General Information
Secondary Commodities: arsenic, copper, tungsten, lead, gold
Aliases: Birch
Deposit Type(s): Vein Au-Quartz
Location(s): 64.040560 N, -140.913330 W
NTS Mapsheet(s): 116C02
Location Comments: 1 Kilometres
Hand Samples Available at YGS: No
Capsule
Work History
Staked as Birch cl 1-4 and Cedar cl 1-6 (YA65135) in Jul/82 by S. Takacs. S. Stempien staked Logger cl (YA65134) 3 km to the northeast in Jul/82 and A. Olsson tied Dart cl 1-2 (YA65185) onto the Cedar claims in Sep/82. Noranda Exploration Company Ltd staked LGC cl 1-104 (YA85139) to the west-northwest in Dec/84 and carried out geochemical sampling in 1985.
Restaked as Falcon cl 1-8 (YA88157) in Aug/86 by D. Olsson, who carried out trenching later in the year. Dawson Eldorado Mines Ltd staked Gla cl 1-121 (YB05453) in Jun/88 to surround the Falcon claims and together with Rise Resources Inc carried out geological mapping and geochemical sampling. J. Moreau tied on Dianne cl 1-6 (YBI7380) to the east in Jun/88. The Falcon claims were transferred in Jul/89 to Altak Mining and Exploration Ltd, which carried out trenching later that year.
Restaked as Gl 1-8 (YB54241)in Sep/95 by R. Beckett, who staked Gl cl 9-12 (YB54249) 1 km to the west-southwest at the same time.
In Oct/95 J.P. Ross staked Cici cl 1-34 (YB67512) fringing the Gl cl 1-8 to the north. In 1996 Madrona Mining Ltd optioned the Cici and neighboring Uni claims (Minfile Occurrence 116C 020) from Ross. S. Moldum staked Claim cl 1 (YB88048) In Jun/96 between the Cici and Uni claim blocks. Madrona carried out airborne electromagnetic, magnetic and radiometric surveying over the Cici and Uni claims in Jul/96 and staked Uni cl 18-40 (YB88681) in Aug/96 to form a contiguous claim block joining the two occurrences. In Mar/97 Madrona staked Creek cl 3-26 (YB03738) to the south.
The actual occurrence was restaked as Creek cl 1-2 (YC04560) in Sep/97 by J.P. Ross after the Gl claims were refused and the Claim cl was restaked as Uni cl 41 (YC04559) at the same time. In the fall of 1997 Madrona carried out soil geochemical sampling on four grids across the combined claim group. In Jun/98 the company staked Creek cl 31-38 (YC07263) and Cici cl 35-47 (YC07248) to the south and east, respectively, to cover open geochemical anomalies located the previous fall.
Following a property visit in Jul/98, Kennecott Canada Exploration Inc optioned the property from Madrona and carried out prospecting, geological mapping, geochemical sampling and gravity surveying that year. In 1999 after optioning Bud and Mac claims to the northeast (Minfile Occurrence 116C 166) from their respective owners, Kennecott carried out prospecting, geochemical sampling and airborne geophysical surveying over the combined claim block before dropping its options in the area the following year.
In August and Sep/2002 J.P. Ross prospected, soil sampled and rock sampled two areas southeast of the Porker Creek anomaly (related to Minfile Occurrence 116C 020). In 2006 Ross rock and soil sampled the area north of the Porker Creek anomaly, the Ridge or Ferkel zone located 1.8 km to the south and the Walker Fork located 3.5 km to the southwest of this occurrence.
Capsule Geology
The occurrence is located within the Yukon-Tanana terrane west of Dawson City, Yukon. The region escaped glaciation thus there is very little exposed outcrop in the area. Preliminary mapping by Madrona Mining Ltd and extrapolation of compilation mapping to the south by Mortensen (1996) indicates that the occurrence is underlain by Late Devonian(?) to mid-Mississippian Nasina assemblage rocks consisting of quartz carbonaceous and quartz muscovite schist (quartzite). A large unit of Nasina metavolcanic rocks, which occurs as a thrust panel, cuts across the Cici and Creek claim blocks. A Late Cretaceous aged unit of volcanic rock consisting of massive andesitic flows and breccias, that correlates with Carmacks Group volcanics, unconformably overlies the other units in the northeast corner of the Cici claim block.
The 1982 staking may have been related to placer mining in the area. Noranda staked their claims to follow up anomalous stream sediment anomalies reported by Glasmacher in 1984. Despite extensive sampling, Noranda failed to replicate Glasmacher's results.
Glasmacher and Friedrich (1992) described mesothermal quartz-carbonate-sulphide veins which cut metamorphic rocks in this area. Their studies indicate two stages of vein formation. Weakly anomalous gold values are associated with arsenopyrite deposited from high temperature (320-350°C) saline fluids (12.8 wt% NaCl equivalent) of the first stage.
The airborne geophysical survey identified 15 anomalies of which 6 are conductive signatures interpreted as potentially reflecting sulphide mineralization. The interpretation and mineral potential of the anomalies was hampered by the lack of geological mapping and other field observations. Follow-up field investigations were recommended to accurately define the source of the anomalies.
The soil survey identified 12 geochemical anomalies of which 5 were base metal anomalies consisting of zinc, ± copper and ± lead. The remaining 7 anomalies consisted of arsenic ± zinc, copper and lead and locally tungsten. Madronna did not report threshold values but the deep overburden overlying the area masked the response of the survey with the highest zinc result returning 304 ppm. The association of arsenic and locally tungsten with many of the anomalies is thought to reflect the possible presence of intrusive-related gold mineralization, although all of the sample results were below the 1 ppm detection limit of the analytical technique used in the testing.
Kennecott's sampling was regional in nature and was completed at a reconnaissance scale across a much larger area encompassing most of their accumulated holdings. The company's program which targeted the gold potential of the area sucessfully identified five mineralized anomalies, two of which area related to this occurrence.
The "Madrona" soil anomaly, located 1.5 km north of this occurrence location, includes a 400 by 500 m area containing 40 to 100 ppb gold on a ridge top overlooking Glacier Creek. Brittle Nasina assemblage quartzites, that are locally bleached and silicified and contain numerous quartz veins, as well as graphitic quartzites with open space vein fault breccia and skarn like mineral assemblages (tremolite-actinolite ± calcite ± magnetite ± rare chalcopyrite) in calc-silicate rocks occur in the vicinity of the anomaly. The best analysis for gold values was from a grab sample of vein fault breccia that returned 35 ppb gold and 2.2 ppm silver.
The "Ferkel" anomaly covers a small (100 by 100 m) area centered on an old trench on the ridge between Glacier and Miller Creeks, 1.8 km south of this occurrence location. Oxidized quartz veinlets, 1 cm or less in width, crosscut decomposed, limonite and manganese oxide stained, locally boxwork textured Nasina assemblage schist. Grab sampling in this area returned a peak value of 2260 ppb gold, the highest value obtained during Kenncott's work in 1999.
Soil sampling results from the Ridge (Ferkel) zone were generally low. Ross figured that the rocks in the area contain considerable graphite and were assayed using 30 element Inductively Couple Plasma - Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) instead of traditional fire assay. It appears the graphite content of the soils and rocks affected the solubility of any contain gold resulting in lower than expected results. Ross also sampled the Walker Folk anomaly which returned anomalous values for gold and arsenic.
Staked as Birch cl 1-4 and Cedar cl 1-6 (YA65135) in Jul/82 by S. Takacs. S. Stempien staked Logger cl (YA65134) 3 km to the northeast in Jul/82 and A. Olsson tied Dart cl 1-2 (YA65185) onto the Cedar claims in Sep/82. Noranda Exploration Company Ltd staked LGC cl 1-104 (YA85139) to the west-northwest in Dec/84 and carried out geochemical sampling in 1985.
Restaked as Falcon cl 1-8 (YA88157) in Aug/86 by D. Olsson, who carried out trenching later in the year. Dawson Eldorado Mines Ltd staked Gla cl 1-121 (YB05453) in Jun/88 to surround the Falcon claims and together with Rise Resources Inc carried out geological mapping and geochemical sampling. J. Moreau tied on Dianne cl 1-6 (YBI7380) to the east in Jun/88. The Falcon claims were transferred in Jul/89 to Altak Mining and Exploration Ltd, which carried out trenching later that year.
Restaked as Gl 1-8 (YB54241)in Sep/95 by R. Beckett, who staked Gl cl 9-12 (YB54249) 1 km to the west-southwest at the same time.
In Oct/95 J.P. Ross staked Cici cl 1-34 (YB67512) fringing the Gl cl 1-8 to the north. In 1996 Madrona Mining Ltd optioned the Cici and neighboring Uni claims (Minfile Occurrence 116C 020) from Ross. S. Moldum staked Claim cl 1 (YB88048) In Jun/96 between the Cici and Uni claim blocks. Madrona carried out airborne electromagnetic, magnetic and radiometric surveying over the Cici and Uni claims in Jul/96 and staked Uni cl 18-40 (YB88681) in Aug/96 to form a contiguous claim block joining the two occurrences. In Mar/97 Madrona staked Creek cl 3-26 (YB03738) to the south.
The actual occurrence was restaked as Creek cl 1-2 (YC04560) in Sep/97 by J.P. Ross after the Gl claims were refused and the Claim cl was restaked as Uni cl 41 (YC04559) at the same time. In the fall of 1997 Madrona carried out soil geochemical sampling on four grids across the combined claim group. In Jun/98 the company staked Creek cl 31-38 (YC07263) and Cici cl 35-47 (YC07248) to the south and east, respectively, to cover open geochemical anomalies located the previous fall.
Following a property visit in Jul/98, Kennecott Canada Exploration Inc optioned the property from Madrona and carried out prospecting, geological mapping, geochemical sampling and gravity surveying that year. In 1999 after optioning Bud and Mac claims to the northeast (Minfile Occurrence 116C 166) from their respective owners, Kennecott carried out prospecting, geochemical sampling and airborne geophysical surveying over the combined claim block before dropping its options in the area the following year.
In August and Sep/2002 J.P. Ross prospected, soil sampled and rock sampled two areas southeast of the Porker Creek anomaly (related to Minfile Occurrence 116C 020). In 2006 Ross rock and soil sampled the area north of the Porker Creek anomaly, the Ridge or Ferkel zone located 1.8 km to the south and the Walker Fork located 3.5 km to the southwest of this occurrence.
Capsule Geology
The occurrence is located within the Yukon-Tanana terrane west of Dawson City, Yukon. The region escaped glaciation thus there is very little exposed outcrop in the area. Preliminary mapping by Madrona Mining Ltd and extrapolation of compilation mapping to the south by Mortensen (1996) indicates that the occurrence is underlain by Late Devonian(?) to mid-Mississippian Nasina assemblage rocks consisting of quartz carbonaceous and quartz muscovite schist (quartzite). A large unit of Nasina metavolcanic rocks, which occurs as a thrust panel, cuts across the Cici and Creek claim blocks. A Late Cretaceous aged unit of volcanic rock consisting of massive andesitic flows and breccias, that correlates with Carmacks Group volcanics, unconformably overlies the other units in the northeast corner of the Cici claim block.
The 1982 staking may have been related to placer mining in the area. Noranda staked their claims to follow up anomalous stream sediment anomalies reported by Glasmacher in 1984. Despite extensive sampling, Noranda failed to replicate Glasmacher's results.
Glasmacher and Friedrich (1992) described mesothermal quartz-carbonate-sulphide veins which cut metamorphic rocks in this area. Their studies indicate two stages of vein formation. Weakly anomalous gold values are associated with arsenopyrite deposited from high temperature (320-350°C) saline fluids (12.8 wt% NaCl equivalent) of the first stage.
The airborne geophysical survey identified 15 anomalies of which 6 are conductive signatures interpreted as potentially reflecting sulphide mineralization. The interpretation and mineral potential of the anomalies was hampered by the lack of geological mapping and other field observations. Follow-up field investigations were recommended to accurately define the source of the anomalies.
The soil survey identified 12 geochemical anomalies of which 5 were base metal anomalies consisting of zinc, ± copper and ± lead. The remaining 7 anomalies consisted of arsenic ± zinc, copper and lead and locally tungsten. Madronna did not report threshold values but the deep overburden overlying the area masked the response of the survey with the highest zinc result returning 304 ppm. The association of arsenic and locally tungsten with many of the anomalies is thought to reflect the possible presence of intrusive-related gold mineralization, although all of the sample results were below the 1 ppm detection limit of the analytical technique used in the testing.
Kennecott's sampling was regional in nature and was completed at a reconnaissance scale across a much larger area encompassing most of their accumulated holdings. The company's program which targeted the gold potential of the area sucessfully identified five mineralized anomalies, two of which area related to this occurrence.
The "Madrona" soil anomaly, located 1.5 km north of this occurrence location, includes a 400 by 500 m area containing 40 to 100 ppb gold on a ridge top overlooking Glacier Creek. Brittle Nasina assemblage quartzites, that are locally bleached and silicified and contain numerous quartz veins, as well as graphitic quartzites with open space vein fault breccia and skarn like mineral assemblages (tremolite-actinolite ± calcite ± magnetite ± rare chalcopyrite) in calc-silicate rocks occur in the vicinity of the anomaly. The best analysis for gold values was from a grab sample of vein fault breccia that returned 35 ppb gold and 2.2 ppm silver.
The "Ferkel" anomaly covers a small (100 by 100 m) area centered on an old trench on the ridge between Glacier and Miller Creeks, 1.8 km south of this occurrence location. Oxidized quartz veinlets, 1 cm or less in width, crosscut decomposed, limonite and manganese oxide stained, locally boxwork textured Nasina assemblage schist. Grab sampling in this area returned a peak value of 2260 ppb gold, the highest value obtained during Kenncott's work in 1999.
Soil sampling results from the Ridge (Ferkel) zone were generally low. Ross figured that the rocks in the area contain considerable graphite and were assayed using 30 element Inductively Couple Plasma - Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) instead of traditional fire assay. It appears the graphite content of the soils and rocks affected the solubility of any contain gold resulting in lower than expected results. Ross also sampled the Walker Folk anomaly which returned anomalous values for gold and arsenic.
Location Map
Last Updated: Sep 12, 2018
Work History
Year | Work Type | Comment |
---|---|---|
2006 | Geochemistry: Rock | Also soil sampling. |
1999 | Airborne Geophysics: Magnetic | Also radiometric survey. Regional program. |
1999 | Geochemistry: Soil | Also silt sampling. |
1999 | Other: Prospecting | |
1998 | Geochemistry: Soil | |
1998 | Geology: Bedrock Mapping | |
1998 | Ground Geophysics: Gravity Survey | |
1998 | Other: Prospecting | |
1997 | Geochemistry: Soil | |
1996 | Airborne Geophysics: Electromagnetic | Also magnetic and radiometric surveys. |
1989 | Trenching | |
1988 | Geochemistry: Soil | |
1988 | Geology: Bedrock Mapping | |
1986 | Trenching | |
1985 | Geochemistry: Soil |
Regional Geology - Terrane
Group: Intermontane
Affinity: W Laurentia
Name: Yukon-Tanana
Realm: peri-Laurentian
Regional Geology - Bedrock
Supergroup:
Group/Suite: Finlayson
Formation:
Member:
Terrane: Yukon-Tanana
Period Max: Devonian
Age Max: 365 MA
Period Min: Carboniferous
Age Min: 345 MA
Rock Major: cl-bi-schist/amphibolite/hb-gneiss/ac-pg-cl-bi-schist/pg-ac-cl-schist/phyllite/quartzite/ultramafics
Rock Minor:
Reference: Mortensen - unpublished compilation
Geological Unit (1M): DMF
Geological Unit (250K): DMF1
Assessment Reports that overlap occurrence
Report Number | Year | Title | Worktypes | Holes Drilled | Meters Drilled |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
096208 | 2010 | SIXTY MILE Property-2010 Geological, Geochemical, Geophysical and Auger, RAB and Diamond Drilling | Gamma-Ray Spectrometry - Airborne Geophysics, Magnetic - Airborne Geophysics, Auger - Drilling, Diamond - Drilling, Rotary - Drilling, Drill Core - Geochemistry, Rock - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Mechanical - Trenching | 443 | 7289.37 |
094055 | 1999 | Report on the 1999 Geological, Geochemical and Geophysical Work on the SIXTY MILE Property | Gamma-Ray Spectrometry - Airborne Geophysics, Magnetic - Airborne Geophysics, Rock - Geochemistry, Silt - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Gravity Survey - Ground Geophysics, Petrographic - Lab Work/Physical Studies, Prospecting - Other, Mechanical - Trenching | ||
094046 | 1999 | 1999 Geological and Geochemical Investigation of the CREEK and UNI Claims | Rock - Geochemistry, Silt - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Prospecting - Other | ||
093792 | 1997 | Geochemical Survey Poker Creek Area | Soil - Geochemistry, Line Cutting - Other, Prospecting - Other | ||
093559 | 1996 | Report on a Combined Helicopter-Borne Electromagnetic, Magnetic and Radiometric Survey, Poker Creek Prospect Uni and Cici Claim Groups, Little Gold Area, Central West Yukon | Electromagnetic - Airborne Geophysics, Gamma-Ray Spectrometry - Airborne Geophysics, Magnetic - Airborne Geophysics | ||
092721 | 1988 | Geological and Geochemical Report on the GLA 1-121 Claims | Rock - Geochemistry, Silt - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Prospecting - Other | ||
091797 | 1985 | Assessment Report for the LGC 1-129 Claims in the Sixty Mile River/Miller Creek Area | Rock - Geochemistry, Silt - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Heavy Mineral Concentrate - Lab Work/Physical Studies, Prospecting - Other | ||
061130 | 1969 | Report on the 1969 Exploration Program in the Sixtymile River Area, Yukon Territory | Diamond - Drilling, Drill Core - Geochemistry, Rock - Geochemistry, Silt - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Mechanical - Trenching | 8 | 431.59 |
060840 | 1969 | Summary Report for the Connaught Mines Ltd.-Sixty Mile Area, Yukon | Cursory Property Visit - Other, Data Compilation - Pre-existing Data |
Related References
Number | Title | Page(s) | Document Type |
---|---|---|---|
1992GeolVol3_16 | Volcanic-hosted epithermal gold-sulphide mineralization and associated enrichment processes, Sixtymile River area, Yukon Territory, Canada | 271-291 | Annual Report Paper |
1996-1(G) | Geological Compilation Maps of the Northern Stewart River Area, Klondike and Sixtymile Districts (115N/15, 16, 115O/13, 14 and Parts of 115O/15, 16) | Open File (Geological - Bedrock) |
Citations |
---|
Glasmacher, U., 1984. Geology, Petrography and Mineralization in the Sixty Mile Area. Unpublished Diploma Thesis, Technical University of Aachen, Germany. |
Mortensen, J.K., 1988. Geology, southwestern Dawson map area, Yukon. Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 1927. |
Mortensen, J.K., 1990. Geology and U-Pub geochronology of the Klondike District, west central Yukon Territory. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, vol. 27, p. 903-914. |