General Information
Secondary Commodities: molybdenum, nickel, zinc
Deposit Type(s): Sediment hosted Sedimentary Exhalative Zn-Pb-Ag (Sedex)
Location(s): 64.716670 N, -138.119720 W
NTS Mapsheet(s): 116B09
Location Comments: .5 Kilometres
Hand Samples Available at YGS: Yes
Capsule
Work History
First staked as a large block of Rein claims in 1976 by the Blackstone Project (Union Miniere Explorations & Mining Corporation Ltd (UMEX) and Shell Canada Resources Ltd) which explored with soil sampling and mapping between 1976 and 1978. In 1979 the claims were optioned to Milchem Inc which explored the adjacent Cliff and Ridge barite occurrences (Minfile Occurrence #116B 128).
The Rein claims were transferred to Major General Resources Ltd in May/90. In 1994 Major General optioned the Rein claims to Pendisle Resources Inc (a predecessor to Blackstone Resources Ltd). As part of the agreement Pendisle acquired Major General¿s extensive database and several thousand archived silt and soil samples collected in the late 1970's but never analyzed. Pendisle contracted Equity Engineering Ltd to carry out a small exploration program on the remaining claims. Upon completion of their work program Pendisle allowed the claims to lapse except for two groups of claims (Rein 9, 11, 12, 27, 29 and 35-40, 49, 50, 60, 62) which covered the best mineral occurrences.
In early 1995 Blackstone Resources Ltd selected 2 195 soil and 62 rock pulps of the archived samples for 32 element ICP analysis. In May/95, based on the results from these samples, Blackstone surrounded the remaining 16 Rein claims with Rein cl 100-277 (YB44359). In 1996 Blackstone carried out an extensive geological mapping, prospecting and soil sampling program on the claim block. In early 1997 Blackstone optioned 60% of the property to Glenhaven Resources Ltd. The company funded a 12-hole (587 m) diamond drill program on the MM zone (this occurrence) and the TB and DM showings, 5 km west-northwest (Minfile Occurrence #116B 171). Blackstone staked RC cl 1-168 (YB98995) in Oct/97 to surround the Rein claims on three sides and at the same time L. Barry staked GD cl 1-51 (YC00309) and DH cl 1-52 (YB98943) contiguously with the northwest corner of the Blackstone claim block.
In 1998 Blackstone carried out geological mapping, prospecting, geochemical soil sampling and drilled 14 holes (832.2 m); nine holes (495.7 m) on this occurrence and five holes (336.5 m) on the adjacent Ridge and Cliff barite showings (Minfile Occurrence #116B 128).
Blackstone Resources changed its name to Blackstone Ventures Inc in Apr/2001.
Capsule Geology
The occurrence lies within the Taiga Basin. The basin consists of Ordovician to Silurian Road River Group dolomite and black calcareous shales overlain by Devonian to Mississippian Earn Group siliceous shales, chert and conglomerates with minor carbonate units near the lower contact. It lies within an off-self sequence of the Mackenzie Platform, underlain and overlain by shallow water carbonates and forming a sub-basin north of the main Selwyn basin. To the south, the Taiga Basin is bounded by the northerly-directed Dawson Thrust Fault. Cambrian to Devonian mafic volcanics are spatially related to the Dawson Fault.
The oldest rocks exposed on the Rein claims are carbonaceous and calcareous, graptolitic shales of the Road River Group. They are conformably overlain by an interbedded unit of argillite, calcareous shale and siltstone, limestone and chert-siliceous shale of the Lower Earn group. Limestone and baritic limestone balls up to 1.0 m in diameter form a distinctive marker that lies at the top of this sequence. A Permian aged chert and chert pebble conglomerate unit caps the entire succession. Thrust faults related to the Dawson Fault have thrust limy shale and phyllitic carbonate of the Ordovician to Silurian Road River Group over the younger Earn Group sequence.
The area was first explored for shale hosted lead-zinc-barite mineralization. UMEX staked the original Rein claims to cover extensive hydrozincite coatings on outcrops and talus of Lower Earn Group argillite, calcareous shale and siltstone, limestone and chert and to a lesser extent Road River Group shale. The rocks assayed 0.1-0.4% Zn but the source of the secondary zinc mineralization was never satisfactorily explained.
Minor lead-copper-zinc vein mineralization was later found peripheral to dioritic sills on neighboring claims and minor galena, sphalerite and barite vein mineralization was reported on the Rein claims.
Milchem's drill program was directed towards evaluating the barite beds (Minfile Occurrence #116B 128) as a potential source for drilling mud.
Pendisle's sampling of the barite beds returned values up to 54.2% barium. Rock sampling and soil sampling returned anomalous values for Zn and Ag. One rock sample, taken from pyritic black shale, assayed 2.06% Ni, 454 ppm Mo, 35 ppb Au, 120 ppb Pt and 58 ppb and led the company to change its exploration focus to Ni-Zn-PGE stratiform mineralization similar to that found at the Nick deposit (Minfile Occurrence #106D 092).
Blackstone re-analyzed the UMEX pulps in 1995. The analysis produced a number of new targets which led the company to stake 178 additional Rein claims. Geological mapping, prospecting and soil sampling in 1996 lead to the discovery of the TB and DM showings 5 km to the west and the MM zone (this occurrence). These showings consist of a thin (6 to 50 cm) pyrite-vaesite (nickel disulphide) bed which has returned assays as high as 3.58% Ni over 45 cm. The MM zone contains two separate mineralized horizons and has produced the greatest widths. Nickel -molybdenum-zinc soil anomalies were delineated over a ten kilometer strike length.
These showings are situated on the southern edge of the Taiga Basin. The stratiform vaesite occurs in a shale horizon located at the contact between Middle Devonian Lower Earn Group black chert and a distinctive concretionary unit of Lower Devonian age which forms the top of the Road River Formation. The concretionary unit consists of limestone and baritic limestone balls up to 1.0 m in diameter in a matrix of black, siliceous mudstone. In the area of the MM zone, the unit directly overlying the limestone ball unit is described as being a carbonaceous, fossiliferous, baritic and phosphatic black shale. Deposits of this type are believed to form from low temperature organic-rich fluids in Red Sea-type brine pools in a rift environment. Vaesite deposits of this type have been mined in southern China. Hulbert et al. (1992) proposed a metallogenic model in which nutrient-rich hydrothermal fluids became enriched in base and precious metals scavenged from underlying organic-rich Silurian and Devonian strata, where the metals were adsorbed on decaying organic material.
Twelve short reconnaissance BTW diamond drill holes tested the 3 target areas in 1997, resulting in significant intersections over previously unreported widths. The best intersection was returned by Hole REN97-08, which tested a portion of the MM zone. It intersected 25.5 metres of 0.51% Ni with 0.41% Zn, including a 5.3 meter intersection grading 1.42% Ni and 0.70% Zn. The MM zone drilling showed that the nickel mineralization occurs both above and below a thick (>10m?) brecciated and stockwork veined barite bed. The upper of the mineralized horizons contains higher concentrations of nickel, is fossil-rich and contains baritic limestone balls.
Nine of the 1998 drill holes were collared around the MM zone. These holes were designed to test the down dip extent of mineralization encountered in drill holes REN97-07 and 08. Although the drilling traced the host stratigraphy along 450 m of strike length none of the holes intersected nickel mineralization of the same tenor as encountered in 1997, the best intersection was in hole REN98-13 which returned 1 265 ppm Ni and 830 ppm Zn. This led Blackstone to suggest that the mineralization encountered in 1997 is appearently associated with a low temperature submarine vent that is small and localized in extent.
Drill holes REN98-15 and 16, which were drilled as step-backs to REN97-07 and 08, intersected brecciated, porous and highly permeable carbonaceous and cherty shales and argillites associated with weak jarosite development and calcite veining. Intersections grading up to 9.73 g/t Au over 1.61 m and 1 436 ppb Au over 0.75 m in REN98-15 and 394 ppb Au over 1.2 m in REN98-16 were returned. This mineralization appears to fault related and closed off in most directions.
The remaining five 1998 drill holes tested the Cliff and Ridge barite showings (Minfile Occurrence #116B 128). Three holes drilled at and around the Cliff showing returned up to 2 490 ppm Ni, 1 640 ppm Zn 210 Mo and 324 ppm As over 1.41 m. Drilling at the Ridge showing found that the barite occurrence pinches out at depth.
References
BLACKSTONE RESOURCES LTD, Press Release, 21 Jun/97, 27 Jun/97, 27Aug/96; 11 Nov/96, 5 May/97, 14Aug/97, 17 Oct/97, 23 Oct/97, 10 Nov/97.
BLACKSTONE RESOURCES LTD, Aug/99. Web Site: www.bzz-blackstone.com
BLACKSTONE RESOURCES LTD, Mar/99. Assessment Report #093986 by S. Harris, M.I. Jones and J. Webber.
BUTTERWORTH, B.P. and CAULFIELD, D., 1998. Taiga Property: A Stratiform Ni-Zn-PGE target in north-central Yukon. In: Yukon Exploration and Geology 1997, Exploration and Geological Services Division, Yukon, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, p.125-127.
EQUITY ENGINEERING LTD, Jun/95. Assessment Report #093295 by M. Baknes.
EQUITY ENGINEERING LTD, Feb/97. Assessment Report #093594 by D.A. Caulfield.
EQUITY ENGINEERING LTD, Jan/98. Assessment Report #093750 by D.A. Caulfield.
HULBERT, L., CARNE, R.C., GREGOIRE, D.C. and PAKTUNC, D., 1992. Sedimentary nickel, zinc and platinum group element mineralization in Devonian black shales at the Nick property, Yukon, Canada: a new deposit type. Exploration and Mining Geology, Vol. 1, p. 39-62.
MINERAL INDUSTRY REPORT 1977 p. 49-51; 1978, p. 24.
THOMPSON, R.I., 1995. Geological compilation (1:250 000) of Dawson map area (116B,C.) (northeast of Tintina Trench); Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 3223.
UNION MINIERE EXPLORATIONS AND MINING CORPORATION LTD, Dec/77. Assessment Report #090264 by A.A. Burgoyne.
YUKON GEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION 1979-80, p. 292.
YUKON EXPLORATION AND GEOLOGY 1996, p. 22, 31; 1997, p. 21-22, 37-38; 1998, p. 23-24, 28, 30.
First staked as a large block of Rein claims in 1976 by the Blackstone Project (Union Miniere Explorations & Mining Corporation Ltd (UMEX) and Shell Canada Resources Ltd) which explored with soil sampling and mapping between 1976 and 1978. In 1979 the claims were optioned to Milchem Inc which explored the adjacent Cliff and Ridge barite occurrences (Minfile Occurrence #116B 128).
The Rein claims were transferred to Major General Resources Ltd in May/90. In 1994 Major General optioned the Rein claims to Pendisle Resources Inc (a predecessor to Blackstone Resources Ltd). As part of the agreement Pendisle acquired Major General¿s extensive database and several thousand archived silt and soil samples collected in the late 1970's but never analyzed. Pendisle contracted Equity Engineering Ltd to carry out a small exploration program on the remaining claims. Upon completion of their work program Pendisle allowed the claims to lapse except for two groups of claims (Rein 9, 11, 12, 27, 29 and 35-40, 49, 50, 60, 62) which covered the best mineral occurrences.
In early 1995 Blackstone Resources Ltd selected 2 195 soil and 62 rock pulps of the archived samples for 32 element ICP analysis. In May/95, based on the results from these samples, Blackstone surrounded the remaining 16 Rein claims with Rein cl 100-277 (YB44359). In 1996 Blackstone carried out an extensive geological mapping, prospecting and soil sampling program on the claim block. In early 1997 Blackstone optioned 60% of the property to Glenhaven Resources Ltd. The company funded a 12-hole (587 m) diamond drill program on the MM zone (this occurrence) and the TB and DM showings, 5 km west-northwest (Minfile Occurrence #116B 171). Blackstone staked RC cl 1-168 (YB98995) in Oct/97 to surround the Rein claims on three sides and at the same time L. Barry staked GD cl 1-51 (YC00309) and DH cl 1-52 (YB98943) contiguously with the northwest corner of the Blackstone claim block.
In 1998 Blackstone carried out geological mapping, prospecting, geochemical soil sampling and drilled 14 holes (832.2 m); nine holes (495.7 m) on this occurrence and five holes (336.5 m) on the adjacent Ridge and Cliff barite showings (Minfile Occurrence #116B 128).
Blackstone Resources changed its name to Blackstone Ventures Inc in Apr/2001.
Capsule Geology
The occurrence lies within the Taiga Basin. The basin consists of Ordovician to Silurian Road River Group dolomite and black calcareous shales overlain by Devonian to Mississippian Earn Group siliceous shales, chert and conglomerates with minor carbonate units near the lower contact. It lies within an off-self sequence of the Mackenzie Platform, underlain and overlain by shallow water carbonates and forming a sub-basin north of the main Selwyn basin. To the south, the Taiga Basin is bounded by the northerly-directed Dawson Thrust Fault. Cambrian to Devonian mafic volcanics are spatially related to the Dawson Fault.
The oldest rocks exposed on the Rein claims are carbonaceous and calcareous, graptolitic shales of the Road River Group. They are conformably overlain by an interbedded unit of argillite, calcareous shale and siltstone, limestone and chert-siliceous shale of the Lower Earn group. Limestone and baritic limestone balls up to 1.0 m in diameter form a distinctive marker that lies at the top of this sequence. A Permian aged chert and chert pebble conglomerate unit caps the entire succession. Thrust faults related to the Dawson Fault have thrust limy shale and phyllitic carbonate of the Ordovician to Silurian Road River Group over the younger Earn Group sequence.
The area was first explored for shale hosted lead-zinc-barite mineralization. UMEX staked the original Rein claims to cover extensive hydrozincite coatings on outcrops and talus of Lower Earn Group argillite, calcareous shale and siltstone, limestone and chert and to a lesser extent Road River Group shale. The rocks assayed 0.1-0.4% Zn but the source of the secondary zinc mineralization was never satisfactorily explained.
Minor lead-copper-zinc vein mineralization was later found peripheral to dioritic sills on neighboring claims and minor galena, sphalerite and barite vein mineralization was reported on the Rein claims.
Milchem's drill program was directed towards evaluating the barite beds (Minfile Occurrence #116B 128) as a potential source for drilling mud.
Pendisle's sampling of the barite beds returned values up to 54.2% barium. Rock sampling and soil sampling returned anomalous values for Zn and Ag. One rock sample, taken from pyritic black shale, assayed 2.06% Ni, 454 ppm Mo, 35 ppb Au, 120 ppb Pt and 58 ppb and led the company to change its exploration focus to Ni-Zn-PGE stratiform mineralization similar to that found at the Nick deposit (Minfile Occurrence #106D 092).
Blackstone re-analyzed the UMEX pulps in 1995. The analysis produced a number of new targets which led the company to stake 178 additional Rein claims. Geological mapping, prospecting and soil sampling in 1996 lead to the discovery of the TB and DM showings 5 km to the west and the MM zone (this occurrence). These showings consist of a thin (6 to 50 cm) pyrite-vaesite (nickel disulphide) bed which has returned assays as high as 3.58% Ni over 45 cm. The MM zone contains two separate mineralized horizons and has produced the greatest widths. Nickel -molybdenum-zinc soil anomalies were delineated over a ten kilometer strike length.
These showings are situated on the southern edge of the Taiga Basin. The stratiform vaesite occurs in a shale horizon located at the contact between Middle Devonian Lower Earn Group black chert and a distinctive concretionary unit of Lower Devonian age which forms the top of the Road River Formation. The concretionary unit consists of limestone and baritic limestone balls up to 1.0 m in diameter in a matrix of black, siliceous mudstone. In the area of the MM zone, the unit directly overlying the limestone ball unit is described as being a carbonaceous, fossiliferous, baritic and phosphatic black shale. Deposits of this type are believed to form from low temperature organic-rich fluids in Red Sea-type brine pools in a rift environment. Vaesite deposits of this type have been mined in southern China. Hulbert et al. (1992) proposed a metallogenic model in which nutrient-rich hydrothermal fluids became enriched in base and precious metals scavenged from underlying organic-rich Silurian and Devonian strata, where the metals were adsorbed on decaying organic material.
Twelve short reconnaissance BTW diamond drill holes tested the 3 target areas in 1997, resulting in significant intersections over previously unreported widths. The best intersection was returned by Hole REN97-08, which tested a portion of the MM zone. It intersected 25.5 metres of 0.51% Ni with 0.41% Zn, including a 5.3 meter intersection grading 1.42% Ni and 0.70% Zn. The MM zone drilling showed that the nickel mineralization occurs both above and below a thick (>10m?) brecciated and stockwork veined barite bed. The upper of the mineralized horizons contains higher concentrations of nickel, is fossil-rich and contains baritic limestone balls.
Nine of the 1998 drill holes were collared around the MM zone. These holes were designed to test the down dip extent of mineralization encountered in drill holes REN97-07 and 08. Although the drilling traced the host stratigraphy along 450 m of strike length none of the holes intersected nickel mineralization of the same tenor as encountered in 1997, the best intersection was in hole REN98-13 which returned 1 265 ppm Ni and 830 ppm Zn. This led Blackstone to suggest that the mineralization encountered in 1997 is appearently associated with a low temperature submarine vent that is small and localized in extent.
Drill holes REN98-15 and 16, which were drilled as step-backs to REN97-07 and 08, intersected brecciated, porous and highly permeable carbonaceous and cherty shales and argillites associated with weak jarosite development and calcite veining. Intersections grading up to 9.73 g/t Au over 1.61 m and 1 436 ppb Au over 0.75 m in REN98-15 and 394 ppb Au over 1.2 m in REN98-16 were returned. This mineralization appears to fault related and closed off in most directions.
The remaining five 1998 drill holes tested the Cliff and Ridge barite showings (Minfile Occurrence #116B 128). Three holes drilled at and around the Cliff showing returned up to 2 490 ppm Ni, 1 640 ppm Zn 210 Mo and 324 ppm As over 1.41 m. Drilling at the Ridge showing found that the barite occurrence pinches out at depth.
References
BLACKSTONE RESOURCES LTD, Press Release, 21 Jun/97, 27 Jun/97, 27Aug/96; 11 Nov/96, 5 May/97, 14Aug/97, 17 Oct/97, 23 Oct/97, 10 Nov/97.
BLACKSTONE RESOURCES LTD, Aug/99. Web Site: www.bzz-blackstone.com
BLACKSTONE RESOURCES LTD, Mar/99. Assessment Report #093986 by S. Harris, M.I. Jones and J. Webber.
BUTTERWORTH, B.P. and CAULFIELD, D., 1998. Taiga Property: A Stratiform Ni-Zn-PGE target in north-central Yukon. In: Yukon Exploration and Geology 1997, Exploration and Geological Services Division, Yukon, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, p.125-127.
EQUITY ENGINEERING LTD, Jun/95. Assessment Report #093295 by M. Baknes.
EQUITY ENGINEERING LTD, Feb/97. Assessment Report #093594 by D.A. Caulfield.
EQUITY ENGINEERING LTD, Jan/98. Assessment Report #093750 by D.A. Caulfield.
HULBERT, L., CARNE, R.C., GREGOIRE, D.C. and PAKTUNC, D., 1992. Sedimentary nickel, zinc and platinum group element mineralization in Devonian black shales at the Nick property, Yukon, Canada: a new deposit type. Exploration and Mining Geology, Vol. 1, p. 39-62.
MINERAL INDUSTRY REPORT 1977 p. 49-51; 1978, p. 24.
THOMPSON, R.I., 1995. Geological compilation (1:250 000) of Dawson map area (116B,C.) (northeast of Tintina Trench); Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 3223.
UNION MINIERE EXPLORATIONS AND MINING CORPORATION LTD, Dec/77. Assessment Report #090264 by A.A. Burgoyne.
YUKON GEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION 1979-80, p. 292.
YUKON EXPLORATION AND GEOLOGY 1996, p. 22, 31; 1997, p. 21-22, 37-38; 1998, p. 23-24, 28, 30.
Location Map
Last Updated: Sep 15, 2011
Work History
| Year | Work Type | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Drilling: Diamond | Number of holes drilled: 9 Amount of work done: 495.7 METRES |
| 1997 | Drilling: Diamond | Number of holes drilled: 12 Amount of work done: 587 METRES |
| 1996 | Geochemistry: Soil | |
| 1996 | Geology: Bedrock Mapping | |
| 1996 | Other | |
| 1995 | Other | |
| 1979 | Geochemistry: Soil | |
| 1979 | Other | |
| 1978 | Geochemistry: Soil | |
| 1978 | Geology: Bedrock Mapping | |
| 1977 | Geochemistry: Soil | |
| 1977 | Geology: Bedrock Mapping | |
| 1976 | Geochemistry: Soil | |
| 1976 | Geology: Bedrock Mapping |
Regional Geology - Terrane
Group: Ancestral North America
Affinity: W Laurentia
Name: North America - basinal strata
Realm: Laurentia
Regional Geology - Bedrock
Supergroup:
Group/Suite: Road River
Formation:
Member:
Terrane: Laurentia
Period Max: Ordovician
Age Max: 488 MA
Period Min: Devonian
Age Min: 398 MA
Rock Major: shale
Rock Minor: carbonaceous sandstone
Reference: Thompson et al. (1994) - GSC OF 2849
Geological Unit (1M): ODR
Geological Unit (250K): ODR
Assessment Reports that overlap occurrence
| Report Number | Year | Title | Worktypes | Holes Drilled | Meters Drilled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 095620 | 2008 | Assessment Report Describing Hand Trenching and Diamond Drilling at the DEER Property | Diamond - Drilling, Drill Core - Geochemistry, Rock - Geochemistry, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Hand - Trenching | 2 | 216.41 |
| 095596 | 2007 | Assessment Report Describing Prospecting, Mapping, Geochemical Sampling and Diamond Drilling at the DEER Property | Diamond - Drilling, Drill Core - Geochemistry, Rock - Geochemistry, Silt - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Prospecting - Other | 2 | 40.54 |
| 093986 | 1998 | 1998 Geological, Geochemical and Diamond Drilling Report on the Rein Property | Diamond - Drilling, Rock - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology | 14 | 832.20 |
| 093750 | 1997 | 1997 Drilling Program on the Rein Property | Diamond - Drilling, Rock - Geochemistry | 12 | 587 |
| 093594 | 1996 | 1996 Exporation Program on the Rein Property | Soil - Geochemistry, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Prospecting - Other | ||
| 093295 | 1994 | 1994 Geological Report on the REIN Claims | Rock - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Prospecting - Other | ||
| 090207 | 1977 | Geological and Geochemical Report on the HPZ-TBO Claim Group | Rock - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Scintillometer - Ground Geophysics |
Related References
| Number | Title | Page(s) | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARMC016778 | Geochemical map - 116B/9 | Geochemical Map |
| Citations |
|---|
Drill Core at YGS Core Library
| Number | Property | Year Drilled | Core Size | Photos | Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REN-08-28 | Taiga | 2008 | HQ-NQ | 2 | 2 |
| REN-08-29 | Taiga | 2008 | HQ-NQ | 20 | 2 |
| REN-98-15 | Taiga | 1998 | BTW | 4 | 3 |
| REN-97-07 | Taiga | 1997 | BTW | 2 | 2 |
| REN-97-08 | Taiga | 1997 | BTW | 4 | 2 |
