EXPLORATION ’94 — Northeastern B.C. attracts exploration

Exploration activity has picked up steam in the region surrounding the Cirque (Stronsay) deposit 280 km north of McKenzie in northeastern British Columbia.

Cirque, previously owned by Curragh Inc., hosts minable reserves of 25 million tonnes averaging 8.5% zinc, 2.3% lead and 51 grams silver per tonne. The deposit is now owned 25% by Teck (TSE), 25% by Cominco (TSE) and 50% by Korea Zinc. The joint venture paid $14 million to acquire the project early this year.

Exploration activity in the region is focused on the Gunsteel Formation within the Kechika Trough, a regional belt which hosts Cirque as well as numerous other mineral occurrences.

One of the more recent discoveries in the district was made on the Akie claims, a project involving Metall Mining (TSE) and Ecstall Mining (VSE). Metall is earning a 60% interest from Ecstall by spending $1.5 million on exploration and $140,000 on option payments.

The initial discovery was the result of soil geochemical work on the claims during a program of mapping and prospecting along an anomalous trend. This year’s drilling returned encouraging results, notably hole 94-11, which intersected 16.1 metres of 6.5% combined zinc and lead (including 6.4 metres of 11.38% combined zinc and lead).

Hole 94-12, 600 metres south of 94-11, intersected 40.4 metres of 4.16% zinc and 0.98% lead (5.05% combined), which includes 9.3 metres of 8.42% zinc and 1.61% lead (10.03% combined).

Work to date has extended the mineralized zone over a strike length of 1.4 km and a dip of 300 metres. The zone remains open in all directions. Frank Balint, Metall’s vice-president of exploration, said results show that the mineralization is thickening and improving in grade at depth. In 1995, the company plans to do deeper drilling. The program will likely involve some 8-10 holes, roughly 800 metres deep, to test the area under and between holes 11 and 12.

“We plan a substantial program for 1995 of over $1 million,” Balint said. Ecstall has other claims in the region, which it plans to further explore in 1995, either on its own or through joint ventures with other companies. Teck (TSE) also optioned claims from Ecstall, to add to a land package the company has in the region.

In 1993, Teck announced the discovery of a stratabound zinc-lead zone on its Driftpile property near Williston Lake. A work program is being planned for 1995, aimed at further testing this project.