Work History
Mineralization was originally noted in the region by the Geological Survey of Canada in 1961. The occurrence was first covered by claims (Blende cl 16-88) in 1984 by Canadian Nickel Co. Ltd., but received no work that year. The claims lapsed and in 1988, NDU Resources Ltd staked Blende cl 67-104 (YB03051), which covered the occurrence. In 1989, the company mapped the area and rock sampled near the occurrence. Billiton Metals Canada Inc optioned the claims in 1990, but performed no work on the occurrence. The claims subsequently lapsed.
Eagle Plains Resources Ltd restaked over the occurrence (Trix cl 47-56; YC32293) in 2004 and explored the area for Mississippi Valley Type mineralization with the aid of a Yukon Mining Incentives Program (YMIP) grant. The program aimed to verify stream sediment anomalies and identify the source of the high-grade lead and zinc float previously identified. The company carried out geologic mapping, silt and soil sampling and prospecting. The company reached an option agreement with Shoshone Silver Mining Company whereby Shoshone could earn a 60% interest in the entire property. The option was terminated in May/2005.
In Aug/2005 Eagle Plains optioned the property to Blind Creek Resources Ltd, which accessed a YMIP grant and carried out relogging of historic core, prospecting and verification of drill collar locations using GPS. The company also undertook a short helicopter-borne gravity survey of the area. The 2005 program aimed to better identify and define the geology and mineralization of the area. The source of copper mineralization discovered in float in 2004 was located and soil geochemistry extended the anomalous horizon eastward.
 
In 2006, Blind Creek carried out prospecting in the area. Mineralized float over the showing was followed for 250 m along strike. In 2007 the company carried out the first drilling at the showing from one pad: 3 diamond drillholes (AR095641) and carried out limited mapping and prospecting. In 2009, Blind Creek Resources finalized the purchasing agreement for the Blende from Eagle Plains Resources and assumed 100% interest in the property.  In 2019, a heritage resource overview and impact assessment was carried out across the entire property.

Regional & Property Geology
The Far East Zone is along trend with the Blende deposit, a zinc-lead-silver Mississippi Valley deposit (MINFILE 106D 064) on the south edge of the Mackenzie Platform, hosted by Lower Proterozoic Gillespie Lake Group dolomite. The Gillespie Lake Group is a 1200 m thick sequence of interbedded clastic and carbonate sedimentary rocks that transitions upward from deep water mudstones to shallow water stromatolitic dolomite. Extension after deposition led to the deposition of Late Proterozoic sedimentary rocks in small local basins. Paleozoic limestone and dolomite unconformably overlie these strata. Mesoproterozoic Hart River gabbro and diorite sills cross-cut stratigraphy.

The dominant structures in the area are broad folds and east-striking, south-dipping thrust faults, likely related to the Late Mesozoic to Early Tertiary Laramide Orogeny. The folds generally plunge gently to the east and overprint at least one phase of earlier folding. The occurrence lies immediately north of the regional scale Kathleen Lakes Fault Zone. Pre-mineralization tectonism folded the rocks into a broad SE plunging anticline which developed a strong axial plane fabric that controlled later shearing and brecciation within the thick bedded dolostones in the Gillespie Lake Group. 

Mineralization & Results
The host rock for mineralization at the Far East Zone is stromatolitic dolomite that is variably veined and brecciated +/- quartz . Mineralization is concentrated in steeply southwest dipping lenses (65-80 degrees) and consists principally of sphalerite, galena, tetrahedrite and pyrite with rare chalcopyrite. In the weathered areas it is mainly smithsonite, hydrozincite, anglesite and limonite.

The occurrence was first identified in 1989 (AR 092795) as a scattering of hydrozincite-stained boulders in two 25 m wide float trains within a broad talus fan at the head of a cirque. Boulders containing galena and sphalerite in fractures returned up to 8.59% Pb, 17.6% Zn and 31.5 g/t Ag. Stream sediment samples collected downstream from it returned some of the highest lead and zinc values in the area.

Eagle Plains Resources’ 2004 program uncovered the first in-situ mineral showing, which assayed 13.2% Zn (sample TTBNR002; YMIP 2004-072) in a continuous chip sample over 0.5 m.
 
The first drillholes  (BE07112 to BE07114) at the zone were completed in 2007 as part of a larger drill program. Drilling encountered heavily altered massive to laminated dolomitic siltstone. Alteration products included hematite, talc(?), and serpentine(?). Hart River mafic intrusive rocks were intersected in all holes. The intrusive rocks have altered contacts but were seemingly not affected by the large scale alteration of the dolomitic siltstone. Two of the three holes intersected significant mineralization: BE07112 – 3.0 m of 1.6% combined lead-zinc and BE07114 – 6.0 m of 1.3% combined lead-zinc and second intersection of 1.0 m of 4.3% combined lead-zinc. Lead to zinc ratios are low and there are no elevated silver or copper values.

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Assessment Reports that overlap occurrence

Report Number	Year	Title	Worktypes	Holes Drilled	Meters Drilled
097217	2018	Assessment Report Describing Heritage Resource Overview & Impact Assessments of the Blende Property	Heritage/Archeological - Studies
095641	2007	Diamond Drilling, Geological and Geochemical Report for the Blende Property	Diamond - Drilling, Drill Core - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Prospecting - Other	15	3410.90
094955	2006	Diamond Drilling, Geological and Geochemical Report for the Blende Property	Diamond - Drilling, Drill Core - Geochemistry, Rock - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology	23	5550.40
094971	2005	Geological Report for the Target Evaluation 05-043, Blende Deposit Area - Far East Zone	Gravity - Airborne Geophysics, Reverse Circulation - Airborne Geophysics, Rock - Geochemistry, Rock - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Prospecting - Other, Research/Summarize - Pre-existing Data
093005	1991	Assessment Report, Blende 123-169, Fr 1-28 and Zinc 1-48 Claims	Diamond - Drilling, Drill Core - Geochemistry	62	11525.10
092942	1990	Assessment Report, Blende 1-128 and Fr. 1-28 Claims]	Diamond - Drilling, Drill Core - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Environmental Assessment/Impact - Studies	15	3659.70
092795	1989	Blende Property 1989 Final Report	Diamond - Drilling, Drill Core - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology, EM - Ground Geophysics	3	720.32