Occurrence Details


Occurrence Number:
105F 093
Occurrence Name:
Higrade
Occurrence Type:
Hard-rock
Status:
Prospect
Date printed:
4/29/2025 7:46:37 AM

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General Information
Capsule
Work History
Assessment Reports
References
Resource / Reserve

General Information

Primary Commodities: gold, lead, silver, zinc
Aliases: Groundhog, Lorne
Deposit Type(s): Sediment hosted Sedimentary Exhalative Zn-Pb-Ag (Sedex)
Location(s): 61°36'15" N - -132°51'10" W
NTS Mapsheet(s): 105F10
Location Comments: .5 Kilometres
Hand Samples Available: No
Last Reviewed:

Capsule

Work History

Staked as Jeff cl 1-4 (YA45703) in Aug/79 by Pete & Harry Versluce, who prospected and sampled in 1980. N. Hennel staked a single Hi Grade claim (YA45137) on the east side of the Jeff claims at about the same time. An unknown person tied on Jim cl 1-2, to the south in Sep/79. 
The Seagull Joint Venture (Great Western Petroleum Corporation & Lornex Mining Corporation) tied on Lorne cl 1-55 (YA58134) to the north, in Apr/81 to cover a GSC geochemical anomaly. The joint venture group performed mapping and geochemical sampling later in the year. 
In May/86, Yukon Minerals Corporation optioned the Hi Grade and Jeff claims and surrounded them with HV cl 1-348 (YA99558). The company performed hand trenching later in the year. In 1987 Yukon Minerals joint ventured with Perrex Resources Ltd and in Mar/87 they staked MPR cl 1-152 (YB00020) to the south. Later in the year the group carried out geological mapping and hand and bulldozer trenching. 
In 1988 Yukon Minerals and Perrex continued geological mapping, prospecting and bulldozer and backhoe trenching programs on the MPR claims. On the Jeff claims Yukon Minerals drilled 6 diamond drill holes (204 m). The company also collected an 18.81 tonne bulk sample from the Hi Grade occurrence (this occurrence), which was shipped to the smelter in Trail, British Columbia. Yukon Minerals continued prospecting and mapping in 1989, and conducted further trenching in 1990. 
Restaked as Pete cl 1-5 (YB59278) by Apr/95 by R. Berdahl. B. Kreft staked Rob cl 1 (YB60943) 3 km to the south in Aug/95 and explored the claim with hand trenching and rock sampling. In Sept/95 Kreft staked Rob cl 2 (YB61380) 1.5 km to the south and Rob cl 3 (YB61471) 2 km to the northwest. In Oct/95 T. Arsenault staked Fuss cl 1 (YB70838) on the east side and Fuss cl 2 (YB70839) on the west side of Rob claim 3. 
In Jun/2000, A. Bordeleau restaked a portion of Berdahl's expired Pete claim block, with a single Pete claim (YB92702). 
Claims overlying the occurrence were restaked in late 2007 by Strategic Metals Ltd. Rockhaven bought the property from Strategic in November 2008. Rockhaven performed prospecting and soil sampling over the property in 2009.

Capsule Geology

The occurrence is located southwest of the Tintina Fault Zone in the Cassiar Terrane (Platform). The Cassiar Terrane is a curvilinear shelf which formed, between mid-Cambrian to Silurian time, roughly parallel to the western edge of the North American craton, but separated from it by the Selwyn Basin. Shallow water deposition on the platform continued until Late Devonian time. Block faulting and local uplift during the Late Devonian and Mississippian resulted in deposition of carbonaceous shale, chert pebble conglomerate and local felsic igneous activity in the Selwyn Basin and across the Cassiar Terrane. 
The Ketza-Seagull district is underlain by thick (400 m or greater) successions of predominantly calcareous sedimentary rocks, with lesser clastic sediments and volcanic rocks, ranging in age from lower Cambrian to Mississippian. Fault structures within the calcareous units are host to veins containing argentiferous galena and gold rich mantos. The latter occur below an unconformity within lower Cambrian limestone and the former occur throughout the calcareous members above the unconformity. Fonseca (1998) attributes the Ketza (Minfile Occurrence #105F 019) gold rich manto, magnetite-gold skarns and oxide gold occurrences and deposits to mineralizing fluids ascending D4 extensional event structures. A similar event, possibly associated with the Seagull Uplift, may be responsible for mineralized structures in the Seagull Creek area (this occurrence area). The source for the fluids is unknown. The only igneous rocks exposed in the immediate area are Mississippian age volcanic and intrusive rocks which have no spatial association with the ore bodies (Abbott, 1986). A small, mid- Cretaceous stock is exposed in the central portions of the Seagull Uplift and the area is cut by numerous mafic dykes. There is sufficient evidence to suggest mid-Cretaceous intrusions sit unexposed beneath the Ketza-Seagull Arch which may have provided the structural extension - uplift and heat source for driving the mineralizing fluids. 
Most mineral occurrences found in the Seagull Lakes area consist of northerly trending Ag-Pb-Zn bearing veins and breccias hosted by Silurian-Devonian dolomite. Despite its name the Higrade occurrence is actually located on the former Jeff claims. Abbott (1986) on his map of the area labelled the Higrade occurrence the 'Lorne' (#100), while Yukon Minerals referred to it as the Jill occurrence. Abbott reported that galena is found in boulders of massive sulphide float up to 30 cm across, in narrow fracture fillings, and as blebs up to 3 cm across in dolomite. The occurrence consists of three north striking veins dipping 55 degrees east. The main showing has a vein width which varies but seldom exceeds 30 cm. A 3 m chip sample by Yukon Minerals in 1986 assayed 3 723.3 g/t Ag, while specimens assayed in 1987 returned up to 11 828.3 g/t Ag and 71.8% Pb. The best result from the 1988 diamond drilling was 512.6 g/t Ag, 9.78 % Pb, 9.55 % Zn, 341 ppb Au and 0.19% Cu (Fowler, 1988) from a limonite (70%)-dolomite core rubble. 
Exploration work completed by Yukon Minerals on the Jeff claims as part of their HV property, outlined the PN and Lucky-MF zones, located approximately 450 m northeast of this occurrence. The PN zone is a series of narrow anastomosing galena veins where Yukon Minerals blocked out 3 157 tonnes of drill-indicated and probable reserves grading 471.08 g/t Ag, 9.90% Pb and 5.25% Zn. The zone averages less than 50 cm wide but has been traced on surface for over 35 m and has been drill tested to a depth of 22 m below surface. The veins consist of 70-90% galena, 5-20% freibergite, up to 3% chalcopyrite, up to 5% pyrite, 5-20% limonite and minor sphalerite. Moderate sericitization and silicification extends up to 1 metre into the wallrock. The Lucky-MF zone is a similar vein fault, located 150 m east of the PN zone with reserves calculated at 7 954 tonnes grading 186.86 g/t Ag, 3.40% Pb, 5.22% Zn and 0.14 g/t Au. 
On the MPR claims nine mineralized zones were identified and explored. Three types of mineralization are described by Davidson (1988) and Nicholson (1989); stratiform type, hydrothermal Ag-Pb-Zn veins and replacements in carbonates and Au-Ag-As mineralization in the phyllites (JT zone). At the Geo zone, a Cambrian phyllite hosts banded galena, sphalerite and chalcopyrite in a siliceous barite horizon over a width of 3 m and a strike length of 400 m (Nicholson, 1989). Rock samples from the HO zone, on the MPR claims, averaged 839.9 g/t Ag, 21.1% Pb and 5.2% Zn. (Nicholson, 1989). A grab sample from the SP zone yielded 1 714 g/t Ag and 71.5% Pb (Davidson, 1988). 
Exploration work in 1990 by Yukon Minerals on the HV property, outlined the Otter zone, located approximately 2 km to the southwest. The Otter zone is a galena-bearing dolomite breccia exposed in Trench 90-G (located at the junction of HV cl 18, and MPR cls 110 and 112). A 1.5 m chip sample across this zone returned 16.5% Pb, 0.99% Zn and 95 g/t Ag. 
In 1988, a 52.56 tonne bulk sample from the PN zone was shipped to the smelter in Trail BC. It reportly returned grades of 4 106.7 g/t Ag, 0.07% Cu, 5.46% Pb and 3.45% Zn . Composite samples collected by Berdahl in 1995, from approximately 12 tons of previously bagged hand cobbled high-grade material stored at the Higrade occurrence (now staked within the Pete claims) returned an average grade of 3 755 g/t Ag, 1.25% Cu, 66.9% Pb, and 0.48% Zn (Berdahl, May/96). 
Kreft (1995) explored the Rob 1 and Rob 2 claims and successfully located new NW trending galena-tetrahedrite veins carrying sub-economic grades of silver (Kreft, Mar/96a, Kreft Mar/96b). 
Rockhaven identified a broad anomalous zone of gold and arsenic in soils on the property, which they named the Aztek zone. The anomalous zone is 2000 m by 1400 m and assays 25 to 327 ppb Au and 77 to 1940 ppm As over a dolomite unit. Grab samples of limonitic dolomite rubble within the zone assayed up to 1.81 g/t Au, 486 g/t Ag, 14.9% Pb and 0.75% Zn.

References

ALBERTA STOCK EXCHANGE, 1989. News Release. 

BERDAHL, R.S., May/96. Assessment Report #093466 by R.S. Berdahl. 

GEORGE CROSS NEWSLETTER, 26 Jul/90. 

GREAT WESTERN PETROLEUM CORPORATION, Dec/81. Assessment Report #090979 by L.K. Eccles. 

KREFT, B., 1996a. Assessment Report #093395 by B. Kreft. 

KREFT, B., 1996b. Assessment Report #093396 by B. Kreft. 

KREFT, B., Feb/96. Assessment Report *#093397 by B. Kreft. 

ROCKHAVEN RESOURCES LTD., News Release, 30 Nov 2009. 

YUKON MINERALS CORPORATION, Jun/87. Prospectus, p. 12. 

YUKON MINERALS CORPORATION, Feb/88. Assessment Report #092124 by G.S. Davidson. 

YUKON MINERALS CORPORATION, Nov/88. Assessment Report #092097 by G.S. Davidson. 

YUKON MINERALS CORPORATION, 1988. Assessment Report #092539 by B. Fowler. 

YUKON MINERALS CORPORATION, Jan/89. Assessment Report #092658 by G. Nicholson. 

YUKON MINERALS CORPORATION, Jan/91. Assessment Report *#092907 by G.S. Davidson. 

YUKON MINERALS CORPORATION and PERREX RESOURCES LTD, Dec/88. Assessment Report #093042 by B.P. Fowler. 

YUKON EXPLORATION 1987, p. 156; 1989, p. 44. 

YUKON EXPLORATION & GEOLOGY 1981, p. 130. 

YUKON MINING & EXPLORATION OVERVIEW 1988, p. 23-24.

 

Work History

Date Work Type Comment
6/1/2020 Geochemistry
6/1/2020 Geology
6/1/2020 Geochemistry
6/1/2010 Trenching
6/1/2010 Geochemistry
6/1/2010 Geology
6/1/2010 Geochemistry
6/1/2009 Geology
6/1/2009 Other
6/1/2008 Geochemistry
6/1/2008 Geology
6/1/2008 Geochemistry
6/1/2008 Airborne Geophysics
6/1/2008 Airborne Geophysics
6/1/1995 Trenching
6/1/1995 Geochemistry
6/1/1988 Airphotography
6/1/1988 Ground Geophysics
6/1/1987 Geochemistry
6/1/1987 Ground Geophysics
6/1/1987 Ground Geophysics
6/1/1987 Ground Geophysics
6/1/1981 Geochemistry
12/31/2009 Geochemistry
12/31/1995 Geochemistry Both Berdahl and Kreft collected rock samples from their respective claims.
12/31/1990 Trenching
12/31/1989 Geology Worked performed by Yukon Minerals on MPR claims.
12/31/1989 Other Worked performed by Yukon Minerals on MPR claims.
12/31/1988 Geochemistry Amount of work done: 18.81 TONNES Sample shipped to Trail, B.C.
12/31/1988 Drilling Number of holes drilled: 6 Amount of work done: 204 METRES
12/31/1988 Geology
12/31/1988 Trenching
12/31/1988 Other
12/31/1987 Geology
12/31/1987 Trenching
12/31/1987 Trenching
12/31/1986 Trenching
12/31/1981 Geology
12/31/1981 Geochemistry
12/31/1981 Geochemistry
12/31/1981 Other
12/31/1980 Other
12/31/1980 Other

Assessment Reports that overlap occurrence

Report Number Year Title Worktypes Holes Drilled Meters Drilled
095171 2010 Assessment Report Describing Geological Mapping, Prospecting, Hand Trenching and Geochemical Sampling at the Groundhog Property Rock - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Backhoe - Trenching
095104 2008 General Mapping, Prospecting, Geochemical Sampling and Geophysical Surveys at the Groundhog Property Electromagnetic - Airborne Geophysics, Magnetic - Airborne Geophysics, Rock - Geochemistry, Silt - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology
093395 1995 Assessment Report on Rob #1 Mineral Claim Rock - Geochemistry, Backhoe - Trenching
093466 1995 General Prospecting Report on the Highgrade Property Rock - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry
093396 1995 Assessment Report on Rob #2 Mineral Claim Rock - Geochemistry, Backhoe - Trenching
093397 1995 Assessment Report on Rob #3 Mineral Claim Rock - Geochemistry, Backhoe - Trenching
093042 1988 Ketza Project 1988 Regional Program Diamond - Drilling, Diamond - Drilling, Rock - Geochemistry, Rock - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry, Water - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Detailed Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Regional Bedrock Mapping - Geology, EM - Ground Geophysics, Prospecting - Other, Surveying - Other, Photogrammetry - Remote Sensing, Resource Estimate - Studies, Backhoe - Trenching, Backhoe - Trenching, Mechanical - Trenching 90 4572
092539 1988 Diamond drilling on the Ketza Project Diamond - Drilling, Rock - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology, Backhoe - Trenching 45 2286
092096 1987 Geological, Geochemical & Geophysical Report on the Ram 1-178 & Mat 1-12 Mineral Claims Soil - Geochemistry, Bedrock Mapping - Geology, EM - Ground Geophysics, IP - Ground Geophysics, Magnetics - Ground Geophysics
090979 1981 Geochemical Report on the Lorne Claims (Lorne Group) Rock - Geochemistry, Silt - Geochemistry, Soil - Geochemistry

Related References

Number Title Page(s) Reference Type Document Type
ARMC001806 Area A maps - Ketza project Property File Collection Geoscience Map (Geological - Bedrock)
ARMC001807 Area B maps - Ketza project Property File Collection Geoscience Map (Geological - Bedrock)
ARMC001808 Area C maps- Ketza project Property File Collection Geoscience Map (Geological - Bedrock)
ARMC004447 Map collection - Ketza project - Area A Property File Collection Geoscience Map (Geological - Bedrock)
ARMC004448 Map collection - Ketza project - Area B Property File Collection Geoscience Map (Geological - Bedrock)
ARMC004449 Map collection - Ketza project - Area C Property File Collection Geoscience Map (Geological - Bedrock)
ARMC004957 Map showing location of Tet, Rio and Cone claims - Ketza River area Property File Collection Geoscience Map (General)
ARMC004958 Report on progress of exploration - Cone group Property File Collection Report
ARMC004959 Assay certificate - Cone group Property File Collection Assays
ARMC004960 Report on programme of Pelly Minerals syndicate Property File Collection Report
ARMC004961 Notes and sketch map on the Pelly Minerals project Property File Collection Miscellaneous Company Documents
ARMC004962 Correspondence Re: Pelly Mineral syndicate properties Property File Collection Miscellaneous Company Documents
ARMC008864 Combined progress reports for November and December, 1966 Property File Collection News Release
ARMC008865 Correspondence Re: Ketza claims - Silver Key Mines Property File Collection Geoscience Map (Geological - Bedrock)
ARMC008866 Correspondence and sketch maps Re: Stump Mines Ltd. - Silver Key Mines - Ketza River project Property File Collection Miscellaneous Company Documents
ARMC008867 Map - Ketza River project - Ross River area, Yukon Property File Collection Miscellaneous Company Documents
ARMC008868 News clippings: Pelly mineral syndicate Property File Collection Geoscience Map (General)
ARMC008869 Correspondence Re: Pelly River properties Property File Collection Miscellaneous Company Documents
ARMC008870 Correspondence Re: Pelly River properties - Dr. Aho Property File Collection Miscellaneous Company Documents
ARMC008871 Assay certificate - Pelly minerals venture Property File Collection Assays
ARMC008872 Assay certificate - Pelly minerals Property File Collection Assays
ARMC008873 Correspondence Re: Pelly minerals project Property File Collection Miscellaneous Company Documents
ARMC008874 Notes - Pelly minerals project Property File Collection Miscellaneous Company Documents
ARMC008875 Notes - Pelly minerals Property File Collection Miscellaneous Company Documents
ARMC008876 Report on progress of exploration - Pelly Minerals project Property File Collection Report
ARMC008877 Report on progress of exploration - Pelly Minerals project Property File Collection Report
ARMC008878 Report on progress of exploration - Pelly Minerals project Property File Collection Report
ARMC008879 Correspondence Re: Pelly minerals project Property File Collection Miscellaneous Company Documents
ARMC008880 Map showing location of Tet, Rio and Cone claims - Ketza River area Property File Collection Geoscience Map (General)
ARMC008881 Report on programme of Pelly Minerals Syndicate Property File Collection Report
ARMC008882 Map - Cone No. 1 mineral claim Property File Collection Geoscience Map (General)
ARMC008883 Correspondence Re: Pelly River project Property File Collection Miscellaneous Company Documents
ARMC008885 Correspondence Re: Acquired claim groups - Pelly River project Property File Collection Miscellaneous Company Documents
09-161 Assessment Report describing Geological Mapping, Prospecting, Hand Trenching and Geochemical Sampling at the Groundhog Property Yukon Government: Energy, Mines and Resources YMEP Report
95-017 Summary of 6 Prospecting Trips to Groundhog Creek, Rain Claims, Cody\Ruby, Stewart River and Rancheria Areas Yukon Government: Energy, Mines and Resources YMEP Report
88-006 Ketza Project 1988 Regional Program Yukon Government: Energy, Mines and Resources YMEP Report
87-018 1987 Geological, Geochemical & Geophysical Report on the Ram 1-758 & Mat 1-12 Mineral Claims Yukon Government: Energy, Mines and Resources YMEP Report

Resource/Reserve

Year Zone Type Commodity Grade Tonnage Amount Reported Amount 43-101 Compliant Cut-off
1988 HIGRADE - LUCKY-MF ZONE RESERVES (UNDERGROUND) Historical Estimate gold .14 g/t 7,954 1113.56 No No Unknown
Company labeled these reserves probable, possible and drill indicated. Does not meet National Instrument 43-101 standards. Calculated from surface sampling and 6 drill holes. In Report on 1988 Exploration Program Ketza Project, Yukon Minerals -Perrex Resources Joint Venture. YEIP 88-006, Volume 2, p. 36. Available in EMR Library.
1988 HIGRADE - LUCKY-MF ZONE RESERVES (UNDERGROUND) Historical Estimate lead 3.4 % 7,954 No No Unknown
Company labeled these reserves probable, possible and drill indicated. Does not meet National Instrument 43-101 standards. Calculated from surface sampling and 6 drill holes. In Report on 1988 Exploration Program Ketza Project, Yukon Minerals -Perrex Resources Joint Venture. YEIP 88-006, Volume 2, p. 36. Available in EMR Library.
1988 HIGRADE - PN ZONE RESERVES (UNDERGROUND) Historical Estimate lead 9.9 % 3,157 No No Unknown
Company labeled these reserves probable and drill indicated. Does not meet National Instrument 43-101 standards. Calculated from surface sampling and 6 drill holes. Diluted to a minimum mining width of 1.22 m. In Report on 1988 Exploration Program Ketza Project, Yukon Minerals -Perrex Resources Joint Venture. YEIP 88-006, Volume 2, p. 33. Available in EMR Library.
1988 HIGRADE - LUCKY-MF ZONE RESERVES (UNDERGROUND) Historical Estimate silver 186.86 g/t 7,954 1486284.44 No No Unknown
Company labeled these reserves probable, possible and drill indicated. Does not meet National Instrument 43-101 standards. Calculated from surface sampling and 6 drill holes. In Report on 1988 Exploration Program Ketza Project, Yukon Minerals -Perrex Resources Joint Venture. YEIP 88-006, Volume 2, p. 36. Available in EMR Library.
1988 HIGRADE - PN ZONE RESERVES (UNDERGROUND) Historical Estimate silver 471.08 g/t 3,157 1487199.56 No No Unknown
Company labeled these reserves probable and drill indicated. Does not meet National Instrument 43-101 standards. Calculated from surface sampling and 6 drill holes. Diluted to a minimum mining width of 1.22 m. In Report on 1988 Exploration Program Ketza Project, Yukon Minerals -Perrex Resources Joint Venture. YEIP 88-006, Volume 2, p. 33. Available in EMR Library.
1988 HIGRADE - LUCKY-MF ZONE RESERVES (UNDERGROUND) Historical Estimate zinc 5.22 % 7,954 No No Unknown
Company labeled these reserves probable, possible and drill indicated. Does not meet National Instrument 43-101 standards. Calculated from surface sampling and 6 drill holes. In Report on 1988 Exploration Program Ketza Project, Yukon Minerals -Perrex Resources Joint Venture. YEIP 88-006, Volume 2, p. 36. Available in EMR Library.
1988 HIGRADE - PN ZONE RESERVES (UNDERGROUND) Historical Estimate zinc 5.25 % 3,157 No No Unknown
Company labeled these reserves probable and drill indicated. Does not meet National Instrument 43-101 standards. Calculated from surface sampling and 6 drill holes. Diluted to a minimum mining width of 1.22 m. In Report on 1988 Exploration Program Ketza Project, Yukon Minerals -Perrex Resources Joint Venture. YEIP 88-006, Volume 2, p. 33. Available in EMR Library.