defined, linear magnetic anomaly.
References
COMINCO LTD, Apr/98. Assessment Report #093861 by V. Bannister and R. Holroyd.
COMINCO LTD, Feb/99. Assessment Report #093941 by D.A. Senft.
FIRESTONE VENTURES INCORPORATED, Aug/2004. Assessment Report #094458 by W.A Wengzynowski.
FIRESTONE VENTURES INCORPORATED, News Release. 12 Jun/2003, 20 Oct/2003, 27 Feb/2004.
MORTENSEN, J.K. and MURPHY, D.C. (compilers), 2005. Bedrock geological map of part of Watson Lake area (all or parts of NTS 105A/2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) southeastern Yukon (1:150 000 scale). Yukon Geological Survey, Open File 2005-10.
MURPHY, D.C. et al., 2001. Preliminary Bedrock Geology Map of Northern Finlayson Lake Area (NTS 105G), Yukon Territory (1:100 000 scale), Open File 2001-33.
MURPHY, D.C. et al., 2001. Finlayson Lake Targeted Geoscience Initiative (southeastern Yukon), Part 1: Bedrock Geology. In Yukon Exploration and Geology, 2001, Exploration and Geological Services Division, Yukon, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, p. 189-207.
MURPHY, D.C., KENNEDY, R., AND TIZZARD, A., 2004. Geological map of parts of Waters Creek, and Fire Lake areas (NTS 105G/1, part of 105G/2), southeastern Yukon (1:50 000 scale). Yukon Geological Survey, Open File 2004-11.
STRATEGIC METALS LTD, Jul/2006. Assessment Report #094590 by W.A. Wengzynowski.
STRATEGIC METALS LTD, Jun/2007. Assessment Report #094833 by W.A. Wengzynowski.
STRATEGIC METALS LTD, News Release. 17 Aug/2005,21 Jun/2006.
YUKON EXPLORATION AND GEOLOGY 2003, p. 20-21, 25, 2005, p. 9, 39.
Location Map
Last Updated: Jul 12, 2018
Work History
| Year | Work Type | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Airborne Geophysics: VTEM | Also cesium magnetometer survey. |
| 2005 | Geochemistry: Soil | Carried out by Strategic Metals on West Claim block. |
| 2005 | Geology: Bedrock Mapping | Carried out by Strategic Metals on West Claim block. |
| 2005 | Other: Prospecting | Carried out by Strategic Metals on West Claim block. |
| 2003 | Geochemistry: Soil | Grassroots program funded by Firestone Ventures. |
| 2003 | Geology: Bedrock Mapping | Grassroots program funded by Firestone Ventures. |
| 2003 | Other: Property Evaluation | Grassroots program funded by Firestone Ventures. |
| 1998 | Geochemistry: Soil | |
| 1998 | Geology: Bedrock Mapping | Cominco conducted detailed exploration program. |
| 1997 | Geochemistry: Silt | |
| 1997 | Geochemistry: Soil | |
| 1997 | Geology: Bedrock Mapping | Program was preliminary in nature. |
| 1995 | Airborne Geophysics: Electromagnetic | Also magnetic survey. |
Regional Geology - Terrane
Group: Intermontane
Affinity: W Laurentia
Name: Yukon-Tanana
Realm: peri-Laurentian
Regional Geology - Bedrock
Supergroup:
Group/Suite: Grass Lakes
Formation: Fire Lake
Member:
Terrane: Yukon-Tanana
Period Max: Devonian
Age Max: 365 MA
Period Min: Devonian
Age Min: 357 MA
Rock Major: greenstone
Rock Minor:
Reference: Mortensen & Murphy (2005) - YGS OF 2005-10
Geological Unit (1M): DMF
Geological Unit (250K): DMF1
Assessment Reports that overlap occurrence
| Report Number | Year | Title | Worktypes | Holes Drilled | Meters Drilled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 096573 | 2013 | Soil Sampling, Prospecting and Geological Mapping at the Four Corners East Property, 4C Claims | Rock - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Prospecting - Other | ||
| 095894 | 2011 | 2011 Geochemical Survey on the 4C East Property | Soil - Geochemistry | ||
| 095329 | 2010 | Assessment Report Describing Soil Sampling, Prospecting, Geological Mapping and Hand Trenching on the Four Corners East Property | Soil - Geochemistry, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Prospecting - Other, Hand - Trenching | ||
| 095156 | 2009 | Assessment Report Describing Soil Sampling, Prospecting, Geological Mapping and Hand Trenching on the Four Corners East Property | Soil - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Prospecting - Other | ||
| 094833 | 2006 | Assessment Report Describing VTEM Geophysical Surveys at the Four Corners Property | VTEM - Airborne Geophysics | ||
| 094590 | 2006 | Assessment Report Describing Geology, Mineralization and Geochemistry on the Four Corners Property | Soil - Geochemistry, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Prospecting - Other | ||
| 094458 | 2003 | Assessment Report Describing Geology, Mineralization and Geochemistry on the Four Corners Property | Silt - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Regional Bedrock Mapping - Geology | ||
| 093941 | 1998 | 1998 Assessment Report on the IC Property Geological Mapping and Soil Geochemistry | Soil - Geochemistry, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology | ||
| 093861 | 1997 | 1997 Assessment Report Wat/Bl/IC Properties Geological Mapping, Geochemistry, Linecutting, Geophysics & Diamond Drilling | Diamond - Drilling, Soil - Geochemistry, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology, EM - Ground Geophysics, Magnetics - Ground Geophysics, Line Cutting - Other | 1 | 160 |
| 093883 | 1996 | 1996 Assessment Report Wat and BL Properties Geological Mapping and Soil Geochemistry | Silt - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology |
