Work History

The earliest staking records show that G.F. Dickson staked Klaza cl 1-21 (56012) in October 1947. Dickson optioned the claims to Conwest Exploration Company Ltd. which reportedly conducted bulldozer trenching in 1948. Dickson re-staked the target as West cl 1-32 (74789) in April 1960.

Re-staked as May cl 1-10 (Y21016), in September 1967 by J. Wheeler, who carried out preliminary soil sampling. In February 1968 Esansee Explorations Ltd. optioned the May claims and in March 1968 staked May cl 11-22 (Y23901).

In June 1968, Esansee Exploration carried out grid soil sampling and a ground electromagnetic survey over Sue cl #3 and May cl 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 14. Following completion of the surveys the company used a bulldozer trench several of the anomalies. Before leaving the property at the end of the month, Esansee Exploration staked fractional Galena cl 1-3 (Y24985) between the May claims and Sue cl #3 and Safety Factor cl 1-13 (Y24988) to the northwest.

In March 1969, Esansee Exploration dug 4 additional bulldozer trenches. The company optioned the remaining Sue claims in May 1969 and likely carried out further trenching and surface exploration later in the year. In 1970, the option on the Sue claims was dropped. In March 1972, following a long legal dispute, the May and the fractional Galena claims were transferred to W. Hyde.

Re-staked as Tawa cl 1-24 (YA48051) in August 1979 by BRX Mining & Petroleum Ltd. which carried out soil geochemical surveys and trenching in June 1980 and collared 7 diamond drill holes (447 m) in June and July 1980. The company added Tawa cl 33-48 (Y50952) in July 1980 and Tawa cl 25-32 (YA51370) and cl 49-72 (YA51378) in September 1980. The claim block stretched northwest and also encompassed the Rico occurrence (MINFILE occurrence 115 080).

In 1981, BRX Mining & Petroleum carried out ground magnetic and electromagnetic VLF geophysical surveys over a grid cut on adjoining Tawa cl 9-12 and 49-52.

Re-staked as Tawa cl 1-24 (YA75263) in October 1982 by T. Hanlon, who transferred the claims back to BRX Mining and Petroleum Ltd. In 1985, the company re-organized and changed its name to Consolidation BRX Mining and Petroleum Ltd.

Chevron Canada Resources Ltd. optioned the property in March 1986 on behalf of Freegold Venture and carried out prospecting, geological mapping, grid soil sampling and an EM-16 geophysical survey in June 1986. Based on results from this program the company staked fractional Tawa cl 25-26 (YA95051) at the end of June 1986 and Tawa cl 27-63 (YA95151) and cl 64-71(YA95301) in July 1986. In August 1986, the company prospected and grid soil sampled portions of the newly staked claims and bulldozed and trenched several previously detected geophysical and geochemical anomalies.

In 1987, Chevron Canada constructed a four-wheel drive road from the Nansen Road to the centre of the property and excavator trenched numerous newly identified geochemical and geophysical targets. In August 1987, the company staked Tawa cl 72-79 (YB06963) and cl 83-90 (YB06971) on the northwest end of their claim block.

In June 1988, Chevron Canada sub-optioned the Tawa claims to BYG Natural Resources Inc., which carried additional excavator trenching and collared 6 diamond drill holes to test the BRX zone. The company also upgraded the access road into the claim block. In 1998, BYG drilled one hole (108.2 m) at the BRX occurrence.

In March 1999, BYG Natural Resources and all their claims were placed into receivership. On January 3, 2005, Tawa cl 1-24 (YA75263) lapsed. The remaining claims lapsed over time with the final claims lapsing on January 3, 2010.

On January 11, 2005, ATAC Resources Ltd. re-staked Tawa cl 1-24 as Klaza cl 1-24 (YC37984). The Klaza claims covered the majority of mineralization discovered to date. In October 2005, ATAC Resources optioned a 75% interest in the claims to Bannockburn Resources Ltd.

In July and August 2006, Bannockburn Resources cut a grid over most of the Klaza claims and carried out an induced polarization ground survey. In July 2007, the company consolidated its shares on the basis of one new share for five old shares. On August 14, 2007 Bannockburn Resources changed its name to Lucara Diamond Corporation. In December 2007, Lucara Diamond sold its interest in the claims to Ishan Resources Ltd. for $25,000.00. In November 2008 Ishan Resources terminated its interest in the claims without performing any work and returned the claims to ATAC Resources who regained 100% interest in the claims.

On November 4, 2009, ATAC Resources optioned 100% interest in the Klaza claims to Rockhaven Resources Ltd. in return for a cash payment and shares in Rockhaven. Rockhaven immediately staked Klaza cl 25-64 (YD9205) to the north, west and south.

Beginning in early June 2010, Rockhaven Resources dug 11 excavator trenches at the BRX zone and extensively chip sampled the west rib of each trench. Based on early assay results the company staked Klaza cl 65-66 (YC99541) in July 2010 and Klaza cl 68-129 (YD07149).

Beginning in late July 2010 and continuing to the end of August 2010 the company drilled 4 diamond drill holes (606.32 m). Rockhaven also flew a helicopter-borne magnetic and gamma-ray spectrometric geophysical program over Klaza claims 1-129 and carried out infill soil sampling over various areas. In September 2010, Rockhaven Resources staked Klaza cl 133-166 (YD072214) and in December 2010 staked Klaza cl 167-308 (YD119737) and cl 309 (YD110502).

During the 2011 field season, Rockhaven Resources drilled 9 diamond drill holes (1,717.25 m) at the BRX occurrence. The company also carried out trenching, additional soil sampling and geological mapping. In July 2011, geophysical contractors flew a high sensitivity helicopter-borne magnetic and gamma ray spectrometric survey as well as orthophoto airphotography.

In 2012, Rockhaven Resources drilled 31 diamond drill holes (9,652.55 m) and dug backhoe trenches. The west rib of the trenches was extensively chip sampled. In December 2012, Rockhaven formalized the purchase of Etzel cl 1-50 from Ansell Capital Corp. The claims are located immediate east of the property and include the Cyprus occurrence (MINFILE occurrence 115I 066).

Exploration carried out in 2013 consisted of excavator trenches and various metallurgical tests.

In 2014, Rockhaven Resources drilled 58 diamond drill holes (10,140.73 m) and carried out bedrock mapping at the BRX occurrence. A ground magnetic and EM geophysical survey was also performed. The company continued conducting various metallurgical tests while preparing an initial resource estimate for the property. In January 2015, the company released an initial 43-101 compliant inferred resource estimate for the Klaza property that included the BRX and Klaza (MINFILE occurrence 115I 067) zones.

In June 2015, Rockhaven Resources released an updated NI 43-101 compliant technical report for the project which contained an expanded section on data verification. Metallurgical testing and drilling of 22 diamond drill holes (6,541.01 m) at BRX were also completed in 2015.

Work in 2016 at BRX by Rockhaven consisted of diamond drilling of 12 holes totaling 2,591.74 m, rock and soil geochemistry, IP ground geophysics, and a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) report. Further drilling of 35 diamond drill holes (5,227.05 m) and metallurgical testing was conducted in 2017.

In June 2018, Rockhaven Resources released an updated NI 43-101 compliant technical report and mineral resource estimate. Further diamond drilling was completed in 2019 and a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) released in July 2020.

Regional & Property Geology

The occurrence is located in the Dawson Range within Yukon-Tanana Terrane (YTT). The rocks of the YTT in this region consist of Early Mississipian metamorphic rocks separated into meta-sedimentary and meta-igneous suites (Stroshein, 1998). The meta-sedimentary suite consists of micaceous quartz-feldspar gneiss, schist and quartzite of the Nasina Assemblage. The meta-igneous package is comprised of biotite-hornblende feldspar gneiss and coarse-grained granodiorite orthogneiss with lesser amphibolite. These basement rocks are cut by numerous plutonic and volcanic events from the Cretaceous and Tertiary.

The oldest exposed unit within the boundaries of the Klaza property is a pluton of the Early Jurassic Long Lake Suite (EJL), which outcrops in the northeast corner. The majority of the property is underlain by coarse-grained, non-foliated Mid-Cretaceous Whitehorse Suite granodiorite (mKW) comprised of 30% hornblende and biotite. A moderate size, quartz-rich granite to quartz monzonite Casino Suite stock (LKq) intrudes the granodiorite in the southeast corner of the property and is thought to be the main heat source for hydrothermal cells responsible for mineralization on the property. A series of northwesterly trending feldspar porphyry dykes (LKfp) emanating from the stock in the southeastern part of the property cut the Whitehorse suite granodiorite in the Klaza occurrence area. These dykes are up to 30 m wide and consist of buff aphanitic groundmass containing up to 15% orthoclase phenocrysts (1 to 2 mm) with minor biotite and rare quartz phenocrysts. The dykes commonly occupy the same structural zones as the mineralized veins and are often strongly fractured. Some veins cross-cut dykes (Turner & Dumala, 2017).

Sub-aerial volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks belonging to the Mount Nansen (mKN) and Carmacks (uKC) volcanics are found on the periphery of the property. These rocks are believed to be extrusive equivalents of the mid and Late Cretaceous intrusions, respectively (Turner & Dumala, 2017).

There are two main fault trends present on the property. The first set strikes northwesterly and dips 60 to 80° to the southwest and although they lack strong topographic expression, these faults are important because they host veins and breccia zones and appear to control distribution of the porphyry dykes. The second set of faults strike northeasterly, almost perpendicular to the primary set and dip sub-vertically. They form prominent topographic linears and offset the mineralized zones in a number of places, creating apparent left lateral displacements of up to 80 m in magnitude (Turner & Dumala, 2017).

Nine separate mineralized structural zones have been discovered on the Klaza property. These zones developed northwest of the nearby Cyprus porphyry system (MINFILE occurrence 115I 066) and collectively form a 4 km long by 2 km wide corridor that cuts northwesterly through Mid-Cretaceous granodiorite country rocks. The nine zones range in width from 1 to 100 m and are usually associated with porphyry dykes. Veins, sheeted veinlets and some tabular breccia bodies host disseminate to semi-massive pyrite, arsenopyrite, galena, sphalerite, stibnite and jamesonite in quartz, carbonate and barite gangue. The host granodiorite exhibits pervasive weak argillic alteration immediately adjacent to and up to 30 m peripherally to them. Sericitization and potassic alteration are developed directly adjacent to hydrothermal channel ways (Turner & Dumala, 2017). 

Mineralization & Results

Mineralization at the BRX zone is present as pyrite ± arsenopyrite ± galena ± sphalerite ± chalcopyrite ± sulphosalts hosted within quartz veins and vein zones. These sulphide-rich veins zones are present along the margins of a laterally extensive northwest striking and moderately to steeply southwest dipping feldspar porphyry dyke and increase in intensity where the dyke bifurcates.

The BRX occurrence has been traced for 2,400 m along strike to a depth of 520 m down dip and has been separated into three distinct mineralized zones off-set vertically along a major cross-fault. These mineralized zones are:
1. Western BRX: The Western BRX zone consists of quartz veins and vein zones containing pyrite, arsenopyrite, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and sulphosalts mineralization. Carbonate gangue facies in these veins largely comprises manganiferous carbonates.
2. Central BRX: The Central BRX zone consists of veins and vein zones containing dominantly quartz, pyrite and iron-rich carbonates, such as ankerite and siderite. Pyrite, sphalerite and galena are the main sulphide minerals with absent to trace arsenopyrite and sulphosalts.
3. Eastern BRX: The Eastern BRX zone is comprised of a series of closely spaced, narrow, sub-parallel veins and vein zones dominated by quartz, pyrite and minor chalcopyrite. Little arsenopyrite, galena and sphalerite as been noted in the Eastern BRX zone.

Historical trenching at BRX has returned peak values of 28.11 g/t Au over 2.0 m and 1,289.14 g/t Ag across 1.70 m. The majority of trenched exposures grade between 3 and 6 g/t Au with 20 to 200 g/t Ag across 1 to 2 m widths. Selected specimens of galena rich mineralization collected in 1988 returned 1.65 to 58.35 g/t Au, 2403.43 to 4985.83 g/t Ag with 50 to 55% Pb (AR 094743). More recent trenching between 2010 and 2014 conducted by Rockhaven Resources returned significant intercepts including 87.0 g/t Au and 768 g/t Ag over 1.15 m in TR-13-47 and 71.4 g/t Au and 1,310 g/t Ag over 2.25 m in TR-13-58 from the Western BRX zone.

Diamond drilling of seven holes in 1980 by BRX Mining indicated the presence of gold and silver with the highest grade section returning 0.715 oz/ton Au and 1.46 oz/ton Ag over 1.5 m in hole 80-6 (AR 090692). Follow-up drilling was conducted in 1988 with the most significant intersection assaying 0.176 oz/ton Au and 3.79 oz/ton Ag over 1.36 m in hole 88-6.

Further diamond drilling has been conducted at the BRX occurrence by Rockhaven Resources between 2010 and 2019. The best intervals from the Central BRX Zone came from KL-14-197, which graded 6.76 g/t Au and 978 g/t Ag over 0.73 m; KL-11-29, which returned 3.29 g/t Au and 407 g/t Ag over 3.00 m; and KL-17-428, which returned 7.76 g/t Au, 641 g/t Ag, 1.922% Pb and 1.367% Zn over 2.16 m (AR 096748; Rockhaven News Release, 16 Nov/2017). Two of the best intercepts in the Western BRX zone were in the deepest holes, KL-12-96 and KL-14-238. KL-12-96 intersected two veins grading 25.1 g/t Au and 621 g/t Ag over 2.32 m and 10.55 g/t Au and 92.7 g/t Ag over 2.90 m. KL-14-238 intersected multiple veins within an 18.5 m interval that averaged 2.19 g/t Au and 120 g/t Ag with the highest interval returning 16.29 g/t Au and 1,435 g/t Ag over 1.37 m (AR 096748). Drilling in 2017 at Western BRX returned significant intercepts including 16.0 g/t Au, 271 g/t Ag, 3.26% Pb and 1.917% Zn over 2.18 m in KL-17-407 and 56.18 g/t Au, 290 g/t Ag, 1.438% Pb and 1.632% Zn over 1.19 m (Rockhaven News Release, 16 Nov/2017). The best intersection the Eastern BRX zone came from hole KL-12-114 which returned 11.30 g/t Au and 233 g/t Ag over 1.52 m (AR 096748).

In June, 2018, Rockahaven produced a resource estimate for the Klaza Project. The estimate was calculated for the Western Klaza, Western BRX, Central Klaza, and Central BRX zones and classified as Pit Constrained and Underground. The combined Pit Constrained and Underground indicated resource is 3,457,000 tones grading 4.8 g/t gold, 98 g/t silver, 0.7% lead and 0.9% zinc. The combined Pit Constrained and Underground inferred resource is 5,714,000 tones grading 2.8 g/t gold, 76 g/t silver, 0.6% lead and 0.7% zinc.