Work History

The claim block (Val cl 1-318, YA30884) covering the occurrence was staked in July and Aug 1978 by Prism Joint Venture (Asamera Oil Corporation, Chieftain Development Company Ltd, Prism Resources Ltd, Siebens Oil and Gas Ltd and E & B Exploration Ltd). In 1979, Dome Petroleum Ltd. replaced Siebens in the joint venture, and staked Val cl 319-376 (YA40125). Dome dropped its interest and E & B Exploration's interest was transferred to Imperial Metals Ltd in 1983. In October 1997, 15966 Yukon Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Manson Creek Resources Ltd., staked Rusty cl 1-131 (YB99989) surrounding the Vera claims and forming one contiguous block of claims. A regional airborne geophysical survey was conducted over the Val-Vera claim block in 2001 (no report available). In 2010, Strategic Metals Ltd. re-staked the area as Rusty 1-344, including the claim underlying A-Zone.

Regional & Property Geology

The A-Zone showing is located at the southern edge of the Mackenzie Platform, a predominantly shallow water carbonate and clastic sequence that formed on the western margin of the North American craton during Lower Proterozoic through Paleozoic times. The regional geology consists of Upper Proterozoic Rapitan(?) Group mudstones overlain by Upper Proterozoic Profeit Formation dolostones and Upper Proterozoic Nadaleen Formation silty limestone. Over these units are minor clastic and carbonate rocks of the Neoproterozoic to Lower Cambrian Hyland Group. Lower Paleozoic platform carbonates unconformably overlie these units. The southern portion of the historical Val (Rusty) claims associated with the A-Zone occurrence is regionally correlated with Upper Proterozoic Hyland Group and Upper Cambrian to Lower Devonian Bouvette Formation. Collectively, this succession comprises mostly dolostone, quartzite and shale.

The following property description is summarized from Prism’s work in 1979 and 1980 (Sivertz, 1981):
 
Several distinct units of dolostone occur on the property. A unit referred to as the Val dolostone hosts many of the known showings on the historical Val claims, including the A-Zone occurrence. This unit is characterized by a zebra texture which features alternating light and dark layers. It commonly contains white, sparry dolomite veins and veinlets. Overlying the Val dolostone is a distinct, orange weathering dolostone, which is considered to be a marker horizon that is readily traceable in areas of good outcrop exposure. The units in the southern part of the property trend northwesterly, and dip to the northeast at roughly 40° to 60°. A number of northeasterly trending faults are present in the area, with displacements of up to 500 m.

Mineralization & Results
 
The A-Zone is a small showing on the west bank of the main creek that drains to the south. It was discovered by Prism in 1979 or 1980. It comprises dolostone-hosted quartz veins that are weakly mineralized with galena and oxide.
 
A grab sample taken in 1979 assayed 59.1% Pb, 0.4% Zn, and 56.5 oz/ton (1937.2 g/t) Ag. A 1998 grab samples (#386898) ran 27.14% Pb, 17.56% Zn, and 25.93 oz/ton (889 g/t) Ag with 245 ppm Cu, 2291 ppm As, and 644 ppm Sb. A sample composed of brecciated fractured grey dolomite with sparry dolomite-smithsonite veinlets was taken from the north side of the outcrop (#386897), which assayed 801 ppm Cu, 6474 ppm Pb, 38,772 ppm Zn and 0.72 oz/ton (24.7 g/t) Ag (AR 093968).
 
Strategic visited the showing in 2010. Historical bulldozer trenches were examined, but sloughing had covered up any vein exposures. A small hand trench dug by Strategic successfully exposed a highly oxidized quartz vein. A chip sample of this assayed 128 g/t silver, 3.82% lead, and 3.10% zinc over 0.21 m (G0557046).